alien
gb/ˈeɪliən/ us/ˈeɪliən/
B1
English
~ 6000
földönkívüli, űrlény, idegen, külföldi, nem állampolgár, idegenhonos
NOUN
B1
1
földönkívüli
B1
űrlény
B1
Usage pattern:
an alien [from another planet]
In the movie, an alien lands in a small town and tries to make friends with the local children.
A filmben egy földönkívüli leszáll egy kisvárosban, és megpróbál összebarátkozni a helyi gyerekekkel.
Scientists still do not know whether intelligent aliens exist anywhere in the universe.
A tudósok még mindig nem tudják, léteznek-e értelmes földönkívüliek bárhol az univerzumban.
The book describes a peaceful alien who is shocked by human violence.
They claimed they had been taken onto an alien spaceship in the middle of the night.
The video game lets you play as an alien exploring different galaxies.
Learner examples
Do you think aliens are real?
Szerinted léteznek földönkívüliek?
In this story, a kind alien visits Earth.
Ebben a történetben egy kedves földönkívüli látogat a Földre.
The boy draws a green alien with big eyes.
People in the town are afraid of the alien.
She watches many films about aliens and space.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "alien" always means a creature from space. However, in many contexts it can also mean a foreign person or something very strange and unfamiliar. Check the context to see which meaning is intended.
Meaning
a creature from another planet
Collocations
aliens exist
|alien life
|alien spaceship
|alien invasion
|alien planet
|alien species
Synonyms
extraterrestrial (More technical or scientific; often used as a noun or adjective in formal or science contexts.)
Antonyms
human (Contrasts a non-Earth creature with people from Earth.)
Themes
science
|entertainment
|technology
|space
Definition
A creature or person that comes from another planet, not from Earth.
A living being that comes from a planet other than Earth, especially in science fiction or discussions about life in space.
B2
2
idegen
B1
Usage pattern:
alien to [someone/something]
The idea of working long hours without extra pay is completely alien to her.
A plusz fizetés nélküli hosszú munkaidő gondolata teljesen idegen tőle.
His direct way of speaking felt alien to a company culture that avoided conflict.
Az ő nyílt beszédmódja idegennek hatott egy olyan vállalati kultúrában, amely kerülte a konfliktust.
Growing up in the countryside, city life was alien to him at first.
These values are alien to our tradition of open discussion.
The customs of the region were fascinating but initially alien to the visitors.
Learner examples
The food was good, but the taste was alien to me.
Az étel jó volt, de az íze idegen volt számomra.
This way of teaching is alien to many students.
Ez a tanítási módszer sok diáknak idegen.
The rules here are alien to what I know.
Living alone was alien to her after many years with family.
His style is alien to our team.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "alien" instead of "strange" or "weird" in very casual speech. While this is not wrong, "alien" is stronger and sounds more formal or dramatic. Also, many learners do not use the common pattern "alien to [someone/something]"; this pattern is natural and should be learned as a chunk.
Meaning
very strange or unfamiliar
Collocations
feel alien
|seem alien
|alien concept
|alien culture
|ideas alien to [someone]
|values alien to [something]
Synonyms
strange (More general and common; does not always suggest strong difference from someone's normal world.)
Antonyms
familiar (Describes something known and comfortable, the opposite of being strange or different.)
Themes
emotions
|culture
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very new and strange to someone; not part of their normal life, ideas, or feelings.
Very strange, unfamiliar, or different from what someone is used to, often suggesting that it does not fit naturally with a person, place, or set of ideas.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
3
külföldi
A2
Usage pattern:
an alien [with/without legal status]
Under the new law, any alien convicted of a serious crime may be deported.
Az új törvény értelmében minden olyan külföldi kiutasítható, akit súlyos bűncselekményért elítéltek.
The form asks whether you are a citizen or an alien of the state.
Az űrlapon azt kérdezik, hogy az állam állampolgára-e, vagy külföldi.
He entered the country as an alien and later became a naturalized citizen.
Resident alien status allows foreign nationals to work and pay taxes.
The court must decide if the alien has a legal right to remain in the country.
Learner examples
In some laws, the word "alien" means a person from another country.
Egyes törvényekben az „alien” szó más országból származó személyt, vagyis külföldit jelent.
The document says he is an alien, not a citizen.
A dokumentum szerint ő külföldi, nem állampolgár.
An alien can sometimes become a citizen after many years.
The office helps an alien understand the rules.
She works in an office that gives advice to aliens about visas.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "alien" for foreign people in everyday conversation. In modern English, this can sound old‑fashioned or offensive. It is safer to say "foreigner", "immigrant", or "a person from another country" in neutral speech, and reserve "alien" for legal or historical contexts.
Meaning
non-citizen living in a country
Collocations
illegal alien
|resident alien
|alien registration
|alien status
|alien population
|deport an alien
Synonyms
foreigner (More common in everyday speech and less legal; can sound neutral or negative depending on tone.)
Antonyms
citizen (A person who legally belongs to a country, the opposite of a non‑citizen in that country.)
