Cool MateGenuinely vs Really
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Genuinely
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Really
| Genuinely | Really | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdʒenjuɪnli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdʒenjuɪnli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Truly or really, in an honest way. | very or truly |
| Example | There are some genuinely funny moments in the film. | I really enjoy going to the beach. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | genuinely happy, genuinely interested, genuinely believe | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important |
| Antonyms | falsely, insincerely, artificially | seldom, never |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'generally' which has a different meaning., Using in overly casual contexts where sincerity isn't implied. | 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 'genuinely' to express sincerity or authenticity. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid it in very casual or slang settings. | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: Genuinely vs Really
What's the difference between Genuinely and Really?
Genuinely: Truly or really, in an honest way. Really: very or truly
Which is more common: Genuinely and Really?
Really is the most common in everyday English.
Are Genuinely and Really the same CEFR level?
Genuinely: B2, Really: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Genuinely and Really interchangeably?
Not always. Genuinely 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.