hen
gb/hˈɛn/ us/hˈɛn/
A2
English
~ 7900
tyúk, tojó, nőstény, vén tyúk, buta liba, drágám, aranyom
NOUN
A2
1
tyúk
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] keeps [hens]
They keep six hens in the back garden for fresh eggs.
Hat tyúkot tartanak a hátsó kertben, hogy friss tojásuk legyen.
The brown hen clucked loudly as the farmer collected the eggs.
A barna tyúk hangosan kotkodácsolt, miközben a gazda összeszedte a tojásokat.
A fox got into the coop and scared all the hens.
This breed of hen is known for laying large brown eggs.
The children loved feeding the hens on their grandparents' farm.
Learner examples
The hen lays an egg every day.
A tyúk mindennap tojik egy tojást.
My aunt has three hens and one rooster.
A nagynénémnek három tyúkja és egy kakasa van.
A big white hen is standing in the yard.
The farmer feeds the hens every morning.
We saw many hens at the farm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "hen" to talk about chicken meat in food contexts. In modern English, people usually say "chicken" for the meat (for example, "grilled chicken"), and use "hen" mainly when talking about the live bird, especially on farms.
Meaning
Adult female chicken
Collocations
laying hen
|battery hen
|broody hen
|free-range hens
|hen house
|keep hens
Synonyms
female chicken (More explicit and descriptive; less commonly used as a fixed term.)
|
chicken (General word for the bird; does not specify female unless context makes it clear.)
Antonyms
rooster (The adult male chicken, contrasting with the female hen.)
Themes
animals
|food
|farming
|food_drink
Definition
An adult female chicken, usually kept on a farm for its eggs.
An adult female chicken, especially one kept on a farm to produce eggs or meat.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[hen] [bird species]
The hen pheasant is much duller in color than the brightly patterned male.
A tojó fácán színezete sokkal fakóbb, mint az élénk mintázatú hímé.
We watched a hen duck leading her ducklings across the pond.
Egy tojó kacsát figyeltünk, amint átvezeti a kiskacsáit a tavon.
In this species, the hen is larger than the cock.
The hen turkey built a nest in the tall grass.
Birdwatchers spotted a hen harrier hunting over the marshes.
Learner examples
The hen pheasant has brown feathers, but the male is very colorful.
A tojó fácánnak barna tollai vannak, de a hím nagyon színes.
A hen duck looked after many small ducklings.
Egy tojó kacsa sok apró kiskacsára vigyázott.
The hen is the female bird in this species.
The hen turkey made a nest on the ground.
The male and the hen look very different.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "hen" always means a chicken. In bird books or nature programs, it can also mean the adult female of another bird species, such as a pheasant or duck, especially when the male and female look different.
Meaning
Female bird of a species
Collocations
hen pheasant
|hen turkey
|hen duck
|hen harrier
Synonyms
female bird (More general and descriptive; used when the species is already clear from context.)
Antonyms
male bird (Refers to the male of the same bird species, in contrast to the female hen.)
Themes
animals
|nature
Definition
An adult female bird of a certain kind, for example a female duck or pheasant.
The adult female of a bird species, especially game birds and some wild birds, when contrasted with the male.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] calls [someone] a hen
He waved her away with a laugh and said, "You silly hen, stop worrying about everything."
Nevetve legyintett rá, és azt mondta: „Te buta liba, ne aggódj már minden miatt.”
She did not like being talked about as an old hen by the younger staff.
Nem tetszett neki, hogy a fiatalabb kollégák vén tyúkként beszélnek róla.
They sat in the corner like a bunch of clucking hens, commenting on everyone who walked past.
Calling her a hen behind her back was both childish and disrespectful.
The film shows how the men dismiss the women as harmless hens.
Learner examples
He called her a silly hen, and she was angry.
Buta libának nevezte, és ő dühös lett.
They talk about the women as old hens, which is not nice.
Vén tyúkokként beszélnek a nőkről, ami nem szép dolog.
Do not call your boss a hen; it is rude.
The men think the women are just hens who talk too much.
She hates it when people call her a hen.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this sense of "hen" thinking it is a friendly or neutral word for a woman. In most contexts it sounds rude, old-fashioned, or mocking. Use neutral words like "woman" or "lady" instead, unless you clearly understand the tone and social context.
Meaning
Woman, mildly insulting term
Collocations
silly hen
|old hen
|you silly hen
|a clucking hen
Synonyms
woman (Neutral and polite; does not have the negative or mocking feeling of "hen" in this sense.)
|
old biddy (Informal and clearly insulting, often for an older woman who is seen as nosy or fussy.)
Antonyms
man (Opposite in terms of gender; contrasts with referring to a woman as a "hen".)
Themes
people
|attitudes
|communication
|relationships
Definition
An informal word for a woman that can sound rude, often used when someone thinks she is silly or likes to talk too much.
