honey
gb/hˈʌni/ us/hˈʌni/
A1
English
~ 6200
méz, drágám, mézes, mézszínű, mézszőke, jó nő, mézzel édesít, mézzel megken, hízeleg, mézesmázoskodik
NOUN
A1
1
méz
A1
Usage pattern:
to put [honey] on [food/drink]
She drizzled honey over her yogurt instead of using sugar.
Cukor helyett mézet csorgatott a joghurtjára.
Local farmers sell jars of wildflower honey at the market.
A helyi gazdák vadvirágmézet árulnak üvegekben a piacon.
Stir a spoonful of honey into the tea to soothe your throat.
Bees need many flowers to make enough honey for the hive.
This recipe calls for two tablespoons of honey and some lemon juice.
Learner examples
Bees make honey from flowers.
A méhek virágokból készítenek mézet.
I like honey on my bread in the morning.
Reggelente szeretem mézzel enni a kenyeret.
Can you buy a jar of honey at the store?
He puts honey in his tea.
This honey tastes very sweet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat 'honey' as a countable noun when talking about the food in general, saying *many honeys* instead of 'a lot of honey'. In most cases, use 'some honey' or 'a jar of honey'. It is also easy to confuse this meaning with the term of endearment used to address a person.
Meaning
sweet food made by bees
Collocations
jar of honey
|raw honey
|spread honey
|drizzle honey
|local honey
|honey production
Synonyms
syrup (A thick sweet liquid, but usually made from sugar or plants such as maple or corn, not from bees.)
Antonyms
vinegar (A sour liquid used in cooking and pickling, often contrasted with honey for its opposite taste.)
Themes
food
|nature
|daily life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A thick, very sweet, golden liquid that bees make from flowers and that people eat or use to sweeten food and drinks.
A thick, very sweet, usually golden liquid produced by bees from flower nectar, used as food and as a natural sweetener.
NOUN
A2
INFORMAL
2
drágám
A2
Usage pattern:
to call [someone] "honey"
"Honey, can you pass me the salt?" she asked from the kitchen.
„Drágám, ideadnád a sót?” – kérdezte a konyhából.
Thanks for helping with the kids, honey.
Köszönöm, hogy segítettél a gyerekekkel, drágám.
Don't worry, honey, everything will be fine.
Her dad smiled and said, "Honey, I'm so proud of you."
Oh, honey, you really don't need to apologize.
Learner examples
"Honey, please close the window," she says to her husband.
„Drágám, kérlek, csukd be az ablakot” – mondja a férjének.
Her mother calls her "honey" when she is sad.
Az anyja drágámnak szólítja, amikor a lány szomorú.
Thanks, honey. That was very kind.
Honey, can you help me with this box?
Oh, honey, you look so tired today.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'honey' with people they do not know well, for example with teachers, bosses, or strangers. In many cultures this can sound too intimate, childish, or even rude and patronizing, especially when used by a man to a woman. It is safest to use 'honey' only with close family members or partners, and not in formal situations.
Meaning
affectionate name for loved one
Collocations
hi, honey
|thanks, honey
|honey, I'm home
|oh, honey
|listen, honey
Synonyms
darling (Very close in meaning, but can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned in some varieties of English.)
|
sweetie (Similar warm, informal tone, especially American English; often sounds slightly cuter or more playful than 'honey'.)
Antonyms
stranger (Someone you do not know and do not have an affectionate relationship with, the opposite social relationship to someone you call 'honey'.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|daily life
|communication
Definition
A friendly, loving name you call someone you love, like your partner or child.
A term of endearment used to address someone you love or feel affection for, especially a romantic partner or a child; also, such a person.
B1
3
mézes
A2
Usage pattern:
[honey] [food/drink]
We ordered chicken in a honey mustard sauce.
Mézes-mustáros szószban készült csirkét rendeltünk.
She served warm bread with a honey butter spread.
Meleg kenyeret tálalt mézes vajjal.
Try our new honey barbecue wings; they're both smoky and sweet.
I prefer honey yogurt to plain yogurt.
The carrots were roasted with a light honey glaze.
Learner examples
I like honey cake with tea.
Szeretem a mézes süteményt teával.
We had chicken with honey sauce for dinner.
Vacsorára mézes szószban készült csirkét ettünk.
They sell honey yogurt at the supermarket.
He put honey butter on the hot bread.
The chef made sweet honey dressing for the salad.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *honey-flavor* or *honey taste sauce* instead of using 'honey' directly before the noun, as in 'honey sauce' or 'honey-flavored sauce'. The simple pattern '[honey] [food]' is very common in English.
Meaning
containing or tasting of honey
Collocations
honey mustard
|honey cake
|honey glaze
|honey sauce
|honey yogurt
|honey dressing
Synonyms
honeyed (Often sounds a bit more literary or descriptive; can also refer to a sweet way of speaking, not just food.)
Antonyms
plain (Describes food with no extra flavorings or sweeteners, the opposite of being flavored with honey.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used before a food or drink word to show that it has honey in it or tastes like honey.
