Cool MateLegend vs Story
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Legend
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Story
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most common: Story
| Legend | Story | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈlɛdʒ.ənd//🇺🇸 //ˈlɛdʒ.ənd// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstɔːri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstɔːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | A traditional story about famous people or events. | A description of events, real or made up. |
| Example | The legend of King Arthur has inspired many stories and movies. | The teacher asked us to write a story about our summer vacation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | urban legend, sports legend, folklore legend, legend has it, local legend | true, plausible, false, collection, hear, read (somebody), write, circulate, go around, go round, teller, telling, line, according to a/the story, story about, story of, a fragment of a/the story, a part of a/the story, the rest of the story, true, plausible, false, collection, hear, read (somebody), write, circulate, go around, go round, teller, telling, line, according to a/the story, story about, story of, a fragment of a/the story, a part of a/the story, the rest of the story, true, plausible, false, collection, hear, read (somebody), write, circulate, go around, go round, teller, telling, line, according to a/the story, story about, story of, a fragment of a/the story, a part of a/the story, the rest of the story, big, huge, top, file, write, carry, break, story about, story of |
| Antonyms | fact, reality | truth, fact |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'legend' with 'myth' - 'legend' often has some basis in reality., Using 'legends' for singular contexts - remember it can be both singular and plural. | Confused with 'history' when referring to real events., Using 'story' as a verb instead of a noun. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for storytelling, history discussions, and cultural references. Avoid using in overly casual contexts. | Used in both spoken and written English. Can refer to fictional tales or real-life accounts. Avoid using in overly formal contexts like academic papers. |
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Frequently asked questions: Legend vs Story
What's the difference between Legend and Story?
Legend: A traditional story about famous people or events. Story: A description of events, real or made up.
Which is more common: Legend and Story?
Story is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Legend and Story?
Legend is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Legend and Story the same CEFR level?
Legend: B2, Story: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Legend and Story?
Legend: noun, Story: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Legend: The legend of King Arthur has inspired many stories and movies. Story: The teacher asked us to write a story about our summer vacation.
Can I use Legend and Story interchangeably?
Not always. Legend and Story 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.