Cool MateExcellent vs Terrific
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Terrific
Top 1,000 (very common)C1adjective
| Excellent | Terrific | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/təˈrɪfɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/təˈrɪfɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or great | Very good or excellent. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | She did a terrific job presenting her project to the class. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | terrific job, terrific idea, terrific time, terrific experience, terrific performance |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | terrible, awful, bad, dreadful |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Confuse with 'terrible', which means the opposite., Use it too casually in formal or serious contexts., Use it to describe something bad. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Used to express enthusiasm or positivity, often in informal contexts. Avoid using in overly serious or formal discussions. |
Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs Terrific
What's the difference between Excellent and Terrific?
Excellent: very good or great Terrific: Very good or excellent.
Which is more advanced: Excellent and Terrific?
Terrific is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Excellent and Terrific the same CEFR level?
Excellent: A2, Terrific: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Excellent and Terrific?
Excellent: adjective, Terrific: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. Terrific: She did a terrific job presenting her project to the class.
Can I use Excellent and Terrific interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent and Terrific 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.