Cool MateMake yourselves at home vs Relax
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Make yourselves at home
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Relax
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: RelaxMost common: Relax
| Make yourselves at home | Relax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //meɪk jɔːrˈsɛlvz æt hoʊm//🇺🇸 //meɪk jʊrˈsɛlvz æt hoʊm// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈlæks/","/rɪˈlæksɪz/","/rɪˈlækst/","/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Feel comfortable in someone else's house. | To make yourself feel calm and not stressed. |
| Example | When you arrive, please just make yourselves at home! | 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 | Make yourselves at home, Feel at home, Welcome guests, Settle in comfortably | 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 very formal situations, which can feel odd., Not using it to express hospitality when appropriate. | '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 | Use this phrase when inviting guests to relax, typically in a casual setting. It's friendly and welcoming. | Use 'relax' when talking about making oneself calm. It's suitable for most contexts, but avoid using it in very formal occasions. |
Frequently asked questions: Make yourselves at home vs Relax
What's the difference between Make yourselves at home and Relax?
Make yourselves at home: Feel comfortable in someone else's house. Relax: To make yourself feel calm and not stressed.
Which is more formal: Make yourselves at home and Relax?
Relax is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Make yourselves at home and Relax?
Relax is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Make yourselves at home: When you arrive, please just make yourselves at home! Relax: After a long day at work, I like to relax on the couch with a good book.
Can I use Make yourselves at home and Relax interchangeably?
Not always. Make yourselves at home 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.