funk
gb/fˈʌŋk/ us/fˈʌŋk/
B2
English
~ 8300
rossz passz, levertség, funk, bűz, állott szag, pánik, rémület, berezel, meghátrál, visszariad
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
1
rossz passz
B1
levertség
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is in a funk
She’s been in a funk all week since the project was canceled.
A projekt törlése óta egész héten rossz passzban van.
After the breakup he fell into a real funk and stopped going out.
A szakítás után nagyon rossz passzba került, és nem járt el sehova.
A long walk in the sun helped him get out of his funk.
The team was in a collective funk after losing three games in a row.
He’s trying to shake off this creative funk and start writing again.
Learner examples
I was in a funk after I lost my job.
Rossz passzban voltam, miután elvesztettem az állásomat.
He is in a funk and does not want to see his friends.
Rossz passzban van, és nem akar találkozni a barátaival.
Music helps me get out of a funk.
She fell into a funk when she failed the test.
I do exercise when I am in a funk.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "funk" with "fun" because they look similar. "Fun" means enjoyment, but "funk" in this sense means a sad, low mood. Learners may also try to say *"I have a funk"*; in natural English we say *"I am in a funk"* or *"I’m feeling in a funk"*.
Meaning
low, depressed, unmotivated mood
Collocations
in a funk
|get into a funk
|get out of a funk
|shake off a funk
|emotional funk
|stuck in a funk
Synonyms
slump (Often used for a period of low mood or low performance; slightly more neutral and broader in use.)
|
depression (Usually stronger and more serious; can refer to a medical condition, while "funk" suggests something milder and temporary.)
Antonyms
good mood (Describes feeling happy and positive, the opposite of being in a low, sad state.)
Themes
emotions
|mental_health
|daily_life
|health
Definition
A short time when you feel sad and do not want to do anything.
A temporary state of feeling sad, low, and unmotivated, often without a clear reason.
NOUN
B2
2
funk
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] plays funk; [something] is funk
The DJ mixed old-school funk with modern hip-hop.
A DJ old-school funkot kevert modern hiphoppal.
He plays bass in a local funk band.
Egy helyi funkzenekarban basszusgitározik.
This album is pure funk from start to finish.
Funk and disco dominated the dance floors in the 1970s.
You can really hear the funk influence in that guitar riff.
Learner examples
I like to dance to funk music.
Szeretek funkzenére táncolni.
Her brother listens to a lot of funk.
A bátyja sok funkot hallgat.
They formed a funk band at school.
The DJ played some classic funk songs.
This song has a strong funk sound.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix up "funk" and "funky". "Funk" is the music style; "funky" is an adjective used to describe music, style, or sometimes a smell. For example: *"funk music"* but *"a funky song"*.
Meaning
genre of rhythmic dance music
Collocations
funk music
|funk band
|funk groove
|classic funk
|funk bass
|funk track
Synonyms
groove (In music talk, "groove" can refer to the rhythmic feel or style, often connected to funk, but it is more general and not a strict genre name.)
Antonyms
classical music (Represents a very different, usually non-dance, orchestral music tradition, contrasting with the rhythmic, dance-focused quality of funk.)
Themes
music
|culture
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A type of modern music with a strong beat and heavy bass that is easy to dance to.
A style of popular music that developed from soul and rhythm and blues, with a strong rhythmic groove, prominent bass lines, and a focus on danceable beats.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
bűz
B1
állott szag
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] has a funk; the funk of [something]
There was a sweaty funk in the locker room after the game.
A meccs után izzadságbűz terjengett az öltözőben.
Open a window and let this funk out of here.
Nyiss ki egy ablakot, és engedd ki innen ezt a bűzt.
The old carpets held a musty funk that never really went away.
After the party, the house had a nasty funk of smoke and beer.
Vinegar can help remove the funk from gym clothes.
Learner examples
The gym has a strong funk after 6 p.m.
Este hat után erős bűz van az edzőteremben.
Open the door to clear the funk in this room.
Nyisd ki az ajtót, hogy kiszellőzzön ebből a szobából a bűz.
My shoes have a bad funk after running.
We washed the towels to get rid of the funk.
There is a sweaty funk in the small car.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is positive because they know "funk" as a music style. In this sense, it is negative and means a bad smell. Also, do not say *"smell a funk music"* when you mean a bad odor; say *"smell a funk"* or *"smell a bad funk"* for this sense.
Meaning
strong unpleasant stale or sweaty smell
Collocations
a strong funk
|musty funk
|sweaty funk
|the funk of [something]
|clear the funk
|get rid of the funk
Synonyms
stink (Very direct and sometimes harsher; "funk" often suggests a built-up sweaty or musty smell, especially in informal American English.)
Antonyms
fresh scent (Describes a clean, pleasant smell, the opposite of a stale or sweaty odor.)
Themes
daily_life
|smell
|home
|body
Definition
A strong bad smell, often from sweat or an old, closed room.
A strong, unpleasant smell, especially one that is sweaty, stale, or has built up over time in a closed space.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] is in a funk; [someone] gets into a funk about [something]
She went into a blue funk when she realized her passport was missing.
