Cool MateTerrific vs Wonderful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Terrific
Top 1,000 (very common)C1adjective
Wonderful
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Terrific | Wonderful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/təˈrɪfɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/təˈrɪfɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌndəfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwʌndərfl/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very good or excellent. | Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy. |
| Example | She did a terrific job presenting her project to the class. | The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | terrific job, terrific idea, terrific time, terrific experience, terrific performance | be, feel, look, most, really, absolutely, strange and wonderful, weird and wonderful |
| Antonyms | terrible, awful, bad, dreadful | terrible, awful, bad |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'terrible', which means the opposite., Use it too casually in formal or serious contexts., Use it to describe something bad. | Using 'wonderful' too often; it can sound repetitive., Mixing up with 'wonderfull' which is incorrect., Confusing 'wonderful' with 'wonder' which has a different meaning. |
| Usage notes | Used to express enthusiasm or positivity, often in informal contexts. Avoid using in overly serious or formal discussions. | Use 'wonderful' to describe experiences, events, or things that bring joy. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but avoid using it in overly casual contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Terrific vs Wonderful
What's the difference between Terrific and Wonderful?
Terrific: Very good or excellent. Wonderful: Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy.
Which is more advanced: Terrific and Wonderful?
Terrific is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Terrific and Wonderful the same CEFR level?
Terrific: C1, Wonderful: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Terrific and Wonderful?
Terrific: adjective, Wonderful: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Terrific: She did a terrific job presenting her project to the class. Wonderful: The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful.
Can I use Terrific and Wonderful interchangeably?
Not always. Terrific and Wonderful 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.