Cool MateIncredible vs What a world
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Incredible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
What a world
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: IncredibleMost common: Incredible
| Incredible | What a world | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ə wɜːld//🇺🇸 //wɑt ə wɜrld// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or hard to believe. | An expression of surprise or disbelief about life or a situation. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | When I saw the price of that luxury car, I thought, 'What a world!' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | what a surprise, what a life, what a moment |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, unremarkable | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'incredible' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'incredible' with 'incredulous' (which means unable to believe)., Overusing 'incredible' to describe everyday situations. | Using it too seriously; it's meant to be light-hearted., Mispronouncing the phrase or not emphasizing the 'what'., Not using it in appropriate situations where surprise is evident. |
| Usage notes | Use 'incredible' to describe something amazing or extraordinary. It is appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing. | "What a world" is often used to comment on surprising or outrageous events. It's informal, so avoid using it in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs What a world
What's the difference between Incredible and What a world?
Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. What a world: An expression of surprise or disbelief about life or a situation.
Which is more formal: Incredible and What a world?
Incredible is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Incredible and What a world?
Incredible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! What a world: When I saw the price of that luxury car, I thought, 'What a world!'
Can I use Incredible and What a world interchangeably?
Not always. Incredible and What a world 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.