lark
gb/lˈɑɹk/ us/lˈɑɹk/
A2
English
~ 9500
pacsirta, hecc, hülyéskedik, bolondozik, korán kelő, pacsirta típus, reggeli típus
NOUN
A2
1
pacsirta
B1
A lone lark rose from the field, singing as it climbed into the sky.
Egy magányos pacsirta szállt fel a mezőről, és énekelve emelkedett az ég felé.
We could hear a skylark, the first lark of the spring, high above the meadow.
Hallottunk egy mezei pacsirtát, a tavasz első pacsirtáját, magasan a rét fölött.
The poet compared his lover’s voice to the song of a lark at dawn.
Learner examples
We heard a lark singing over the farm.
Hallottuk, ahogy egy pacsirta énekel a gazdaság fölött.
A lark flew up from the grass and into the sky.
Egy pacsirta felröppent a fűből az égbe.
The lark’s song was very loud and clear.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this bird meaning with the informal meaning of "lark" as "a joke" or "something done for fun." The bird meaning is usually clear when people talk about fields, sky, singing birds, or nature.
Meaning
a small singing songbird
Collocations
skylark
|meadowlark
|lark song
|lark singing
|flock of larks
Synonyms
songbird (A general word for any bird that sings; not all songbirds are larks, but larks are a type of songbird.)
Themes
nature
|animals
Definition
A small bird that lives on the ground and is famous for its high, clear song, especially when it flies up into the sky.
A small ground-dwelling bird, especially species like the skylark, known for its high, clear song while flying.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
hecc
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is a lark
They started the podcast as a lark, but it quickly turned into a full-time job.
Heccből indították el a podcastot, de hamar teljes állás lett belőle.
The students broke into song in the library as a lark and were quickly told off.
A diákok heccből dalra fakadtak a könyvtárban, és hamar rájuk is szóltak.
He joined the theater group on a lark and discovered he loved acting.
What began as a harmless lark ended up on the front page of the local newspaper.
Learner examples
They made the video as a lark, just for fun.
Heccből készítették a videót, csak szórakozásból.
She took the job as a lark and did not plan to stay long.
Heccből vállalta el az állást, és nem tervezte, hogy sokáig marad.
The boys rang the doorbell as a lark and then ran away.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "lark" always means a big joke on someone. In modern use, it can also be any light, not-serious activity or adventure you do just for fun. It is usually used in set phrases like "for a lark" or "on a lark."
Meaning
carefree fun activity or prank
Collocations
for a lark
|on a lark
|a bit of a lark
|harmless lark
|just a lark
Synonyms
prank (Often suggests a trick played on someone; "lark" can be broader and include any playful, not-serious activity or adventure.)
Antonyms
serious business (Emphasizes that something is important and not for fun, the opposite of treating it as a light, playful "lark.")
Themes
leisure
|emotions
|social
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something you do only for fun and not in a serious way, sometimes a small, harmless joke or adventure.
An activity or adventure done just for fun and not taken seriously, often light-hearted or slightly mischievous.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
hülyéskedik
B1
bolondozik
B1
Usage pattern:
to lark about/around with [someone]
The children were larking about in the garden instead of getting ready for bed.
A gyerekek a kertben hülyéskedtek, ahelyett hogy készülődtek volna lefekvéshez.
Stop larking around and help me set the table, please.
Hagyd abba a hülyéskedést, és segíts megteríteni az asztalt, kérlek.
They spent the afternoon larking about on the beach, taking silly photos.
The teacher walked in to find the whole class larking around and throwing paper planes.
Learner examples
The boys are larking about in the playground.
A fiúk a játszótéren hülyéskednek.
Please stop larking around and do your homework.
Kérlek, hagyd abba a hülyéskedést, és csináld meg a házi feladatodat.
They larked around at the park all afternoon.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "lark" without the particles "about" or "around" in this sense (e.g. *"The kids are larking"). In everyday English, the playful-activity meaning is almost always expressed as "lark about" or "lark around." Also, this verb is more common in British English; American English prefers verbs like "goof around" or "mess around."
