Cool MatePartially vs Partly vs Somewhat
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Partially
Partly
Somewhat
| Partially | Partly | Somewhat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɑːʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːrʃəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɑːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːrtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌmwɒt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌmwʌt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not completely; a little bit. | Not completely; some amount. | To a certain degree or extent. |
| Example | The road was partially blocked by a fallen tree. | The project is partly finished, but we still have a lot of work to do. | **somewhat different/similar** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | partially completed, partially responsible, partially understood | partly cloudy, partly responsible, partly true, partly finished, partly understood | somewhat related, somewhat different, somewhat surprised, somewhat difficult, somewhat helpful |
| Antonyms | completely, entirely, wholly | wholly, completely, entirely | completely, totally, absolutely |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'participle' due to similar sound., Using 'partially' when 'completely' was intended., Forgetting to use it with a verb or adjective. | 'Partly' is sometimes confused with 'part' as in the amount., Some learners use 'partly' incorrectly with a noun instead of an adjective., Mistakenly using 'partly' in place of 'mostly' or 'mainly'. | 'Somewhat' used incorrectly as an adjective., Confused with 'somewhat like' in contexts where 'somewhat' doesn’t need a comparison., Overusing 'somewhat' in sentences where a stronger adverb is necessary. |
| Usage notes | Use this word when something is done to some extent but not entirely. It's suitable for academic and everyday contexts but may sound too formal in casual speech. | Use 'partly' when you want to describe something that is only true in part. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid using it in overly formal contexts. | Use 'somewhat' when you want to describe something that is not completely true but partially so. It's neutral, so it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Partially vs Partly vs Somewhat
What's the difference between Partially, Partly, and Somewhat?
Partially: Not completely; a little bit. Partly: Not completely; some amount. Somewhat: To a certain degree or extent.
Which is more advanced: Partially, Partly, and Somewhat?
Partially is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Partially, Partly, and Somewhat the same CEFR level?
Partially: C1, Partly: B2, Somewhat: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Partially, Partly, and Somewhat?
Partially: adverb, Partly: adverb, Somewhat: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Partially: The road was partially blocked by a fallen tree. Partly: The project is partly finished, but we still have a lot of work to do. Somewhat: **somewhat different/similar**
Can I use Partially, Partly, and Somewhat interchangeably?
Not always. Partially, Partly, and Somewhat 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.