Is personal the same as private?

Not exactly. Personal means about one person; private means not for other people to know.

Can I say personal opinion?

Yes. It is very common in speech and writing.

What is the difference between personal and individual?

Personal often means about your own life or feelings. Individual means one separate person or thing.

Is personal formal or informal?

It is common in both formal and everyday English.

← Dictionary

personal

/ˈpɜː.sən.əl/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Connected with one person and not shared with others. It can also mean private, or about your own feelings and life.

This is my personal notebook.
She asked a personal question.
He kept the letter personal and private.

Adinary Nuance

Personal is often broader than private. Use personal for something that belongs to one person, or for feelings and life stories. Use private when you want to stress that others should not know or see it. Compared with individual, personal is more about one person's own life or identity, not just one separate thing.

In other languages

Vietnamese: cá nhân
Spanish: personal
Chinese: 个人的
Japanese: 個人的な
Korean: 개인적인

Etymology

Personal comes from Late Latin personalis, from persona, meaning “person” or “mask.” It entered English in the late Middle Ages through French and Latin.

Common phrases

personal lifepersonal detailspersonal opinionpersonal information

Synonyms

private individual subjective

Frequently asked questions

Is personal the same as private?: Not exactly. Personal means about one person; private means not for other people to know.
Can I say personal opinion?: Yes. It is very common in speech and writing.
What is the difference between personal and individual?: Personal often means about your own life or feelings. Individual means one separate person or thing.
Is personal formal or informal?: It is common in both formal and everyday English.