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.
Keep building your English
Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| give an answer | to respond to a question | Can you give an answer? |
| give information | to provide facts or details | The teacher gave us information. |
| give permission | to allow someone to do something | They gave us permission to leave. |
| give someone a hand | to help someone | Can you give me a hand with this box? |
| give support | to help or encourage | Friends give support in difficult times. |
| go abroad | to travel to another country | She plans to go abroad. |
| go bankrupt | to be unable to pay debts and close | The company went bankrupt. |
| good idea | a smart suggestion | That’s a good idea. |
| good news | positive information | I have good news for you. |
| grab a bite (to eat) | to eat a small meal quickly | We grabbed a quick bite before work. |
| grab a coffee | to quickly get a coffee to drink | Let’s grab a coffee after class. |
| hard time | a difficult period | I had a hard time understanding. |
| hard work | effort and dedication | Success requires hard work. |
| have a bath | to wash in a bathtub | The baby is having a bath. |
| have a chat | to talk informally | We had a chat after class. |
| have a drink | to drink something | Let’s have a drink after work. |
| have a good time | to enjoy an experience | We had a good time at the party. |
| have a haircut | to get hair cut | I’m going to have a haircut tomorrow. |
| have a holiday | to take a vacation | They’re having a holiday in Spain. |
| have a look | to examine or view something | Have a look at this photo. |
| have a meal | to eat food together | Let’s have a meal together. |
| have a meeting | to gather for discussion | We’re having a meeting at 10. |
| have a party | to celebrate with a gathering | They had a party for her birthday. |
| have a problem | to experience a difficulty | I have a problem with my computer. |
| have a relationship | to be in a romantic connection | They have a good relationship. |
Free Common Collocations in English PDF and Flashcards
Use the purple vocab-list button to get the common collocations in english vocabulary list, or the teal flashcards button for the common collocations in english flashcards. Both are 100% free and require no signup.
