Cool MateHardly vs Rarely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hardly
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
Rarely
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| Hardly | Rarely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɑːdli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɑːrdli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrerli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Barely or almost not at all | not very often |
| Example | I can hardly hear you over the noise. | I rarely go to the movies anymore since I prefer watching at home. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | hardly believe, hardly realize, hardly notice, hardly anyone, hardly any | rarely seen, rarely happens, rarely visit |
| Antonyms | completely, totally, easily | frequently, often, regularly |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'barely' - both mean similar things but might fit differently in sentences., Misuse in negative sentences - 'hardly not' is incorrect., Omitting it in sentences - 'I hardly can understand' should be 'I can hardly understand'. | Confused with 'rare' — 'rarely' describes frequency, while 'rare' describes how uncommon something is., Using 'rarely' in affirmative sentences instead of negative ones — remember it implies infrequency., Incorrectly placing 'rarely' at the end of a sentence where it should be before the main verb. |
| Usage notes | Used to express that something is true to a very small degree. Avoid in very formal writing. Suitable in conversational contexts. | Used in both spoken and written English. It’s appropriate for discussing habits or occurrences that happen infrequently. Avoid using in very formal contexts where a synonym like 'infrequently' might be more suitable. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hardly vs Rarely
What's the difference between Hardly and Rarely?
Hardly: Barely or almost not at all Rarely: not very often
Are Hardly and Rarely the same CEFR level?
Hardly: B1, Rarely: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hardly and Rarely?
Hardly: adverb, Rarely: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Hardly: I can hardly hear you over the noise. Rarely: I rarely go to the movies anymore since I prefer watching at home.
Can I use Hardly and Rarely interchangeably?
Not always. Hardly and Rarely 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.