Cool MateHope vs Wish
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hope
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Wish
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Hope | Wish | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/həʊp/","/həʊps/","/həʊpt/","/ˈhəʊpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/həʊp/","/həʊps/","/həʊpt/","/ˈhəʊpɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪʃ/","/ˈwɪʃɪz/","/wɪʃt/","/ˈwɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪʃ/","/ˈwɪʃɪz/","/wɪʃt/","/ˈwɪʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To believe that something good will happen. | A desire or hope for something to happen. |
| Example | I hope you have a great day! | I wish I could travel to Paris this summer. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | certainly, desperately, fervently, (not) dare (to), hardly dare, scarcely dare, for, hope against hope, hope for the best | dearly, desperately, devoutly, for, dearly, desperately, devoutly, for |
| Antonyms | despair, fear, doubt | despair, regret, discontent |
| Common mistakes | Using 'hope' in a negative context, e.g. 'I hope not to do that.', Confusing 'hope' with 'wish' — 'wish' implies a less likely outcome., 'Hope' should not be followed directly by an infinitive verb. | Confused with 'want' — 'wish' indicates a stronger hope., Using 'wished' instead of 'wish' for future situations., Mixing up the past and present forms incorrectly. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in most contexts, though more formal settings may prefer 'anticipate' or 'expect'. Avoid using with certainty. | Used to express a desire for something that is unlikely or impossible. Common in informal contexts; less appropriate in very formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Hope vs Wish
What's the difference between Hope and Wish?
Hope: To believe that something good will happen. Wish: A desire or hope for something to happen.
Which is more advanced: Hope and Wish?
Wish is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Hope and Wish the same CEFR level?
Hope: A1, Wish: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hope and Wish?
Hope: verb, Wish: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Hope: I hope you have a great day! Wish: I wish I could travel to Paris this summer.
Can I use Hope and Wish interchangeably?
Not always. Hope and Wish 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.