150 Informal and Formal Words List in English! Formal language is distinguished by the use of Standard English, more intricate sentence structures, the unusual use of personal pronouns, and the absence of colloquial or slang terms. In formal language, colloquialisms, contractions, and first-person pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘We’ are not used.
Informal speech is looser and more spontaneous. It is used in writing as well as in conversation with friends and relatives. Informal language allows for nonstandard English forms, colloquial terminology, and typically shorter sentence patterns.
Below is the list of 150 formal and informal vocabulary words:
| Informal | Formal |
| Avoid | Evade |
| But | However |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Eager | Avid |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Give up | Quit |
| Help | Assist |
| Idea | Notion |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Point out | Indicate |
| Rack up | Accumulate |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Stand for | Represent |
| Think about | Consider |
| Use | Consume |
| But | However |
| Cheap | Inexpensive |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Find out | Ascertain |
| Get | Obtain |
| Get | Receive |
| Let | Permit |
| Live | Reside |
| Lively | Energetic |
| Look at | Examine |
| Mainly | Principally |
| See | Observe |
| Seem | Appear |
| Shorten | Decrease |
| Call on | Visit |
| Free | Liberate |
| Leave out | Omit |
| Mad | Insane |
| Mend | Repair |
| Need | Require |
| Put up | Tolerate |
| Set up | Establish |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Show up | Arrive |
| Thanks | Gratitude |
| Use | Utilize |
| Whole | Complete |
| Worse | Inferior |
| Worse | Inferior |
| Ask | Enquire |
| Bad | Negative |
| Death | Demise |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Get in touch with | Contact |
| Have to | Must |
| Hopeless | Futile |
| Hungry | Famished |
| Hurt | Damage |
| It’s about | It concerns |
| Mad | Insane |
| Need to | Required |
| Sight | Vision |
| Sorry | Apologies |
| Sorry | Apologize |
| Also | Moreover |
| Ask for | Request |
| Buy | Purchase |
| Dim | Indistinct |
| End | Finish |
| Free | Release |
| Hurt | Damage |
| Live | Reside |
| Lucky | Fortunate |
| Put in | Insert |
| Put off | Postpone |
| Set up | Establish |
| Show | Illustrate |
| Start | Commence |
| Tell | Inform |
| Anyway | Nevertheless |
| Buy | Purchase |
| Clear | Transparent |
| Dim | Indistinct |
| Get | Obtain |
| Give | Provide |
| Keep | Preserve |
| Keep | Retain |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Put off | Delay |
| Say no | Reject |
| Seem | Appear |
| Whole | Entire |
| Wrong | Incorrect |
| All right | Acceptable |
| Blow up | Explode |
| Buy | Purchase |
| Check | Verify |
| Dad | Father |
| I think | In my opinion |
| Job | Occupation |
| Let | Allow |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Put up | Tolerate |
| Ring up | Call |
| Seem | Appear |
| Sick | Ill |
| Tell | Inform |
| Want | Desire |
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