Cool MateDon't come here vs Stay away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't come here
Top 2,000 (common)
Stay away
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Don't come here
| Don't come here | Stay away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt kʌm hɪə//🇺🇸 //doʊnt kʌm hɪr// | 🇬🇧 //steɪ əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //steɪ əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | A way to tell someone not to arrive at a place. | Do not go near someone or something. |
| Example | I told him, 'Don't come here if you're feeling sick.' | You should stay away from that area at night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | come here, don't come, stay away | stay away from trouble, stay away from dangerous places, stay away from negative people |
| Antonyms | - | approach, come near |
| Common mistakes | Using 'don't' incorrectly, such as 'do not come here' in a relaxed situation., Confusing 'come here' with 'go there' while giving directions., Forgetting to adjust tone for politeness. | Confused with 'stay out' which has a different meaning., Incorrectly using 'stay away' without 'from'., Using it in a formal context. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to firmly instruct someone to stay away from a location. It can sound impolite, so use caution depending on the context. | Use 'stay away' when advising caution. It's informal and might not be suited for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't come here vs Stay away
What's the difference between Don't come here and Stay away?
Don't come here: A way to tell someone not to arrive at a place. Stay away: Do not go near someone or something.
Which is more common: Don't come here and Stay away?
Don't come here is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't come here: I told him, 'Don't come here if you're feeling sick.' Stay away: You should stay away from that area at night.
Can I use Don't come here and Stay away interchangeably?
Not always. Don't come here and Stay away 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.