Cool MateExtremely vs Really vs Terribly vs Very
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extremely
Really
Terribly
Very
| Extremely | Really | Terribly | Very | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstriːmli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstriːmli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈterəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈterəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈveri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈveri/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very much; to a very high degree. | very or truly | Very badly or extremely. | used to emphasize something |
| Example | She was extremely happy about her exam results. | I really enjoy going to the beach. | I'm terribly sorry—did I hurt you? | This cake is very delicious! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | extremely happy, extremely difficult, extremely important, extremely cold, extremely fast | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important | terribly wrong, terribly sorry, terribly afraid, terribly upset | very good, very bad, very happy, very important, very fast |
| Antonyms | slightly, moderately | seldom, never | wonderfully, fantastically, nicely | not, slightly, somewhat |
| Common mistakes | Using 'extremely' with nouns, e.g., 'extremely happy person' instead of 'extremely happy'., Confusing 'extremely' with similar adverbs like 'really' for less intense expressions., Placing 'extremely' incorrectly in a sentence, altering the meaning. | Using it in place of 'real' when describing a noun., Confusing it with 'really' in terms of degree, e.g., 'really good' instead of 'very good'. | Using 'terribly' with positive contexts (e.g., 'terribly good' instead of 'really good')., Confusing 'terribly' with 'terrific' which has the opposite meaning., Omitting it when making a strong negative statement. | Using 'very' with negative adjectives like 'bad' too much., Confusing with 'really' in casual conversation., Overusing 'very' can make writing less impactful. |
| Usage notes | Use 'extremely' to emphasize adjectives or adverbs. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in casual contexts where simpler terms like 'really' may suffice. | Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb. It can be informal in casual conversations but is accepted in most contexts; avoid overusing it in formal writing. | Use 'terribly' to emphasize a negative situation or quality. It's common in both spoken and written English but avoid in formal contexts. For example, 'I felt terribly tired.' | Used to increase the intensity of adjectives or adverbs. Best for neutral situations; avoid in formal writing where 'extremely' may be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Extremely vs Really vs Terribly vs Very
What's the difference between Extremely, Really, Terribly, and Very?
Extremely: Very much; to a very high degree. Really: very or truly Terribly: Very badly or extremely. Very: used to emphasize something
Which is more advanced: Extremely, Really, Terribly, and Very?
Terribly is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Extremely, Really, Terribly, and Very the same CEFR level?
Extremely: A2, Really: A1, Terribly: B2, Very: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Extremely, Really, Terribly, and Very?
Extremely: adverb, Really: adverb, Terribly: adverb, Very: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Extremely: She was extremely happy about her exam results. Really: I really enjoy going to the beach. Terribly: I'm terribly sorry—did I hurt you? Very: This cake is very delicious!
Can I use Extremely, Really, Terribly, and Very interchangeably?
Not always. Extremely, Really, Terribly, and Very 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.