impertinent
gb/ɪmpˈɚtənənt/ us/ɪmpˈɚtənənt/
C1
English
~ 8600
szemtelen, impertinens, irreleváns, nem idevágó
C1
FORMAL
1
szemtelen
B1
impertinens
C1
Usage pattern:
to be impertinent (of [someone]) to [do something]
The student’s impertinent comment shocked the usually patient professor.
A diák szemtelen megjegyzése megdöbbentette az amúgy türelmes professzort.
I hope you don’t think I’m being impertinent, but how old are you?
Remélem, nem veszi szemtelenségnek, de hány éves?
He was dismissed for his impertinent attitude toward senior staff.
She found the journalist’s questions impertinent and refused to answer them.
It was impertinent of him to criticize her in front of the entire team.
Learner examples
The child was punished for his impertinent words.
A gyereket megbüntették a szemtelen szavai miatt.
I felt his question about my salary was impertinent.
Úgy éreztem, a fizetésemre vonatkozó kérdése szemtelen volt.
It was impertinent of me to ask about their private life.
Her impertinent tone made her boss very angry.
Please do not be impertinent to your teacher.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "impertinent" with "important" or "impatient" because of similar spelling. "Impertinent" always relates to being rude or not showing proper respect, not to being necessary, serious, or unable to wait. Another mistake is using it for any kind of bad behavior; it is specifically about rude or overly bold speech or questions, especially toward someone you should respect.
Meaning
rude and not showing proper respect
Collocations
impertinent question
|impertinent remark
|impertinent child
|impertinent tone
|impertinent attitude
|be impertinent to [someone]
Synonyms
rude (More common and general; does not always suggest boldness toward authority.)
|
insolent (Stronger and more negative; stresses open contempt for authority.)
|
cheeky (Informal and often lighter; can sound playful, especially about children.)
Antonyms
respectful (Shows proper politeness and regard, the opposite of impertinent behavior.)
|
polite (Emphasizes good manners and careful speech instead of rude boldness.)
Themes
politeness
|social
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
rude and not showing respect, especially when you talk too freely to someone above you in age or position
Rude or disrespectful, especially by speaking or behaving in a forward, bold way to someone you should treat with respect.
C2
FORMAL
2
irreleváns
B2
nem idevágó
B1
Usage pattern:
to be impertinent to [something]
Most of the documents were impertinent to the case and were excluded from evidence.
A dokumentumok többsége irreleváns volt az ügy szempontjából, ezért kizárták a bizonyítékok közül.
Your personal opinion is impertinent to this strictly technical discussion.
A személyes véleménye nem idevágó ebben a szigorúan műszaki jellegű vitában.
The judge cut off any impertinent questions from the defense.
Several pages of impertinent background information were removed from the final report.
These figures are impertinent to the main argument we are trying to make.
Learner examples
That detail is impertinent to our problem.
Az a részlet irreleváns a problémánk szempontjából.
Please remove any impertinent facts from your essay.
Kérlek, távolíts el minden nem idevágó tényt a fogalmazásodból.
His story was interesting but impertinent to the topic.
These numbers are impertinent to the final decision.
The lawyer said the question was impertinent to the case.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not know this older meaning of "impertinent" and use only "irrelevant". Also, they may confuse "impertinent" with "important" and think it means "very important to the subject"; in fact, here it means the opposite: not related to the subject.
Meaning
not relevant to the subject
Collocations
impertinent detail
|impertinent remark
|impertinent to the issue
|impertinent to the case
Synonyms
irrelevant (Most direct modern equivalent; broader and more commonly used in this sense.)
|
beside the point (Less formal phrase; often used in spoken English.)
|
extraneous (Formal; suggests something is not only irrelevant but also unnecessary or distracting.)
Antonyms
relevant (Direct opposite; clearly related to the subject being discussed.)
|
pertinent (A precise opposite in formal style, meaning directly related and appropriate to the matter.)
Themes
logic
|law
|academia
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
not related to the main subject or problem you are talking about
Not relevant or not connected to the matter being considered.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impertinent
IPA
GB/ɪmpˈɚtənənt/
US/ɪmpˈɚtənənt/
Syllables & stress
im - per - tin - ent (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (per)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: impertinent
Word family
Expressions
an impertinent question
1/ən ɪmpˈɚtənənt kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
a rude or too personal question
a question that is rude or too personal and does not show respect
Examples
- "That’s an impertinent question," she replied, ending the interview.
- He apologized for asking such an impertinent question about their marriage.
be so impertinent as to [do something]
1/bˈi sˈoʊ ɪmpˈɚtənənt ˈæz tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
to dare to do something rudely bold
to have the rude courage to do something that shows no respect
Examples
- He was so impertinent as to correct the judge in open court.
- She was so impertinent as to question her manager’s honesty in front of everyone.
if I may be so impertinent
1/ˈɪf ˈaɪ mˈeɪ bˈi sˈoʊ ɪmpˈɚtənənt/
fixed phrase
formal
polite lead-in to a possibly rude question
a very polite way to say that you know your question or comment may sound rude or too personal, before you actually say it
Examples
- If I may be so impertinent, how much did your new house cost?
- If I may be so impertinent, why did you decide to leave your last job?
impertinent remark
1/ɪmpˈɚtənənt ɹɪmˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
formal
a rude or disrespectful comment
a comment that is rude and does not show respect
Examples
- The meeting ended after one impertinent remark too many from the intern.
- She ignored his impertinent remark and continued with her presentation.