perennial
gb/pɚˈɛniəl/ us/pɚˈɛniəl/
B2
English
~ 9000
állandó, visszatérő, örök, évelő
C1
1
Usage pattern:
a perennial [problem/issue/question/favorite]
Traffic congestion is a perennial problem in the city center.
A közlekedési dugók állandó problémát jelentenek a belvárosban.
The book raises the perennial question of how much privacy we are willing to give up for security.
A könyv felveti azt az örök kérdést, hogy mennyit vagyunk hajlandók feladni a magánszféránkból a biztonság érdekében.
Climate change has become a perennial issue on the international political agenda.
She is a perennial favorite with audiences, no matter what role she plays.
Funding is the perennial challenge for small arts organizations.
Learner examples
Finding enough time is a perennial problem for many people.
Sok embernek állandó gondot jelent, hogy elég időt találjon.
The film talks about the perennial question of what makes us happy.
A film arról az örök kérdésről szól, hogy mitől leszünk boldogok.
Corruption is a perennial issue in the country.
He is a perennial favorite on the talk show.
Low pay is a perennial struggle for many workers.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "perennial" with "annual" because both are common in descriptions of plants. "Perennial" means something continues or returns for many years, while "annual" means something happens once a year. Also, learners may overuse "perennial" where simple words like "long-term" or "constant" are more natural; in everyday speech, "perennial" is used mainly for repeated problems, questions, and favorites.
Meaning
lasting or recurring for many years
Collocations
perennial problem
|perennial issue
|perennial question
|perennial favorite
|perennial debate
|perennial struggle
Synonyms
persistent (Neutral, very common word for something that continues for a long time.)
|
chronic (Often used for long-term problems, especially illnesses or social issues; can sound more negative.)
|
everlasting (Stronger and more dramatic; can sound poetic or exaggerated.)
Antonyms
temporary (Describes something that only lasts for a short time.)
|
occasional (Describes something that happens only sometimes, not continuously.)
Themes
time
|society
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Continuing for a very long time or coming back again and again for many years.
Lasting, continuing, or recurring over a very long period, often for many years, and showing no sign of ending.
B2
TECHNICAL
2
évelő
B2
Usage pattern:
a perennial [plant/herb/species]
Hostas are popular perennial plants for shady gardens.
Az árnyékliliomok népszerű évelő növények az árnyékos kertekben.
Unlike annuals, perennial flowers will return year after year if they are cared for properly.
Az egynyári növényekkel ellentétben az évelő virágok évről évre visszatérnek, ha megfelelően gondozzák őket.
Lavender is a woody perennial that thrives in well-drained soil.
Gardeners often combine perennials and annuals to keep beds colorful all season.
This field guide helps you identify common perennial species in the region.
Learner examples
Roses are perennial plants.
A rózsák évelő növények.
These flowers are perennial, so they come back every year.
Ezek a virágok évelők, ezért minden évben újra kihajtanak.
I want to plant more perennial herbs in my garden.
Perennial plants usually live for many years.
The farmer grows both annual and perennial crops.
Common mistake:
Learners often mix up "perennial", "annual", and "biennial" when talking about plants. Remember: annual = one year, biennial = two years, perennial = more than two years. Another mistake is using "perennial" for animals or people in this technical sense; the botanical sense applies specifically to plants.
Meaning
plant living more than two years
Collocations
perennial plant
|perennial herb
|perennial species
|hardy perennial
|perennial border
|woody perennial
Synonyms
long-lived (General word for something that lives a long time; less precise than the specific botanical term "perennial".)
Antonyms
annual (In botany, a plant that completes its life cycle in one year, the opposite of a perennial plant.)
Themes
science
|nature
|gardening
|education
Definition
Describing a plant that does not die after one or two years, but lives and grows for many years.
Describing a plant that lives for more than two years, usually producing flowers and seeds each growing season after reaching maturity.
NOUN
B2
3
évelő
B2
Usage pattern:
grow [perennials] in [a place]
Many gardeners love perennials because they come back every spring.
Sok kertész szereti az évelőket, mert minden tavasszal újra kihajtanak.
These perennials should be divided every three or four years to keep them healthy.
Ezeket az évelőket három-négy évente tőosztással szét kell osztani, hogy egészségesek maradjanak.
