bitter
gb/bˈɪtɚ/ us/bˈɪtɚ/
A2
English
~ 1700
keserű, keserűség, kesernyésség, elkeseredett, neheztel, csípős, dermesztő, bitter, angol bitter
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] tastes/seems bitter
The medicine had a bitter taste that lingered in my mouth.
A gyógyszernek keserű íze volt, és sokáig éreztem a számban.
I prefer bitter chocolate to milk chocolate.
Jobban szeretem az étcsokoládét, mint a tejcsokoládét.
The beer was too bitter for my liking.
Her tea turned bitter after steeping too long.
Learner examples
This coffee is very bitter.
Ez a kávé nagyon keserű.
Dark chocolate can taste bitter.
Az étcsokoládé íze lehet keserű.
The soup is bitter because of the herbs.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bitter' with 'sour', but sour is acidic like lemon, while bitter is more harsh and sharp like black coffee.
Meaning
having a sharp, unpleasant taste
Collocations
bitter taste
|bitter coffee
|bitter chocolate
|bitter flavor
Synonyms
sharp (Used for tastes that are strong and intense, though not always unpleasant.)
Antonyms
sweet (Sweet is the opposite in taste profile, associated with sugar and pleasantness.)
Themes
food
|sensory
|daily life
|food_drink
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Tasting strong and not sweet, like coffee without sugar or dark chocolate.
Having a strong, often unpleasant taste that is sharp and sometimes harsh, like that of unsweetened coffee or certain leafy greens.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels/is bitter about [something]
He was still bitter about losing the promotion.
Még mindig keserűség volt benne amiatt, hogy nem kapta meg az előléptetést.
Their divorce ended in a bitter legal battle.
A válásuk végül elkeseredett jogi csatározássá fajult.
She spoke with a bitter tone about her former boss.
Learner examples
She is bitter about her job loss.
Keserűség van benne amiatt, hogy elvesztette az állását.
He felt bitter after the game.
Keserűséget érzett a meccs után.
They had a bitter fight.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'bitter' with 'upset'—'bitter' implies a longer-lasting resentment.
Meaning
feeling deep anger or resentment
Collocations
bitter argument
|bitter feelings
|bitter dispute
|bitter enemy
Synonyms
resentful (Focuses on the feeling of unfair treatment and lingering anger.)
Antonyms
forgiving (Willing to let go of anger and resentment, unlike 'bitter'.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Feeling angry and upset because you think something is unfair.
Feeling or showing strong anger, resentment, or disappointment about something that seems unfair or hurtful.
B1
3
Usage pattern:
bitter [wind/cold/winter]
We walked home through the bitter wind.
A csípős szélben gyalogoltunk haza.
It was a bitterly cold night in January.
Dermesztően hideg januári éjszaka volt.
The hikers faced bitter conditions on the mountain.
Learner examples
It is bitter outside today.
Ma csípős hideg van odakint.
The wind is bitter and strong.
Erős, csípős szél fúj.
We had a bitter winter last year.
Meaning
extremely cold and unpleasant
Collocations
bitter cold
|bitter wind
|bitter winter
Synonyms
freezing (Very cold; more informal and common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
mild (Refers to pleasantly warm or not extreme weather, opposite of 'bitter' in this sense.)
Themes
weather
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very cold and uncomfortable.
Describes weather or air that is extremely cold and unpleasant to experience.
NOUN
B2
4
bitter
C1
angol bitter
C1
He ordered a pint of bitter at the pub.
Rendelt egy korsó bittert a pubban.
Bitter is popular in many English pubs.
A bitter sok angliai pubban népszerű.
I prefer lager to bitter.
Learner examples
He drinks bitter at the pub.
Bittert iszik a pubban.
I do not like bitter.
Nem szeretem a bittert.
My father likes bitter beer.
Meaning
a type of strong-tasting beer
Collocations
pint of bitter
|drink bitter
Synonyms
ale (A general term for a type of beer; 'bitter' is a specific variety.)
Themes
food
|drink
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
A British beer with a strong taste from hops.
A kind of beer that has a strong, sharp flavor from hops, common in Britain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bitter
IPA
GB/bˈɪtɚ/
US/bˈɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
bit - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bit)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: bitter
- Comparative: bitterer
- Superlative: bitterest
Word family
Forms
bitterer
adjective
bitterest
adjective
Core family
bitterly
adverb B2
bitterness
noun B2
Related words
embitter
verb
embittered
adjective
bittersweet
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
sweet
adjective A1
Expressions
bitter end
1/bˈɪtɚ ˈɛnd/
idiom
the very end of something unpleasant
Until the very last part of something hard or unpleasant.
Examples
- They fought to the bitter end.
- I stayed with the project until the bitter end.
leave a bitter taste in one's mouth
1/lˈiv ə bˈɪtɚ tˈeɪst ˈɪn wˈʌnz mˈaʊθ/
idiom
cause lasting bad feelings about something
To make someone feel bad or unhappy after something happens.
Examples
- The unfair decision left a bitter taste in her mouth.
- His rude comments left a bitter taste in my mouth.
sweet and bitter
1/swˈit ˈænd bˈɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
both pleasant and unpleasant at once
Having good parts and bad parts at the same time.
Examples
- Graduating was sweet and bitter for her—she was happy but sad to leave friends.
- The ending was sweet and bitter.