bum
gb/bˈʌm/ us/bˈʌm/
B1
English
fenék, csöves, naplopó, lejmol, pocsék, rossz
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
1
fenék
A2
Usage pattern:
on [someone]'s bum
I slipped on the ice and landed on my bum.
Megcsúsztam a jégen, és a fenekemre estem.
The bike seat made my bum sore after an hour.
Egy óra után fájt a fenekem a bicikliüléstől.
He plopped down on his bum and refused to move.
Learner examples
I fell on my bum.
A fenekemre estem.
My bum hurts from sitting.
Fáj a fenekem az üléstől.
Common mistake:
Don’t use this word in very formal situations; use “buttocks” instead.
Meaning
the buttocks
Collocations
sit on your bum
|fall on your bum
|land on your bum
|get off your bum
|kick in the bum
|pain in my bum
|cold bum
Synonyms
butt (Very common and informal, especially in American English.)
|
backside (Slightly more polite and common in British English.)
|
rear (More neutral/euphemistic.)
Themes
body
|daily_life
Definition
the two round parts you sit on
A person’s buttocks.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
2
csöves
B2
Usage pattern:
a bum (on/at/by [place])
He used to call anyone sleeping outside a bum, which I thought was harsh.
Régebben mindenkit, aki kint aludt, csövesnek nevezett, amit én durvának tartottam.
People complained about bums hanging around the station.
Az emberek panaszkodtak, hogy csövesek lézengenek az állomás környékén.
A bum asked me for spare change outside the store.
Learner examples
A homeless man asked for money.
Egy hajléktalan férfi pénzt kért.
Common mistake:
Because it can sound insulting, use “homeless person” in polite conversation.
Meaning
a homeless person
Collocations
a street bum
|a bum on the corner
|a bum in the park
|drunks and bums
Synonyms
homeless person (Neutral and preferred in polite speech.)
|
vagrant (More formal and less insulting.)
Antonyms
homeowner (Opposite in terms of having stable housing.)
Themes
society
|people
Definition
a homeless person (can sound rude)
A homeless person who lives by begging or sleeping in public places; often used as a negative label and can be offensive.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
3
naplopó
B2
Usage pattern:
a bum
Stop being a bum and help with the dishes.
Ne légy már naplopó, inkább segíts mosogatni.
He called his brother a bum for never keeping a job.
Naplopónak nevezte a bátyját, amiért az sosem tudott megtartani egy állást.
I felt like a bum after sleeping until noon.
Learner examples
Don’t be a bum.
Ne légy naplopó.
Common mistake:
This is usually an insult; avoid using it to describe people you don’t know well.
Meaning
a lazy, worthless person
Collocations
lazy bum
|a total bum
|such a bum
|don’t be a bum
|acting like a bum
Synonyms
slacker (Less harsh; focuses on avoiding work.)
|
deadbeat (Stronger; suggests not paying debts or supporting family.)
Antonyms
hard worker (A person who works diligently.)
|
go-getter (Someone energetic and ambitious.)
Themes
people
|work
|emotions
Definition
a lazy person (insult)
A lazy or irresponsible person, especially someone who does not work and relies on others; an insult.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
4
lejmol
B2
Usage pattern:
bum [something] (off [someone])
Can I bum a cigarette off you?
Lejmolhatok tőled egy cigit?
He’s always bumming money from his roommates.
Állandóan pénzt lejmol a lakótársaitól.
We forgot lunch, so we bummed some chips from a friend.
Learner examples
Can I bum a ride?
El tudnál vinni?
Common mistake:
In this sense, “bum” is about getting things free; it doesn’t mean “sit down.”
Meaning
get something for free
Collocations
bum a cigarette
|bum a smoke
|bum some cash
|bum a few bucks
|bum a ride
|bum a beer
|bum food
|bum money off a friend
Synonyms
cadge (More British-sounding; slightly literary/old-fashioned.)
|
scrounge (Often implies repeatedly getting things free.)
|
mooch (Suggests taking advantage of others; more negative.)
Antonyms
buy (To pay for something.)
|
pay (To give money in exchange.)
Themes
daily_life
|social
|money
Definition
to ask for and get something without paying
To get something from someone for free, usually by asking or borrowing casually.
B2
INFORMAL
5
pocsék
B1
Usage pattern:
a bum [noun]
We had a bum time because it rained the whole weekend.
