Cool MateGreet vs Welcome
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Greet
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Welcome
Top 1,000 (very common)A1exclamation
| Greet | Welcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡriːt/","/ɡriːts/","/ˈɡriːtɪd/","/ˈɡriːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡriːt/","/ɡriːts/","/ˈɡriːtɪd/","/ˈɡriːtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwelkəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwelkəm/"]/ |
| Meaning | To say hello to someone. | Hello and nice to see you. |
| Example | I always greet my friends with a smile. | Welcome home! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | exclamation |
| Collocations | cheerfully, enthusiastically, warmly, be there to, be waiting to, come to, with, greet somebody by name, enthusiastically, coolly, with | a warm welcome, welcome message, welcome addition, welcome change, welcome party |
| Antonyms | ignore, snub | unwelcome, excluded, rejected |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'meet' — 'greet' is specifically about saying hello., Using 'greet' without an object — e.g., you should say 'greet him' or 'greet the guests'. | Using 'welcomed' instead of 'welcome' when greeting someone., Confusing 'welcome' with 'welcomed' in past tense situations., Not using it correctly in a sentence, like saying 'I welcome you here' instead of 'I welcome you'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'greet' when meeting someone or acknowledging their presence. More formal than 'say hi' but appropriate for most situations. Avoid using it in very casual contexts with friends. | Used in greetings. Appropriate in most situations, formal and informal. In formal settings, you might say 'We welcome you to our event'. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Greet vs Welcome
What's the difference between Greet and Welcome?
Greet: To say hello to someone. Welcome: Hello and nice to see you.
Which is more advanced: Greet and Welcome?
Greet is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Greet and Welcome the same CEFR level?
Greet: A2, Welcome: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Greet and Welcome?
Greet: verb, Welcome: exclamation.
Can you show an example of each?
Greet: I always greet my friends with a smile. Welcome: Welcome home!
Can I use Greet and Welcome interchangeably?
Not always. Greet and Welcome 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.