An informal and often mildly insulting word for a woman, especially an older woman seen as silly, fussy, or fond of gossip.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] calls [someone] hen
"Thanks, hen," the shop assistant said with a smile as she handed back the change.
„Köszönöm, drágám” – mondta mosolyogva a bolti eladó, miközben visszaadta az aprót.
Are you all right, hen, you look a bit tired today.
Jól vagy, drágám? Kicsit fáradtnak tűnsz ma.
Come in out of the rain, hen, and I will make you a cup of tea.
Sit yourself down, hen, and tell me what happened.
Do not worry, hen, everything will be fine.
Learner examples
In Scotland, a woman might say, "How are you, hen?" to her friend.
Skóciában egy nő mondhatja a barátnőjének: „Hogy vagy, drágám?”
The old lady said, "Come in, hen," to the girl.
Az idős hölgy azt mondta a lánynak: „Gyere be, aranyom.”
You may hear people call a woman hen in some parts of the UK.
He said, "Thanks, hen," when she gave him the ticket.
This word hen is friendly here, not rude.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this affectionate use of "hen" is common everywhere in English, but it is mainly regional in Scotland and parts of northern England. Outside those areas, using "hen" this way can sound strange or be misunderstood.
Meaning
Affectionate address for a woman
Collocations
thanks, hen
|are you all right, hen?
|sit down, hen
|come here, hen
Synonyms
dear (Affectionate term of address; a bit more widespread and slightly more formal-sounding.)
|
love (Common affectionate address in parts of the UK; similar warmth but slightly different regional use.)
Antonyms
sir (Polite form of address for a man, contrasting with the female-directed, informal "hen" in this sense.)
Themes
relationships
|daily life
|communication
Definition
In some areas of the UK, a friendly word people use to speak to a woman or girl, like saying dear or love.
In some parts of Scotland and northern England, an affectionate way of addressing a woman or girl, similar to dear or love.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
nőstény
B1
Usage pattern:
[hen] [animal]
Regulations forbid the capture of a hen lobster carrying eggs.
A szabályok tiltják a petéket hordozó nőstény homárok kifogását.
Fishermen are encouraged to release large hen crabs to protect the breeding stock.
A halászokat arra ösztönzik, hogy engedjék vissza a nagy nőstény rákokat a szaporodó állomány védelmében.
The biologist recorded the size of each hen salmon caught during the survey.
It is easy to spot a hen lobster because the underside is wider to hold eggs.
The study compared growth rates of cock and hen crabs in coastal waters.
Learner examples
The law says you must put a hen lobster with eggs back into the sea.
A törvény szerint a petéket hordozó nőstény homárt vissza kell engedni a tengerbe.
The hen crab carries many eggs under her body.
A nőstény rák sok petét hord a teste alatt.
In this report, they talk about cock and hen crabs.
The hen salmon swims up the river to lay eggs.
Fishermen can tell a hen lobster from a cock lobster by its shape.
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly think this use is common in everyday speech. In fact, it is mainly used in scientific writing or by people who work with these animals, such as fishers and biologists.
Meaning
Female of certain animals
Collocations
hen lobster
|hen crab
|hen salmon
Synonyms
female (General word for the sex of an animal; "hen" here is more specific to certain species and contexts.)
Antonyms
cock (Technical term for the male of some animals, used in contrast with the female hen in specialist contexts.)
Themes
science
|animals
|nature
Definition
In scientific or fishing language, the adult female of some animals, like a lobster or crab, when people need to show the difference between female and male.
In zoology and fishing, the adult female of some animals such as lobsters, crabs, or some fish, when contrasted with the male.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hen
IPA
GB/hˈɛn/
US/hˈɛn/
Syllables & stress
hen (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hen
- Plural: hens
Word family
Expressions
hen night
1/hˈɛn nˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
Evening pre-wedding party for a woman
An evening party for a woman before her wedding, with only her female friends and family, usually including going out together.
Examples
- They hired a limousine for her hen night in the city.
- The hen night got a bit wild, but everyone had fun.
- We are planning my sister's hen night for the Friday before the wedding.
hen party
1/hˈɛn pˈɑɹti/
fixed phrase
informal
Pre-wedding party for a woman
A party held for a woman before she gets married, where only her female friends and family are invited.
Examples
- They are flying to Barcelona for her hen party next weekend.
- The hotel offers special packages for hen parties and stag weekends.
- She wants a quiet hen party with just a few close friends.
mother hen
1/mˈʌðɚ hˈɛn/
idiom
Overly protective, caring person
A person, usually a woman, who is very protective and caring and often worries too much about other people.
Examples
- She is a real mother hen, always checking that everyone has eaten enough.
- He acted like a mother hen, texting his friends to make sure they got home safely.
- Stop being such a mother hen; the kids will be fine on their own for an hour.