organ
gb/ˈɔɹɡən/ us/ˈɔɹɡən/
B1
English
~ 6700
szerv, orgona, orgánum, hivatalos lap, pénisz, férfi nemi szerv, szerszám
NOUN
B1
1
szerv
B1
Usage pattern:
an/the [adjective] organ of the body
The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body.
A máj az emberi test legnagyobb belső szerve.
Wearing a seat belt helps protect your vital organs in a crash.
A biztonsági öv bekapcsolása segít megvédeni a létfontosságú szerveidet egy ütközés során.
The disease attacks the heart and other major organs.
Doctors checked each organ carefully before the transplant.
Smoking can seriously damage your lungs and other organs.
Learner examples
The heart is an important organ.
A szív fontos szerv.
Your lungs are organs that help you breathe.
A tüdőid olyan szervek, amelyek segítenek lélegezni.
The doctor said his organs are healthy.
The brain is an organ in your head.
The kidneys are small organs in your back.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "organ" with "body" and say things like *"My organ hurts"* when they mean *"My body hurts"* or name a specific organ, such as *"My stomach hurts."* They may also confuse this meaning with the musical instrument and say *"He plays the organ of the body"* instead of clearly referring to a body organ.
Meaning
body part with a specific function
Collocations
vital organ
|internal organ
|major organ
|organ failure
|organ transplant
|organ donor
Synonyms
body part (More general and informal; does not emphasize scientific or functional structure as strongly as "organ".)
Themes
biology
|health
|medicine
|body
|science
Definition
A special part inside a person, animal, or plant that does an important job, like the heart, lungs, or liver.
A part of a plant or animal made of different tissues that work together to perform a particular function, such as the heart, lungs, or liver.
NOUN
B1
2
orgona
B1
Usage pattern:
to play the organ
She learned to play the organ when she was a teenager.
Tizenéves korában tanult meg orgonán játszani.
The wedding procession began as the church organ filled the hall with music.
Az esküvői menet akkor indult el, amikor a templomi orgona zenéje betöltötte a termet.
The old pipe organ was restored after years of silence.
An electronic organ was used instead of an orchestra for the performance.
The organ’s deep notes echoed through the cathedral.
Learner examples
He plays the organ in the church.
A templomban orgonán játszik.
The organ is a very loud instrument.
Az orgona nagyon hangos hangszer.
They bought an electric organ for their band.
We listened to organ music at the concert.
An organ has many keys and pedals.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the body-part meaning and may write *"He plays a difficult organ"* in a biology context, or *"The organ is sick"* when they mean a body organ like the heart. Context and collocations like "play the organ" or "church organ" help signal the musical meaning.
Meaning
large keyboard musical instrument
Collocations
play the organ
|church organ
|pipe organ
|electric organ
|organ music
|organist at the church organ
Synonyms
keyboard (A broader term for any keyboard-based musical instrument; does not specifically refer to the pipe or church organ.)
Themes
music
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|religion
Definition
A big musical instrument with keyboards that makes long sounds, often heard in churches and some bands.
A large musical instrument with keyboards that produces sustained tones, traditionally by forcing air through pipes, or electronically, often used in churches and concert halls.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
orgánum
C1
Usage pattern:
the official organ of [a group/party]
The newspaper began as the official organ of the trade union.
Az újság a szakszervezet hivatalos orgánumaként indult.
For decades, the journal served as the main organ of the scientific society.
A folyóirat évtizedeken át a tudományos társaság fő orgánumaként működött.
The party’s central organ published an editorial supporting the reforms.
Critics dismissed the magazine as little more than a government organ.
Their monthly newsletter is the primary organ for communicating with members.
Learner examples
The party’s organ prints news that supports the party.
A párt orgánuma a pártot támogató híreket közöl.
The group started an organ to share its ideas.
A csoport saját orgánumot hozott létre, hogy megossza az elképzeléseit.
For many years, this magazine was the organ of the student union.
The government uses this paper as its main organ.
The organ of the club tells members about events.
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this sense and think it always means a physical body part or musical instrument. In written political or media contexts, "organ" can mean an official publication, so translating or reading it only as "body part" would be wrong.
Meaning
official publication of a group
Collocations
party organ
|official organ of the party
|party’s official organ
|propaganda organ
|organ of the ruling party
Synonyms
mouthpiece (Informal and sometimes negative; suggests the publication only repeats what the group wants it to say.)
Antonyms
independent newspaper (Emphasizes that the paper does not officially speak for a particular group or party.)
Themes
media
|politics
|communication
Definition
A newspaper or magazine that speaks for a group or organization and shares its ideas.
A newspaper, magazine, or other communication medium that officially represents and promotes the opinions or interests of a particular group, party, or organization.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
4
szerv
B2
Usage pattern:
an organ of [the state / government / the UN]
The courts are an independent organ of the state.
A bíróságok az állam független szervei.
The United Nations has several principal organs responsible for peace and security.
Az Egyesült Nemzetek Szervezetének több fő szerve is felelős a békéért és a biztonságért.
Parliament functions as the main legislative organ of the country.
These regulatory bodies are organs of the European Union.
Every organ of government must act within the limits of the constitution.
Learner examples
The police are an organ of the state.
A rendőrség állami szerv.
The court is an organ of the government.
