Cool MateLabor vs Work
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Labor
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Work
High-frequency chunkA1verb
Most common: Work
| Labor | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈleɪbər//🇺🇸 //ˈleɪbɚ// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɜːk/","/wɜːks/","/wɜːkt/","/ˈwɜːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɜːrk/","/wɜːrks/","/wɜːrkt/","/ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Physical work or effort, especially to produce something. | To do a job or task. |
| Example | The labor market has significantly changed in recent years. | I need to work on my homework before dinner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | manual labor, labor force, labor market, hard labor, labor union | hard, tirelessly, assiduously, continue to, choose to, prefer to, as, at, for, hard, tirelessly, assiduously, continue to, choose to, prefer to, as, at, for, correctly, effectively, efficiently, seem to, work like a charm, work like magic, work to somebody’s advantage, correctly, effectively, efficiently, seem to, work like a charm, work like magic, work to somebody’s advantage |
| Antonyms | rest, leisure, idleness | rest, idleness, leisure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'labour' in British English and 'labor' in American English., Using 'labor' as a countable noun incorrectly., Misunderstanding 'labor' as only referring to physical work, ignoring intellectual labor. | Confused with 'job' vs 'work': 'Job' is a specific role, while 'work' refers to the tasks involved., Using 'work' as a noun in contexts needing a verb: e.g., saying 'I will work tomorrow' instead of 'I will do work tomorrow.', Omitting plural forms: e.g., saying 'We all have work to do' is correct, but learners may mistakenly say 'We all have works to do.' |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings, it can refer to work done for wages or in economic discussions. In informal settings, it may refer simply to hard work in everyday tasks. Not typically used for casual or trivial efforts. | Use 'work' in professional or casual contexts to refer to tasks or jobs. Avoid using in overly formal settings where a more specific term may be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Labor vs Work
What's the difference between Labor and Work?
Labor: Physical work or effort, especially to produce something. Work: To do a job or task.
Which is more common: Labor and Work?
Work is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Labor and Work?
Labor is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Labor and Work the same CEFR level?
Labor: B2, Work: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Labor and Work?
Labor: noun, Work: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Labor: The labor market has significantly changed in recent years. Work: I need to work on my homework before dinner.
Can I use Labor and Work interchangeably?
Not always. Labor and Work 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.