Fellow vs There's one gentleman in the bathroom

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Fellow

Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective

There's one gentleman in the bathroom

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Fellow
 FellowThere's one gentleman in the bathroom
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeləʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeləʊ/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈdʒɛn.tl.mən//🇺🇸 //ˈdʒɛn.təl.mən//
MeaningA person who shares something in common with you, like a job or interest.A polite way to refer to a man.
Example**fellow citizens/students**There's one gentleman in the bathroom, so we should wait our turn.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsfellow student, fellow worker, fellow traveler, fellow member, fellow countrymangentleman behavior, true gentleman, gentlemanly manner, gentleman in a suit, chivalrous gentleman
Antonymsenemy, rival-
Common mistakesConfused with 'fellow' vs 'follow'., Using 'fellow' for an individual without a collective context., Mispronouncing as 'fello' instead of 'fellow'.Confusing 'gentleman' with 'man' in formal contexts., Using 'gentlemen' when referring to a single man., Mispronouncing the word, especially in rapid speech.
Usage notesUsed when referring to people in a similar group, often in an academic or professional context. Avoid using for casual conversations; instead, use 'friend' or 'buddy'.Often used in polite conversations. Avoid using in casual or joking contexts.

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Fellow
There's one gentleman in the bathroom

Frequently asked questions: Fellow vs There's one gentleman in the bathroom

What's the difference between Fellow and There's one gentleman in the bathroom?

Fellow: A person who shares something in common with you, like a job or interest. There's one gentleman in the bathroom: A polite way to refer to a man.

Which is more common: Fellow and There's one gentleman in the bathroom?

Fellow is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Fellow: **fellow citizens/students** There's one gentleman in the bathroom: There's one gentleman in the bathroom, so we should wait our turn.

Can I use Fellow and There's one gentleman in the bathroom interchangeably?

Not always. Fellow and There's one gentleman in the bathroom 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.

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