gb/mˈeɪl/ us/mˈeɪl/
A2
English
~ 3000
posta, postai küldemény, e-mail, postáz, felad, láncpáncél
NOUN
A2
1
posta
A1
Usage pattern:
receive [mail] from [someone]
I checked the mailbox and found a stack of mail.
Megnéztem a postaládát, és egy halom postát találtam benne.
The company receives hundreds of pieces of mail every day.
A cég naponta több száz postai küldeményt kap.
She sorted the mail into separate piles for each department.
The mail arrived later than usual this morning.
He sent the contract by priority mail.
Learner examples
I get mail every day.
Mindennap kapok postát.
She sent me a mail from London.
Londonból küldött nekem egy levelet.
The mail came this morning.
He put the mail on the table.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'a mail' for a single letter in British English, but in this sense 'mail' is uncountable.
Meaning
letters and parcels sent by post
Collocations
send mail
|receive mail
|open mail
|sort mail
|deliver mail
Synonyms
post (More common in British English for the same concept.)
|
correspondence (Refers more generally to written communication, not only physical delivery.)
Antonyms
email (Refers to electronic rather than physical delivery of messages.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|business
|daily_life
Definition
Letters and packages that are sent to people through the post.
Letters, packages, and other items sent or delivered through a postal system.
NOUN
A2
2
e-mail
A2
Usage pattern:
check [mail] on [device]
I check my mail every morning before work.
Minden reggel munka előtt megnézem az e-mailjeimet.
Your mail inbox is almost full.
Az e-mail-fiókod már majdnem megtelt.
He sent me the documents by mail instead of attaching them to a chat message.
Learner examples
I read my mail on my phone.
A telefonomon olvasom az e-mailjeimet.
She sent me a mail yesterday.
Tegnap küldött nekem egy e-mailt.
He checks his mail many times a day.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'mail' and 'email'; in computing contexts 'mail' often means 'email'.
Meaning
messages sent electronically
Collocations
check mail
|send mail
|delete mail
|read mail
Synonyms
email (The most common term; 'mail' is sometimes used informally or in computing contexts.)
Antonyms
postal mail (Refers to physical delivery rather than electronic messages.)
Themes
communication
|technology
Definition
Messages you send or get on a computer or phone using the internet.
Electronic messages, especially email, sent or received over the internet.
VERB
A2
3
Usage pattern:
mail [something] to [someone]
I will mail the invitation tomorrow.
Holnap postázom a meghívót.
They mailed the package last week, but it hasn't arrived yet.
Múlt héten postázták a csomagot, de még nem érkezett meg.
Please mail your payment to the address provided.
Learner examples
I will mail the letter today.
Ma postázom a levelet.
She mailed a gift to her friend.
Ajándékot postázott a barátjának.
We mailed the form to the office.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'mail' with 'to' twice (e.g., 'mail to to someone'). Correct is 'mail [something] to someone'.
Meaning
send something by post
Collocations
mail a letter
|mail a package
|mail an order
Synonyms
post (More common in British English for this action.)
|
send (General term; not necessarily through postal systems.)
Antonyms
receive (Opposite direction of sending.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
|business
Definition
To send something to someone using the post.
To send letters, packages, or other items via a postal or courier service.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
láncpáncél
C1
The knight wore a suit of mail under his tunic.
A lovag láncpáncélt viselt a tunikája alatt.
Mail was effective against slashing weapons but less so against arrows.
A láncpáncél hatékony volt a vágófegyverek ellen, de a nyilak ellen kevésbé.
Historians study how mail was crafted in medieval Europe.
Learner examples
The knight wore mail for safety.
A lovag láncpáncélt viselt, hogy megvédje magát.
Mail was heavy and strong.
A láncpáncél nehéz és erős volt.
Old soldiers used mail to protect themselves.
Meaning
armor of interlinked metal rings
Collocations
chain mail
|suit of mail
Synonyms
chainmail (Modern spelling variation used for the same object.)
Themes
history
|military
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Clothing made from many small metal rings, worn long ago to protect the body in battle.
A type of armor consisting of small metal rings linked together in a mesh, used historically for protection in combat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mail
IPA
GB/mˈeɪl/
US/mˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
mail (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mail
- Plural: mails
Verb
- Base: mail
- 3rd Person Singular: mails
- Present Participle: mailing
- Past: mailed
Word family
Expressions
by return of post/mail
3/bˈaɪ ɹɪtˈɚn əv pˈɑstmˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
reply by next post delivery
To send an answer quickly, using the next post service available.
Examples
- Please send us your decision by return of mail.
- They confirmed the booking by return of post.
chain mail
2/t͡ʃˈeɪn mˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
armor made of linked rings
Armor made from many small metal rings joined together.
Examples
- The museum has an impressive display of chain mail.
- Chain mail was commonly worn by medieval soldiers.
mail order
1/mˈeɪl ˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
buying goods for postal delivery
A way to buy things by sending an order and getting them delivered by post.
Examples
- She bought the dress through a mail order catalog.
- Mail order was popular before online shopping became widespread.
junk mail
1/d͡ʒˈʌŋk mˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
unwanted advertising mail or email
Mail or email that you do not want, usually ads sent to many people.
Examples
- I get so much junk mail in my inbox every day.
- I throw most of my junk mail straight into the recycling bin.
- Most of the letters we received this week were just junk mail.
- Check your spam and junk mail folders if you don’t see the confirmation message.
- They complained about the amount of junk mail coming through their door.