Cool MateGuess vs Guess what
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Guess
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Guess what
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: GuessMost common: Guess
| Guess | Guess what | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡes/","/ˈɡesɪz/","/ɡest/","/ˈɡesɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡes/","/ˈɡesɪz/","/ɡest/","/ˈɡesɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡɛs wɒt//🇺🇸 //ɡɛs wɑt// |
| Meaning | To try to answer something without being sure. | A phrase to ask someone to figure something out. |
| Example | Can you guess the answer to the riddle? | Guess what! I got the job I applied for! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | correctly, right, incorrectly, can, can only, try to, at, from, could have guessed, might have guessed, should have guessed, correctly, right, incorrectly, can, can only, try to, at, from, could have guessed, might have guessed, should have guessed, correctly, right, incorrectly, can, can only, try to, at, from, could have guessed, might have guessed, should have guessed, correctly, right, incorrectly, can, can only, try to, at, from, could have guessed, might have guessed, should have guessed | guess what happened, guess what I found, guess what she said |
| Antonyms | know, certainty | ignore, know for certain, disregard |
| Common mistakes | Using 'guess' as a noun incorrectly, e.g., 'Give me a guess' instead of 'Take a guess.', Confusing 'guess' with 'know' — they have different levels of certainty., Using 'guess' with a direct object where an indirect object is needed. | Using it in formal situations., Forgetting to follow up with the surprise., Omitting 'what' and saying just 'guess'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'guess' when you are making a suggestion or estimation without having all the facts. It's appropriate in informal and formal contexts. Avoid using 'guess' in very serious situations where certainty is required. | Used to introduce surprising or interesting news. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Guess vs Guess what
What's the difference between Guess and Guess what?
Guess: To try to answer something without being sure. Guess what: A phrase to ask someone to figure something out.
Which is more formal: Guess and Guess what?
Guess is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Guess and Guess what?
Guess is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Guess: Can you guess the answer to the riddle? Guess what: Guess what! I got the job I applied for!
Can I use Guess and Guess what interchangeably?
Not always. Guess and Guess what 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.