Here goes vs Here we go

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Here goes

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Here we go

Top 3,000 (common)

Most formal: Here we go Most common: Here goes

	Here goes	Here we go
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //hɪə ɡəʊz// 🇺🇸 //hɪr ɡoʊz//	🇬🇧 //hɪə wɪ ɡəʊ// 🇺🇸 //hɪr wi ɡoʊ//
Meaning	A phrase used to indicate you're starting something or trying something new.	A phrase used to express readiness to begin something.
Example	Here goes nothing, I’m about to make my speech.	With everyone gathered, it's time to say, 'here we go!'
Register	Informal	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 3,000 (common)
Collocations	here goes again, here goes nothing, here goes my chance	here we go again, here we go now, and here we go
Antonyms	-	stop, halt, wait, pause
Common mistakes	Used only when starting something dangerous or risky., Confused with 'Here we go' which has a similar meaning but is sometimes used differently., Overused in formal settings where a different phrase would be appropriate.	Used in overly formal situations., Confused with 'here we are' which suggests arrival, not action.
Usage notes	Used in casual conversations, often to signal the beginning of an action or event. Not suitable for formal contexts.	Use this phrase when starting an activity or event. It's casual and not formal.

See it in real clips

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

ANT-MAN: Here goes!

Here goes

The Sopranos › S1 E1

Here we go.

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

-Here we go. -[knocking]

The Pitt › S1 E1

OK, here we go. Ready?

The Sopranos › S1 E1

Here we go.

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

-Here we go. -[knocking]

Here we go

Frequently asked questions: Here goes vs Here we go

What's the difference between Here goes and Here we go?

Here goes: A phrase used to indicate you're starting something or trying something new. Here we go: A phrase used to express readiness to begin something.

Which is more formal: Here goes and Here we go?

Here we go is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Here goes and Here we go?

Here goes is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Here goes: Here goes nothing, I’m about to make my speech. Here we go: With everyone gathered, it's time to say, 'here we go!'

Can I use Here goes and Here we go interchangeably?

Not always. Here goes and Here we go 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.