Cool MateBizarre vs That’s weird
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bizarre
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
That’s weird
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Bizarre
| Bizarre | That’s weird | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈzɑː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈzɑːr/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts wɪəd//🇺🇸 //ðæts wɪrd// |
| Meaning | Very strange or unusual. | That is strange or unusual. |
| Example | a bizarre situation/incident/story | The lights flickered, and I thought, 'That’s weird.' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very | That's weird timing, That's weird behavior, That's weird to say, That's weird, isn't it?, That’s weird for sure |
| Antonyms | normal, usual, common | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'peculiar' — both mean strange, but 'peculiar' can imply a sense of uniqueness., Using 'bizarre' to describe regular events, it should be reserved for things that are unusually strange., Spelling mistakes like 'bizzarre' instead of 'bizarre'. | Using in overly formal contexts., Confusing with 'That's strange' - similar but 'weird' has a stronger connotation., Not using the contraction (That's) - sounds more natural to shorten. |
| Usage notes | Use 'bizarre' to describe things that are very odd or out of the ordinary. It's neutral, so it's appropriate in most contexts but may sound less formal in academic or serious writing. | Use when something feels odd or unexpected; appropriate in casual contexts but can seem unprofessional in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bizarre vs That’s weird
What's the difference between Bizarre and That’s weird?
Bizarre: Very strange or unusual. That’s weird: That is strange or unusual.
Which is more formal: Bizarre and That’s weird?
Bizarre is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Bizarre: a bizarre situation/incident/story That’s weird: The lights flickered, and I thought, 'That’s weird.'
Can I use Bizarre and That’s weird interchangeably?
Not always. Bizarre and That’s weird are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.