Cool MateReally vs Very
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Very
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
| Really | Very | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈveri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈveri/"]/ |
| Meaning | very or truly | used to emphasize something |
| Example | I really enjoy going to the beach. | This cake is very delicious! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important | very good, very bad, very happy, very important, very fast |
| Antonyms | seldom, never | not, slightly, somewhat |
| Common mistakes | Using it in place of 'real' when describing a noun., Confusing it with 'really' in terms of degree, e.g., 'really good' instead of 'very good'. | Using 'very' with negative adjectives like 'bad' too much., Confusing with 'really' in casual conversation., Overusing 'very' can make writing less impactful. |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb. It can be informal in casual conversations but is accepted in most contexts; avoid overusing it in formal writing. | Used to increase the intensity of adjectives or adverbs. Best for neutral situations; avoid in formal writing where 'extremely' may be preferred. |
Frequently asked questions: Really vs Very
What's the difference between Really and Very?
Really: very or truly Very: used to emphasize something
Are Really and Very the same CEFR level?
Really: A1, Very: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Really and Very?
Really: adverb, Very: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Really: I really enjoy going to the beach. Very: This cake is very delicious!
Can I use Really and Very interchangeably?
Not always. Really and Very 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.