Different between "coworker" and "professional colleague"

[activemind]

Hello,
what is different between "coworker" and "professional colleague"?

[Tdol]

Hello,
what is different between "coworker" and "professional colleague"?

I wouldn't use co-worker for people in higher positions. I'd use it for lower level jobs, voluntary and temporary ones. IMO, you can use colleague for anybody.

[activemind]

I wouldn't use co-worker for people in higher positions. I'd use it for lower level jobs, voluntary and temporary ones. IMO, you can use colleague for anybody.

you mean colleague is public, but co-worker is just for low level jobs.

[Tdol]

What do you mean by 'public'?
I gave three categories for co-worker, and they don't all have to be low level. However, in the boardroom of a multinational, the CEO is very unlikely to call the CFO his or her co-worker- that's what I meant.

[activemind]

What do you mean by 'public'?
I gave three categories for co-worker, and they don't all have to be low level. However, in the boardroom of a multinational, the CEO is very unlikely to call the CFO his or her co-worker- that's what I meant.

if me and you do a job together, can you call me co-worker?
thank you

[Tdol]

Why not?

[activemind]

Why not?

, and if we do somthing professional, colleague is better than co-worker?

[Tdol]

I'd always use the term 'colleague' for anyone I worked with, whether they taught alongside me or cleaned the loos, but that's a personal view. However, among professionals, I think terms other than colleague would sound strange.

[activemind]

I'd always use the term 'colleague' for anyone I worked with, whether they taught alongside me or cleaned the loos, but that's a personal view. However, among professionals, I think terms other than colleague would sound strange.

thank you very much for your useful help

[Tdol]

You're welcome