Cool MateExtraordinary vs You're astounding
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extraordinary
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
You're astounding
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Extraordinary
| Extraordinary | You're astounding | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //əˈstaʊndɪŋ//🇺🇸 //əˈstaʊndɪŋ// |
| Meaning | very unusual or remarkable | You are amazing or surprising. |
| Example | Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. | Your performance tonight was astounding! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, most, really, truly | astounding talent, astounding achievement, astounding performance |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, usual | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'ordinary', thinking they are similar., Using inappropriately in very casual chats; feels too formal., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 'extra-' part. | Confused with 'astounding' as a verb., Misusing the phrase in self-praise instead of complimenting others., Incorrectly using in contexts that don't relate to accomplishment. |
| Usage notes | Use 'extraordinary' to describe something very special or impressive. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but try to avoid it in everyday casual conversations. | Use this phrase to express admiration for someone's talent or achievement. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts. Avoid using overly casual language when speaking to authority figures. |
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Frequently asked questions: Extraordinary vs You're astounding
What's the difference between Extraordinary and You're astounding?
Extraordinary: very unusual or remarkable You're astounding: You are amazing or surprising.
Which is more common: Extraordinary and You're astounding?
Extraordinary is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Extraordinary: Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. You're astounding: Your performance tonight was astounding!
Can I use Extraordinary and You're astounding interchangeably?
Not always. Extraordinary and You're astounding 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.