Cool MateAdmire vs I respect you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
I respect you
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Admire
| Admire | I respect you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmaɪə(r)/","/ədˈmaɪəz/","/ədˈmaɪəd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmaɪər/","/ədˈmaɪərz/","/ədˈmaɪərd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aɪ rɪˈspɛkt juː//🇺🇸 //aɪ rɪˈspɛkt juː// |
| Meaning | To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. | I admire you or think highly of you. |
| Example | I really admire her dedication to her work. | I respect you for your honesty during difficult times. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | deeply, enormously, greatly, have to, about, for, be generally admired, be widely admired, can’t help admiring, pause to, stop to, stand back to | earn respect, show respect, mutual respect, demand respect, command respect |
| Antonyms | despise, disdain, scorn | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admiration' as a verb., Incorrectly using 'admire' without an object., Using 'admire' inappropriately in casual contexts. | Often used without follow-up, leading to misunderstandings about depth of feeling., Confused with 'I respect your opinion', which is more about valuing someone's views., Learners might omit the subject and simply say 'Respect you', which is incorrect. |
| Usage notes | Use 'admire' when you want to express respect or approval for someone or something. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, but might come across as less common in very casual conversations. | Used to show admiration or high regard for someone. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts but can feel more personal in close relationships. |
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Frequently asked questions: Admire vs I respect you
What's the difference between Admire and I respect you?
Admire: To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. I respect you: I admire you or think highly of you.
Which is more common: Admire and I respect you?
Admire is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Admire: I really admire her dedication to her work. I respect you: I respect you for your honesty during difficult times.
Can I use Admire and I respect you interchangeably?
Not always. Admire and I respect you 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.