Cool MateGuess what vs Imagine
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Guess what
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Imagine
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: ImagineMost common: Imagine
| Guess what | Imagine | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡɛs wɒt//🇺🇸 //ɡɛs wɑt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈmædʒɪn/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnz/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnd/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈmædʒɪn/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnz/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnd/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A phrase to ask someone to figure something out. | To think about something that is not present or real. |
| Example | Guess what! I got the job I applied for! | Can you imagine how beautiful the sunset will be? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | guess what happened, guess what I found, guess what she said | clearly, easily, readily, can, try to, begin to, let us imagine, really, seriously, almost, be easy to, be imagining things, real and imagined, real or imagined |
| Antonyms | ignore, know for certain, disregard | dismiss, ignore, disbelieve |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal situations., Forgetting to follow up with the surprise., Omitting 'what' and saying just 'guess'. | 'Imagine' used without an object, resulting in incomplete sentences., Confusing 'imagine' with 'imaginable', which has a different meaning., Using 'imagine' in past forms incorrectly, like 'imagined' when referring to ongoing thoughts. |
| Usage notes | Used to introduce surprising or interesting news. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'imagine' to express thoughts or visuals in casual and creative contexts. It's appropriate for storytelling or brainstorming but might not fit formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Guess what vs Imagine
What's the difference between Guess what and Imagine?
Guess what: A phrase to ask someone to figure something out. Imagine: To think about something that is not present or real.
Which is more formal: Guess what and Imagine?
Imagine is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Guess what and Imagine?
Imagine is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Guess what: Guess what! I got the job I applied for! Imagine: Can you imagine how beautiful the sunset will be?
Can I use Guess what and Imagine interchangeably?
Not always. Guess what and Imagine 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.