herb
gb/ˈɚb/ us/ˈɚb/
A2
English
~ 9000
fűszernövény, zöldfűszer, gyógynövény, lágyszárú növény, nyomi, lúzer, fű
NOUN
A2
1
fűszernövény
B1
zöldfűszer
B1
Usage pattern:
use [herb] in/with [food]
Add a handful of fresh herbs to the soup just before serving.
Tegyél egy marék friss zöldfűszert a levesbe közvetlenül tálalás előtt.
Basil is a classic herb for tomato-based dishes.
A bazsalikom klasszikus fűszernövény a paradicsomos ételekhez.
She grows common kitchen herbs like parsley and mint on the balcony.
The recipe calls for mixed dried herbs and olive oil.
Sprinkle the fish with chopped herbs before putting it in the oven.
Learner examples
He puts green herbs on the pizza.
Zöldfűszereket tesz a pizzára.
This sauce has many herbs in it.
Ebben a szószban sok zöldfűszer van.
We grow small herbs in a pot at home.
She uses fresh herbs in her cooking every day.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "herbs" with "spices." Herbs are usually the green leaves of plants used fresh or dried (like parsley or basil), while spices are usually the dried seeds, bark, or roots (like pepper or cinnamon). In American English, the "h" in "herb" is usually silent (/ɜːrb/), but in British English it is pronounced (/hɜːb/).
Meaning
plant used to flavor food
Collocations
fresh herbs
|dried herbs
|chopped herbs
|herb garden
|herb seasoning
|sprinkle with herbs
Synonyms
seasoning (More general; includes salt, spices, and other flavorings, not only plants called herbs.)
|
culinary herb (More specific and formal; makes clear that the herb is used in cooking.)
Antonyms
unseasoned (Describes food with no added herbs or spices, so it contrasts with food flavored with herbs.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A plant, like basil or parsley, that people use to give food more taste.
A plant whose leaves, flowers, or seeds are used fresh or dried to add flavor to food.
NOUN
B2
2
gyógynövény
B1
Usage pattern:
take/use [herb] for [health problem]
Some people take the herb echinacea to help prevent colds.
Vannak, akik az echinacea nevű gyógynövényt szedik a megfázás megelőzésére.
The clinic offers treatment with traditional Chinese herbs.
A klinika hagyományos kínai gyógynövényekkel kínál kezelést.
Always talk to your doctor before using any herb as a remedy.
This herb is commonly used to improve digestion and reduce bloating.
The book describes common healing herbs that grow in temperate climates.
Learner examples
She drinks a tea made from herbs for her stomach.
Gyógynövényekből készült teát iszik a gyomrára.
Many people use herbs instead of normal medicine.
Sokan gyógynövényeket használnak a szokásos gyógyszerek helyett.
He bought an herb from the market to help him sleep.
These herbs are popular in traditional medicine.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think any plant used in medicine is always called an "herb." In scientific writing, people may use more specific terms like the plant’s Latin name or say "medicinal plant" instead. Also, do not confuse "herb" (the plant) with "herbal" (the adjective, as in "herbal tea").
Meaning
plant used as medicine
Collocations
medicinal herbs
|healing herbs
|traditional herbs
|Chinese herbs
|herb supplement
|herb shop
Synonyms
medicinal plant (More formal and scientific; clearly focuses on medical use.)
|
botanical (Often used in the health industry to mean plant-based medicine; tends to sound more technical or marketing-oriented.)
Antonyms
synthetic drug (A man‑made chemical medicine, contrasted with natural plant-based remedies.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|alternative medicine
|science
|daily_life
Definition
A plant that people take as a natural medicine or health product.
A plant or plant part used for its supposed medicinal or health-giving properties, often in traditional or alternative medicine.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
The forest floor is covered by a rich layer of small herbs and grasses.
Az erdő talaját apró lágyszárú növények és fűfélék dús rétege borítja.
Researchers recorded every woody species and herb within the study plots.
A kutatók a mintaterületeken minden fás szárú fajt és minden lágyszárú növényt feljegyeztek.
This alpine herb completes its life cycle in just one short growing season.
Many common weeds are actually native herbs in ecological studies.
The field guide separates trees, shrubs, and herbs into different sections.
Learner examples
In biology class we learned that an herb has a soft stem.
Biológiaórán megtanultuk, hogy a lágyszárú növénynek puha szára van.
This small green plant is an herb, not a tree.
Ez a kis zöld növény lágyszárú növény, nem fa.
Some herbs live only one year, and then they die.
The book shows many herbs that grow in the forest.
Common mistake:
Learners usually only know "herb" for cooking and may not realize it has a stricter scientific meaning in botany. In technical texts, this sense does not focus on whether the plant is useful or edible, only on the type of stem and life cycle.
Meaning
non-woody seed-bearing plant
Collocations
annual herb
|perennial herb
|woody herb
|herb layer
|aquatic herb
|herbaceous plant
Synonyms
herbaceous plant (A more explicit technical term; often preferred in scientific writing.)
Antonyms
woody plant (Refers to trees and shrubs with hard, woody stems, which are the opposite of botanical herbs.)
Themes
science
|biology
|botany
|nature
|education
Definition
In science, a plant with a soft green stem that is not woody like a tree or bush.
In botany, a seed-bearing plant with a soft, non-woody stem that usually dies back to the ground after flowering each year.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a real herb
He’s such a herb when he tries to act tough in front of everyone.
Olyan nyomi, amikor mindenki előtt keménynek próbálja mutatni magát.
