Cool MateRadio vs Receiver
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Radio
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Receiver
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Radio
| Radio | Receiver | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreɪdiəʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈreɪdiəʊ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsiːvə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈsiːvər/"]/ |
| Meaning | A device that plays sound through the air, often for music or news. | a person or thing that gets something |
| Example | I like to listen to the radio in the morning. | The receiver caught the ball and ran towards the end zone. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | car, CB, hand-held, listen to, tune in to, tune, announce something, report something, play (something), alarm, receiver, set, by radio, on the radio, car, CB, hand-held, listen to, tune in to, tune, announce something, report something, play (something), alarm, receiver, set, by radio, on the radio, car, CB, hand-held, listen to, tune in to, tune, announce something, report something, play (something), alarm, receiver, set, by radio, on the radio, car, CB, hand-held, listen to, tune in to, tune, announce something, report something, play (something), alarm, receiver, set, by radio, on the radio | phone, telephone, lift, pick up, grab, dangle, over the receiver, hold the receiver to your ear, put the receiver to your ear, hand-held, portable, GPS, module, unit, antenna, official, court-appointed, administrative, appoint, appoint somebody (as), call in, in the hands of the receiver |
| Antonyms | television, silence | sender, giver |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'radio' as a verb (e.g., 'I will radio you') due to informal usage., Using 'radios' as singular when referring to the device., Mispronouncing the first syllable ('rah'-dio instead of 'ray'-dio). | Confusing 'receiver' with 'receiver's' (possessive form), Using 'received' instead of 'receiver' as a noun, Mistaking 'receiver' for 'receiver' in sports contexts only |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in day-to-day conversations. In formal writing, you might refer to specific types of radios or their purposes, but generally, 'radio' is appropriate in most contexts. | Typically used in contexts involving communication or delivery. It can refer to a person getting a message, package, or other items. Avoid in very casual conversations unless necessary. |
Frequently asked questions: Radio vs Receiver
What's the difference between Radio and Receiver?
Radio: A device that plays sound through the air, often for music or news. Receiver: a person or thing that gets something
Which is more common: Radio and Receiver?
Radio is the most common in everyday English.
Are Radio and Receiver the same CEFR level?
Radio: A1, Receiver: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Radio and Receiver interchangeably?
Not always. Radio and Receiver 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.