Cool MateThat's incredible vs That's unbelievable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That's incredible
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
That's unbelievable
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: That's unbelievable
| That's incredible | That's unbelievable | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ɪnˈkrɛdəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ɪnˈkrɛdɪbəl// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbəl// |
| Meaning | That's amazing or unbelievable. | It's hard to believe; it's shocking. |
| Example | Did you see how high he jumped? That's incredible! | When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | That's incredible news, That's incredible talent, That's incredible technology | That's unbelievable news, That's unbelievable behavior, That's unbelievable luck |
| Common mistakes | Using it sarcastically in a serious conversation., Confusing with 'That's amazing' in terms of intensity. | Used in negative situations instead of positive ones., Saying 'This is unbelievable' instead of 'That's unbelievable' in conversations., Confusing with 'That's incredible' which has a more positive connotation. |
| Usage notes | Used to express admiration or disbelief. Suitable in both formal and casual conversations. Avoid in overly serious contexts. | Commonly used in casual conversation to express surprise or disbelief. Avoid in overly formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: That's incredible vs That's unbelievable
What's the difference between That's incredible and That's unbelievable?
That's incredible: That's amazing or unbelievable. That's unbelievable: It's hard to believe; it's shocking.
Which is more common: That's incredible and That's unbelievable?
That's unbelievable is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That's incredible: Did you see how high he jumped? That's incredible! That's unbelievable: When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!'
Can I use That's incredible and That's unbelievable interchangeably?
Not always. That's incredible and That's unbelievable 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.