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0:00Hey there, Michelle. What's going on with you?
Hey, I'm good, Lindsay. How are you? Excited to be
0:05on the microphone. Excited about the new year. All
good. All good. What are we getting into today,
0:10Michelle? Yeah. Well, we have we're going to
answer an interesting listener question. So,
0:15well, Lindsay, why do we talk about like a lot of
times on the show, we're talking about positive
0:21and negative connotations of words. And why do
we talk about this? Well, I mean, especially at
0:27the level that our listeners are, you know,
B1, B2, C1, especially pushing B2 and C1, we
0:34don't want to just know the word. We want to know
what's the undertone of the word, right? Like,
0:39what are we trying what are we actually saying,
right? Right. What's beneath the surface? Like,
0:45we're digging deeper. We're not just saying,
"Okay, here are your vocabulary words on a
0:50page and there you go." There's so much more
to learning English or any language. Yeah,
0:57that's what gets us to those higher levels of
English. So, that's why it matters. And today,
1:01we're going to answer an awesome listener
question. We love great questions, guys. So, we're
1:06going into a fresh new year, 2026. Go ahead and
send your questions to supportallersenglish.com.
1:13Make it a very specific question. Michelle, shall
I go ahead and read this YouTube question? Sure,
1:19please. All right. This comes from our YouTube
channel Monsour 58100. You say connotation many
1:26times. What does it mean? What are the synonyms
and antonyms of connotation? Yeah, good question,
1:33right? Very good question because we do always
throw this word around. So, yeah, let's really
1:38dig deeper into what does it really mean? Um, we
certainly use it a lot. Um, and like Lindsay said,
1:44this is kind of the meaning behind the word, the
association, the implication, the feeling, right?
1:51That's what a connotation is 100%. Right? So, we
can always learn the definition of a word. We can
1:57look it up in the dictionary, but it doesn't
always tell you the complete story. I mean,
2:02that's why we're here. And that's something I warn
when it comes to AI and CHAGBT. It attempts to
2:08give you that nuance, but it can never give you
the full color nuance, right? Yep. You need to
2:14see it in context in role plays and really truly
understand it from a native speaker. So, yeah.
2:19Yeah. Exactly. So, there's so there's so much to
it. So, guys, we're going to talk more about this
2:25in just a second, but please make sure that you
hit the follow button wherever you're listening
2:29to All Ears English or on YouTube, hit subscribe.
Never miss anything from us. Yeah, we come out 5
2:34days a week. This is a sassy Saturday episode, but
we also come out four days a week during the week,
2:39during the work week, on your way to work,
uh when you're washing dishes in the evening,
2:43we will be there for you. So, make sure you're
hitting follow. All right. Yes. Exactly. So,
2:49again, when we talk about the word connotation,
we're talking about the subtext, what's beneath
2:54the actual word. So, these are things like how
do people feel when they hear it? or what are you
3:01implying when you use this word or expression? Um,
so a word with a positive connotation has a good
3:09feeling to it. A negative connotation has more of
a negative feeling to it, right? Sure. Yeah. Well,
3:16let's give some concrete examples so our listeners
know exactly what we're saying here, Michelle. So,
3:20the word cheap. Yeah. It's loaded. So, we also say
the word loaded. Like words can be loaded, right?
3:26meaning loaded up on meaning behind the scenes.
Um, and cheap is one of them. Tell us more,
3:33Michelle. Yeah, because this can be
different depending on the context. So,
3:37some words you hear it and it pretty much just has
a negative or a positive and then some of them are
3:42in between and you have to listen for the subtext.
What are we actually saying? So, for example,
3:49this dress looks cheap. I shouldn't have bought
it. So, would you say that's negative or positive?
3:54That's pretty negative, right? Low quality is
what we're saying here. Low quality, right?