Describes food or drink that has honey in it or has the taste of honey.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[honey] [hair/skin/color]
Her honey blonde hair caught the evening light.
Mézszőke haja megcsillant az esti fényben.
The model's skin had a natural honey glow.
A modell bőrének természetes, mézszínű fénye volt.
He chose a paint with a soft honey tone for the bedroom walls.
In summer her hair fades to a warm honey color.
The advertisement showed a woman with long, honey-brown curls.
Learner examples
She has long honey blonde hair.
Hosszú, mézszőke haja van.
His skin has a warm honey color.
A bőre meleg, mézszínű árnyalatú.
The painter used a honey shade on the wall.
In the sun, her hair looks honey and bright.
I like this honey color on your dress.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *color of honey* every time instead of using 'honey' directly before the noun, for example '*hair with color of honey*' instead of 'honey hair' or 'honey blonde hair'. Both patterns are possible, but the simple '[honey] + [noun]' pattern is very common in style and beauty contexts.
Meaning
light golden-brown in color
Collocations
honey blonde hair
|honey-brown skin
|honey highlights
|honey tone
|warm honey shade
Synonyms
golden (Also describes a warm yellow-gold color, but does not always suggest the soft brownish tone that 'honey' can imply.)
Antonyms
dark (Describes hair, skin, or colors that are deep in shade, the opposite of light honey tones.)
Themes
appearance
|fashion
|clothing
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to talk about hair, skin, or other things that have a warm, light golden-brown color like honey.
Describes hair, skin, or another surface that has a warm, light golden-brown color similar to liquid honey.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
5
jó nő
B1
Usage pattern:
a real [honey]
He walked in with a real honey on his arm.
Egy igazi jó nővel az oldalán lépett be.
That new singer is quite a honey, and everyone is talking about her.
Az az új énekesnő elég jó nő, és mindenki róla beszél.
Back in college, he thought every girl at the party was a honey.
She's not just a honey; she's also incredibly smart.
The movie is full of action, jokes, and a few honeys in the background.
Learner examples
He thinks the new girl at work is a real honey.
Úgy gondolja, hogy az új lány a munkahelyén igazi jó nő.
In the film, the main actress is a honey.
A filmben a főszereplő színésznő igazi jó nő.
They called the model a honey because she looked so good.
He said, "She's a honey," when he saw her.
Many people thought the singer was a honey.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this slang use with the affectionate term of address. Calling someone a 'honey' in this way, especially about a woman, can sound old-fashioned, sexist, or rude in modern English. It is safer not to use this sense yourself and to understand it mainly when you hear it in older films or casual speech.
Meaning
sexually attractive person (slang)
Collocations
a real honey
|little honey
|she's a honey
|one cute honey
Synonyms
hottie (A common, modern slang word for a very attractive person; clearly informal like this sense of 'honey'.)
Antonyms
plain (An adjective meaning not especially attractive or noticeable; the opposite idea of someone who stands out as a 'honey'.)
Themes
relationships
|appearance
|communication
|emotions
Definition
A casual word for a very good-looking person, especially a woman.
A slang term for a person, especially a woman, who is considered very physically attractive.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
to honey [food/drink]
They honey the ham before baking it for the holiday meal.
Az ünnepi sonkát sütés előtt mézzel kenik be.
You can honey the nuts and roast them for a simple dessert.
A dióféléket mézzel összeforgathatod, majd megpiríthatod egyszerű desszertnek.
The chef decided to honey the sauce instead of adding more sugar.
Lightly honey the carrots, then roast them until they are tender.
She prefers to honey her tea rather than use artificial sweeteners.
Learner examples
The cook will honey the ham before it goes in the oven.
A szakács mézzel keni be a sonkát, mielőtt a sütőbe kerül.
You can honey the nuts and eat them as a snack.
A magvakat megcsorgathatod mézzel, és nassolnivalóként megeheted.
He likes to honey his tea instead of using sugar.
They honey the carrots to make them taste sweet.
First honey the sauce, then taste it.
Common mistake:
This verb is much less common than using 'add honey to' or 'sweeten with honey'. Learners may overuse it. In everyday speech, it is more natural to say 'Add some honey to the tea' than 'Honey the tea.'
Meaning
add honey to something
Collocations
honey the ham
|honey the carrots
|lightly honey
|honey and spice
Synonyms
sweeten (A more general verb meaning to make something sweet, not only by using honey.)
Antonyms
spice (To add strong spices rather than sweetness; often contrasts with sweetening in cooking.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
To add honey to food or drink to make it sweet.
To put honey onto or into food or drink, usually to make it sweeter.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
7
hízeleg
B2
Usage pattern:
to honey [someone/one's words]
He tried to honey the boss with smooth compliments before asking for a raise.
Mézesmázos bókokkal próbált hízelegni a főnökének, mielőtt fizetésemelést kért.
She refused to honey her speech just to keep the audience comfortable.
Nem volt hajlandó mézesmázossá tenni a beszédét csak azért, hogy kellemesebb legyen a hallgatóságnak.
No amount of honeying your words will change my decision.
He could honey his voice when he wanted something, but otherwise he was quite direct.
