Learning the difference between formal and informal English words is very important for speaking and writing well. We use formal words in school, work, and official situations, while informal words are more common with friends, family, or online chats. Knowing when to use the right word helps us sound clear and respectful. In this article, you’ll learn 500 Formal vs Informal Words with pictures to help you understand and revise them easily. This is a fun and simple way to build your English vocabulary for any situation.
Table of Contents
ToggleCommonly Used Formal vs Informal Vocabulary Words
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Assist | Help | Commence | Start |
Reside | Live | Purchase | Buy |
Depart | Leave | Inform | Tell |
Arrive | Show up | Endeavor | Try |
Permit | Let | Request | Ask for |
Acquire | Get | Cease | Stop |
Consume | Eat | Encounter | Meet |
Investigate | Look into | Repair | Fix |
Respond | Reply | Demonstrate | Show |
Disclose | Tell | Conclude | Finish |
Construct | Build | Eliminate | Get rid of |
Reject | Turn down | Verify | Check |
Delay | Hold off | Decrease | Cut down |
Distribute | Give out | Increase | Go up |
Complete | Finish up | Require | Need |
Participate | Join in | Collaborate | Team up |
Cancel | Call off | Clarify | Clear up |
Respond | Get back | Assist | Lend a hand |
Permit | Okay | Demonstrate | Act out |

Commonly Used Formal vs Informal Vocabulary Words
Everyday Formal and Casual Vocabulary Differences
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Postpone | Put off | Retain | Keep |
Occupy | Take up | Appear | Show up |
Utilize | Use | Ascertain | Find out |
Authorize | Okay | Consult | Ask |
Commence | Kick off | Prohibit | Ban |
Contain | Hold | Discontinue | Quit |
Establish | Set up | Observe | See |
Facilitate | Help | Function | Work |
Illustrate | Show | Implement | Carry out |
Indicate | Point out | Initiate | Start |
Integrate | Mix in | Maintain | Keep up |
Neglect | Skip | Notify | Let know |
Operate | Run | Predict | Guess |
Provide | Give | Receive | Get |
Recognize | Spot | Recommend | Suggest |
Reflect | Think about | Reinforce | Back up |
Remove | Take away | Resolve | Sort out |
Resume | Pick up | Review | Go over |
Secure | Lock down | Specify | Point out |

Everyday Formal and Casual Vocabulary Differences
Most Common Polite vs Casual English Words
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Submit | Hand in | Suggest | Put forward |
Terminate | Fire | Apologize | Say sorry |
Author | Writer | Continue | Keep going |
Appreciate | Be thankful | Inquire | Ask |
Verify | Double-check | Consider | Think about |
Acknowledge | Admit | Acquire | Grab |
Approve | Say yes | Attempt | Give it a go |
Clarify | Explain | Disapprove | Say no |
Disclose | Spill | Evaluate | Check out |
Exhibit | Show off | Finalize | Wrap up |
Forecast | Predict | Generate | Make |
Interact | Talk to | Justify | Explain |
Maximize | Get the most | Minimize | Cut down |
Notify | Let know | Obtain | Pick up |
Postpone | Delay | Recognize | Know |
Reflect | Think back | Reject | Say no to |
Represent | Speak for | Resolve | Fix up |
Respond | Text back | Specify | Say clearly |
Strengthen | Beef up | Suggest | Bring up |

Most Common Polite vs Casual English Words
Commonly Used Formal vs Informal Words in English
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Transport | Move | Proceed | Go ahead |
Generate | Come up with | Encounter | Bump into |
Contract | Deal | Destroy | Wreck |
Collaborate | Work with | Conserve | Save |
Contribute | Chip in | Diminish | Go down |
Dominate | Take over | Establish | Kick off |
Enhance | Boost | Examine | Check out |
Expand | Grow | Express | Say |
Guarantee | Promise | Handle | Deal with |
Identify | Pick out | Impact | Hit |
Influence | Sway | Initiate | Kickstart |
Inspect | Look at | Involve | Bring in |
Maintain | Keep up | Motivate | Fire up |
Organize | Set up | Participate | Join |
Persist | Keep at it | Prepare | Get ready |
Prevent | Stop | Promote | Push |
Pursue | Go after | Reflect | Think back |
Reinforce | Support | Repair | Patch up |
Respond | Hit back | Reveal | Spill |

