lamb
gb/lˈæm/ us/lˈæm/
A2
English
~ 8500
bárány, bárányhús, bárányka, ellik, Isten Báránya
NOUN
A2
1
bárány
A2
The lamb followed its mother across the field.
A bárány követte az anyját a mezőn át.
We saw a newborn lamb lying in the straw.
Láttunk egy újszülött bárányt, ahogy a szalmán feküdt.
In spring, the hillside was covered with sheep and lambs.
The children took turns feeding the orphan lamb with a bottle.
Each ewe usually has one or two lambs every year.
Learner examples
The lamb is small and white.
A bárány kicsi és fehér.
A lamb is a baby sheep.
A bárány a birka kicsinye.
The lamb runs after its mother.
We saw three lambs on the farm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes pronounce the silent "b" and say *lam-b*. The correct pronunciation is /læm/. They may also confuse this animal meaning with the food meaning; use "a lamb" for the animal but usually "some lamb" for the meat.
Meaning
a young sheep
Collocations
newborn lamb
|little lamb
|spring lamb
|orphan lamb
|ewe and lamb
|lambing season
Synonyms
young sheep (A descriptive phrase that explains the meaning directly but is not used as a fixed noun like "lamb".)
Antonyms
adult sheep (Refers to a fully grown sheep, which is the opposite life stage of a lamb.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|farming
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A baby sheep.
A young sheep, especially one less than about one year old.
NOUN
A2
2
bárányhús
B1
Usage pattern:
eat [lamb] for [meal]
We had roast lamb and vegetables for Sunday lunch.
Vasárnapi ebédre sült bárányt ettünk zöldségekkel.
She ordered lamb chops with mint sauce.
Báránybordát rendelt mentaszósszal.
The recipe calls for 500 grams of minced lamb.
He doesn’t eat lamb because he finds the taste too strong.
They slow-cooked a leg of lamb for the holiday meal.
Learner examples
We ate lamb for dinner.
Bárányhúst ettünk vacsorára.
My mother cooked lamb with rice.
Anyám bárányhúst főzött rizzsel.
He does not like lamb.
She bought some lamb at the supermarket.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *a lamb* when they mean the food, e.g. *I ate a lamb*. Use uncountable forms like "some lamb" or a specific dish like "a lamb chop". They may also confuse "lamb" with "mutton"; "mutton" is meat from an older sheep and tastes stronger.
Meaning
meat from a young sheep
Collocations
roast lamb
|lamb chops
|leg of lamb
|grilled lamb
|lamb curry
|lamb stew
Synonyms
lamb meat (A more explicit phrase that makes clear you are talking about the food, not the animal.)
Antonyms
beef (Meat from cattle; used as a contrasting type of red meat to lamb.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
Meat from a young sheep that people eat.
The meat of a young sheep, used as food.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
call [someone] a [poor/little] lamb
Come here, you poor lamb, you look exhausted.
Gyere ide, te szegény báránykám, teljesen kimerültnek látszol.
She’s such a lamb; she always does what everyone else wants.
Olyan, mint egy bárány: mindig azt teszi, amit mások akarnak.
That little lamb of a boy didn’t deserve to be shouted at like that.
They treated him like a lamb who needed constant protection.
Don’t be such a lamb—stand up for yourself once in a while.
Learner examples
Come here, my little lamb.
Gyere ide, kis báránykám.
He is a lamb; he never gets angry.
Olyan, mint egy bárány; sosem lesz dühös.
You poor lamb, you look so tired.
She is a lamb and trusts everyone.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this still refers to the animal and translate it literally. In sentences like "You poor lamb", it means a person, not a sheep. It is usually used for someone you feel sorry for or care about, and it sounds informal and often a bit motherly.
Meaning
gentle or innocent person
Collocations
poor lamb
|you little lamb
|innocent lamb
|helpless lamb
Synonyms
sweetheart (A common affectionate term; it does not carry the same strong sense of innocence or helplessness that "lamb" can suggest.)
Antonyms
bully (A bully is someone who hurts or frightens weaker people, the opposite of a gentle, harmless "lamb".)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very gentle and innocent person, often a child; also a sweet name you call someone you care about.
A person, especially a child, who is very gentle, innocent, or easily hurt or controlled; sometimes used as an affectionate term of address.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
ellik
B2
Usage pattern:
[a sheep] lambs in [time/season]
Most of the ewes will lamb in late March.
A legtöbb anyajuh március végén ellik majd.
We prefer our flock to lamb indoors to protect the newborns from the cold.
Jobban szeretjük, ha a nyáj zárt helyen ellik, hogy megvédjük az újszülötteket a hidegtől.
The farmer stayed up all night to help the older ewe lamb safely.
On this farm, the sheep usually lamb once a year.
If they lamb too early, the weather can be dangerous for the newborns.
Learner examples
The ewes will lamb in spring.
Az anyajuhok tavasszal ellenek.
The farmer helps the sheep when they lamb.
A gazda segít a juhoknak, amikor ellenek.
