Label vs Title

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

Label

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

Title

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

	Label	Title
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈleɪbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈleɪbl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈtaɪtl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈtaɪtl/"]/
Meaning	A word or symbol that tells you what something is.	A name for a book, movie, or other work.
Example	Please attach a label to each box so we know what’s inside.	The title of the book is very intriguing.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	A1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	adhesive, sticky, package, bear, carry, have, on a/​the label, label on, ideological, party, apply, assign, attach, music, record, major, launch, sign to, sign with, under a/​the label	album, book, chapter, give something, page, sequence, character, under a/​the title, new, best-selling, book, publish, release, grand, long, courtesy, bear, have, inherit, grand, long, courtesy, bear, have, inherit, European, national, world, capture, claim, clinch, challenge, shot, defence/​defense
Antonyms	unlabelled, nameless	subtitle, footer
Common mistakes	'Label' is sometimes confused with 'tag' even though they can have different uses., Learners might forget to use 'label' as a verb and instead use it only as a noun., Some learners use 'label' incorrectly in plural forms like 'labeles'.	'Titling' used incorrectly as a verb instead of 'titled'., Confusing 'title' with 'headline' in news contexts., Using 'title' for proper names instead of 'name' in informal settings.
Usage notes	Use 'label' when referring to names or tags for items. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in very casual conversations.	Use 'title' when referring to the name of a creative work. It's neutral and widely applicable, but avoid it in very casual contexts where people might use simpler terms.

See it in real clips

Sherlock › S1 E1

John, on the luggage, there's a label.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Did it have a label on it?

Sherlock › S1 E1

John, on the luggage, there's a label.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Did it have a label on it?

Label

Frequently asked questions: Label vs Title

What's the difference between Label and Title?

Label: A word or symbol that tells you what something is. Title: A name for a book, movie, or other work.

Which is more advanced: Label and Title?

Label is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Label and Title the same CEFR level?

Label: B1, Title: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Label and Title?

Label: noun, Title: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Label: Please attach a label to each box so we know what’s inside. Title: The title of the book is very intriguing.

Can I use Label and Title interchangeably?

Not always. Label and Title 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.