What Does ‘Personal’ Mean? IELTS Vocabulary Explained
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of the word ‘personal’ for your IELTS exam. This video covers its definition, word type, history, synonyms, antonyms, and common usage examples to help boost your vocabulary and improve your IELTS score.
Imagine you’re filling out a form and come across a section asking for personal information. What exactly does personal mean?
Today, we’re going to explore this common yet important word to boost your IELTS vocabulary.
Word type:
Personal is primarily used as an adjective in English.
Meaning: Personal refers to something belonging to or affecting a particular person rather than anyone else.
It often describes things that are individual, private, or intimate.
Word history: The word personal comes from the Latin word personalis, which means of or relating to a person.
It entered the English language in the late Middle Ages.
Antonyms: Some opposites of personal include impersonal, public, and general.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to personal include private, individual, own, and intimate.
Examples use in sentences:
Let’s look at how to use personal in different contexts. First, My diary contains my personal thoughts and feelings.
Second, She takes criticism very personally and often gets upset. Third, The company provides each employee with a personal computer.
Common errors in use: Be careful not to confuse personal with personnel. Personnel refers to people employed in an organization or serving in the military.
To wrap up, personal is a versatile word that relates to individual, private matters. Remember to use it when discussing things specific to a person rather than general or public issues.
Practice using this word in your speaking and writing to improve your IELTS score.

