Cool MateCollaborate vs Cooperate vs We do things together
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Collaborate
Cooperate
We do things together
| Collaborate | Cooperate | We do things together | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəˈlæbəreɪt/","/kəˈlæbəreɪts/","/kəˈlæbəreɪtɪd/","/kəˈlæbəreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈlæbəreɪt/","/kəˈlæbəreɪts/","/kəˈlæbəreɪtɪd/","/kəˈlæbəreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəʊˈɒpəreɪt/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪts/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪtɪd/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪt/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪts/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪtɪd/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiː duː θɪŋz təˈɡɛðə//🇺🇸 //wi du θɪŋz təˈɡɛðər// |
| Meaning | To work together with others on a project or task. | To work together with someone for a common purpose. | We work on activities as a group. |
| Example | Researchers around the world are collaborating to develop a new vaccine. | The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other. | In our community, we do things together to support local businesses. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | actively, closely, on, with | fully, closely, will, would, agree to, in, on, with, fully, closely, will, would, agree to, in, on, with | work together, achieve together, enjoy together, create together, solve problems together |
| Antonyms | compete, oppose, disagree | oppose, disagree, compete | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'collaborate' without specifying who you're working with., Confusing 'collaborate' with 'cooperate' which have slightly different meanings., Saying 'collaborate with to' instead of just 'collaborate with'. | 'Cooperate' is often confused with 'collaborate', which has a slightly different nuance., Learners sometimes forget to use 'with' when mentioning the other party., Using 'cooperate' as a standalone verb without a context can be incorrect. | Using 'do' incorrectly with singular subjects., Confusing with 'we do something together' which implies a specific action., Overusing in formal contexts where more specific language is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'collaborate' in both professional and casual contexts when discussing teamwork. It is appropriate in formal documents but may sound overly formal in casual conversations. | Use 'cooperate' in contexts involving teamwork and collaboration. It's appropriate in both professional and casual settings, but avoid in overly informal conversations. Best used when discussing joint efforts in projects or activities. | Used to emphasize collaboration or shared activities. Appropriate in both casual and professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Collaborate vs Cooperate vs We do things together
What's the difference between Collaborate, Cooperate, and We do things together?
Collaborate: To work together with others on a project or task. Cooperate: To work together with someone for a common purpose. We do things together: We work on activities as a group.
Can you show an example of each?
Collaborate: Researchers around the world are collaborating to develop a new vaccine. Cooperate: The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other. We do things together: In our community, we do things together to support local businesses.
Can I use Collaborate, Cooperate, and We do things together interchangeably?
Not always. Collaborate, Cooperate, and We do things together 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.