Cool MateMe neither vs Neither could I
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Me neither
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Neither could I
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: Neither could IMost common: Neither could I
| Me neither | Neither could I | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //miː ˈniːðə//🇺🇸 //mi ˈniːðər// | 🇬🇧 //ˈnaɪðər kʊd aɪ//🇺🇸 //ˈniːðər kʊd aɪ// |
| Meaning | I agree with you that I don't either. | I also could not. |
| Example | She won't be attending the party, and me neither. | She couldn't finish the project. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | agree with me neither, say me neither, respond with me neither | agree with, negative statement, share an opinion |
| Common mistakes | Used in a positive context (e.g., 'Me neither like it.'), Confused with 'me too' for positive statements., Omitting the context that should be negative. | Using 'neither could I' in formal writing., Confusing with 'either could I' which has a positive meaning., Omitting the subject when using this phrase. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to agree with a negative statement. Avoid in formal writing. | Use this phrase to agree with a negative statement made by someone else. It’s typically informal but can be used in friendly conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Me neither vs Neither could I
What's the difference between Me neither and Neither could I?
Me neither: I agree with you that I don't either. Neither could I: I also could not.
Which is more formal: Me neither and Neither could I?
Neither could I is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Me neither and Neither could I?
Neither could I is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Me neither: She won't be attending the party, and me neither. Neither could I: She couldn't finish the project.
Can I use Me neither and Neither could I interchangeably?
Not always. Me neither and Neither could I 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.