Cool MatePartly vs Somewhat
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Partly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Somewhat
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| Partly | Somewhat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɑːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːrtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌmwɒt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌmwʌt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not completely; some amount. | To a certain degree or extent. |
| Example | The project is partly finished, but we still have a lot of work to do. | **somewhat different/similar** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | partly cloudy, partly responsible, partly true, partly finished, partly understood | somewhat related, somewhat different, somewhat surprised, somewhat difficult, somewhat helpful |
| Antonyms | wholly, completely, entirely | completely, totally, absolutely |
| Common mistakes | '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 '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: Partly vs Somewhat
What's the difference between Partly and Somewhat?
Partly: Not completely; some amount. Somewhat: To a certain degree or extent.
Are Partly and Somewhat the same CEFR level?
Partly: B2, Somewhat: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Partly and Somewhat?
Partly: adverb, Somewhat: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Partly: The project is partly finished, but we still have a lot of work to do. Somewhat: **somewhat different/similar**
Can I use Partly and Somewhat interchangeably?
Not always. 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.