Commonly Used Formal vs Informal Words in English
Simple Comparison of Business vs Friendly English vocabulary words
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Schedule | Plan | Register | Sign up |
Allocate | Hand out | Anticipate | Expect |
Authorize | Approve | Benefit | Gain |
Clarify | Make clear | Collaborate | Work with |
Concentrate | Focus on | Consider | Think of |
Consolidate | Bring together | Continue | Keep going |
Coordinate | Work with | Criticize | Slam |
Decline | Turn down | Delay | Put off |
Delegate | Hand off | Deliver | Drop off |
Deny | Say no | Detect | Spot |
Determine | Figure out | Devote | Put time in |
Emphasize | Point out | Engage | Get involved |
Ensure | Make sure | Establish | Set up |
Evaluate | Size up | Examine | Look at |
Expand | Spread out | Forecast | Guess |
Formulate | Come up with | Generate | Create |
Identify | Find | Illustrate | Show |
Improve | Fix | Indicate | Point out |
Install | Set up | Intervene | Step in |

Simple Comparison of Business vs Friendly English vocabulary words
Daily use of Polite vs Casual Word Alternatives
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Absence | Time off | Accompany | Go with |
Accumulate | Pile up | Address | Talk to |
Adjourn | Break off | Allocate | Split up |
Anticipate | Look forward | Articulate | Say clearly |
Augment | Add to | Authenticate | Prove |
Await | Wait | Cancel | Scrap |
Compensate | Pay back | Conclude | Wrap it up |
Confiscate | Take away | Constitute | Make up |
Contemplate | Think over | Contradict | Go against |
Critique | Give notes | Defend | Back up |
Depict | Paint | Designate | Pick |
Detect | Catch | Deter | Scare off |
Devastate | Wreck | Differentiate | Tell apart |
Disperse | Spread out | Endure | Push through |
Enforce | Make happen | Enquire | Ask around |
Expand | Blow up | Extract | Pull out |
Finalize | Wrap up | Forge | Fake |
Imply | Hint | Initiate | Kick off |
Inhibit | Hold back | Instruct | Teach |

Daily use of Polite vs Casual Word Alternatives
Commonly Confused Formal and Informal Word Pairs
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Interrupt | Cut in | Involve | Include |
Isolate | Keep away | Justify | Make up for |
Limit | Cap | Manipulate | Mess with |
Mediate | Step in | Mention | Bring up |
Monitor | Keep track | Navigate | Find your way |
Obtain | Snag | Officiate | Run the show |
Omit | Leave out | Oppose | Be against |
Organize | Sort out | Outline | Sketch out |
Oversee | Watch over | Participate | Jump in |
Perceive | Pick up on | Permit | Give the okay |
Persuade | Talk into | Predict | Call it |
Prepare | Gear up | Present | Show off |
Prioritize | Put first | Prohibit | Shut down |
Promote | Hype up | Propose | Pitch |
Pursue | Chase | React | Freak out |
Recommend | Give tips | Refer | Point to |
Reflect | Look back | Refuse | Say no |
Reinforce | Build up | Relocate | Move |
Remind | Nudge | Renew | Refresh |

Commonly Confused Formal and Informal Word Pairs
Formal English to Casual Everyday Words
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Replace | Swap | Report | Tell on |
Represent | Stand for | Request | Shout out |
Resolve | Patch up | Respond | Hit back |
Restrict | Keep out | Retain | Hang on to |
Retrieve | Get back | Reveal | Let slip |
Review | Look back | Schedule | Plan out |
Secure | Tie down | Select | Pick |
Separate | Split | Settle | Work out |
Specify | Nail down | Strengthen | Toughen up |
Submit | Hand over | Suggest | Drop a hint |
Summon | Call over | Support | Back up |
Terminate | Cut loose | Transform | Switch up |
Transmit | Send over | Understand | Get it |
Update | Fill in | Utilize | Use up |
Validate | Confirm | Visit | Drop by |
Volunteer | Step up | Warn | Heads-up |
Withdraw | Pull out | Witness | See happen |
Yield | Give way | Achieve | Pull off |
Absorb | Soak up | Accelerate | Speed up |

Formal English to Casual Everyday Words
500 Most Common Formal vs Informal Words
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Acquire | Snap up | Address | Speak to |
Adjust | Tweak | Advise | Tip off |
Amend | Fix up | Approve | Green light |
Assess | Size up | Assign | Give out |
Assist | Lend help | Assume | Think |
Attach | Stick on | Attempt | Give it a shot |
Avoid | Steer clear | Balance | Keep even |
Behave | Act right | Belong | Fit in |
Categorize | Sort | Clarify | Spell out |
Collaborate | Team up | Compare | Line up |
Comprehend | Figure out | Confirm | Say yes |
Connect | Link up | Conserve | Hold onto |
Contribute | Help out | Cooperate | Get along |
Correspond | Match | Decline | Say nope |
Define | Spell out | Deliver | Drop off |
Design | Draw up | Devote | Put in time |
Disagree | Butt heads | Disconnect | Unplug |
Discontinue | Shut off | Educate | Teach |
Emphasize | Push | Encourage | Cheer on |

