Cool MateStay vs You're gonna stick around
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Stay
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
You're gonna stick around
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: StayMost common: Stay
| Stay | You're gonna stick around | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/steɪ/","/steɪz/","/steɪd/","/ˈsteɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/steɪ/","/steɪz/","/steɪd/","/ˈsteɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊəɹ ɡənə stɪk əˈɹaʊnd//🇺🇸 //jʊɹ ˈɡɑnə stɪk əˈraʊnd// |
| Meaning | to remain in a place or not leave | You will stay in one place for a while. |
| Example | Please stay here until I return. | I really like the party vibe, I think I'm gonna stick around. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | behind, on, on, allow somebody to, can, manage to, at, in, on, a place to stay, a reason to stay, stay and chat, help, etc., behind, on, on, allow somebody to, can, manage to, at, in, on, a place to stay, a reason to stay, stay and chat, help, etc. | stick around for a while, gonna stick around, stick around with friends |
| Antonyms | leave, depart, go | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'stay' with an object when it should be intransitive (e.g., saying 'stay the book' instead of 'stay at home'), Mixing up 'stay' with 'wait' when referring to time spent, Confusing 'stay' with 'remain' in contexts where only one fits. | Confused with 'stick around' as just a location reference without emotional context., Using in overly formal situations where casual phrases are not suitable. |
| Usage notes | Use 'stay' when you want to express remaining somewhere, often temporary. It's versatile for casual and formal contexts. Avoid using it in highly formal writing. | Use this phrase in casual conversations to indicate that someone will remain present. It's friendly and can imply support. Avoid in formal settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Stay vs You're gonna stick around
What's the difference between Stay and You're gonna stick around?
Stay: to remain in a place or not leave You're gonna stick around: You will stay in one place for a while.
Which is more formal: Stay and You're gonna stick around?
Stay is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Stay and You're gonna stick around?
Stay is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Stay: Please stay here until I return. You're gonna stick around: I really like the party vibe, I think I'm gonna stick around.
Can I use Stay and You're gonna stick around interchangeably?
Not always. Stay and You're gonna stick around 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.