colleague
gb/kˈɑliɡ/ us/kˈɑliɡ/
A2
English
~ 1400
kolléga, munkatárs
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s colleague
I had lunch with a colleague from the marketing team.
Egy marketingcsapatból való kollégámmal ebédeltem.
She asked her colleagues for feedback on the report.
Visszajelzést kért a kollégáitól a jelentésről.
Two of my colleagues are attending the conference next week.
He introduced me to his colleagues at the meeting.
My colleagues and I are working on a new project.
Learner examples
My colleague sits next to me.
A kollégám mellettem ül.
I talk to my colleague every day.
Mindennap beszélek a kollégámmal.
She is my colleague at the bank.
We have many colleagues in our office.
This is my colleague, John.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'colleague' with 'friend'; while colleagues can be friends, 'colleague' specifically refers to work relationships.
Meaning
person you work with
Collocations
close colleague
|former colleague
|work colleague
|trusted colleague
|colleague at [company]
Synonyms
coworker (More common in American English; slightly less formal than 'colleague'.)
|
associate (Often used in formal or professional contexts, sometimes implying a business partnership.)
Antonyms
competitor (Refers to someone who is in opposition in the same field, not working together.)
Themes
work
|business
|daily life
|relationships
Definition
Someone you work with in the same job or place.
A person who works with another in the same organization, profession, or department.
Grammar
Dictionary form
colleague
IPA
GB/kˈɑliɡ/
US/kˈɑliɡ/
Syllables & stress
col - league (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (col)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: colleague
- Plural: colleagues
Word family
Forms
colleagues
noun
Related words
coworker
noun
workmate
noun
Advanced or less common
collegial
adjective
collegiality
noun
Expressions
former colleague
1/fˈɔɹmɚ kˈɑliɡ/
fixed phrase
someone you used to work with
A person who worked with you before but does not work with you now.
Examples
- I met my former colleague for coffee last weekend.
- She keeps in touch with her former colleagues from the law firm.
trusted colleague
1/tɹˈʌstɪd kˈɑliɡ/
fixed phrase
reliable coworker
A person you work with who you can trust.
Examples
- She shared the confidential information only with a trusted colleague.
- He is one of my most trusted colleagues.
work colleague
1/wˈɚk kˈɑliɡ/
fixed phrase
coworker at your job
A person you work with in your job or office.
Examples
- He went to dinner with some work colleagues after the meeting.
- My work colleagues are very supportive and friendly.