A bíróság a kormányzat egyik szerve.
The United Nations has many organs with different jobs.
Parliament is the law-making organ in this country.
Each organ of government has its own power.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this formal legal meaning and may translate "organ of the state" too literally as a physical body part instead of a government body. It is important to understand that in political and legal texts, "organ" often means a department or branch with official powers.
Meaning
functional unit of an institution
Collocations
organ of the state
|organs of government
|executive organ
|judicial organ
|legislative organ
|organs of the United Nations
Synonyms
agency (Common term for a government body; "organ" is more formal and often used in legal or institutional writing.)
Antonyms
private body (Highlights that a private body is not an official part of the state or public institution.)
Themes
law
|politics
|organizations
|business
Definition
A part of a big organization or government that has a special job and power.
A part of a government, international body, or large organization that has its own defined powers and responsibilities within the larger system.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
5
Usage pattern:
a man’s organ; his organ
The comedian made an awkward joke about the size of his organ.
A humorista kínos viccet sütött el a szerszáma méretéről.
The article avoided direct language and referred to the suspect’s "male organ."
A cikk kerülte a nyílt megfogalmazást, és a gyanúsított „férfi nemi szervére” utalt.
He was arrested for exposing his organ in public.
Learner examples
In this joke, "organ" means the man’s penis.
Ebben a viccben az „organ” a férfi péniszét jelenti.
The doctor used the phrase "male organ" in the report.
Az orvos a jelentésben a „férfi nemi szerv” kifejezést használta.
This use of "organ" is informal and about sex.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this is a slang or euphemistic use and might use it in serious or formal medical contexts where the neutral word "penis" is more appropriate. They may also misunderstand the meaning in jokes and think it refers to the musical instrument.
Meaning
slang for the penis
Collocations
male organ
|sexual organ
|expose his organ
|touch his organ
Synonyms
penis (Neutral, anatomical term; "organ" here is slangy or humorous and often more indirect or euphemistic.)
Themes
body
|sexuality
|daily_life
Definition
An informal, joking word for a man’s sex part (the penis).
Slang or humorous term for the penis, often used in informal or joking contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
organ
IPA
GB/ˈɔɹɡən/
US/ˈɔɹɡən/
Syllables & stress
or - gan (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (or)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: organ
- Plural: organs
Word family
Forms
organs
noun
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
organelle
noun
Expressions
internal organ
1/ɪntˈɚnəl ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
organ inside the body
An organ that is inside your body, like your liver, stomach, or kidneys.
Examples
- The crash caused severe damage to his internal organs.
- An ultrasound can help doctors see your internal organs.
- She studied diagrams of the body’s internal organs in class.
organ failure
1/ˈɔɹɡən fˈeɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
condition where an organ stops working
A serious medical problem when an organ, like the heart or kidneys, stops working correctly.
Examples
- He died of multiple organ failure after the accident.
- The patient is in critical condition due to kidney organ failure.
- Doctors are trying to prevent organ failure by starting treatment early.
pipe organ
1/pˈaɪp ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
organ with sound from pipes
A very large kind of organ that makes sound when air moves through long pipes, often found in churches.
Examples
- The cathedral’s pipe organ is over a hundred years old.
- They restored the pipe organ to its original sound.
- A famous musician came to perform on the pipe organ.
reproductive organ
1/ɹˌipɹədˈʌktɪv ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
technical
organ for making offspring
An organ that helps a person, animal, or plant make babies or new life.
Examples
- The disease can affect both the liver and the reproductive organs.
- Biology class today focused on the human reproductive organs.
- Some chemicals can harm the reproductive organs of animals.
sexual organ
1/sˈɛkʃuəl ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
technical
organ used for sex and reproduction
A body part that is used for sex and for making babies.
Examples
- The textbook includes diagrams of male and female sexual organs.
- In many cultures, it is taboo to show sexual organs in public.
- Doctors prefer to use neutral terms like "sexual organ" in reports.
vital organ
1/vˈaɪtəl ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
organ essential for staying alive
An organ that you must have to stay alive, like your heart, lungs, or brain.
Examples
- A strong blow to the chest can damage a vital organ.
- The bullet narrowly missed his vital organs.
- Doctors checked her vital organs after the surgery.
organ donor
1/ˈɔɹɡən dˈoʊnɚ/
fixed phrase
person who gives an organ
A person who gives one of their organs, while alive or after death, so doctors can put it into someone else.
Examples
- After his death, several patients benefited because he was an organ donor.
- She decided to become an organ donor when she renewed her driver’s license.
- You can indicate on your driver’s license if you want to be an organ donor.
- The doctors are waiting for a suitable organ donor for the child.
- The hospital held an event to thank families of organ donors.
- The campaign encourages people to talk to their families about being organ donors.
organ transplant
1/ˈɔɹɡən tɹˈænsplænt/
fixed phrase
technical
operation to replace an organ
A medical operation where a sick or damaged organ is taken out of a person’s body and a healthy one is put in.
Examples
- Advances in organ transplant have saved thousands of lives.
- She is waiting for an organ transplant to save her life.
- She is on a waiting list for an organ transplant.
- Advances in surgery have made organ transplants much safer.
- The hospital is a leading center for organ transplant.
- The charity raises money to support children who need organ transplants.