Cool MateEnjoy vs Love what
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Enjoy
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Love what
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Enjoy
| Enjoy | Love what | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/","/ɪnˈdʒɔɪz/","/ɪnˈdʒɔɪd/","/ɪnˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/","/ɪnˈdʒɔɪz/","/ɪnˈdʒɔɪd/","/ɪnˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //lʌv wɒt//🇺🇸 //lʌv wɑt// |
| Meaning | to like or take pleasure in something | A phrase used to express enjoyment or appreciation of something. |
| Example | I really enjoy reading novels in my free time. | I love what you've done with the decorations! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | enormously, greatly, hugely, be able to, seem to, begin to, enjoy yourself, just enjoy it/something, enormously, greatly, hugely, be able to, seem to, begin to, enjoy yourself, just enjoy it/something | love what you do, love what you see, love what you hear |
| Antonyms | dislike, hate, detest | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'enjoy' with gerunds incorrectly; it should be 'enjoy doing' not 'enjoy to do'., Confusing the use of 'enjoy' with 'like' although they have similar meanings, 'enjoy' often implies a deeper appreciation., Omitting the object of 'enjoy' can lead to incomplete sentences. | Confused with 'love that' - 'love what' is more specific., Using 'love what' with incomplete clauses., Incorrectly stressing 'what' in casual speech. |
| Usage notes | Use 'enjoy' when talking about activities or experiences that are pleasurable. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but is more common in casual conversation. Avoid in overly formal contexts. | Use this phrase when you want to show strong positive feelings towards something specific. It is often used in responses to questions or statements. |
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Frequently asked questions: Enjoy vs Love what
What's the difference between Enjoy and Love what?
Enjoy: to like or take pleasure in something Love what: A phrase used to express enjoyment or appreciation of something.
Which is more common: Enjoy and Love what?
Enjoy is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Enjoy: I really enjoy reading novels in my free time. Love what: I love what you've done with the decorations!
Can I use Enjoy and Love what interchangeably?
Not always. Enjoy and Love what 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.