Cool MateClever vs You are brilliant
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Clever
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
You are brilliant
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Clever
| Clever | You are brilliant | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈklevə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈklevər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ əˈbrɪljənt//🇺🇸 //ju ɑr ˈbrɪljənt// |
| Meaning | Smart and good at finding solutions. | You are very smart or clever. |
| Example | She is very clever and always solves the puzzles quickly. | You are brilliant at solving complex math problems. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, with, too clever by half, too clever for your own good, be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, with, too clever by half, too clever for your own good, be, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, with, too clever by half, too clever for your own good | you are brilliant at, you are brilliant in, you are brilliantly creative |
| Antonyms | dull, stupid, foolish | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'smart' - 'clever' often implies resourcefulness., Used incorrectly as a noun - remember it’s an adjective., Overused in formal contexts where 'intelligent' might be more suitable. | Confused with 'you are brill' - 'brill' is slang and may not be understood by all., Overusing in professional settings - it can sound overly familiar., Adding unnecessary words - simply saying 'you are brilliant' is best. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe someone who is intelligent or quick-witted. Can be used positively or negatively depending on context. For example, it's good to be clever in problem-solving, but can imply cunning if used in a different context. | Use this phrase to compliment someone. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Clever vs You are brilliant
What's the difference between Clever and You are brilliant?
Clever: Smart and good at finding solutions. You are brilliant: You are very smart or clever.
Which is more common: Clever and You are brilliant?
Clever is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Clever: She is very clever and always solves the puzzles quickly. You are brilliant: You are brilliant at solving complex math problems.
Can I use Clever and You are brilliant interchangeably?
Not always. Clever and You are brilliant 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.