4:00Or here's a totally different one. I got a great
deal on concert tickets. They're so cheap. Well,
4:05is that low quality, too, Michelle, or are we
saying something different? No, you're just saying
4:10that they're affordable. So, this is a positive
thing here. So, same word, different connotation
4:16depending on how you're using it, depending on the
context, the tone, right? How I'm delivering that,
4:21how my voice sounds. So, we have to listen to
so much more than just the words. What about
4:26the word different? This is good. Yeah, this
is this is an interesting one as well. So,
4:32I love talking with her because she always
brings different ideas to the table. So,
4:37what would you say? Yeah. Diverse. Yeah. Varied.
Varied. Uh ch maybe like challenging. It just she
4:46she introduces complexity and it's good to talk
to someone who introduces complexity, right?
4:51Um, that's a positive thing. But sometimes this
can be kind of a euphemism, right, for weird. Yep.
5:00So, for example, oh, your outfit, it's different,
right? I I just It reminds me of when I was a kid.
5:10I feel like I don't know. My mom used to always
use this as kind of a euphemism. Oh, that person's
5:16just a little bit different, right? like because
it's a little bit more politically correct, right?
5:22And she wouldn't want to say that person's weird
or instead just a little different, right? Just
5:28different. That's all. So, I love that. So funny.
And the word challenge is our next one, right? So,
5:35for example, working with Tim is a challenge. He's
not easy, right? Negative, right? Negative. Pretty
5:42negative. I want to take on a challenge. I'm
excited for what's to come. Right. And again,
5:48working with Tim is a challenge. Kind of a
euphemism for awful, right? Working with Tim is
5:52awful. It's horrible. It's hard. Right. Yeah. So
guys, you see some words or expressions can be the
5:59same but have different connotations depending on
how we use them. But some are mostly completely,
6:06you know, more black and white, positive or
negative. So, and the same thing goes for actual
6:10idioms too, not just single vocabulary words. But
for example, a positive a word with a positive
6:16connotation is cheerful. Negative connotation
rude, right? There's really no other way of
6:23interpreting those two words, right? Is what
you're saying. Yeah, I agree. Okay, Michelle. So,
6:28what about So, our listener over on YouTube asked
us for some synonyms and some antonyms, right? So,
6:34let's give those to our listener here. What
do we have? All right. So synonyms I would say
6:39implication, right? So what are you implying? What
are you actually like it's like the clues that
6:45you're giving, right? Yeah. Yeah. Or subtext also
is like the text under the text. It's like what
6:52are you really saying? Undertone really good one.
Associations, meanings that are kind of associated
6:58with that word. What comes to mind, right? Mhm.
Mhm. Whereas uh an uh ana ant antonyms uh would be
7:07like denotation like the actual meaning just the
word. Okay. Or literal meaning, right? That's just
7:16focusing on the actual what is the definition.
Love it. Why do we think we have to learn these?
7:22I mean, I think it's pretty clear from what we
said so far in the episode, Michelle, right?
7:25I think this is one of the Yeah, I think this is
one of the core like pillars of our podcast really
7:32is like you and I I actually remember like when I
was getting my master's degree in Tesaw like the
7:38first day I remember the teacher talking about
like what is it to teach a word and you know one
7:45thing is like the basic definitions and I and I
remember very clearly then her also saying like
7:50but what are like all the different things that
the word means and in what context? And there's
7:56so much to it and I and that really stuck out to
me because I never thought about that before I
8:02started getting my degree and you know how and
and so I think we really try to um stress that
8:08to you um as our listeners because we want you to
have as much information as possible and not just
8:14learn the word on a page and say okay I understand
this word. No, you have to know more. You guys are
8:19at that level where you you're hungry for that.
you want to learn more you and these are will help
8:24you connect as well. Mhm. Yeah. I think it's also
a marker of a C1 level speaker. You understand
8:30all these different connotations and are able to
use them and deploy them. Right. That's very high
8:35level. So that's where we're headed as a as a uh
community here. So Michelle, let's do a role play
8:41uh with some of these words and all different
connotations. All right. So we are friends getting
8:47ready for a party. Okay. Okay. So, it's a theme
party. I'm up for the challenge. Yes, I love these
8:56parties. They are so different and fun. Same. But
it can be a challenge to find a good costume. I
9:02found a cheap one, but I'm not sure if you'll
like it. Look. Oh, that's different. I know. I
9:10know. I like my old one from last year, but it
looks kind of cheap. All right. So we used kind
9:17of the same words but in a more in with different
connotations. Right. So first you said so it's a
9:24theme party. I'm up for the challenge. Is that
positive or negative? Uh positive. And you can
9:29tell by the way I say it and the expression I'm
up for the challenge. Like I'm ready for it. So
9:35it's positive. And maybe we'll just skip down to
the other use of challenge just to make it clear.