Teljes pánikba esett, amikor rájött, hogy eltűnt az útlevele.
The news threw the whole office into a sudden funk.
A hír hirtelen pánikba ejtette az egész irodát.
He gets into a real funk about flying and avoids planes whenever he can.
The exam results put him in a temporary funk of anxiety.
The rumor sent the market into a brief funk before prices recovered.
Learner examples
She was in a blue funk before the big test.
Teljes pánikban volt a fontos vizsga előtt.
He got into a funk when he lost his wallet.
Pánikba esett, amikor elvesztette a pénztárcáját.
The bad news threw them into a funk.
I go into a funk every time I have to speak in public.
The storm put the children in a little funk.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume that "in a funk" always means sadness. Historically, it can also mean fear or panic, especially in the phrase "in a blue funk". Context usually shows whether the focus is fear or sadness.
Meaning
sudden fear or panic
Collocations
in a blue funk
|in a funk about [something]
|thrown into a funk
|a moment of funk
Synonyms
panic (Very close in meaning, but "panic" is more common and can be stronger or more sudden; "funk" has a somewhat old-fashioned or literary feel.)
Antonyms
calm (Refers to being relaxed and not afraid, the opposite of being in a state of fear or panic.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
Definition
A strong feeling of fear or panic that can make you want to run away from something.
A sudden feeling of fear or panic that makes someone want to avoid a situation or lose their courage.
VERB
C2
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
[someone] funks [something]; [someone] funks doing [something]
He was so nervous that he completely funked the interview.
Annyira ideges volt, hogy teljesen berezelt, és elrontotta az interjút.
She funked the exam and decided not to show up.
Berezelt a vizsga előtt, és úgy döntött, hogy el sem megy.
I nearly funked it, but in the end I gave the speech.
They funked making a decision and postponed the meeting again.
Don’t funk it now—you’ve worked too hard to back out.
Learner examples
He funked the test and did not go.
Berezelt a vizsga előtt, és nem ment el.
She almost funked the speech but did it in the end.
Majdnem berezelt a beszéd előtt, de végül megtartotta.
I do not want to funk this interview.
They funked making a hard choice.
He was scared and funked the big game.
Common mistake:
This verb is relatively rare and mainly British. Learners might guess it is related to the music style or to "being in a funk" (low mood), but here it specifically means avoiding something because of fear. In modern casual English, "chicken out" is more common.
Meaning
avoid something because of fear
Collocations
funk the exam
|funk the interview
|funk out of [doing something]
|funk it at the last minute
Synonyms
chicken out (Very common informal phrase; clearly means to lose courage and not do something, often more colloquial than "funk".)
Antonyms
go through with (Means to do something difficult despite fear, the opposite of avoiding it because of fear.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To not do something because you are scared or lose your courage.
To avoid doing something or fail to do it properly because you are afraid or lose your courage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
funk
IPA
GB/fˈʌŋk/
US/fˈʌŋk/
Syllables & stress
funk (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (funk)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: funk
- Plural: funks
Verb
- Base: funk
- 3rd Person Singular: funks
- Present Participle: funking
- Past: funked
Word family
Forms
funks
noun
funking
verb
funked
verb
Core family
funky
adjective B2
Related words
funkiness
noun
Advanced or less common
funkily
adverb
Expressions
funk music
1/fˈʌŋk mjˈuzɪk/
fixed phrase
music in the funk style
Music that has the style of funk, with a strong beat and heavy bass.
Examples
- He loves old-school funk music from the 1970s.
- Funk music is great for dancing.
- The band plays a mix of funk music and jazz.
funk out
1/fˈʌŋk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
lose courage and back out
To decide not to do something because you are afraid or nervous.
Examples
- He was going to sing on stage but funked out at the last minute.
- Don’t funk out now—you’ve already come this far.
- She almost funked out of the presentation but her friend encouraged her.
funk up
1/fˈʌŋk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
make something livelier or cooler
To make something look or sound more modern, bold, or exciting.
Examples
- They funked up the old logo with brighter colors.
- The producer funked up the track with a heavier bass line.
- You can funk up a simple outfit with some colorful shoes.
get out of a funk
1/ɡˈɛt ˈaʊt əv ə fˈʌŋk/
fixed phrase
informal
stop feeling low and unmotivated
To stop feeling sad and low and return to your normal mood.
Examples
- A weekend away helped her get out of her funk.
- Exercise is one of the best ways to get out of a funk.
- He finally got out of his funk after he started a new hobby.
in a blue funk
1/ˈɪn ə blˈu fˈʌŋk/
idiom
informal
in a state of fear or deep upset
Very worried, afraid, or very sad and upset.
Examples
- She was in a blue funk about her exam results.
- He goes into a blue funk every time he has to fly.
- The team was in a blue funk after hearing the bad news.
in a funk
1/ˈɪn ə fˈʌŋk/
idiom
informal
feeling sad and unmotivated
Feeling sad and low for a short time, and not wanting to do much.
Examples
- She’s been in a funk ever since she lost her job.
- I get in a funk every winter when the days are so short.
- Talking with friends helps me when I’m in a funk.