Cool MateExplain vs Say why
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Explain
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Say why
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Explain
| Explain | Say why | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //seɪ waɪ//🇺🇸 //seɪ waɪ// |
| Meaning | To make something clear or easy to understand. | To explain the reason for something. |
| Example | Can you explain how this machine works? | Can you say why you made that decision? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something, in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something | say why you believe, say why it matters, say why you disagree, say why you think so |
| Antonyms | confuse, obscure, complicate | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'explain' without an object, e.g., 'I will explain' instead of 'I will explain the concept.', Confusing 'explain' with 'describe' – 'explain' is about making something clear, while 'describe' is about detailing., Misusing the tense, e.g., saying 'I explained' when referring to a future action. | Confusing with 'tell why'; 'say' is used for direct speech., Using 'saying why' instead of 'say why'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'explain' when you want to clarify or make something easier to understand. It's appropriate in both speaking and writing, but avoid using it in highly formal contexts where more technical terms might be preferred. | Use 'say why' in discussions or explanations. It's not appropriate for very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Explain vs Say why
What's the difference between Explain and Say why?
Explain: To make something clear or easy to understand. Say why: To explain the reason for something.
Which is more common: Explain and Say why?
Explain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Explain: Can you explain how this machine works? Say why: Can you say why you made that decision?
Can I use Explain and Say why interchangeably?
Not always. Explain and Say why 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.