One means many people know you, the other means many people like or choose you.
"Famous" means known by many people, usually for something notable you did or are. Fame can be positive or negative.
Einstein is one of the most famous scientists in history.
She became famous after winning the Nobel Prize.
He is famous for being the first person on the moon.
"Popular" means liked and appreciated by many people, not just known. Something popular has broad positive acceptance. It can also describe what is fashionable or trending.
Pop music is very popular among teenagers.
Pizza is the most popular food in our school.
She is very popular at school. Everyone likes her.
Common mistake
Trick to remember it
Two different reactions: FAMOUS triggers RECOGNITION ("I know who that is!"). POPULAR triggers PREFERENCE ("Everyone loves it!"). A scientist can be famous without being popular. An influencer can be popular without being famous outside their niche.
Quick rule
Did you know?
"Infamous" is NOT the opposite of "famous", it is a negative intensifier: famous for something bad (a crime, a scandal). "He is infamous for his corruption" = he is well-known for his corruption. The true opposite of "famous" would be "unknown". "Notorious" is similar to "infamous": known for negative reasons, though "notorious" can sometimes be neutral or even positive in modern informal English.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
That restaurant is very _____ . You always have to book weeks in advance.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Shakespeare is one of the most _____ writers in the English language.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
'Sympathetic' does not mean friendly; 'nice' is the correct translation of the Spanish 'simpático'.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy