Cool MateLend vs Loan
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Lend
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Loan
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
| Lend | Loan | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/lend/","/lendz/","/lent/","/ˈlendɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lend/","/lendz/","/lent/","/ˈlendɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ləʊn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ləʊn/"]/ |
| Meaning | to give something to someone for a short time, expecting it back | Money that you borrow and have to pay back later. |
| Example | Can you lend me your book for a week? | She took out a loan to buy her first house. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | kindly, be prepared to, be ready to, be willing to, to, kindly, be prepared to, be ready to, be willing to, to | large, massive, small, apply for, ask for, request, total something, application, agreement, arrangement, on loan (from), loan from, security for a loan, large, massive, small, apply for, ask for, request, total something, application, agreement, arrangement, on loan (from), loan from, security for a loan |
| Antonyms | borrow, keep, withhold | repayment, return |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'borrow' — 'lend' is giving, 'borrow' is receiving., Using 'lend' with a direct object only, without mentioning the person receiving., Incorrectly saying 'lended' instead of 'lent' for the past tense. | Mixing up 'loan' and 'lone' which are pronounced differently., Using 'loan' as a noun only; it can also be a verb ('to loan money')., Confusing repayment terms with leasing terms. |
| Usage notes | Use 'lend' for situations where you are giving something temporarily. Avoid in very formal contexts; prefer 'provide' then. Commonly used in everyday conversation. | Use 'loan' in general contexts when discussing borrowing money. Avoid in very formal financial documents; prefer 'advance' or 'credit' instead. |
Frequently asked questions: Lend vs Loan
What's the difference between Lend and Loan?
Lend: to give something to someone for a short time, expecting it back Loan: Money that you borrow and have to pay back later.
Are Lend and Loan the same CEFR level?
Lend: A2, Loan: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Lend and Loan interchangeably?
Not always. Lend and Loan 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.