Cool MateHowever vs Still
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
However
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Still
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
| However | Still | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/haʊˈevə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/haʊˈevər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/stɪl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɪl/"]/ |
| Meaning | but; shows contrast between two ideas. | not moving; quiet |
| Example | He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. | She is still waiting for her friends to arrive. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | however, you should, however, it is important, however, I believe | still water, still life, still waiting, still standing |
| Antonyms | therefore, consequently | yet, already |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'how ever' which means in what way., Omitting a comma before 'however' when it starts a sentence., Using 'however' inappropriately in very casual contexts. | Confused with 'steal', leading to incorrect usage., Using it in a question when it should be a statement, e.g., 'Is it still raining?' incorrectly phrased as 'Is still it raining?'., Overusing in sequences; proper placement in a sentence can be tricky. |
| Usage notes | Use 'however' to introduce a contrasting idea in a sentence. It's suitable in both spoken and written English but more common in formal writing. Avoid using it at the beginning of informal conversations. | Used to describe something that is not changing or happening yet. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but can sound more formal when used in written form. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: However vs Still
What's the difference between However and Still?
However: but; shows contrast between two ideas. Still: not moving; quiet
Are However and Still the same CEFR level?
However: A1, Still: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use However and Still interchangeably?
Not always. However and Still 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.