neighbor
gb/nˈeɪbɚ/ us/nˈeɪbɚ/
A2
English
~ 9200
szomszéd, embertárs, felebarát, szomszédos, határos
NOUN
A2
1
szomszéd
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s neighbor
Our new neighbor brought us cookies when we moved in.
I can hear my upstairs neighbors walking around at night.
The neighbors complained about the loud music from the party.
My next-door neighbor watches my cat when I travel.
We invited all the neighbors to a barbecue in our backyard.
Learner examples
My neighbor has a small dog.
I talk to my neighbors in front of the building.
Our new neighbors are very quiet.
The neighbors' children play in the street.
I asked my neighbor to help me carry the table.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "neighbor" (a person) with "neighborhood" (the area). For example, "I live in a quiet neighbor" is wrong; it should be "I live in a quiet neighborhood" or "I have quiet neighbors."
Meaning
person living very near you
Collocations
next-door neighbor
|meet the neighbors
|noisy neighbors
|friendly neighbor
|neighbor's house
|new neighbors
Synonyms
local resident (Emphasizes someone who lives in the area, not specifically next to you.)
Antonyms
stranger (A person you do not know and who is not connected to you by living nearby.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|social relations
|housing
|relationships
Definition
A person who lives in the house or apartment next to your home, or very near it.
A person who lives in a house or apartment next to or very close to your own home.
B1
2
szomszéd
A2
Usage pattern:
[a place]'s neighbor
Canada is the United States' largest trading partner and close neighbor.
Kanada az Egyesült Államok legnagyobb kereskedelmi partnere és közeli szomszédja.
The two countries have been peaceful neighbors for decades.
A két ország évtizedek óta békés szomszédként él egymás mellett.
Poland and its western neighbors joined the same alliance.
As a neighbor to the south, the country plays a key role in regional security.
The city has strong economic ties with its neighbors across the border.
Learner examples
Canada is a neighbor of the United States.
Kanada az Egyesült Államok szomszédja.
These two countries are neighbors and share a long border.
Ez a két ország szomszédos egymással, és hosszú közös határuk van.
Our country wants good relations with all its neighbors.
The small state lies between two larger neighbors.
This island has no close neighbors in the sea.
Common mistake:
Learners may only think of "neighbor" as a person and feel unsure when it refers to countries or cities. Remember that places can also be neighbors if they are next to each other or very close.
Meaning
country or area next to another
Collocations
neighboring countries
|regional neighbors
|close neighbor
|neighbors to the north
|European neighbors
|immediate neighbors
Synonyms
adjacent country (More formal and usually used only for countries or regions, not cities or towns.)
Antonyms
distant country (A country that is far away rather than close or bordering.)
Themes
geography
|politics
|travel
|space
Definition
A country, region, or city that is next to or very near another place.
A country, region, or city that is directly next to or very close to another one.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s neighbor in [the community / humanity]
Volunteers worked together to support their neighbors after the storm.
Az önkéntesek együtt dolgoztak, hogy támogassák embertársaikat a vihar után.
He believes we have a responsibility to help our neighbors, both near and far.
Úgy véli, felelősségünk segíteni embertársainkon, közel és távol egyaránt.
The campaign urges people to check on elderly neighbors during heat waves.
She sees every stranger as a neighbor who deserves kindness.
Religious leaders called on their communities to welcome their new neighbors with open arms.
Learner examples
We should be kind to our neighbors in the community.
Kedvesnek kell lennünk a közösségünkben élő embertársainkkal.
People gave food and water to neighbors after the flood.
Az árvíz után az emberek ételt és vizet adtak embertársaiknak.
He always thinks about how he can help his neighbors.
They visited sick neighbors in the hospital.
The group wants to make life better for all their neighbors.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is only religious. In modern use, it can be religious or secular and often just means "other people in your community" whom you should treat well.
Meaning
fellow person in your community
Collocations
love your neighbor
|help your neighbors
|care for your neighbors
|be a good neighbor
|neighbors in need
|our fellow neighbors
Synonyms
fellow human (More formal; emphasizes shared humanity rather than physical closeness.)
Antonyms
enemy (Someone you oppose or feel hostility toward, instead of treating with care and respect.)
Themes
social relations
|ethics
|religion
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Another person in your community, or any other person, especially when you think about being kind and helpful to them.
