Cool MateFamous vs Legendary vs Notable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Famous
Legendary
Notable
| Famous | Legendary | Notable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪməs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪməs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈledʒəndri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈledʒənderi/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtəbl/"]/ |
| Meaning | Well-known or popular. | Very famous and admired, often because of a great achievement. | Something important or worth remembering. |
| Example | Marie Curie is a famous scientist known for her work in radioactivity. | a legendary figure | a **notable success/achievement/example** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, become, make somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very, as, for, rich and famous | legendary status, legendary figure, legendary status, legendary creature | be, especially, particularly, for |
| Antonyms | unknown, obscure, anonymous | ordinary, common, unremarkable | insignificant, trivial, unremarkable |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'infamous', which means well-known for negative reasons., Using 'famous' as a verb when it is only an adjective., Mistakenly thinking 'famous' is only used for people. | Confused with 'legend' - 'legendary' describes something, while 'legend' is a noun., Using 'legendary' for things that are not famous enough., Mispronouncing as 'legandary'. | Confusing 'notable' with 'noteworthy' - they are similar but have different nuances., Using 'notable' as a verb instead of an adjective., Misplacing the adjective in a sentence, leading to awkward phrasing. |
| Usage notes | Typically used to describe people, places, or things that are widely recognized. Works well in both formal and informal contexts but can be less suitable for everyday conversations. | Use 'legendary' to describe people, events, or stories known for their greatness. Often used in a positive context but can be informal in casual conversations. | Use 'notable' to emphasize importance or distinction, particularly in academic or formal contexts. It may not fit casual conversations where simpler words like 'important' may be more suitable. |
Frequently asked questions: Famous vs Legendary vs Notable
What's the difference between Famous, Legendary, and Notable?
Famous: Well-known or popular. Legendary: Very famous and admired, often because of a great achievement. Notable: Something important or worth remembering.
Which is more common: Famous, Legendary, and Notable?
Famous is the most common in everyday English.
Are Famous, Legendary, and Notable the same CEFR level?
Famous: A1, Legendary: C1, Notable: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Famous: Marie Curie is a famous scientist known for her work in radioactivity. Legendary: a legendary figure Notable: a **notable success/achievement/example**
Can I use Famous, Legendary, and Notable interchangeably?
Not always. Famous, Legendary, and Notable 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.