Cool MateHe’s not like you vs Unlike
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He’s not like you
Top 3,000 (common)
Unlike
Top 2,000 (common)B1preposition
Most common: Unlike
| He’s not like you | Unlike | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //hiːz nɒt laɪk juː//🇺🇸 //hiz nɑt laɪk ju// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌnˈlaɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌnˈlaɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | He is different from you. | Not like something or someone else |
| Example | He’s not like you; he prefers to stay quiet in groups. | Music is quite unlike any other art form. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | not like anyone, not like before, not like them, not like it used to be, not like the others | unlike anything, unlike other, unlike those |
| Antonyms | - | like, similar |
| Common mistakes | Using 'like' instead of 'unlike' when emphasizing difference., Confusing 'like' with 'similar to' in specific contexts. | Using 'unlike' with a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'unlike' with 'dislike'., Incorrectly placing 'unlike' before the subject. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is often used to compare someone's behavior or personality to another person's. It's neutral, suitable for any context but could seem negative if said with a certain tone. | Use 'unlike' to compare differences. Common in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in formal academic writing where more precise comparisons are needed. |
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Frequently asked questions: He’s not like you vs Unlike
What's the difference between He’s not like you and Unlike?
He’s not like you: He is different from you. Unlike: Not like something or someone else
Which is more common: He’s not like you and Unlike?
Unlike is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
He’s not like you: He’s not like you; he prefers to stay quiet in groups. Unlike: Music is quite unlike any other art form.
Can I use He’s not like you and Unlike interchangeably?
Not always. He’s not like you and Unlike 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.