500 Most Common Formal vs Informal Words
Everyday Used Formal vs Informal Words in English
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Endorse | Back | Enhance | Amp up |
Enquire | Check in | Entitle | Give rights |
Expand | Blow up | Finalize | Close out |
Forecast | Call ahead | Formulate | Map out |
Grant | Give | Hinder | Block |
Identify | Call out | Implement | Put in place |
Improve | Step up | Incur | Rack up |
Influence | Rub off | Inspire | Fire up |
Install | Hook up | Introduce | Bring in |
Investigate | Dig into | Involve | Rope in |
Join | Sign on | Justify | Back up |
Launch | Roll out | Maintain | Keep up |
Manage | Handle | Merge | Blend in |
Modify | Switch | Motivate | Pump up |
Nominate | Put up | Observe | Watch |
Obtain | Bag | Offer | Put up |
Oppose | Push back | Organize | Line up |
Outline | Lay out | Participate | Jump in |
Persuade | Win over | Postpone | Push back |

Everyday Used Formal vs Informal Words in English
Most Common Formal and Informal Words in English
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Present | Hand in | Proceed | Carry on |
Promote | Talk up | Protect | Look after |
Pursue | Follow | React | Lash out |
Recognize | Spot | Reduce | Cut back |
Refer | Talk about | Reflect | Think over |
Refuse | Say no | Reinforce | Make strong |
Reject | Dismiss | Relocate | Move house |
Rely | Count on | Remain | Stay |
Remove | Chuck out | Renew | Do over |
Replace | Swap out | Represent | Speak for |
Request | Holler for | Require | Gotta have |
Resolve | Work out | Respond | Talk back |
Retain | Keep hold | Reveal | Spill the tea |
Review | Recheck | Save | Hold onto |
Secure | Tie up | Select | Go with |
Separate | Break up | Specify | Mark down |
Strengthen | Build up | Submit | Send in |
Suggest | Throw out | Support | Stick by |
Terminate | Drop out | Thank | Give props |

Most Common Formal and Informal Words in English
Learn Formal vs Informal Words in English
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Tolerate | Put up with | Transfer | Hand off |
Translate | Put in words | Transport | Ship |
Understand | Catch on | Update | Fill in |
Urge | Push | Utilize | Use up |
Verify | Double-check | Volunteer | Pitch in |
Withdraw | Pull back | Witness | See for self |
Yield | Give in | Accomplish | Nail it |
Accelerate | Step on it | Acquire | Pick up |
Adapt | Get used to | Add | Toss in |
Adjust | Fine-tune | Admire | Be into |
Advise | Drop advice | Apologize | Say sorry |
Appoint | Pick | Argue | Fight |
Arrange | Sort | Arrive | Come over |
Assist | Give a hand | Attach | Stick on |
Attract | Bring in | Avoid | Dodge |
Balance | Juggle | Believe | Think so |
Boost | Pump up | Borrow | Take for now |
Cancel | Ditch | Capture | Grab |
Celebrate | Party | Change | Mix it up |

Learn Formal vs Informal Words in English
English Formal vs Informal Words Vocabulary words
Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal |
---|---|---|---|
Choose | Pick out | Clarify | Break it down |
Close | Shut down | Confirm | Say yeah |
Connect | Hook up | Continue | Keep on |
Convince | Talk into | Correct | Set straight |
Create | Make | Damage | Mess up |
Decide | Go with | Defend | Stick up |
Delay | Hold up | Deliver | Drop off |
Describe | Talk about | Design | Plan out |
Destroy | Blow up | Discuss | Talk over |
Divide | Break up | Drop | Let go |
Encourage | Root for | Enter | Come in |
Examine | Check over | Explain | Spell out |
Explore | Check out | Fail | Mess it up |
Fix | Patch | Focus | Zero in |
Follow | Tag along | Forget | Space out |
Gather | Pull in | Guess | Take a shot |
Handle | Deal with | Happen | Go down |
Help | Chip in | Hide | Cover up |
Ignore | Blow off | Imagine | Dream up |

English Formal vs Informal Words Vocabulary words
Learn more helpful articles
Leave a Comment