dark
gb/dˈɑɹk/ us/dˈɑɹk/
A1
English
~ 2400
sötét, baljós, sötétség
A1
1
sötét
A1
Usage pattern:
a dark [place/room/night]
The room was dark because the curtains were closed.
A szoba sötét volt, mert be voltak húzva a függönyök.
It gets dark early in the winter.
Télen korán sötétedik.
We walked through a dark tunnel.
Learner examples
The room is dark.
Sötét a szoba.
It is dark outside.
Kint sötét van.
The tunnel is dark.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dark' with 'black'. 'Dark' describes lighting conditions, while 'black' refers to a color.
Meaning
having little or no light
Collocations
dark room
|dark night
|dark corner
|dark sky
|dark alley
Synonyms
dim (Suggests low light, but not complete absence of light.)
Antonyms
bright (Indicates a lot of light or illumination.)
Themes
daily life
|environment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having very little or no light.
Having very little or no light; not bright.
A2
2
sötét
A1
Usage pattern:
a dark [color/shade/hair/skin]
He has dark brown eyes.
Sötétbarna szeme van.
She painted the wall a dark shade of blue.
Sötétkék árnyalatúra festette a falat.
The dress is made of dark green silk.
Learner examples
She has dark hair.
Sötét haja van.
I like dark blue.
Szeretem a sötétkék színt.
He wears a dark shirt.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'dark' for colors with 'black', but 'dark' can apply to many colors, not just black.
Meaning
having a deep color tone
Collocations
dark hair
|dark skin
|dark eyes
|dark blue
|dark green
Synonyms
deep-colored (Formal or technical term for intense color.)
Antonyms
light-colored (Refers to pale or less intense colors.)
Themes
appearance
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a strong, deep color, not light.
Having a color that is closer to black than to white; not light in shade.
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a dark [past/secret/plan]
The novel takes a dark turn in the final chapters.
A regény sötét fordulatot vesz az utolsó fejezetekben.
He had a dark past he never spoke about.
Sötét múltja volt, amiről soha nem beszélt.
There was a dark mood in the room.
Learner examples
He has a dark secret.
Sötét titka van.
The movie has a dark story.
A filmnek sötét története van.
She felt a dark fear.
Meaning
having evil or threatening qualities
Collocations
dark secret
|dark past
|dark mood
|dark plot
Synonyms
sinister (More formal and strongly suggests evil intent.)
Antonyms
innocent (Free from guilt, evil, or harm.)
Themes
emotions
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Seeming bad, dangerous, or evil.
Having qualities associated with evil, danger, or unpleasantness.
NOUN
A2
4
We waited in the dark for the power to return.
A sötétben vártuk, hogy visszajöjjön az áram.
Cats can see well in the dark.
A macskák jól látnak a sötétben.
The cave was completely dark inside.
Learner examples
I can't see in the dark.
Nem látok a sötétben.
We sat in the dark.
A sötétben ültünk.
The room was in the dark.
Meaning
absence of light
Collocations
in the dark
|total dark
Synonyms
darkness ('Darkness' is slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech as a noun.)
Antonyms
light (The presence of illumination.)
Themes
daily life
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A time or place with no light.
A state in which there is little or no light.
A2
5
sötét
A1
Usage pattern:
a person with dark [hair/skin/eyes]
She has long, dark hair.
Hosszú, sötét haja van.
They are known for their naturally dark skin.
Természetüknél fogva sötét bőrükről ismertek.
He has dark eyes like his mother.
Learner examples
She has dark skin.
Sötét a bőre.
He has dark eyes.
Sötét szeme van.
My friend has dark hair.
Meaning
having darker skin or hair tone
Collocations
dark complexion
|dark eyebrows
Synonyms
brunette (Usually refers specifically to women with brown hair; narrower scope than 'dark'.)
Antonyms
fair-skinned (Describes people with light skin tone.)
Themes
appearance
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having hair or skin that is not light in color.
Having skin or hair that is relatively deep in color compared to others in the same context.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dark
IPA
GB/dˈɑɹk/
US/dˈɑɹk/
Syllables & stress
dark (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dark)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dark
- Comparative: darker
- Superlative: darkest
Noun
- Base: dark
- Plural: dark
Word family
Expressions
a shot in the dark
1/ə ʃˈɑt ˈɪn ðə dˈɑɹk/
idiom
informal
guess without sufficient information
A guess when you have no facts to help you decide.
Examples
- It was just a shot in the dark, but I guessed right.
- Choosing that answer was a shot in the dark.
after dark
1/ˈæftɚ dˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
after sunset; at night time
After the sun goes down and it becomes night.
Examples
- It’s not safe to walk here after dark.
- The park closes after dark.
pitch dark
1/pˈɪt͡ʃ dˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
completely without any light
Very, very dark with no light at all.
Examples
- It was pitch dark inside the cave.
- The street was pitch dark after the lights went out.
in the dark
1/ˈɪn ðə dˈɑɹk/
idiom
unaware of something
Not knowing about something because you have not been told.
Examples
- I was completely in the dark about their plans.
- She kept me in the dark about the surprise party.
in the dark
2/ˈɪn ðə dˈɑɹk/
idiom
not informed about something important
Not knowing about something important.
Examples
- We were kept in the dark about the changes.
- She felt in the dark about her future.