Cool MateSales vs Turnover
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Sales
Top 1,000 (very common)
Turnover
Top 1,000 (very common)C1noun
| Sales | Turnover | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //seɪlz//🇺🇸 //seɪlz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɜːnəʊvə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɜːrnəʊvər/"]/ |
| Meaning | The action of selling something. | The amount of money a business makes in a specific time period. |
| Example | The company's sales reached a record high this quarter. | The company reported a high turnover in staff this year. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | increase sales, sales target, sales report, sales strategy, direct sales | high, low, company, boast, have, record, be up, be down, double, figure, growth, rate, a decline in turnover, an fall in turnover, an increase in turnover, fast, rapid, high, have, reduce, rate, turnover in |
| Antonyms | purchase, buying, acquisition | loss, deficit |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'sale' - 'sales' refers to the process, while 'sale' refers to a transaction., Using 'sales' as a singular noun., Misusing as a verb - 'sales' is a noun, not a verb. | Confused with 'turn over' as a verb phrase., Using in a non-business context incorrectly., Assuming it only refers to staff changes, not sales. |
| Usage notes | Used in both business and day-to-day contexts. Appropriate in formal and informal discussions about commerce. | Commonly used in business contexts to refer to sales or revenue. Not appropriate in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Sales vs Turnover
What's the difference between Sales and Turnover?
Sales: The action of selling something. Turnover: The amount of money a business makes in a specific time period.
Can you show an example of each?
Sales: The company's sales reached a record high this quarter. Turnover: The company reported a high turnover in staff this year.
Can I use Sales and Turnover interchangeably?
Not always. Sales and Turnover 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.