lovely
gb/lˈʌvli/ us/lˈʌvli/
A2
English
~ 1600
szép, gyönyörű, kellemes, remek, kedves, drágám, kedvesem, édesem
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is lovely
She wore a lovely blue dress to the party.
Gyönyörű kék ruhát vett fel a partira.
The garden is especially lovely in the spring.
A kert tavasszal különösen szép.
What a lovely view from your balcony!
Learner examples
This is a lovely house.
Ez egy szép ház.
She has a lovely face.
Szép arca van.
It is a lovely park.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'lovely' with 'loveable'. 'Lovely' means beautiful or pleasant, while 'loveable' means easy to love because of personality.
Meaning
very attractive in appearance
Collocations
lovely smile
|lovely dress
|lovely view
|lovely day
Synonyms
beautiful (Often stronger and more formal; lovely can sound warmer or more personal.)
Antonyms
ugly (Direct opposite in terms of physical attractiveness.)
Themes
appearance
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Looking very nice or beautiful.
Attractive in a way that is pleasing to the eye.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is lovely
We had a lovely time at the picnic.
Remekül éreztük magunkat a pikniken.
It was such a lovely afternoon by the lake.
Olyan kellemes délután volt a tóparton.
Thanks for the lovely dinner last night.
Learner examples
We had a lovely day at the beach.
Remek napot töltöttünk a strandon.
It is lovely weather today.
Ma nagyon kellemes az idő.
The party was lovely.
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'lovely' in formal writing; in formal contexts, 'pleasant' or 'enjoyable' may be preferred.
Meaning
very pleasant or enjoyable
Collocations
lovely time
|lovely meal
|lovely evening
|lovely weather
Synonyms
delightful (More formal; similar meaning of giving great pleasure.)
Antonyms
unpleasant (Opposite in terms of causing discomfort or dislike.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Making you feel happy and comfortable.
Very enjoyable, pleasant, or delightful in nature.
B1
INFORMAL
3
kedves
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is lovely to [someone]
She’s such a lovely person to work with.
Nagyon kedves ember, jó vele dolgozni.
You’ve been absolutely lovely to me since I arrived.
Amióta megérkeztem, végig nagyon kedves voltál velem.
He’s always lovely with the kids.
Learner examples
My teacher is very lovely to us.
A tanárom nagyon kedves velünk.
She is a lovely friend.
Ő egy nagyon kedves barátnő.
They are lovely people.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with physical attractiveness; here it refers to personality and actions.
Meaning
kind and thoughtful in behavior
Collocations
lovely person
|lovely friend
|lovely host
Synonyms
kind (More general; 'lovely' here adds warmth and affection.)
Antonyms
rude (Opposite in terms of manner and politeness.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Being very nice and friendly to other people.
Acting in a way that is friendly, caring, or considerate.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
Hello, [lovely]! / Thanks, [lovely]!
Thanks for helping me, lovely.
Köszönöm, hogy segítettél, drágám.
Morning, lovely! Did you sleep well?
Jó reggelt, drágám! Jól aludtál?
You all right, lovely?
Learner examples
Hello, lovely! How are you?
Szia, drágám! Hogy vagy?
Thank you, lovely.
Köszönöm, drágám.
Good night, lovely.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this usage is more common in British English and can sound unusual in American English.
Meaning
affectionate term for someone liked
Synonyms
darling ('Darling' is more intimate; 'lovely' can be friendly as well as romantic.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|communication
Definition
A sweet name you call someone you like or love.
An affectionate way of addressing someone you like or love, often used in British English.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lovely
IPA
GB/lˈʌvli/
US/lˈʌvli/
Syllables & stress
lovely (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lovely)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lovely
- Comparative: lovelier
- Superlative: loveliest
Noun
- Base: lovely
- Plural: lovelies
Word family
Forms
lovelies
noun
lovelier
adjective
loveliest
adjective
Core family
love
noun A2
loving
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
loveless
adjective
unlovely
adjective
unlovable
adjective
Advanced or less common
loveliness
noun B2
beloved
adjective B2
Expressions
isn't that lovely?
1/ˈɪzənt ðˈæt lˈʌvli ‖/
fixed phrase
asking if something is nice/pleasant
A question to check if someone agrees that something is nice.
Examples
- The sun is shining—oh, isn't that lovely?
- Isn't that lovely? They sent us flowers.
lovely jubbly
1/lˈʌvli d͡ʒˈʌbli/
fixed phrase
informal
British slang for great satisfaction/pleasure
A British slang phrase meaning very good or very pleasing.
Examples
- We got the tickets for free—lovely jubbly!
- Lovely jubbly! That’s exactly what I wanted.
my lovely
1/mˈaɪ lˈʌvli/
fixed phrase
informal
affectionate way to refer to someone liked/loved
A sweet way to call someone you like or love.
Examples
- Come here, my lovely, and sit down.
- Good morning, my lovely.