pen
gb/pˈɛn/ us/pˈɛn/
A1
English
~ 4300
toll, karám, ír
NOUN
A1
1
toll
A1
Usage pattern:
to write [something] with a pen
She signed the contract with a black pen.
Fekete tollal írta alá a szerződést.
I can't find my favorite fountain pen.
Nem találom a kedvenc töltőtollamat.
The teacher asked us to use a blue pen for the test.
He doodled in the margins with his pen.
Please bring a pen to the meeting.
Learner examples
I have a red pen.
Van egy piros tollam.
This pen is on the table.
Ez a toll az asztalon van.
I write my name with a pen.
She buys a new pen.
He needs a pen for school.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pen' with 'pencil' because both are used for writing, but pencils use graphite and can be erased.
Meaning
instrument for writing with ink
Collocations
ballpoint pen
|fountain pen
|ink pen
|pen cap
|pen nib
Synonyms
ballpoint (A type of pen that uses a small rotating ball to dispense ink.)
|
marker (A thicker writing instrument with felt tip, used for bold lines or coloring.)
Antonyms
pencil (A writing tool that uses graphite instead of ink and can be erased.)
Themes
daily life
|education
|office
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small object you use to write or draw with ink.
A small handheld device that uses ink to write or draw on a surface, typically paper.
NOUN
A2
2
karám
B1
The farmer built a new pen for the goats.
A gazda új karámot épített a kecskéknek.
The pigs were sleeping in the pen.
A disznók a karámban aludtak.
We moved the chickens into a bigger pen.
He cleaned out the sheep pen this morning.
The calves stayed in the pen overnight.
Learner examples
The cow is in the pen.
A tehén a karámban van.
This pen is for pigs.
Ez a karám disznóknak való.
We have three sheep in the pen.
The farmer makes a new pen.
The goats run inside the pen.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this 'pen' with the writing tool. Context about animals or farming makes the meaning clear.
Meaning
enclosure for animals
Collocations
sheep pen
|pig pen
|animal pen
Synonyms
enclosure (A general term for an area surrounded by a barrier.)
|
corral (An enclosure for livestock, especially horses or cattle.)
Antonyms
pasture (An open area of grassland where animals graze freely.)
Themes
farming
|animals
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small closed space where animals live or stay.
A small fenced or walled area where animals are kept, often outdoors.
VERB
B2
3
ír
A1
Usage pattern:
to pen [a letter/story/article]
She penned a heartfelt letter to her friend.
Szívhez szóló levelet írt a barátjának.
The author penned several best-selling novels.
Az író több sikerregényt is írt.
He penned his signature at the bottom of the page.
They penned an article about climate change.
I quickly penned a thank-you note.
Learner examples
She pens a letter to her mother.
Levelet ír az anyjának.
I will pen my name here.
Ide fogom írni a nevemet.
He pens his homework neatly.
We pen our notes in blue ink.
They pen stories about animals.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'pen' as a verb is common in everyday speech, but it is more typical in written or formal contexts.
Meaning
to write using a pen
Collocations
pen a note
|pen a letter
|pen an article
Synonyms
write (General term for producing text; not specific to using a pen.)
|
compose (To create written work, often more formal or artistic.)
Antonyms
erase (To remove written marks from a surface.)
Themes
writing
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To write something with a pen.
To write or compose text using a pen or similar writing instrument.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pen
IPA
GB/pˈɛn/
US/pˈɛn/
Syllables & stress
pen (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pen
- Plural: pens
Verb
- Base: pen
- 3rd Person Singular: pens
- Present Participle: penning
- Past: penned
Word family
Forms
pens
noun
penning
verb
penned
verb
Related words
pencil
noun A1
Advanced or less common
penmanship
noun
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: penning Verb
- Irregular past: penned Verb
Expressions
pig pen
1/pˈɪɡ pˈɛn/
fixed phrase
enclosure for pigs
A small closed space where pigs live.
Examples
- The farmer cleaned out the pig pen this morning.
- The pig pen was muddy after the rain.
pen pal
1/pˈɛn pˈæl/
fixed phrase
friend you exchange letters with
A friend who writes letters to you, often living far away.
Examples
- I have a pen pal in Japan.
- I had a French pen pal when I was in middle school.
- She met her husband through a pen pal program.
- We met online as pen pals and later visited each other.
- Her class started a pen pal project with a school in Canada.
the pen is mightier than the sword
1/ðə pˈɛn ˈɪz mˈaɪtiɚ ðən ðə sˈɔɹd/
idiom
literary
writing is more powerful than violence
Words and ideas can change people more than fighting can.
Examples
- He believes the pen is mightier than the sword when it comes to political change.
- The movement showed that the pen is mightier than the sword.
the pen is mightier than the sword
2/ðə pˈɛn ˈɪz mˈaɪtiɚ ðən ðə sˈɔɹd/
idiom
ideas stronger than violence
Writing and ideas can change people and the world more than fighting and violence can.
Examples
- She became a journalist because she believes the pen is mightier than the sword.
- The protest stayed peaceful to show that the pen is mightier than the sword.
- In his speech, he reminded the crowd that the pen is mightier than the sword in the long run.