headache
gb/hˈɛdˌeɪk/ us/hˈɛdˌeɪk/
A2
English
~ 8100
fejfájás, gond, nyűg, probléma
NOUN
A2
1
fejfájás
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [a headache]
I woke up with a terrible headache this morning.
Ma reggel szörnyű fejfájással ébredtem.
If the headache doesn’t go away, you should see a doctor.
Ha nem múlik el a fejfájás, menj orvoshoz.
Too much screen time gives me a headache.
She took some painkillers for her headache.
Dehydration can cause a bad headache.
Learner examples
I have a headache, so I want to rest.
Fáj a fejem, ezért szeretnék pihenni.
His headache was very strong after the long flight.
A hosszú repülőút után nagyon erős fejfájása volt.
Drinking water sometimes helps my headache.
She cannot study because of her headache.
If you have a headache, turn off the bright light.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I have headache"* without the article. In English, we normally say *"I have **a** headache"*. Another mistake is writing it as two words (*"head ache"*), but it should be one word: *"headache"*.
Meaning
pain in the head
Collocations
have a headache
|get a headache
|bad headache
|terrible headache
|migraine headache
|constant headache
Synonyms
head pain (More formal or medical-sounding, and less common in everyday speech.)
|
migraine (Refers to a specific type of very strong headache, not just any pain in the head.)
Antonyms
relief (Describes the state of no longer feeling pain, including headache pain.)
|
comfort (Describes a pleasant physical state without pain or discomfort.)
Themes
health
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A pain you feel inside your head.
A painful or uncomfortable sensation felt inside the head.
fejfájás
A2
I have a terrible headache today.
Ma szörnyen fáj a fejem.
Stress can cause headaches.
A stressz fejfájást okozhat.
Meaning
Pain in the head area
Definition
Pain inside your head.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is [a real headache]
Parking in this city is a real headache.
Ebben a városban parkolni igazi gond.
The new tax rules are a major headache for small businesses.
Az új adószabályok komoly gondot jelentenek a kisvállalkozásoknak.
Organizing the event was a headache, but it turned out well.
Dealing with all this paperwork is giving me a headache.
The software update fixed some issues but created a new headache for the IT team.
Learner examples
Finding an apartment in this city is a real headache.
Lakást találni ebben a városban igazi gond.
These forms are a headache for many people.
Ezek a nyomtatványok sok embernek gondot okoznak.
The project became a big headache for our manager.
Traveling during the holiday is always a headache.
The new system is a headache to learn.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes misunderstand this meaning and think people are talking about physical pain. In sentences like *"Parking is a real headache"*, it means parking is a difficult, annoying problem, not that it causes literal pain. Another issue is overusing it for very serious problems where words like *"crisis"* or *"disaster"* would fit better.
Meaning
annoying problem or difficulty
Collocations
a real headache
|major headache
|cause a headache
|legal headache
|administrative headache
|traffic headache
Synonyms
hassle (Informal and very common for small but annoying problems.)
|
problem (More general and neutral; does not always suggest the same level of stress or annoyance.)
|
nightmare (Informal and stronger; suggests something extremely difficult or unpleasant.)
Antonyms
solution (Refers to something that removes or fixes a problem instead of causing one.)
|
easy task (Describes something simple and not stressful, the opposite of a 'headache' in this sense.)
Themes
work
|daily life
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A problem that is very annoying and hard to deal with.
A situation, task, or issue that causes a lot of difficulty, stress, or inconvenience.
Grammar
Dictionary form
headache
IPA
GB/hˈɛdˌeɪk/
US/hˈɛdˌeɪk/
Syllables & stress
head - ache (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (head)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: headache
- Plural: headache, headaches
Word family
Forms
headaches
noun
Related words
Expressions
a real headache
1/ə ɹˈil hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
very annoying problem
A problem that is very annoying and hard to deal with.
Examples
- Commuting during rush hour is a real headache.
- The new reporting system has been a real headache for the staff.
get a headache
1/ɡˈɛt ə hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
start to feel head pain
To start feeling pain in your head.
Examples
- I always get a headache if I skip coffee.
- He got a headache from sitting in the sun too long.
give someone a headache
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
cause pain or mental strain
To make someone’s head hurt or to cause them a lot of stress or difficulty.
Examples
- Loud music gives me a headache.
- All these sudden changes at work are giving everyone a headache.
have a headache
1/hˈæv ə hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
experience pain in your head
To feel pain inside your head.
Examples
- I have a headache, so I’m going to lie down.
- She often has a headache after long meetings.
pounding headache
1/pˈaʊndɪŋ hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
throbbing, intense head pain
A headache that feels like your head is beating or hitting again and again.
Examples
- He had a pounding headache after working all night.
- The loud noise made her pounding headache even worse.
splitting headache
1/splˈɪtɪŋ hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
very severe headache
A very strong and painful headache.
Examples
- After the party, he woke up with a splitting headache.
- She had a splitting headache and could barely open her eyes.