WHAT ARE SYNONYMS?
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning.
Significant, important & crucial are synonyms.
-smart, clever, intelligent, sharp & bright are all synonyms.
Synonyms do not necessarily have the exact same meaning; the meaning of one word can be stronger than the other; crucial means extremely important.
Why should you learn synonyms?
Knowing more synonyms make you sound more fluent and your use of language more natural.
Sometimes, a combination of words or a whole phrase can be a synonym to one word. For example,
- good-looking = handsome/ beautiful.
- well-to-do = rich.
- state-of-the-art = very modern (a state-of-the-art computer).
(Note how a hyphen (-) is used between words to indicate that they form a single word meaning.
#It is very important that you know that not all synonyms can be used in every occasion.
There are;
-Informal -Neutral -Formal occasions.
You can use informal words/expressions with your friends or people your age.
-Neutral words can be used in all situations (Normal language).
-Formal words are used with people at work, meetings, and sometimes with older people.
There is also a very informal language (called slang) like when you're talking with a very close friend.
Tip: In your language, how can you say that you don't know something when:
-You're talking to a friend
-you're talking to your teacher
- you're talking with a younger person.
(you can notice how you would use different words; this is Register.)
There are also 'archaic' words (words that are were used 200, or 300 hundred years ago and are no longer used now).
-Also, there are 'old-fashioned' words ( words that were used about 50 or more years ago, but are only used now by some old people)
Tip: Do you know what words does your grandparents use but you don't?...
These are old-fashioned words.
# Synonyms are also important because even if you prefer a certain word and don't want to use another, you might hear or read the other synonyms.
# Some words don't have synonyms or have a few synonyms;
-Window -Pen
These words usually are names of objects. (Not ideas or concepts.) a word like ‘computer’ is not likely to have a synonym. But for example, a word like ‘big' = large, gigantic, huge, enormous, massive, etc are all synonymous with 'big'.
or also, verbs have synonyms almost always
# Some synonyms are used in different parts of the world; trousers (UK), pants (US)
Check: American Vs, British vocabulary
# So, when learning a new word, now you can classify it according to what type of synonym would it be if you already knew a word with the same meaning:
Ask yourself these questions:
-Is this word, -formal, -informal, -archaic,
old-fashioned, etc?
- Is the word used in American, British, Australian, etc English?
Fortunately, a good dictionary will answer these questions for you.
As you learn more words, you'll eventually be able to know whether the word is American, British, etc , but it is always better to consult a dictionary when you're not sure.
till next time!
