Stay here vs You aren't going anywhere else

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Stay here

Top 1,000 (very common)

You aren't going anywhere else

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Stay here
 Stay hereYou aren't going anywhere else
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //steɪ hɪə//🇺🇸 //steɪ hɪr//🇬🇧 //juː ɑːnt ˈɡəʊɪŋ ˈɛls//🇺🇸 //juː ɑːrnt ˈɡoʊɪŋ ˈɛls//
MeaningDon't leave this place.You are not going to another place.
ExamplePlease stay here while I find a seat.You aren't going anywhere else until you finish your homework.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
Collocationsstay here for now, stay here and wait, stay here with megoing anywhere else, aren't going anywhere, not going anywhere, stay right here, don’t leave
Antonymsleave, go away, depart-
Common mistakesConfusing with 'stay away' which means to not come near., Incorrectly using 'stay' with a subject that does not fit, like 'stay he'.Using 'anyplace' instead of 'anywhere'., Confusing with 'You aren't going anywhere'., Omitting 'else' for clarity.
Usage notesUsed to instruct someone to remain in a specific location. More common in neutral and informal contexts, but can be appropriate in formal situations too.Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that someone is not allowed to leave or go to a different location. It's suitable in both casual and formal contexts but can come off as slightly forceful.

See it in real clips

Stay here
You aren't going anywhere else

Frequently asked questions: Stay here vs You aren't going anywhere else

What's the difference between Stay here and You aren't going anywhere else?

Stay here: Don't leave this place. You aren't going anywhere else: You are not going to another place.

Which is more common: Stay here and You aren't going anywhere else?

Stay here is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Stay here: Please stay here while I find a seat. You aren't going anywhere else: You aren't going anywhere else until you finish your homework.

Can I use Stay here and You aren't going anywhere else interchangeably?

Not always. Stay here and You aren't going anywhere else 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.

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