melancholy
gb/mˈɛləŋkˌɑli/ us/mˈɛləŋkˌɑli/
B2
English
~ 2300
melankólia, melankolikus
NOUN
B2
1
melankólia
B2
Usage pattern:
to feel [melancholy]
She felt a wave of melancholy as she looked at the old photographs.
Ahogy a régi fényképeket nézte, melankólia hulláma öntötte el.
A soft melancholy hung over the empty park.
Halk melankólia lengte be az üres parkot.
The novel captures the quiet melancholy of rural life.
His music is full of beauty and melancholy.
After the holidays, a certain melancholy settled in.
Learner examples
I feel melancholy when I think about my old home.
Melankólia fog el, amikor a régi otthonomra gondolok.
The movie has a lot of melancholy in it.
A filmben sok a melankólia.
He spoke with melancholy about his childhood.
There was a touch of melancholy in her smile.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'melancholy' with 'melancholic' — the first is usually a noun or adjective meaning sadness, the second is only an adjective describing something sad.
Meaning
deep, vague sadness
Collocations
feeling of melancholy
|sense of melancholy
|tinged with melancholy
|overcome by melancholy
Synonyms
sadness (A more general term for feeling unhappy; may be less deep or poetic.)
|
gloom (Suggests darkness or lack of hope; can also refer to low light.)
Antonyms
joy (A feeling of great happiness; opposite emotional state.)
|
cheerfulness (A bright and happy mood that contrasts with melancholy.)
Themes
emotions
|mental health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A strong, long-lasting feeling of sadness without a clear reason.
A deep, persistent feeling of sadness or gloom, often without an obvious reason.
B2
LITERARY
2
melankolikus
B2
Usage pattern:
a [melancholy] [expression/song/mood]
She gave me a melancholy smile before leaving.
Mielőtt elment, melankolikus mosollyal nézett rám.
The film's ending is beautiful but melancholy.
A film vége gyönyörű, de melankolikus.
His voice had a melancholy tone that stayed with me.
They walked home in a melancholy silence.
Learner examples
He has a melancholy face.
Melankolikus az arca.
The song is slow and melancholy.
A dal lassú és melankolikus.
She spoke in a melancholy voice.
It was a cold and melancholy day.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'melancholy' for short-term sadness; it more often suggests something longer-lasting or deeper in tone.
Meaning
sad in a thoughtful way
Collocations
melancholy smile
|melancholy tune
|melancholy mood
Synonyms
melancholic (A direct synonym but slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech.)
|
wistful (Sad but also with a sense of longing or nostalgia.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Full of happiness and good mood.)
|
upbeat (Positive and lively in mood.)
Themes
emotions
|arts
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Looking or sounding sad in a quiet way.
Having or showing a deep, lasting sadness or gloom, often without a specific reason.
Grammar
Dictionary form
melancholy
IPA
GB/mˈɛləŋkˌɑli/
US/mˈɛləŋkˌɑli/
Syllables & stress
mel - an - choly (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mel)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: melancholy
Noun
- Base: melancholy
- Plural: melancholies, melancholy
Word family
Forms
melancholies
noun
Core family
melancholic
adjective
Advanced or less common
melancholia
noun
melancholically
adverb
Expressions
a fit of melancholy
1/ə fˈɪt əv mˈɛləŋkˌɑli/
fixed phrase
literary
a short period of sadness
A short time when someone feels very sad for no clear reason.
Examples
- She fell into a fit of melancholy after hearing the news.
- He was seized by a fit of melancholy on Sunday evening.
tinged with melancholy
1/tˈɪŋd wˈɪθ mˈɛləŋkˌɑli/
fixed phrase
slightly sad in tone or feeling
Having a small amount of sadness mixed in.
Examples
- Her words were tinged with melancholy.
- The celebration was tinged with melancholy because he could not be there.