Cool MateCooperate vs Play nice
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cooperate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Play nice
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: CooperateMost common: Cooperate
| Cooperate | Play nice | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəʊˈɒpəreɪt/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪts/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪtɪd/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪt/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪts/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪtɪd/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pleɪ naɪs//🇺🇸 //pleɪ naɪs// |
| Meaning | To work together with someone for a common purpose. | Be friendly and cooperate with others. |
| Example | The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other. | Please remember to play nice with your classmates during group activities. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | fully, closely, will, would, agree to, in, on, with, fully, closely, will, would, agree to, in, on, with | play nice with others, play nice during games, always play nice |
| Antonyms | oppose, disagree, compete | - |
| Common mistakes | '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. | Used 'play nice' too formally, which sounds awkward., Confused with 'play fair', which has a different meaning., Misunderstood as only physical play, ignoring social cooperation. |
| Usage notes | 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 in casual conversations to advise cooperation. Avoid in formal contexts. Often said to children to encourage good behavior. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Cooperate vs Play nice
What's the difference between Cooperate and Play nice?
Cooperate: To work together with someone for a common purpose. Play nice: Be friendly and cooperate with others.
Which is more formal: Cooperate and Play nice?
Cooperate is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Cooperate and Play nice?
Cooperate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Cooperate: The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other. Play nice: Please remember to play nice with your classmates during group activities.
Can I use Cooperate and Play nice interchangeably?
Not always. Cooperate and Play nice 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.