On this farm, the sheep lamb indoors.
Three sheep lambed last night.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this verb means "to eat lamb" or "to become a lamb". As a verb, it is technical farming language and only describes sheep giving birth.
Meaning
(of sheep) to give birth
Collocations
ewes lamb
|to lamb indoors
|to lamb outdoors
|lambing season
|to lamb early
Synonyms
give birth (A general verb for all animals and humans; "lamb" is specific to sheep producing lambs.)
Antonyms
miscarry (To lose the young before birth, which is the opposite outcome to successfully lambing.)
Themes
animals
|farming
|science
|nature
Definition
When a sheep gives birth to baby sheep (lambs).
(Of a sheep) to give birth to one or more lambs.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
5
Usage pattern:
the [Lamb of God]
The hymn praises the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Az ének Isten Bárányát dicséri, aki elveszi a világ bűneit.
In the painting, Christ is shown as a lamb holding a small flag.
A festményen Krisztus bárányként látható, amint egy kis zászlót tart.
The book explains why early Christians called Jesus the sacrificial Lamb.
Revelation describes worship offered to the Lamb on the throne.
The image of the Lamb emphasizes innocence and sacrifice in Christian theology.
Learner examples
In church, they sang about the Lamb of God.
A templomban Isten Bárányáról énekeltek.
Some Christians call Jesus the Lamb.
Egyes keresztények Jézust a Báránynak nevezik.
This picture shows a lamb as a sign of Jesus.
The Bible uses a lamb to talk about sacrifice.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "the Lamb" with a capital "L" is a title for Jesus and not a real animal. In religious texts, it is symbolic and should usually be translated as a name or title, not as a literal sheep.
Meaning
religious symbol of Christ
Collocations
Lamb of God
|the sacrificial Lamb
|Paschal lamb
|the Lamb who was slain
Synonyms
Christ (The central name for Jesus; "Lamb" is a specific symbolic title used mainly in religious contexts.)
Antonyms
the Devil (In Christian belief, the Devil is the main evil being, opposed to Christ, who is symbolized as the Lamb.)
Themes
religion
|literature
|arts_entertainment
Definition
In Christian religion, a special name and picture for Jesus as a lamb that is killed as an offering to God.
In Christian writing and art, a symbol or title for Jesus Christ, represented as a sacrificial lamb that takes away sin.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lamb
IPA
GB/lˈæm/
US/lˈæm/
Syllables & stress
lamb (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lamb)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lamb
- Plural: lamb, lambs
Verb
- Base: lamb
- 3rd Person Singular: lambs
- Present Participle: lambing
- Past: lambed
Word family
Expressions
as gentle as a lamb
1/ˈæz d͡ʒˈɛntəl ˈæz ə lˈæm/
idiom
very quiet and gentle
Very gentle, calm, and kind; not angry or violent at all.
Examples
- Their dog looks big and scary, but he’s as gentle as a lamb.
- The children were as gentle as lambs with the new baby.
- Once you get to know her, you’ll see she’s as gentle as a lamb.
Lamb of God
1/lˈæm əv ɡˈɑd/
fixed phrase
literary
Christian title for Jesus
A special Christian name for Jesus that shows him as a lamb who is killed as a sacrifice to take away sin.
Examples
- The choir sang "Lamb of God" at the end of the service.
- In Christian art, the Lamb of God is often shown with a cross or a flag.
- The priest spoke about Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
like a lamb to the slaughter
1/lˈaɪk ə lˈæm tə ðə slˈɔtɚ/
idiom
go innocently into danger
To go into a very bad or dangerous situation without understanding the danger and without trying to stop it.
Examples
- He walked into the meeting like a lamb to the slaughter, not knowing they were going to fire him.
- The young soldiers were sent to the front like lambs to the slaughter.
- She signed the contract like a lamb to the slaughter, trusting the salesman completely.
sacrificial lamb
1/sˌækɹəfˈɪʃəl lˈæm/
fixed phrase
person made to suffer for others
A person or thing that is chosen to be hurt, blamed, or lost so that other people are safe or look good.
Examples
- The junior manager became the sacrificial lamb after the project failed.
- Some fans felt the coach was used as a sacrificial lamb to protect the owners.
- They offered up one department as a sacrificial lamb to save the rest of the company.
mutton dressed as lamb
1/mˈʌtən dɹˈɛst ˈæz lˈæm/
idiom
informal
older woman dressed too youthfully
Used to describe an older person, usually a woman, who wears clothes that look suitable for a much younger person.
Examples
- She said the bright pink mini dress made her feel like mutton dressed as lamb.
- The tabloids cruelly described the celebrity as mutton dressed as lamb after the awards show.
- Some critics complained that the actress looked like mutton dressed as lamb on the red carpet.
- She worries about looking like mutton dressed as lamb if she wears that short skirt.
- He doesn’t want to look like mutton dressed as lamb, so he chooses simple, classic clothes.
- Some people call older women in teenage fashion "mutton dressed as lamb," but the phrase can sound rude.