Cool MateLet's go vs What are we waiting for
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Let's go
Top 1,000 (very common)
What are we waiting for
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Let's go
| Let's go | What are we waiting for | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lɛts ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //lɛts ɡoʊ// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɑː wɪ ˈweɪtɪŋ fɔː//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɑr wi ˈweɪtɪŋ fɔr// |
| Meaning | A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together. | Why are we not starting yet? |
| Example | Let's go to the park this afternoon. | We've planned this trip for months, so what are we waiting for? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | let's go out, let's go home, let's go eat | waiting for something, waiting for the signal, waiting for a response |
| Antonyms | - | Let's act now, No delay, Immediate action |
| Common mistakes | Using 'lets' instead of 'let's' as a contraction for 'let us', Confusing the meaning with 'let go', Not using it with a verb following, e.g., 'let's walk' | Using it in a formal situation without context., Confusing with related phrases like 'What are we waiting?', Neglecting to add a subject when rephrasing. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used for invitations or suggestions. Suitable in casual conversations among friends, but less formal in business settings. | Used to prompt action when there's hesitation; informal in casual settings, appropriate in discussions or meetings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Let's go vs What are we waiting for
What's the difference between Let's go and What are we waiting for?
Let's go: A way to suggest leaving or starting an activity together. What are we waiting for: Why are we not starting yet?
Which is more common: Let's go and What are we waiting for?
Let's go is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Let's go: Let's go to the park this afternoon. What are we waiting for: We've planned this trip for months, so what are we waiting for?
Can I use Let's go and What are we waiting for interchangeably?
Not always. Let's go and What are we waiting for 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.