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We have a monthly language corner gathering(not sure if use gathering is appropriate). And so when talking about gathering together for that event, can I use something like :

We're going to have our next language corner "meeting" or "gathering" on next Friday?

Another word that I know is "meetup", but not sure if it's a real word. Or it's coming from the site: Meetup

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  • "noun: meetup - an informal meeting or gathering" It seems that it suits perfectly and answers almost all your question en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/meetup
    – RubioRic
    May 25, 2018 at 9:32
  • Questions in Stack Exchange sites require a minimum research effort. You should check at least available resources online before posting.
    – RubioRic
    May 25, 2018 at 9:35
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    Thanks for your comments @RubioRic. You're right, I didn't do a thorough search on the word "Meetup". I only did it on Merriam webster's learner dictionary but didn't find out anything. I think I'll keep the question open since I'm still not sure if the word "meeting" or "gathering" can be used in this context and the reasons behind them. Thanks again for your time.
    – konekoya
    May 25, 2018 at 9:54
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    Perhaps the best place to look for a word you’re not sure about is OneLook, which will search in over a dozen online dictionaries for a word. When it shows only four hits (like meetup does), that’s a pretty good sign that a word is informal and perhaps non-standard. (in contrast, OneLook finds the word gathering in more than 20 online dictionaries.)
    – J.R. ♦
    May 25, 2018 at 10:32
  • Looks like a handy tool! Thank you @J.R. I've been learning English for over a decade, but finding a right word to use is still a big challenge to me.
    – konekoya
    May 25, 2018 at 21:39

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Both meeting and gathering would work in your announcement.

The one difference I can tell you that may be hard to figure out from the dictionaries is that meeting has a bit more of a formal feel to it, while gathering feels less formal. (I’m not talking about the formality of language here; I’m talking about the formality of the event.)

Put another way, I go to meetings when I’m at work, I go to gatherings on the weekends with my friends.

So if your “language corner” is a formal occasion with an agenda, then meeting might be the better word to use. However, if it’s more of an informal gathering with cookies and punch served, than meeting may not be quite the right word for it. (It wouldn’t be wrong, but I sense that perhaps you want to use something “warmer” and more inviting.)

A nice alternative might be get-together, which one dictionary defines as: a casual social gathering. It’s not as formal as meeting, but it’s more recognizable than meet-up. Collins defines it as:

an informal meeting or party, usually arranged for a particular purpose

while M-W says:

meeting; especially : an informal social gathering

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  • Thank you for the detailed explanation @J.R. This has clear up my doubt for these words.
    – konekoya
    May 25, 2018 at 21:36

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