Cool MateReally vs Who would believe it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Who would believe it
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: ReallyMost common: Really
| Really | Who would believe it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //huː wʊd bɪˈliːv ɪt//🇺🇸 //hu wʊd bɪˈliv ɪt// |
| Meaning | very or truly | a phrase expressing disbelief or surprise |
| Example | I really enjoy going to the beach. | She won the lottery again? Who would believe it! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important | who would think, believe it or not, can you believe it |
| Antonyms | seldom, never | - |
| 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 it in formal situations where a serious response is needed., Not emphasizing the surprise, making it sound flat., Confusing it with similar expressions like 'can you believe it?' |
| 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. | Use this expression when you are surprised by something unbelievable. Best for casual conversations, not for formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Really vs Who would believe it
What's the difference between Really and Who would believe it?
Really: very or truly Who would believe it: a phrase expressing disbelief or surprise
Which is more formal: Really and Who would believe it?
Really is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Really and Who would believe it?
Really is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Really: I really enjoy going to the beach. Who would believe it: She won the lottery again? Who would believe it!
Can I use Really and Who would believe it interchangeably?
Not always. Really and Who would believe it 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.