Cool MateGreat vs Wonderful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Wonderful
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Great | Wonderful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌndəfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwʌndərfl/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy. |
| Example | This pizza is great and very tasty! | The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | be, feel, look, most, really, absolutely, strange and wonderful, weird and wonderful |
| Antonyms | terrible, poor, bad | terrible, awful, bad |
| Common mistakes | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | 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 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: Great vs Wonderful
What's the difference between Great and Wonderful?
Great: very good or impressive Wonderful: Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy.
Are Great and Wonderful the same CEFR level?
Great: A1, Wonderful: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Great and Wonderful?
Great: adjective, Wonderful: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! Wonderful: The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful.
Can I use Great and Wonderful interchangeably?
Not always. Great 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.