Cool MateKeep chillin vs Relax
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Keep chillin
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Relax
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: RelaxMost common: Relax
| Keep chillin | Relax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kiːp ˈtʃɪlɪn//🇺🇸 //kip ˈtʃɪlɪn// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Stay relaxed and calm. | To make yourself feel calm and not stressed. |
| Example | After a long week, I just want to keep chillin this weekend. | After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | keep chillin with friends, keep chillin and enjoy, keep chillin at home | completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself, completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself, completely, fully, totally, begin to, try to, learn to, against, into, on, lie back and relax, sit back and relax, relax and enjoy something/yourself |
| Antonyms | - | stress, tense, worry |
| Common mistakes | Using in formal situations where a more serious expression is needed., Confusing with 'keep cool', which has a similar but slightly different meaning. | 'Relax' is sometimes confused with 'release' as if both mean the same thing., Learners may forget to use an object, saying just 'I relax' instead of 'I relax myself'., Some might use 'relax' inappropriately with a negative tone, which can sound confusing. |
| Usage notes | Used among friends to encourage relaxation or to continue enjoying a situation. Not suitable for formal contexts. | Use 'relax' when talking about making oneself calm. It's suitable for most contexts, but avoid using it in very formal occasions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Keep chillin vs Relax
What's the difference between Keep chillin and Relax?
Keep chillin: Stay relaxed and calm. Relax: To make yourself feel calm and not stressed.
Which is more formal: Keep chillin and Relax?
Relax is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Keep chillin and Relax?
Relax is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Keep chillin: After a long week, I just want to keep chillin this weekend. Relax: After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book.
Can I use Keep chillin and Relax interchangeably?
Not always. Keep chillin and Relax 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.