Cool MateCompletely vs Totally
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Completely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Totally
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
Most common: Completely
| Completely | Totally | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtəʊtəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Totally or fully. | Completely or very much. |
| Example | I completely forgot about the meeting today. | I totally agree with your opinion on the matter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | completely agree, completely understand, completely satisfied, completely different, completely unaware | totally agree, totally awesome, totally different, totally in love |
| Antonyms | partially, incompletely, somewhat | partially, somewhat |
| Common mistakes | Using 'completely' without a verb or action., Confusing 'completely' with 'totally' in formal contexts., Saying 'completely' in casual situations where simpler words like 'really' might fit better. | 'Totally' is sometimes confused with 'complete.', Learners may use 'totally' in formal situations when it sounds too casual., Sometimes misused to modify nouns directly. |
| Usage notes | Use 'completely' to emphasize the totality of an action or state. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but might sound overemphasized in casual conversation. | Use 'totally' to emphasize an absolute degree of something. It's neutral but can sound informal in some contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Completely vs Totally
What's the difference between Completely and Totally?
Completely: Totally or fully. Totally: Completely or very much.
Which is more common: Completely and Totally?
Completely is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Completely and Totally?
Totally is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Completely and Totally the same CEFR level?
Completely: A2, Totally: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Completely and Totally?
Completely: adverb, Totally: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Completely: I completely forgot about the meeting today. Totally: I totally agree with your opinion on the matter.
Can I use Completely and Totally interchangeably?
Not always. Completely and Totally 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.