Cool MateInvite vs Welcome
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Invite
Top 2,000 (common)A2verb
Welcome
Top 1,000 (very common)A1exclamation
Most common: Welcome
| Invite | Welcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈvaɪt/","/ɪnˈvaɪts/","/ɪnˈvaɪtɪd/","/ɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈvaɪt/","/ɪnˈvaɪts/","/ɪnˈvaɪtɪd/","/ɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwelkəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwelkəm/"]/ |
| Meaning | To ask someone to come to an event. | Hello and nice to see you. |
| Example | I would like to invite you to my birthday party. | Welcome home! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | exclamation |
| Collocations | formally, officially, cordially, into, for, to, formally, officially, cordially, into, for, to, positively, practically, seem to | a warm welcome, welcome message, welcome addition, welcome change, welcome party |
| Antonyms | exclude, dismiss | unwelcome, excluded, rejected |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'invite' as a noun and verb., Saying 'invite to' instead of 'invite someone to.', Using 'invited' instead of 'invite' in some contexts. | Using 'welcomed' instead of 'welcome' when greeting someone., Confusing 'welcome' with 'welcomed' in past tense situations., Not using it correctly in a sentence, like saying 'I welcome you here' instead of 'I welcome you'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'invite' for casual and formal occasions, but avoid in very formal writing, where you might prefer 'extend an invitation.' | Used in greetings. Appropriate in most situations, formal and informal. In formal settings, you might say 'We welcome you to our event'. |
Frequently asked questions: Invite vs Welcome
What's the difference between Invite and Welcome?
Invite: To ask someone to come to an event. Welcome: Hello and nice to see you.
Which is more common: Invite and Welcome?
Welcome is the most common in everyday English.
Are Invite and Welcome the same CEFR level?
Invite: A2, Welcome: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Invite and Welcome interchangeably?
Not always. Invite and Welcome 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.