Ever wonder why “do a mistake” sounds off, but “make a mistake” feels right? That’s collocations — the word pairs that native speakers grab without thinking. This list of around 250 common English collocations is your shortcut to sounding more natural, whether you’re chatting with friends or writing an email.
Inside the interactive table, you’ll find each collocation with a plain-English meaning, a realistic example sentence, and easy-to-read US IPA so you pronounce it correctly. Tap the play button next to any entry to hear it spoken aloud — your ears need training, not just your eyes.
Grab a cup of tea and a pencil, because word combinations are where English starts to sound really natural. Scroll to the bottom for the free printable common collocations in english vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable common collocations in english flashcards.
If you want to turn collocations into real speech, try our free chunk-based English lessons. Start with Lesson 1 — you’ll learn speakable phrases right away.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve got a feel for natural English? Take the short quiz below to see which collocations you already own and which ones still need a little love.
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| get better | improve in health or condition | I hope you get better soon. |
| get divorced | to legally end a marriage | They decided to get divorced. |
| get dressed | put on clothes | He got dressed quickly. |
| get drunk | to become intoxicated | He got drunk at the party. |
| get frightened | to become scared | The child got frightened by the noise. |
| get gas | to put fuel in a vehicle | I need to get gas for the car. |
| get groceries | to buy food and household items | She’s getting groceries. |
| get home | to arrive at one's house | I get home at 6 p.m. |
| get lost | to become unable to find the way | We got lost in the city. |
| get married | to become husband and wife | They got married last summer. |
| get permission | obtain authorization to do something | You need to get permission first. |
| get pregnant | become pregnant | She got pregnant last year. |
| get ready | to prepare oneself | Get ready for school. |
| get started | to begin an activity | Let’s get started now. |
| get the impression | form a belief or feeling | I got the impression she was tired. |
| get the message | understand what is communicated | I get the message now. |
| get upset | become distressed or angry | Don’t get upset about it. |
| get wet | become wet | We got wet in the rain. |
| get worried | become anxious | Parents get worried easily. |
| get worse | deteriorate | The weather got worse. |
| give a call | to telephone someone | Give me a call later. |
| give a gift | to present something to someone | I gave her a gift. |
| give a hug | to embrace someone | She gave her mother a hug. |
| give a speech | to talk formally to an audience | He gave a speech at the conference. |
| give advice | to suggest what to do | She gave me useful advice. |
Free Common Collocations in English PDF and Flashcards
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