Any other person in your community or in the wider human community, especially considered as someone you have a moral duty to treat with care and respect.
VERB
B2
4
szomszédos
B1
határos
B2
Usage pattern:
[a place] neighbors [another place]
The small park neighbors a busy shopping street.
A kis park egy forgalmas bevásárlóutcával határos.
Several farms neighbor the river along its eastern bank.
A folyó keleti partja mentén több gazdaság is közvetlenül a folyó mellett fekszik.
Their office building neighbors a historic theater.
A row of cafés neighbors the central square.
The property neighbors a protected forest area.
Learner examples
The school neighbors a big park.
Az iskola egy nagy parkkal szomszédos.
Our house neighbors a small river.
A házunk közvetlenül egy kis folyó mellett áll.
A tall office building neighbors the station.
The hotel neighbors a busy road.
Many shops neighbor the main square.
Common mistake:
This verb form is much less common than the noun. Learners often try to say "My house neighbors my friend" instead of "My house is next to my friend's house." Use the verb mainly for places bordering other places, not for people.
Meaning
to lie directly next to
Collocations
fields that neighbor
|houses that neighbor
|properties that neighbor
|lands that neighbor
|lots that neighbor
|areas that neighbor
Synonyms
border (More common in geography and politics; often refers to sharing a boundary line, not just being close.)
Antonyms
be far from (Describes a place that is distant rather than directly next to another.)
Themes
geography
|real estate
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
If a place or building neighbors another place or building, it is right next to it or very close to it.
To be directly next to or very close to another place, piece of land, or building.
Grammar
Dictionary form
neighbor
IPA
GB/nˈeɪbɚ/
US/nˈeɪbɚ/
Syllables & stress
neigh - bor (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (neigh)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: neighbor
- Variant Spelling: neighbour
- Plural: neighbors
Verb
- Base: neighbor
- Variant Spelling: neighbour
- 3rd Person Singular: neighbors
- Present Participle: neighboring
- Past: neighbored
Word family
Forms
Core family
neighborhood
noun A2
Related words
neighborly
adjective
Advanced or less common
neighborliness
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: neighbour Verb
- Spelling Variant: neighbour Noun
Expressions
be a good neighbor
1/bˈi ə ɡˈʊd nˈeɪbɚ/
fixed phrase
act kindly toward nearby residents
To behave in a kind, polite, and helpful way to the people who live near you.
Examples
- The city encourages people to be good neighbors by keeping the streets clean.
- He tries to be a good neighbor by checking on the elderly woman next door.
- Being a good neighbor can make the whole building feel safer.
good neighbor policy
1/ɡˈʊd nˈeɪbɚ pˈɑlɪsi/
fixed phrase
formal
friendly policy toward nearby countries
A government policy where a country tries to have friendly relations and avoid interference or conflict with the countries near it.
Examples
- The government announced a good neighbor policy toward its smaller neighbors.
- Historians still debate the long-term effects of the good neighbor policy in the region.
- The president promised a good neighbor policy based on respect and cooperation.
love thy neighbor
1/lˈʌv ðˈaɪ nˈeɪbɚ/
idiom
literary
treat others with love and kindness
To show love, kindness, and care to other people around you, not only your close friends or family.
Examples
- The teacher told the students that loving thy neighbor means helping people who are different from you.
- Many religions teach people to love thy neighbor and care for the weak.
- For her, to love thy neighbor includes protecting the environment for future generations.
neighbor from hell
1/nˈeɪbɚ fɹˈʌm hˈɛl/
idiom
informal
extremely troublesome neighbor
A neighbor who is very difficult to live next to because they often make noise, cause problems, or behave very badly.
Examples
- They moved out after a year because they had a neighbor from hell upstairs.
- Loud music, trash in the hallway, and constant fights made him the neighbor from hell.
- The article tells the story of a family dealing with a neighbor from hell.
next-door neighbor
1/nˈɛkst dˈɔɹ nˈeɪbɚ/
fixed phrase
person in the home right beside yours
A person who lives in the house or apartment that is directly next to yours, sharing a wall or being immediately beside it.
Examples
- Our next-door neighbor waters our plants when we go on vacation.
- The next-door neighbor complained about the noise last night.
- We became close friends with our next-door neighbors.