Themes
law
|society
|politics
Definition
A person who lives in a country but is not a citizen of that country, used mainly in law and official writing.
A person who lives in a country where they do not have citizenship, especially as a formal legal term.
B2
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
alien [culture/customs/species/law]
The government tried to limit what it saw as alien cultural influences.
A kormány megpróbálta korlátozni az általa idegennek tartott kulturális hatásokat.
The novel explores the experience of living in an alien environment far from home.
A regény az otthontól távol, idegen környezetben való élet tapasztalatát vizsgálja.
Many local plants are threatened by alien species introduced from overseas.
The settlers viewed the land as empty, ignoring its significance to the alien tribe.
Alien laws were imposed on the region after the conquest.
Learner examples
They moved to a country with an alien culture.
Egy számukra idegen kultúrájú országba költöztek.
The farmer worries about alien plants in his field.
A gazda aggódik a földjén megjelenő idegenhonos növények miatt.
These rules are alien to local tradition.
She studies how alien species change the forest.
The story is about a boy in an alien land.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "alien" instead of "foreign". In most everyday situations, "foreign" is the natural choice. "Alien" sounds more formal or literary, or appears in technical phrases like "alien species" in environmental science.
Meaning
from another country or culture
Collocations
alien culture
|alien customs
|alien influences
|alien species
|alien law
|alien land
Synonyms
foreign (More common and neutral; used in all types of speech.)
Antonyms
native (Describes something originally from the place, the opposite of being from outside.)
Themes
culture
|society
|law
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
From another country or culture; not native to that place.
Relating to, coming from, or belonging to a different country, people, or culture; foreign.
B1
5
földönkívüli
B1
Usage pattern:
alien [life/form/species/world]
Scientists are searching for signs of alien life on distant planets.
A tudósok a földönkívüli élet jeleit keresik távoli bolygókon.
The film shows an alien world covered in blue forests and floating mountains.
A film egy kék erdőkkel és lebegő hegyekkel borított földönkívüli világot mutat be.
They studied the strange biology of the alien species found on the asteroid.
The astronaut dreamed of meeting alien civilizations among the stars.
The probe sent back images of an alien landscape unlike anything on Earth.
Learner examples
We do not know if alien life exists.
Nem tudjuk, létezik-e földönkívüli élet.
The movie is about an alien world.
A film egy földönkívüli világról szól.
They think a small signal may be from alien life.
She writes a story about an alien city in space.
The robot lands on an alien planet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes do not realize that "alien" can be both a noun and an adjective. When it comes before a noun ("alien life", "alien world"), it is an adjective describing something from another planet.
Meaning
from another planet
Collocations
alien life
|alien world
|alien civilization
|alien spacecraft
|alien form
|alien environment
Synonyms
extraterrestrial (Often used as a scientific or technical adjective; slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
earthly (Relating to Earth, contrasting with things from other planets.)
Themes
science
|technology
|entertainment
|space
Definition
From another planet, not from Earth.
Coming from or relating to a planet other than Earth, especially in science fiction or discussions about life in space.
Grammar
Dictionary form
alien
IPA
GB/ˈeɪliən/
US/ˈeɪliən/
Syllables & stress
ali - en (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ali)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: alien
Noun
- Base: alien
- Plural: aliens
Word family
Forms
aliens
noun
Core family
alienate
verb B2
Related words
alienation
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
inalienable
adjective
Expressions
alien invasion
1/ˈeɪliən ɪnvˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
attack on Earth by aliens
An attack on Earth by creatures from another planet, especially in movies, books, and games.
Examples
- The movie is about an alien invasion that starts in a small coastal town.
- He loves games that let you defend the planet from an alien invasion.
- The comic tells the story of a failed alien invasion of Earth.
alien life
1/ˈeɪliən lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
life beyond Earth
Life that exists somewhere in the universe other than on Earth.
Examples
- Scientists debate how likely alien life is in our galaxy.
- The telescope was built to search for signs of alien life.
- Many people enjoy stories that imagine alien life visiting Earth.
alien to [someone/something]
1/ˈeɪliən tə sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
completely unfamiliar or not fitting
To be very strange or not normal for a person, group, or situation.
Examples
- The idea of strict time schedules was alien to the villagers.
- Honest discussion is alien to a culture of fear.
- Fast internet was alien to many remote communities until recently.
illegal alien
1/ɪlˈiɡəl ˈeɪliən/
fixed phrase
technical
non-citizen without legal status
A non‑citizen who lives in a country without official permission, used mainly in law and politics; often seen as negative or offensive in everyday speech.
Examples
- The new bill changes how the government treats an illegal alien who has lived in the country for many years.
- Many organizations avoid using the term "illegal alien" because of its negative tone.
- The report estimated the number of illegal aliens working in the region.
resident alien
1/ɹˈɛzɪdənt ˈeɪliən/
fixed phrase
technical
non-citizen with legal residence
A person who is not a citizen of a country but has official permission to live there, especially in tax and immigration law.
Examples
- As a resident alien, she must file a special tax form each year.
- The application explains the rights and duties of a resident alien.
- He changed his status from visitor to resident alien after getting a work visa.