Cool MateIncome vs Turnover
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Income
Turnover
| Income | Turnover | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪnkʌm//ˈɪnkəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnkʌm//ˈɪnkəm/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɜːnəʊvə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɜːrnəʊvər/"]/ |
| Meaning | The money a person earns or receives regularly. | The amount of money a business makes in a specific time period. |
| Example | Her annual income has increased significantly this year. | The company reported a high turnover in staff this year. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | high, large, six-figure, have, receive, earn, arise (from something), come from something, derive from something, bracket, group, level, on an income, income from, the distribution of income, the redistribution of income, a drop in income | high, low, company, boast, have, record, be up, be down, double, figure, growth, rate, a decline in turnover, an fall in turnover, an increase in turnover, fast, rapid, high, have, reduce, rate, turnover in |
| Antonyms | expense, outlay | loss, deficit |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'outcome' - 'outcome' refers to results, while 'income' is about money earned., Using as a verb - 'income' is a noun only., Mispronouncing it as 'in-come' instead of 'in-kum'. | Confused with 'turn over' as a verb phrase., Using in a non-business context incorrectly., Assuming it only refers to staff changes, not sales. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Common in financial discussions, business, or personal budgeting. Avoid in casual conversations unless related to finances. | Commonly used in business contexts to refer to sales or revenue. Not appropriate in casual conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Income vs Turnover
What's the difference between Income and Turnover?
Income: The money a person earns or receives regularly. Turnover: The amount of money a business makes in a specific time period.
Which is more common: Income and Turnover?
Turnover is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Income and Turnover?
Turnover is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Income and Turnover the same CEFR level?
Income: B2, Turnover: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Income and Turnover?
Income: noun, Turnover: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Income: Her annual income has increased significantly this year. Turnover: The company reported a high turnover in staff this year.
Can I use Income and Turnover interchangeably?
Not always. Income and Turnover 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.