Cool MateDown vs Swallow
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Down
High-frequency chunkA1adverb
Swallow
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
| Down | Swallow | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/daʊn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/daʊn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈswɒləʊ/","/ˈswɒləʊz/","/ˈswɒləʊd/","/ˈswɒləʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈswɑːləʊ/","/ˈswɑːləʊz/","/ˈswɑːləʊd/","/ˈswɑːləʊɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A word meaning below or to lower something. | To make something go down your throat. |
| Example | She quickly ran down the hill. | Be sure to swallow the medicine with a full glass of water. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | verb |
| Collocations | sit down, bring down, down the road | hastily, quickly, accidentally, swallow something whole, deeply, hard, convulsively, have difficulty swallowing, have trouble swallowing |
| Antonyms | up, higher, above | spit, vomit |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'down' with 'up' when indicating direction., Using 'down' incorrectly with certain verbs like 'set down' instead of just 'set'., Using 'down' where a more specific preposition might be better, like 'beneath'. | Confused with 'swaddle' (to wrap in cloth), Using it as a standalone without an object (incorrect grammar), Mixing up present and past tense forms (swallowed vs swallow) |
| Usage notes | Use 'down' to indicate direction or position. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but avoid using it in overly formal writing where more specific terms might be required. | Used when discussing eating or drinking. Not appropriate in very formal contexts or when discussing matters unrelated to consumption. |
Frequently asked questions: Down vs Swallow
What's the difference between Down and Swallow?
Down: A word meaning below or to lower something. Swallow: To make something go down your throat.
Are Down and Swallow the same CEFR level?
Down: A1, Swallow: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Down and Swallow interchangeably?
Not always. Down and Swallow 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.