Cool MateTerribly vs Very
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Terribly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Very
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Very
| Terribly | Very | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈterəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈterəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈveri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈveri/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very badly or extremely. | used to emphasize something |
| Example | I'm terribly sorry—did I hurt you? | This cake is very delicious! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | terribly wrong, terribly sorry, terribly afraid, terribly upset | very good, very bad, very happy, very important, very fast |
| Antonyms | wonderfully, fantastically, nicely | not, slightly, somewhat |
| Common mistakes | Using 'terribly' with positive contexts (e.g., 'terribly good' instead of 'really good')., Confusing 'terribly' with 'terrific' which has the opposite meaning., Omitting it when making a strong negative statement. | Using 'very' with negative adjectives like 'bad' too much., Confusing with 'really' in casual conversation., Overusing 'very' can make writing less impactful. |
| Usage notes | Use 'terribly' to emphasize a negative situation or quality. It's common in both spoken and written English but avoid in formal contexts. For example, 'I felt terribly tired.' | Used to increase the intensity of adjectives or adverbs. Best for neutral situations; avoid in formal writing where 'extremely' may be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Terribly vs Very
What's the difference between Terribly and Very?
Terribly: Very badly or extremely. Very: used to emphasize something
Which is more common: Terribly and Very?
Very is the most common in everyday English.
Are Terribly and Very the same CEFR level?
Terribly: B2, Very: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Terribly and Very interchangeably?
Not always. Terribly 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.