letter
gb/lˈɛtɚ/ us/lˈɛtɚ/
A1
English
~ 500
levél, betű, betű szerint
NOUN
A1
1
levél
A2
Usage pattern:
to write/send/receive [a letter]
I received a letter from my aunt yesterday.
Tegnap levelet kaptam a nagynénémtől.
She wrote a letter to the company to complain about the service.
Írt egy levelet a cégnek, hogy panaszt tegyen a szolgáltatás miatt.
He sent a love letter to his girlfriend.
Please address the letter to the manager.
The lawyer drafted a formal letter for the client.
Learner examples
I got a letter from my friend.
Levelet kaptam a barátomtól.
She sent me a long letter.
Küldött nekem egy hosszú levelet.
I wrote a letter to my teacher.
He read the letter twice.
We send letters to our family.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'letter' with 'email' or 'note'. A 'letter' traditionally refers to something written on paper, though it can be typed and printed.
Meaning
Written or printed communication
Collocations
write a letter
|send a letter
|receive a letter
|love letter
|cover letter
Synonyms
note (Usually shorter and less formal than a letter)
|
message (General term that can refer to written, spoken, or electronic communication)
Antonyms
phone call (Spoken communication instead of written)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A message that you write on paper and send to someone.
A written or printed message addressed to a person or organization and usually sent by mail or delivered by hand.
NOUN
A1
2
betű
A1
Usage pattern:
the letter [A/Z/etc.]
B is the second letter of the English alphabet.
A B az angol ábécé második betűje.
Please write your name in capital letters.
Kérlek, nagybetűkkel írd le a neved.
The word 'cat' has three letters.
She taught the child how to form each letter.
The password must contain at least one letter and one number.
Learner examples
A is the first letter of the alphabet.
Az A az ábécé első betűje.
My name starts with the letter M.
A nevem M-mel kezdődik.
We learn letters at school.
This word has five letters.
Write each letter clearly.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'letter' with 'word'; a word is made up of letters.
Meaning
Symbol of the alphabet
Collocations
capital letter
|small letter
|uppercase letter
|lowercase letter
|the letter A
Synonyms
character (Broader term that can also include symbols not part of an alphabet)
Antonyms
number (Represents quantity rather than a speech sound)
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A sign in the alphabet that shows one sound in writing.
A written or printed character in an alphabet used to represent a speech sound of a language.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
3
betű
B2
betű szerint
B2
Usage pattern:
the letter of [the law/rules]
The judge ruled according to the letter of the law.
A bíró a törvény betűje szerint hozott ítéletet.
He followed her instructions to the letter.
Betű szerint követte az utasításait.
They obeyed the rules in letter but not in spirit.
Learner examples
We must follow the letter of the law.
A törvény betűjét kell követnünk.
She did it to the letter.
Betű szerint csinálta.
They keep the rules to the letter.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is often used in contrast with 'spirit'. It is figurative but still common in formal use.
Meaning
Exact wording of a text
Collocations
the letter of the law
|follow to the letter
Synonyms
wording (Focuses on the choice and arrangement of words)
Antonyms
spirit (Refers to intended meaning rather than exact wording)
Themes
law
|language
|communication
|education
Definition
The exact words of a law or text, not its meaning or idea.
The precise words of a text, law, or document, as opposed to its intended meaning or spirit.
Grammar
Dictionary form
letter
IPA
GB/lˈɛtɚ/
US/lˈɛtɚ/
Syllables & stress
let - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (let)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: letter
- Plural: letters
Word family
Forms
letters
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
illiterate
adjective
illiteracy
noun
Expressions
letter of the law
1/lˈɛtɚ əv ðə lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
formal
Exact words of a law
The exact words used in a law, not what they really mean or intend.
Examples
- He stuck to the letter of the law, even though it seemed unfair.
- Sometimes justice requires more than just following the letter of the law.
to the letter
1/tə ðə lˈɛtɚ/
idiom
Follow exactly as instructed
To do something exactly as you are told or as it is written.
Examples
- She followed the recipe to the letter and the cake turned out perfectly.
- The contract must be carried out to the letter.