Cool MatePortion vs Share
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Portion
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Share
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Share
| Portion | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɔːʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɔːrʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃeə(r)/","/ʃeəz/","/ʃeəd/","/ˈʃeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃer/","/ʃerz/","/ʃerd/","/ˈʃerɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | a part of something larger | To let someone use or have part of something that you have. |
| Example | I only ate a small portion of the pie, as I wasn't really hungry. | I will share my toys with my friends. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | considerable, good, huge, make up, take up, portion of, double, generous, large, eat, portion of, divide something into portions, considerable, good, huge, make up, take up, portion of | fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared |
| Antonyms | whole, entirety, total | hoard, keep, withhold |
| Common mistakes | Using 'portion' with plural nouns (e.g., 'portions of food' is correct, but don't say 'portion of foods')., Confusing 'portion' with 'proportion', which refers to a ratio., Using 'portion' when referring to an entire object instead of a part. | Using 'share' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will share' instead of 'I will share my lunch'), Confusing 'share' with 'sharpen', Incorrectly using 'share' as a noun rather than a verb (e.g., saying 'the share of the book' instead of 'the sharing of the book') |
| Usage notes | Use 'portion' when you refer to a part of food, quantity, or share. It's neutral and suitable for everyday conversations and formal writing. Avoid using it when discussing something that can't be divided easily. | Use 'share' when talking about dividing resources or experiences. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid in very formal contexts where more specific terms may be required. |
Frequently asked questions: Portion vs Share
What's the difference between Portion and Share?
Portion: a part of something larger Share: To let someone use or have part of something that you have.
Which is more common: Portion and Share?
Share is the most common in everyday English.
Are Portion and Share the same CEFR level?
Portion: B2, Share: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Portion and Share interchangeably?
Not always. Portion and Share 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.