Cool MateForbidden vs Illegal vs What you're asking is illegal
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forbidden
Illegal
What you're asking is illegal
| Forbidden | Illegal | What you're asking is illegal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fəˈbɪd.ən//🇺🇸 //fərˈbɪd.ən// | 🇬🇧 //ɪˈliːɡ(ə)l//🇺🇸 //ɪˈlɪɡəl// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt jʊə(r) ˈɑːskɪŋ ɪz ɪˈliːɡəl//🇺🇸 //wʌt jʊr ˈæskɪŋ ɪz ɪˈliɡəl// |
| Meaning | Not allowed or banned. | Not allowed by law. | What you're asking is against the law. |
| Example | The secret room was strictly forbidden to anyone except the owner. | Driving without a license is considered illegal. | What you're asking is illegal and could lead to serious consequences. |
| Register | Formal | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | ||
| Collocations | forbidden zone, forbidden love, forbidden activities, forbidden fruit, forbidden city | illegal activity, illegal immigration, illegal drugs, illegal parking | ask about legality, illegal activities, illegal actions, illegal behavior, illegal trade |
| Antonyms | allowed, permitted, legal | legal, permissible, lawful | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'prohibited' - both mean similar things, but 'forbidden' is less formal., Incorrectly used as a verb - 'forbidden' is strictly an adjective., Using 'forbidden' in positive contexts - it always suggests something disallowed. | Confused with 'unlawful', which can have a broader meaning., Using 'illegal' to describe moral wrongs instead of legal ones., Misusing as a noun instead of an adjective, e.g., saying 'the illegal is punishable' instead of 'the act is illegal'. | Using 'illicit' incorrectly instead of 'illegal'., Confusing legal terms with general vocabulary., Neglecting to clarify what is illegal. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe something that is legally or socially unacceptable. Avoid using in casual conversations. | Use 'illegal' in formal contexts, especially legal discussions, but also in general conversation. It's not appropriate for casual slang. | Use in formal situations, especially in legal contexts. Avoid casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forbidden vs Illegal vs What you're asking is illegal
What's the difference between Forbidden, Illegal, and What you're asking is illegal?
Forbidden: Not allowed or banned. Illegal: Not allowed by law. What you're asking is illegal: What you're asking is against the law.
Which is more common: Forbidden, Illegal, and What you're asking is illegal?
Illegal is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Forbidden: The secret room was strictly forbidden to anyone except the owner. Illegal: Driving without a license is considered illegal. What you're asking is illegal: What you're asking is illegal and could lead to serious consequences.
Can I use Forbidden, Illegal, and What you're asking is illegal interchangeably?
Not always. Forbidden, Illegal, and What you're asking is illegal 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.