Cool MateReceive vs Welcome
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Receive
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Welcome
Top 1,000 (very common)A1exclamation
| Receive | Welcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwelkəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwelkəm/"]/ |
| Meaning | to get something from someone | Hello and nice to see you. |
| Example | I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. | Welcome home! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | exclamation |
| Collocations | regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive, enthusiastically, favourably/favorably, warmly, with, regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive, regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive | a warm welcome, welcome message, welcome addition, welcome change, welcome party |
| Antonyms | give, send, offer | unwelcome, excluded, rejected |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'receive' with 'recieve' — the correct spelling has 'ie', 'Receive' is not used with 'to' — say 'receive a gift' not 'receive to a gift', Using 'receiving' as a noun — remember it's a verb or part of a verb phrase | Using 'welcomed' instead of 'welcome' when greeting someone., Confusing 'welcome' with 'welcomed' in past tense situations., Not using it correctly in a sentence, like saying 'I welcome you here' instead of 'I welcome you'. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both written and spoken English. Can be used in formal contexts, such as receiving awards, or informal situations like receiving a text message. Avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler terms like 'get' might fit better. | Used in greetings. Appropriate in most situations, formal and informal. In formal settings, you might say 'We welcome you to our event'. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Receive vs Welcome
What's the difference between Receive and Welcome?
Receive: to get something from someone Welcome: Hello and nice to see you.
Which is more advanced: Receive and Welcome?
Receive is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Receive and Welcome the same CEFR level?
Receive: A2, Welcome: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Receive and Welcome?
Receive: verb, Welcome: exclamation.
Can you show an example of each?
Receive: I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. Welcome: Welcome home!
Can I use Receive and Welcome interchangeably?
Not always. Receive and Welcome 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.