bohemian
gb/boʊhˈimiən/ us/boʊhˈimiən/
B2
English
~ 10000
bohém, csehországi, bohémiai
NOUN
B2
1
bohém
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a bohemian
He fancied himself a bohemian, drifting from café to café and writing poetry late into the night.
Bohémnek képzelte magát: kávézóról kávézóra sodródott, és késő éjszakáig verseket írt.
The neighborhood used to be full of bohemians, but rising rents have pushed most of them out.
A környék régen tele volt bohémekkel, de a növekvő lakbérek a legtöbbjüket kiszorították.
As a young bohemian, she survived on part-time jobs so she could spend more time painting.
The film follows a group of bohemians sharing a tiny apartment in Paris.
Critics dismissed him as just another bohemian with big ideas and no discipline.
Learner examples
She is a bohemian who paints all day and works at night.
Ő egy bohém, aki egész nap fest, éjjel pedig dolgozik.
Many bohemians live in small rooms but spend a lot of time in cafés.
Sok bohém kis szobákban lakik, de sok időt tölt kávézókban.
He wants to be a bohemian and write stories instead of having a normal job.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bohemian' with 'Bohemian' meaning 'from Bohemia' (a region of the Czech Republic). When you talk about an artistic, unconventional person, the word is often written with a lowercase 'b' in modern English, unless it starts a sentence.
Meaning
person with free, artistic lifestyle
Collocations
a true bohemian
|young bohemians
|artists and bohemians
|be a bohemian
|modern bohemians
|intellectual bohemians
Synonyms
free spirit (emphasizes emotional and personal freedom more than connection to art or a specific social scene.)
|
nonconformist (focuses on rejecting social norms in general, not specifically on an artistic lifestyle.)
|
hippie (refers more specifically to 1960s-style counterculture, often with political and spiritual ideas, not just artistic life.)
Antonyms
conformist (describes someone who follows social rules and norms, the opposite of a bohemian attitude.)
|
bourgeois (suggests a safe, comfortable middle-class lifestyle that values respectability and stability, unlike a bohemian life.)
Themes
culture
|lifestyle
|art
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person, often an artist, who lives in a very free way and does not follow normal social or money rules.
A person, especially an artist or writer, who lives in an unconventional, free-spirited way that ignores many social and financial rules.
B2
2
bohém
B2
Usage pattern:
bohemian [lifestyle/style/attitude/neighborhood]
They decorated the apartment in a bohemian style, with mismatched furniture and colorful fabrics.
Bohém stílusban rendezték be a lakást, össze nem illő bútorokkal és színes textilekkel.
In her twenties she lived a bohemian life, moving from city to city and playing music in small clubs.
Húszas éveiben bohém életet élt: városról városra költözött, és kis klubokban zenélt.
The area has a bohemian feel, full of galleries, secondhand bookstores, and tiny bars.
He admired her bohemian attitude toward work and relationships.
The festival attracts a bohemian crowd of artists, travelers, and street performers.
Learner examples
She loves bohemian clothes with many colors and patterns.
Szereti a bohém ruhákat, sok színnel és mintával.
They enjoy a bohemian lifestyle and do not worry much about money.
Bohém életmódot folytatnak, és nem aggódnak sokat a pénz miatt.
The café has a bohemian look with old chairs and art on the walls.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'bohemian' only describes clothing or fashion. It can also describe a lifestyle, a place, or a general feeling or atmosphere. Others forget that this sense is usually lowercase unless at the start of a sentence.
Meaning
unconventional, artistic, free-spirited
Collocations
bohemian lifestyle
|bohemian style
|bohemian decor
|bohemian neighborhood
|bohemian bar
|bohemian café
Synonyms
unconventional (general word for not following usual rules; does not necessarily suggest art or a romantic, free image.)
|
artsy (informal; stresses artistic appearance or taste, sometimes with a slightly negative or pretentious tone.)
|
boho (very informal and shortened; mostly used about clothing, accessories, and interior design.)
Antonyms
conventional (describes something that follows usual, accepted ways and styles, not free or experimental.)
|
conservative (suggests careful, traditional taste in lifestyle or fashion, opposite of bohemian style.)
Themes
culture
|lifestyle
|art
|fashion
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Describes a way of life, clothing, or place that is very free, not traditional, and often connected with art and music.
Describing a lifestyle, place, or style of art, fashion, or decoration that is free-spirited, unconventional, and often associated with artists and alternative culture.
C1
FORMAL
3
csehországi
B2
bohémiai
C1
Usage pattern:
Bohemian [town/history/nobility/kingdom]
The castle played an important role in Bohemian history.
A kastély fontos szerepet játszott Csehország történetében.
Several Bohemian towns were part of major trade routes in medieval Europe.
Több csehországi város a középkori Európa fontos kereskedelmi útvonalain feküdt.
He specializes in Bohemian folk music and traditional instruments.
The exhibition explores Bohemian art from the nineteenth century.
Her research focuses on the political structure of the Bohemian kingdom.
Learner examples
This book is about Bohemian kings in the Middle Ages.
Ez a könyv a középkori csehországi királyokról szól.
We saw old Bohemian houses on our trip.
Az utunkon régi csehországi házakat láttunk.
He studies Bohemian history at university.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse this geographic meaning with the artistic, unconventional sense. When the meaning is ‘from Bohemia’, the word is normally capitalized as 'Bohemian'. Context about history, geography, or nationality usually signals this meaning.
