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English - Hungarian

pastor

gb/pˈæstɚ/ us/pˈæstɚ/
B1 English
~ 9100
lelkész, lelkipásztor, lelkészként szolgál, lelkészkedik, pásztor, juhász
NOUN B1
1
lelkész B1
lelkipásztor B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (the) pastor of [a church/group]
The church voted to call a new pastor after the previous one retired.
A gyülekezet az előző lelkész nyugdíjba vonulása után új lelkész meghívásáról döntött.
As senior pastor of a large congregation, she oversees several staff members and ministries.
Egy nagy gyülekezet vezető lelkészeként több munkatárs és szolgálati terület munkáját felügyeli.
The pastor preached about forgiveness during Sunday service.
Many people turned to their pastor for guidance after the accident.
Learner examples
My uncle is a pastor at a small church.
A nagybátyám lelkész egy kis gyülekezetben.
The pastor talks to people who need help.
A lelkész beszélget azokkal, akiknek segítségre van szükségük.
We listened to the pastor during the Sunday meeting.
Her pastor visited her when she was in the hospital.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "priest" and "pastor" as if they are always the same. In many English-speaking contexts, "priest" is used for Catholic or Orthodox churches, while "pastor" is more common in Protestant churches. Learners may also confuse "pastor" with the adjective "pastoral," which describes something related to pastors or country life, not the person.
Meaning
Christian minister leading a church
Collocations
senior pastor |youth pastor |associate pastor |local pastor |Protestant pastor |church pastor
Synonyms
minister (Broad term for a Christian clergy member; slightly more formal and used across several denominations.) | preacher (Emphasizes the act of preaching; can sound slightly informal or regional in some varieties of English.) | priest (Common in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican churches; not usually used for many Protestant pastors.)
Antonyms
layperson (Refers to a regular church member who is not part of the clergy.) | parishioner (A member of the church congregation; the people the pastor serves, not the leader.)
Themes
religion |society |work |relationships |communication
Definition

A Christian church leader who teaches, leads services, and cares for the people in a church.

A Christian minister, especially in Protestant traditions, who has primary responsibility for leading a local church congregation through preaching, worship, and pastoral care.

VERB C1
2
lelkészként szolgál B2
lelkészkedik B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] pastors [a church/group]
He has pastored the same rural church for over thirty years.
Több mint harminc éve szolgál lelkészként ugyanabban a vidéki gyülekezetben.
They moved to the city so she could pastor a new congregation there.
Azért költöztek a városba, hogy ott egy új gyülekezet lelkésze lehessen.
For many years he pastored both the English and Spanish services at the church.
Learner examples
She pastors a small church in the town.
A városban egy kis gyülekezetben szolgál lelkészként.
He wants to pastor a youth group in the future.
A jövőben egy ifjúsági csoport lelkipásztora szeretne lenni.
My brother pastored this church before he moved overseas.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "pastor" as a verb for non-religious groups, for example, *"He pastors his team at work."* In everyday English this sounds unusual; verbs like "lead" or "manage" are preferred outside religious contexts.
Meaning
to serve as a church pastor
Collocations
pastor a church |pastor a congregation |pastor well |pastoring a small church |called to pastor
Synonyms
shepherd (Often used in religious language to mean spiritually guide and protect; more metaphorical and biblical in tone.) | lead (Very general; does not specifically include spiritual care unless the context is religious.)
Antonyms
neglect (Describes failing to care for or lead people properly, which is the opposite of pastoring them.)
Themes
religion |work |relationships |communication
Definition

To work as a pastor and care for a church or group of Christians.

To act in the role of a pastor by leading, teaching, and giving spiritual and practical care to a Christian congregation or group.

