Cool MateFancy that vs Really
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fancy that
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most formal: ReallyMost common: Really
| Fancy that | Really | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈfæn.si ðæt//🇺🇸 //ˈfæn.si ðæt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Wow, really? That's surprising! | very or truly |
| Example | She won the lottery? Fancy that! | I really enjoy going to the beach. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | Fancy that indeed, Fancy that surprise, Fancy that expression | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important |
| Antonyms | - | seldom, never |
| Common mistakes | Used too formally in serious contexts., Confused with 'fancy' as a verb., Said with a serious tone instead of a surprised tone. | 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'. |
| Usage notes | Use in informal conversations to express surprise or disbelief. It may not be suitable for formal settings or serious discussions. | 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. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Fancy that vs Really
What's the difference between Fancy that and Really?
Fancy that: Wow, really? That's surprising! Really: very or truly
Which is more formal: Fancy that and Really?
Really is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Fancy that and Really?
Really is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fancy that: She won the lottery? Fancy that! Really: I really enjoy going to the beach.
Can I use Fancy that and Really interchangeably?
Not always. Fancy that and Really 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.