They called him a herb for bragging about things he clearly never did.
Nyominak nevezték, amiért olyan dolgokkal dicsekedett, amiket nyilvánvalóan sosem csinált.
Nobody wants to look like a herb on the first day of school.
She refuses to date herbs who only talk big online.
Stop acting like a herb and just be yourself.
Learner examples
In that movie, the main boy is called a herb at school.
Abban a filmben a főszereplő fiút nyominak csúfolják az iskolában.
They think he is a herb because he lies about his life.
Azt gondolják róla, hogy nyomi, mert hazudozik az életéről.
He does not want to look like a herb in front of his friends.
She says she will not date a herb.
Common mistake:
Learners may not know this slang meaning at all and assume people are talking about plants. This use is informal, often regional, and can sound dated or specific to certain communities. It should be avoided in formal or polite situations.
Meaning
uncool, socially awkward person
Collocations
a real herb
|such a herb
|act like a herb
|look like a herb
Synonyms
loser (A common insult for an unpopular or unimpressive person; often stronger and more widely understood than "herb" in this sense.)
|
dork (Informal; suggests social awkwardness, sometimes used more playfully than "herb.")
Antonyms
cool (Describes someone seen as fashionable or socially impressive, opposite of a "herb" in this slang use.)
Themes
people
|insults
|slang
|relationships
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
Slang: a person other people think is not cool or not impressive.
Slang, especially in some U.S. urban varieties: a person who is considered uncool, socially awkward, or unimpressive.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
5
fű
B2
Usage pattern:
smoke [herb]
They sat on the balcony and smoked some herb after the concert.
A koncert után kiültek az erkélyre, és szívtak egy kis füvet.
The police report said he was arrested for selling herb to teenagers.
A rendőrségi jelentés szerint letartóztatták, mert füvet árult tinédzsereknek.
He prefers herb to alcohol when he wants to relax.
The song’s lyrics make constant references to burning herb.
She said she stopped using herb because it made her anxious.
Learner examples
He was caught with a small bag of herb.
Egy kis zacskó fűvel kapták el.
The friends sit in the park and smoke herb together.
A barátok a parkban ülnek, és együtt füvet szívnak.
Some songs talk about smoking herb every day.
She does not use herb or any other drugs.
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this slang and think it refers to normal cooking herbs. The meaning is usually clear only from context, especially when used with verbs like "smoke" or in discussions about drugs.
Meaning
cannabis, especially for smoking
Collocations
smoke herb
|bag of herb
|good herb
|sell herb
|roll some herb
Synonyms
weed (Very common informal word for marijuana; more widely understood than "herb" in this sense.)
|
ganja (Informal; strongly linked to Rastafarian and reggae culture; may sound more culturally marked than "herb.")
Antonyms
sobriety (Refers to not using drugs or alcohol; opposite in lifestyle or condition to using herb as a drug.)
Themes
drugs
|slang
|crime
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Slang: marijuana (cannabis) that people smoke as a drug.
Slang: cannabis, especially marijuana prepared for smoking.
Grammar
Dictionary form
herb
IPA
GB/ˈɚb/
US/ˈɚb/
Syllables & stress
herb (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (herb)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: herb
- Plural: herbs
Word family
Forms
herbs
noun
Core family
herbal
adjective B2
Related words
herby
adjective
herbalist
noun
herbivore
noun
Advanced or less common
herbivorous
adjective
herbaceous
adjective
Expressions
fresh herbs
1/fɹˈɛʃ ˈɚbz/
fixed phrase
herbs that are not dried
Herbs that are still green and soft, not dried.
Examples
- Always add fresh herbs at the end of cooking so they keep their flavor.
- Fresh herbs make a big difference in this salad.
- She prefers fresh herbs to dried ones whenever they are in season.
herb garden
1/ˈɚb ɡˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
garden where herbs are grown
A small garden where you grow plants like basil, mint, and other herbs.
Examples
- She planted a herb garden outside her kitchen door.
- Many apartments now have tiny balcony herb gardens.
- The restaurant grows its own herbs in a rooftop herb garden.
herbs and spices
1/ˈɚbz ˈænd spˈaɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
flavoring plants and seasonings
Herbs and spices used together to give food more taste.
Examples
- The dish is simple but full of flavor from fresh herbs and spices.
- Store your herbs and spices in a cool, dark place.
- She buys her herbs and spices in bulk from a local market.
Italian herbs
1/ɪtˈæliən ˈɚbz/
fixed phrase
herb blend for Italian dishes
A group or mix of herbs, like basil and oregano, used in Italian-style food.
Examples
- Sprinkle Italian herbs over the pizza before baking.
- The sauce is flavored with garlic and Italian herbs.
- She keeps a jar of dried Italian herbs for quick pasta dinners.
mixed herbs
1/mˈɪkst ˈɚbz/
fixed phrase
blend of dried herbs
A mix of different dried herbs in one packet or jar.
Examples
- The recipe calls for a teaspoon of mixed herbs.
- We sprinkled mixed herbs over the roasted vegetables.
- She keeps a jar of mixed herbs next to the stove for quick seasoning.
smoke herb
1/smˈoʊk ˈɚb/
fixed phrase
slang
to smoke cannabis ('herb')
To smoke cannabis (marijuana), using the slang word "herb" for the drug.
Examples
- They went behind the building to smoke herb after the show.
- He said he doesn’t smoke herb anymore because of his job.
- The song talks about friends getting together to smoke herb on the weekend.