NOUN C2 ARCHAIC
3
pásztor A2
juhász B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a pastor of [sheep/flock]
In the old poem, the lonely pastor leads his sheep across the hills.
A régi versben a magányos pásztor átvezeti juhait a dombokon.
The tale speaks of a faithful pastor who watches over his flock day and night.
A mese egy hűséges pásztorról szól, aki éjjel-nappal vigyáz a nyájára.
Learner examples
In this old story, a pastor walks with his sheep.
Ebben a régi történetben egy pásztor a juhaival sétál.
We read a poem about a pastor and his flock.
Egy pásztorról és a nyájáról olvastunk verset.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is common today because they see the connection between "pastor" and "pastoral" or read older texts. In modern English, "pastor" almost always refers to a church leader, and "shepherd" is used for a person who cares for sheep.
Meaning
a shepherd of sheep (rare)
Collocations
pastor and flock |pastor of sheep
Synonyms
shepherd (The normal modern word for a person who cares for sheep.)
Antonyms
wolf (A natural enemy and predator of sheep, often contrasted with a shepherd in literary or biblical language.)
Themes
animals |literature |nature |work
Definition

An old word for a person who takes care of sheep.

A person who tends, guards, and leads sheep; a shepherd. This use is now rare and mainly found in older or very literary texts.

Grammar
Dictionary form
pastor
IPA
GB/pˈæstɚ/
US/pˈæstɚ/
Syllables & stress
pas - tor (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pas)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: pastor
  • Plural: pastors
Verb
  • Base: pastor
  • 3rd Person Singular: pastors
  • Present Participle: pastoring
  • Past: pastored
Word family
Forms
pastors noun pastoring verb pastored verb
Core family
pastoral adjective C1
Advanced or less common
pastorate noun pastorally adverb
Expressions

assistant pastor

1
/əsˈɪstənt pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

lower-ranking pastor who supports another

A pastor who is not the main leader and helps another pastor with church work, such as services and visits.

Examples
  • He started as an assistant pastor before becoming a senior pastor.
  • The assistant pastor led the prayer time at the evening service.

associate pastor

1
/əsˈoʊʃiˌeɪt pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

assistant or supporting church pastor

A pastor who helps the main pastor of a church and shares work like preaching, teaching, and visiting members.

Examples
  • The associate pastor preached while the senior pastor was on vacation.
  • She was hired as an associate pastor to focus on small groups.

campus pastor

1
/kˈæmpəs pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

pastor in charge of a particular campus

A pastor who leads and cares for people at one location of a multi-site church or at a school or university campus.

Examples
  • The campus pastor at the north location preached a different message than the main campus.
  • As campus pastor, she meets regularly with students for prayer and counseling.

pastor a church

1
/pˈæstɚ ə t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase

serve as pastor of a church

To work as the main spiritual leader of a church and care for the people there.

Examples
  • She moved back home to pastor a church in her hometown.
  • He has wanted to pastor a church since he was a teenager.

pastor a congregation

1
/pˈæstɚ ə kˌɑŋɡɹəɡˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase

serve as pastor for a group

To lead and care for a particular group of church members as their pastor.

Examples
  • He continues to pastor a congregation of about two hundred people.
  • Many pastors now pastor a congregation both in person and online.

senior pastor

1
/sˈinjɚ pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

main or lead pastor of a church

The main pastor of a church who has the highest responsibility and often leads the other pastors or church workers.

Examples
  • The senior pastor will speak at all three services this Sunday.
  • After twenty years as senior pastor, she decided to retire.

teaching pastor

1
/tˈit͡ʃɪŋ pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

pastor focused mainly on teaching

A pastor whose main job is to preach and teach the Bible, not to manage the daily running of the church.

Examples
  • He serves as the teaching pastor and preaches at most Sunday services.
  • The teaching pastor and the executive pastor share leadership responsibilities.

worship pastor

1
/wˈɚʃɪp pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

pastor over music and worship

A pastor who leads and plans the music and worship times in church services, often working with a band or choir.

Examples
  • The worship pastor introduced a new song during the service.
  • As worship pastor, he trains volunteers who sing and play instruments.

youth pastor

1
/jˈuθ pˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase

pastor for teenagers in a church

A pastor in a church whose main job is to teach, guide, and support teenagers and sometimes young adults.

Examples
  • The youth pastor organizes weekly meetings for high school students.
  • Her son works as a youth pastor at a large city church.
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