Cool MateFabulous vs Wonderful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fabulous
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Wonderful
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most common: Wonderful
| Fabulous | Wonderful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfæbjələs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfæbjələs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌndəfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwʌndərfl/"]/ |
| Meaning | Really great or amazing | Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy. |
| Example | They put on a fabulous performance. | The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | fabulous time, fabulous outfit, fabulous performance, fabulous restaurant | be, feel, look, most, really, absolutely, strange and wonderful, weird and wonderful |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, mediocre | terrible, awful, bad |
| Common mistakes | Using 'fabulous' too frequently in ordinary situations., Confusing 'fabulous' with 'fable' or 'fabulousness'. | Using 'wonderful' too often; it can sound repetitive., Mixing up with 'wonderfull' which is incorrect., Confusing 'wonderful' with 'wonder' which has a different meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fabulous' to describe something wonderfully impressive. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts but may sound slightly exaggerated if overused in casual conversation. | Use 'wonderful' to describe experiences, events, or things that bring joy. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but avoid using it in overly casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fabulous vs Wonderful
What's the difference between Fabulous and Wonderful?
Fabulous: Really great or amazing Wonderful: Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy.
Which is more common: Fabulous and Wonderful?
Wonderful is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Fabulous and Wonderful?
Fabulous is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Fabulous and Wonderful the same CEFR level?
Fabulous: B2, Wonderful: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Fabulous and Wonderful?
Fabulous: adjective, Wonderful: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Fabulous: They put on a fabulous performance. Wonderful: The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful.
Can I use Fabulous and Wonderful interchangeably?
Not always. Fabulous and Wonderful 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.