neighbour
gb/nˈeɪbɚ/ us/nˈeɪbɚ/
A1
English
~ 1900
szomszéd, szomszédos, határos, közvetlenül mellette van
NOUN
A1
1
szomszéd
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s neighbour
Our new neighbour brought us a cake.
Az új szomszédunk hozott nekünk egy tortát.
The neighbours complained about the noise.
A szomszédok panaszkodtak a zaj miatt.
She asked her neighbour for some sugar.
He had lived next to the same neighbour for twenty years.
Learner examples
My neighbour has a big dog.
A szomszédomnak nagy kutyája van.
We like our new neighbours.
Szeretjük az új szomszédainkat.
Her neighbour is very kind.
I see my neighbour every day.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'neighbour' with 'friend'; a neighbour may be a friend, but the word means someone who lives nearby, not necessarily someone you know well.
Meaning
person living nearby
Collocations
friendly neighbour
|next-door neighbour
|neighbour's house
|good neighbour
|meet the neighbours
Synonyms
resident (General term for someone living in a place; not necessarily nearby.)
|
local (Refers to someone from the same area; less specific than 'neighbour'.)
Antonyms
stranger (Someone you do not know and who does not live near you.)
Themes
daily life
|community
|housing
|relationships
Definition
Someone who lives close to you or next to your home.
A person who lives near or next to another person.
NOUN
A2
2
szomszéd
B1
Usage pattern:
[a country]'s neighbour
France is Spain's western neighbour.
Franciaország Spanyolország nyugati szomszédja.
The two neighbours signed a trade agreement.
A két szomszédos ország kereskedelmi megállapodást írt alá.
Canada is the northern neighbour of the United States.
Learner examples
Mexico is the neighbour of the USA.
Mexikó az USA szomszédja.
China is a big neighbour of many countries.
Kína sok ország nagy szomszédja.
France is the neighbour of Germany.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'neighbour' without specifying that it refers to a place rather than a person; context is important.
Meaning
country or region nearby
Collocations
neighbouring country
|close neighbour
|regional neighbour
Synonyms
adjacent state (More formal term for a state that shares a border.)
Antonyms
distant land (A faraway country or region.)
Themes
geography
|politics
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A country or place that is next to another country or place.
A country, state, or region that is next to another geographically.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[something] neighbours [something]
The property neighbours a public park.
Az ingatlan egy közparkkal szomszédos.
Her land neighbours the river.
A földje a folyóval határos.
The farm neighbours the national forest.
Learner examples
My house neighbours a school.
A házam közvetlenül egy iskola mellett van.
The shop neighbours a bank.
Az üzlet közvetlenül egy bank mellett van.
The park neighbours the river.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the verb 'neighbour' with the noun form; as a verb it is less common and mainly formal or descriptive.
Meaning
be next to something
Collocations
neighbouring park
|neighbours the border
Synonyms
border (Specifically refers to sharing a boundary line; 'neighbour' as a verb can be broader.)
Antonyms
be distant from (To be far away from something.)
Themes
geography
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be next to another place or thing.
To be situated next to or share a border with something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
neighbour
IPA
GB/nˈeɪbɚ/
US/nˈeɪbɚ/
Syllables & stress
neigh - bour (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (neigh)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: neighbour
- Variant Spelling: neighbor
- Plural: neighbours
Verb
- Base: neighbour
- Variant Spelling: neighbor
- 3rd Person Singular: neighbours
- Present Participle: neighbouring
- Past: neighboured
Word family
Forms
Core family
neighbourhood
noun A2
Related words
neighbourly
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
un-neighbourly
adjective
Advanced or less common
neighbourliness
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: neighbor Verb
- Spelling Variant: neighbor Noun
Expressions
good neighbour policy
1/ɡˈʊd nˈeɪbɚ pˈɑlɪsi/
fixed phrase
policy of friendly diplomacy
A way of working with other countries near you by being friendly and helpful, not aggressive.
Examples
- The president promised to follow a good neighbour policy with all bordering states.
- Good neighbour policy aims to strengthen regional peace.
love thy neighbour
1/lˈʌv ðˈaɪ nˈeɪbɚ/
idiom
literary
be kind to others nearby
An old saying meaning you should be kind and caring to people who live near you or are around you.
Examples
- He believes strongly in the idea of 'love thy neighbour'.
- In tough times, we should remember to love thy neighbour.
neighbour from hell
1/nˈeɪbɚ fɹˈʌm hˈɛl/
idiom
informal
very bad neighbour
A person who lives near you and causes many problems or is very unpleasant.
Examples
- They moved away to escape their neighbour from hell.
- The constant noise made him feel like he had a neighbour from hell.