Meaning
from or about Bohemia
Collocations
Bohemian kingdom
|Bohemian nobility
|Bohemian towns
|Bohemian crown
|Bohemian history
|Bohemian territory
Synonyms
Czech (Modern term for things relating to the Czech Republic; 'Bohemian' is more historical or regional in this sense.)
Antonyms
non-Bohemian (General opposite meaning 'not from Bohemia or not related to Bohemia'.)
Themes
geography
|history
|culture
|travel
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
About Bohemia, a region in today’s Czech Republic, or about its people or culture.
Relating to Bohemia, a historical region that is now part of the Czech Republic, or to its people or culture.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
4
csehországi
B2
Usage pattern:
a Bohemian [lives/comes from Bohemia]
As a Bohemian, he grew up speaking Czech and identifying strongly with the region’s traditions.
Mivel csehországi volt, csehül nőtt fel, és erősen kötődött a régió hagyományaihoz.
Many Bohemians migrated to the United States in the nineteenth century.
A 19. században sok csehországi vándorolt ki az Egyesült Államokba.
The novel follows a young Bohemian who leaves his village to study in Prague.
Bohemians and Moravians played a key role in the formation of the modern Czech nation.
The records list him simply as a Bohemian living in Vienna.
Learner examples
He is a Bohemian who moved to Vienna.
Ő csehországi származású, és Bécsbe költözött.
In that time, many Bohemians worked on farms.
Abban az időben sok csehországi ember dolgozott farmokon.
The story is about a young Bohemian and his family.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always means 'an artist who lives freely', but here it means 'a person from Bohemia'. In this geographic sense, it is normally written with a capital 'B': 'a Bohemian'.
Meaning
native or inhabitant of Bohemia
Collocations
a Bohemian nobleman
|the Bohemians and Moravians
|Bohemian communities
|Bohemian subjects
|Bohemian peasants
|Bohemian minority
Synonyms
Czech (Modern general term for people from the Czech Republic; 'Bohemian' refers specifically to people from the Bohemia region and is often historical.)
Antonyms
foreigner (Someone not from Bohemia, contrasting with a native Bohemian in historical or regional context.)
Themes
geography
|history
|people
|travel
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who comes from Bohemia, a part of today’s Czech Republic.
A person who is from Bohemia, a historical region in what is now the Czech Republic.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bohemian
IPA
GB/boʊhˈimiən/
US/boʊhˈimiən/
Syllables & stress
bo - hemi - an (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (hemi)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: bohemian
Noun
- Base: bohemian
- Plural: bohemians
Word family
Forms
bohemians
noun
Related words
boho
adjective
Advanced or less common
bohemianism
noun
Expressions
bohemian café
1/boʊhˈimiən kəf/
fixed phrase
relaxed, artistic type of café
A café that feels relaxed and artistic, often with old furniture, live music, or many creative people.
Examples
- They spent the afternoon talking in a bohemian café near the university.
- The city is known for its bohemian cafés where writers and musicians like to meet.
- We found a little bohemian café with mismatched chairs and poetry readings on weekends.
bohemian chic
1/boʊhˈimiən ʃˈik/
fixed phrase
informal
fashionable relaxed boho style
A fashion or home style that looks relaxed and bohemian, but is also carefully chosen and stylish.
Examples
- The hotel’s rooms are designed in a bohemian chic style with lots of textiles and handmade pieces.
- She arrived in a bohemian chic outfit of a flowing dress, boots, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Magazines often show celebrities in bohemian chic looks at music festivals.
bohemian lifestyle
1/boʊhˈimiən lˈaɪfstˌaɪl/
fixed phrase
unconventional artistic way of life
A way of living that is very free, not traditional, and often connected with art, music, and not caring much about money.
Examples
- She left her office job to pursue a bohemian lifestyle in a coastal town.
- The film romanticizes the bohemian lifestyle of poets and musicians in the 1960s.
- They dreamed of a bohemian lifestyle filled with travel, painting, and late-night conversations.
bohemian quarter
1/boʊhˈimiən kwˈɔɹtɚ/
fixed phrase
city area with many artists
An area of a city where many artists and free-living people live, often with many cafés, bars, and small art places.
Examples
- They stayed in the bohemian quarter, full of street art and tiny music bars.
- Over the years, the old bohemian quarter has become more commercial and expensive.
- Guides recommend visiting the bohemian quarter to experience the city’s creative side.
bohemian spirit
1/boʊhˈimiən spˈɪɹɪt/
fixed phrase
free and unconventional attitude
A way of thinking and feeling that is very free, creative, and not afraid to be different from normal society.
Examples
- Even after becoming successful, he kept his bohemian spirit and refused to live a conventional life.
- The festival tries to keep the bohemian spirit of the old artist community alive.
- Her bohemian spirit made her open to new places, people, and ideas.
bohemian style
1/boʊhˈimiən stˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
free, artistic way of dressing
A way of dressing or decorating that mixes many colors, patterns, and old things, and looks relaxed and artistic.
Examples
- Her bohemian style includes long skirts, layered jewelry, and vintage scarves.
- The living room has a bohemian style, with plants, patterned rugs, and secondhand furniture.
- Many fashion brands now offer a modern take on bohemian style.