Pocsékul telt a hétvégénk, mert végig esett az eső.
Missing the train was bum luck.
Pech volt, hogy lekéstük a vonatot.
That’s a bum excuse for being late.
Learner examples
It was a bum day.
Pocsék nap volt.
Common mistake:
This meaning is common in American English (e.g., “bum luck”). It does not mean “homeless” here.
Meaning
bad or disappointing
Collocations
bum luck
|bum deal
|bum trip
|bum experience
|a bum day
|a bum choice
Synonyms
lousy (Very common informal synonym.)
|
crummy (Similar meaning; casual, often American.)
|
rotten (Stronger and more emotional.)
Antonyms
great (Very good; enjoyable.)
|
excellent (Very high quality.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
Definition
bad; not good
Bad, disappointing, or unpleasant.
B2
INFORMAL
6
rossz
A1
Usage pattern:
a bum [body part/thing]
I can’t run right now—I’ve got a bum knee.
Most nem tudok futni – rossz a térdem.
The car wouldn’t start because it had a bum battery.
Az autó nem indult, mert rossz volt az akkumulátora.
She sat out the game with a bum ankle.
Learner examples
I have a bum knee.
Rossz a térdem.
Common mistake:
Often used before a noun (e.g., “a bum knee,” “a bum printer”).
Meaning
injured or not working
Collocations
bum knee
|bum leg
|bum shoulder
|bum ankle
|bum arm
|a bum back
|a bum engine
|a bum phone
Synonyms
bad (More general; less vivid.)
|
injured (More formal; used mainly for people/body parts.)
|
broken (Stronger; suggests it doesn’t work at all.)
Antonyms
healthy (Not injured; in good condition.)
|
working (Functioning properly (for machines/things).)
Themes
health
|daily_life
Definition
hurt or broken; not working well
Injured, or not working properly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bum
IPA
GB/bˈʌm/
US/bˈʌm/
Syllables & stress
bum (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bum)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: bum
Noun
- Base: bum
- Plural: bums
Verb
- Base: bum
- 3rd Person Singular: bums
- Present Participle: bumming
- Past: bummed
Word family
Forms
bums
noun
bumming
verb
bummed
verb
Core family
bummer
noun
Expressions
bum a ride
1/bˈʌm ə ɹˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
informal
get a free ride
to ask someone to drive you for free
Examples
- Can I bum a ride to the station?
- We bummed a ride from a coworker after the party.
- He always tries to bum a ride instead of taking the bus.
Learner examples
- Can I bum a ride?
bum around
1/bˈʌm ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
informal
spend time doing nothing
to relax and do nothing in particular
Examples
- We bummed around the house all weekend.
- After finals, he just wanted to bum around for a few days.
- They spent the afternoon bumming around downtown.
Learner examples
- I want to bum around this weekend.
bum deal
1/bˈʌm dˈil/
fixed phrase
informal
an unfair outcome
a situation that is unfair to someone
Examples
- She got a bum deal and ended up doing all the work.
- It’s a bum deal, but we can’t change the policy.
- Getting fined for that felt like a bum deal.
Learner examples
- That’s a bum deal.
bum out
1/bˈʌm ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
make someone feel sad
to make someone feel unhappy; to feel unhappy
Examples
- The cancellation really bummed me out.
- Don’t let one bad comment bum you out.
- She was bummed out about missing the concert.
Learner examples
- I’m bummed out today.
bum rap
1/bˈʌm ɹˈæp/
fixed phrase
informal
an unfair accusation
unfair blame
Examples
- That restaurant gets a bum rap—it’s actually pretty good.
- He took a bum rap for something he didn’t do.
- Small cars sometimes get a bum rap for being unsafe.
bum steer
1/bˈʌm stˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
informal
misleading advice
advice that is wrong and confusing
Examples
- Someone gave me a bum steer, and I ended up at the wrong office.
- I’m not saying she lied—maybe she just got a bum steer too.
- The online directions were a bum steer.
get off your bum
1/ɡˈɛt ˈɔf jˈʊɹ bˈʌm/
idiom
informal
stop being lazy
start doing something; don’t be lazy
Examples
- Get off your bum and help me carry these boxes.
- I finally got off my bum and cleaned the kitchen.
- If you want the job, you need to get off your bum and apply.
Learner examples
- Get off your bum and study.