Meaning
to mess around playfully
Collocations
lark about
|lark around
|kids larking about
|stop larking around
|larking about in class
Synonyms
goof around (Very close in meaning; more common in American English, and slightly more informal than "lark about/around.")
Antonyms
buckle down (Means to start working seriously and stop playing, which is the opposite of "larking about.")
Themes
leisure
|social
|emotions
|daily_life
|communication
Definition
To act in a silly and playful way and not be serious, often when you should be working or paying attention.
To behave in a silly, noisy, or playful way, especially instead of doing something serious; often used in the phrasal verbs "lark about" or "lark around."
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
to be a lark
I’m a real lark and love getting things done before 8 a.m.
Igazi korán kelő vagyok, és szeretem már reggel nyolc előtt elintézni a dolgaimat.
If you’re a lark, an early-morning gym class might suit you better than a late one.
Ha korán kelő vagy, jobban megfelelhet neked egy kora reggeli edzésóra, mint egy késői.
The survey divided people into larks and owls based on their sleep patterns.
Being a lark, she rarely stays up past ten o’clock.
Learner examples
I am a lark and like to wake up very early.
Korán kelő vagyok, és szeretek nagyon korán felébredni.
He is a lark, but his wife is a night owl.
Ő korán kelő, a felesége viszont éjjeli bagoly.
If you are a lark, you may want to work in the morning.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize that "lark" can describe a type of person here and may think it only refers to the bird. In this meaning, it is often used in contrast with "night owl" to talk about sleep and energy patterns.
Meaning
person who likes early mornings
Collocations
be a lark
|natural lark
|more of a lark than an owl
|morning lark
Synonyms
early bird (Very common informal expression with almost the same meaning; "early bird" is more frequent than "lark" in this sense.)
Antonyms
night owl (Describes a person who stays up late and feels more active at night, the opposite type of person from a "lark.")
Themes
daily life
|time
|habits
|daily_life
Definition
Someone who likes to get up early and has the most energy in the morning, not at night.
A person who naturally wakes up early and feels most energetic and productive in the morning, as opposed to late at night.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lark
IPA
GB/lˈɑɹk/
US/lˈɑɹk/
Syllables & stress
lark (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lark)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lark
- Plural: larks
Verb
- Base: lark
- 3rd Person Singular: larks
- Present Participle: larking
- Past: larked
Word family
Forms
larks
noun
larking
verb
larked
verb
Related words
skylark
noun B2
Expressions
a bit of a lark
1/ə bˈɪt əv ə lˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
informal
small thing done for fun
Something that is done mostly for fun and not in a serious way.
Examples
- At first it was just a bit of a lark, but later it turned into a real project.
- They saw the contest as a bit of a lark and were surprised when they won.
for a lark
1/fɚ ə lˈɑɹk/
idiom
informal
do something just for fun
To do something only for fun and not because it is important or serious.
Examples
- They drove to the coast for a lark and ended up staying the whole weekend.
- We went into the open house for a lark, with no plan to buy anything.
- He signed up for the dance class for a lark, but now he really enjoys it.
happy as a lark
1/hˈæpi ˈæz ə lˈɑɹk/
idiom
literary
very happy and carefree
Very happy and feeling light and free, with no worries.
Examples
- She came back from holiday happy as a lark.
- The children were happy as larks, running through the sprinklers on a hot day.
lark about
1/lˈɑɹk əbˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
behave in a silly, playful way
To act in a silly and playful way and not be serious, especially when you should be working or paying attention.
Examples
- The kids were larking about in the back of the classroom when the principal walked in.
- We spent the afternoon larking about in the park and taking funny photos.
lark around
1/lˈɑɹk ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
informal
fool around playfully
To move and act in a silly and playful way and not do what you should be doing.
Examples
- They were larking around in the corridor and bumping into people.
- Stop larking around and help me clean the kitchen.
on a lark
1/ˈɔn ə lˈɑɹk/
idiom
informal
do something on impulse for fun
To suddenly decide to do something just for fun and not in a serious or planned way.
Examples
- She moved to New York on a lark and found a job within a week.
- We went to Vegas on a lark and got married there.
- He bought the old car on a lark, not really thinking it through.