Cool MateCome on vs Let's go
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Come on
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)
Let's go
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most formal: Let's go
| Come on | Let's go | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kʌm ɒn//🇺🇸 //kʌm ɑn// | 🇬🇧 //lɛts ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //lɛts ɡoʊ// |
| Meaning | A phrase used to encourage someone or show disbelief. | A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together. |
| Example | Come on, we don't have all day! | Let's go to the park this afternoon. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | come on over, come on in, come on guys | let's go out, let's go home, let's go eat |
| Antonyms | go away, leave, stop, give up | - |
| Common mistakes | Using in formal settings where a more polite phrase is required., Confusing with 'come along', which has a different meaning., Using it without context, making it unclear. | Using 'lets' instead of 'let's' as a contraction for 'let us', Confusing the meaning with 'let go', Not using it with a verb following, e.g., 'let's walk' |
| Usage notes | Use 'come on' to motivate someone or express frustration. It's informal and may be inappropriate in formal situations. | Commonly used for invitations or suggestions. Suitable in casual conversations among friends, but less formal in business settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Come on vs Let's go
What's the difference between Come on and Let's go?
Come on: A phrase used to encourage someone or show disbelief. Let's go: A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together.
Which is more formal: Come on and Let's go?
Let's go is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Come on: Come on, we don't have all day! Let's go: Let's go to the park this afternoon.
Can I use Come on and Let's go interchangeably?
Not always. Come on and Let's go 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.