9:40Good idea. Yeah. You said same. But it can be a
challenge to find a good costume. You kind of mean
9:45like maybe a nuisance kind of difficult. Yeah. I
wouldn't say this is super like this is terrible
9:52or anything. This one I would say oh challenge
like I'm not we're not too upset about it but it
9:56can be tricky. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. And
then we use the word different. Um you said I love
10:03these parties. They're so different and fun. And
you basically mean unique. So positive connotation
10:08there. But later we use different in kind of a
negative like way to mean weird. Yep. Yep. Oh,
10:16that's different. Yeah. And it's all in your tone
of voice. Yep. Yep. And then you then there's the
10:24word cheap. So you said um I found a cheap one,
but I'm not sure if you'll like it. Look. So
10:29this one is kind of interesting. Um kind of also
neutral. like you're it's like you're saying that
10:34it's cheap and so that's a good thing but you're
not sure if I'm going to like it but for for you
10:41you're like you're happy it's cheap. So overall I
think it's positive. Yeah, I think you're I think
10:46I would lead with positive. I'm leading positive
there. Hey, I found a cheap one. Right. That's
10:50great. Right. But then at the end you're saying I
like my old one from last year but it looks kind
10:55of cheap. And here from your tone of voice I can
tell that's not good. Maybe it's in tatters. Maybe
11:02it has a hole in it or something, right? Yeah.
Yes. Exactly. So, really interesting stuff here.
11:09Connotations are huge. I mean, we have to learn
the whole subtext. We have to learn the whole
11:14story and many different ways to use every word.
Um, and some of them are black and white, good
11:20or bad. Some of them, it really, really depends.
And you have to listen a little bit more closely
11:26to know um what the person means. Yes. I love it.
Guys, go check out episode 2536, how to be better
11:34than decent at English vocabulary. Interesting.
Yeah. Uh, really good. This has been great. So,
11:40all of our listeners, you guys are ready to start
to challenge yourself to look towards getting into
11:45that C1 level um by seeing those nuances, seeing
those different connotations. Right, Michelle?
11:51This is something I want to invite our listeners
to take a look at. It builds connection. I mean,
11:56well, it's necessary for con. It's crucial
for connection, don't you think? Yeah. I mean,
12:00and guys, this is going to take you to the next
level once you start, you know, really learning.
12:04And that's what we're here to help you with,
you know, teaching you the whole story of every
12:10of every possible word or every possible idiom
because there's usually a story to everything.
12:15Don't let that stress you out. I mean, that's
that's one thing. Yes, you want that. There's a
12:20lot to learn about each word, but there are, you
know, some pretty some of the more basic words,
12:25and, you know, we're here to help you along the
way. So don't don't stress by thinking, "Oh, no,
12:29I have to learn a whole novel about every word."
No, we're we're here to help you and give you
12:35some of the basics and the best ways to do it.
And also, I think there's something to trusting
12:40your ability to listen closely to tone of voice,
right? So yes, you're going to hear these things
12:46in people's tones of voice, right? You're going to
hear whether that connotation is good. What does
12:51it really mean in the way someone delivers it in
the context? We want to start to really tune in
12:55to tone of voice. That's huge. Yeah. Love it. All
right, Lindsay. Well, this was fun. And thank you
13:01to our listener again for this really excellent
and important question. And Lindsay, I'll talk
13:06to you next time. Sounds good, Michelle. Talk to
you soon. Have a good one. All right. Bye. Bye.