They accused the politician of honeying the public with promises he could not keep.
Learner examples
He tried to honey the teacher so she would give him a better grade.
Hízelegni próbált a tanárnak, hogy jobb jegyet kapjon.
You cannot honey me; I know you want something.
Hiába hízelegsz nekem; tudom, hogy akarsz valamit.
She did not honey her words; she spoke very directly.
He honeyed his voice when he asked for help.
They honeyed their speech to make the listeners happy.
Common mistake:
This sense is rare and mostly appears in literary or descriptive writing. Learners may misunderstand it as being about real honey or may confuse it with the adjective 'honeyed'. In everyday speech, it is more natural to say 'flatter someone' or 'sweet-talk someone'.
Meaning
speak in a sweet, flattering way
Collocations
honey his words
|honey her voice
|honeyed speech
|honey and flatter
Synonyms
flatter (A common verb for praising someone more than is honest, often to get something; does not have the literal 'sweet' image of 'honey'.)
Antonyms
insult (To speak to someone in a rude or hurtful way, the opposite of using sweet or flattering language.)
Themes
communication
|relationships
Definition
To speak to someone with very sweet or kind words, often because you want something from them.
To talk to someone in an overly sweet, affectionate, or flattering way, often to influence them.
Grammar
Dictionary form
honey
IPA
GB/hˈʌni/
US/hˈʌni/
Syllables & stress
honey (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (honey)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: honey
- Plural: honey, honeys
Word family
Forms
honeys
noun
Related words
Advanced or less common
honeyed
adjective
Expressions
honey bunny
1/hˈʌni bˈʌni/
idiom
informal
playful pet name for loved one
A very cute, playful name you call someone you love, like your boyfriend, girlfriend, or child.
Examples
- "Good morning, honey bunny," she said to her toddler.
- He joked, "Come on, honey bunny, let's go," as they left the party.
- Some couples use silly names like 'honey bunny' when they talk to each other.
honey trap
1/hˈʌni tɹˈæp/
idiom
seductive scheme to entrap someone
A plan to catch or control someone by using a person who seems romantic or sexually interested in them.
Examples
- The spy was caught in a honey trap set by the enemy intelligence service.
- They suspected the scandal was the result of a political honey trap.
- He worried that the online flirtation might be a honey trap to steal his data.
honey, I'm home
1/hˈʌni | ˈaɪm hˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
informal
playful arrival announcement
A light, often joking way to say you have come home, usually said to your partner or family when you walk in.
Examples
- He walked through the door and called, "Honey, I'm home!" in a loud, silly voice.
- She texted him, "Honey, I'm home," as she unlocked the apartment.
- People sometimes say "Honey, I'm home" as a joke, copying lines from old TV shows.
honey-do list
1/hˈʌni dˈu lˈɪst/
idiom
informal
list of chores for partner
A joking name for a list of small jobs around the house that one partner asks the other to do.
Examples
- He spent the whole weekend working through his honey-do list.
- The note on the fridge was a classic honey-do list of repairs and errands.
- She laughed and added another item to his honey-do list.
land of milk and honey
1/lˈænd əv mˈɪlk ˈænd hˈʌni/
idiom
literary
place of great abundance
A place that is described as very rich and full of good things, where life is easy and comfortable.
Examples
- To many immigrants, the country looked like a land of milk and honey.
- The advertisement promised a land of milk and honey for anyone who bought their product.
- In the story, they travel for years before reaching the land of milk and honey.
oh, honey
1/ˈoʊ | hˈʌni/
fixed phrase
informal
sympathetic or gently critical address
Said to someone in a warm, often emotional way to show sympathy, pity, or soft disagreement, often when they have a problem or have done something foolish.
Examples
- Oh, honey, you really didn't deserve that.
- Oh, honey, that's not how it works at all.
- She shook her head and said, "Oh, honey," when she heard his plan.
sweet as honey
1/swˈit ˈæz hˈʌni/
idiom
very sweet or very kind
Very sweet in taste, or very kind and gentle as a person.
Examples
- The dessert was sweet as honey and almost too rich to finish.
- Everyone loves her because she's sweet as honey to the new staff.
- He acts sweet as honey when the boss is around.
catch more flies with honey than vinegar
1/kˈæt͡ʃ mˈɔɹ flˈaɪz wˈɪθ hˈʌni ðən vˈɪnəɡɚ/
idiom
kindness works better than harshness
You can make people do what you want more easily by being kind and pleasant than by being angry or unkind.
Examples
- Try speaking more calmly; you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
- She believes you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, so she never raises her voice at work.
- Remember, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar when you’re asking for a favor.
catch more flies with honey than vinegar
2/kˈæt͡ʃ mˈɔɹ flˈaɪz wˈɪθ hˈʌni ðən vˈɪnəɡɚ/
idiom
kindness works better than harshness
People will help you more if you are kind and polite than if you are angry or rude.
Examples
- "Remember, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar," his mother reminded him before he complained to the manager.
- She believes you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, so she always stays calm and friendly in negotiations.
- He learned that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar after his angry emails failed to solve the problem.