We planted low-maintenance perennials along the front of the house.
Hostas, daylilies, and peonies are classic garden perennials.
The nursery has a wide selection of native perennials for pollinators.
Learner examples
Perennials are good if you do not want to plant every year.
Az évelők jó választást jelentenek, ha nem szeretnénk minden évben új növényeket ültetni.
These perennials will bloom again next summer.
Ezek az évelők jövő nyáron újra virágozni fognak.
You can mix perennials and annuals in one garden.
The store sells many colorful perennials.
We planted perennials around the tree.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "perennial" as a noun means any long-lasting thing. In gardening, the noun "a perennial" almost always means a plant, not just something that lasts a long time. For long-lasting non-plant things, use the adjective "perennial" or other words like "long-term" or "ongoing".
Meaning
plant that lives many years
Collocations
flowering perennials
|herbaceous perennials
|divide perennials
|grow perennials
|shade-loving perennials
|perennials and annuals
Synonyms
perennial plant (More explicit phrase; slightly clearer for non-specialists than the shorter noun "perennial" alone.)
Antonyms
annual (A plant that lives for only one year, the main contrast with a perennial.)
Themes
nature
|gardening
|science
|education
Definition
A plant that does not die after one or two years, but lives and grows for many years.
A plant that lives for more than two years, typically flowering and producing seeds in several growing seasons.
Grammar
Dictionary form
perennial
IPA
GB/pɚˈɛniəl/
US/pɚˈɛniəl/
Syllables & stress
per - en - ni - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: perennial
Noun
- Base: perennial
- Plural: perennials
Word family
Forms
perennials
noun
Core family
perennially
adverb
Related words
biennial
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
annual
adjective A2
Expressions
hardy perennial
1/hˈɑɹdi pɚˈɛniəl/
idiom
topic that keeps coming back
A subject, idea, or joke that appears again and again over many years and never fully goes away.
Examples
- Complaints about the weather are a hardy perennial in small talk.
- The question of tax reform is a hardy perennial in national politics.
perennial debate
1/pɚˈɛniəl dɪbˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
argument that keeps returning
A discussion or argument that people have again and again over many years.
Examples
- There is a perennial debate over whether homework is really useful.
- The film reopened the perennial debate about violence in the media.
perennial favorite
1/pɚˈɛniəl fˈeɪvɚɪt/
fixed phrase
something long loved by many
Something that people have liked for a long time and still like now.
Examples
- Chocolate ice cream is a perennial favorite with kids.
- The song has become a perennial favorite at weddings.
perennial issue
1/pɚˈɛniəl ˈɪʃu/
fixed phrase
long-standing unsolved issue
An issue that stays important and difficult for a very long time.
Examples
- Access to affordable housing is a perennial issue in this region.
- Teacher burnout is a perennial issue in the education sector.
perennial plant
1/pɚˈɛniəl plˈænt/
fixed phrase
technical
plant living more than two years
A plant that lives and grows for many years, not just one or two.
Examples
- We decided to fill the border with low-maintenance perennial plants.
- Perennial plants usually cost more at first, but they return every year.
perennial problem
1/pɚˈɛniəl pɹˈɑbləm/
fixed phrase
a long-lasting, repeated problem
A problem that does not go away and continues for a very long time.
Examples
- Traffic jams during rush hour are a perennial problem in big cities.
- Limited funding is a perennial problem for small charities.
perennial question
1/pɚˈɛniəl kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
a question that never goes away
A question that people have asked for a long time and still do not agree on the answer.
Examples
- The show returns to the perennial question of what makes a good life.
- Parents face the perennial question of how much screen time to allow.
perennial student
1/pɚˈɛniəl stˈudənt/
fixed phrase
someone who studies for many years
A person who stays in school or university for a very long time, often taking many courses or degrees.
Examples
- He jokes that he is a perennial student who never wants to leave campus.
- Her friends tease her for being a perennial student, always starting a new program.
perennial underdog
1/pɚˈɛniəl ˈʌndɚdˌɔɡ/
fixed phrase
team that is always the underdog
A person or team that is almost always weaker or expected to lose, year after year.
Examples
- Despite being the perennial underdog, the team finally won the championship.
- They have embraced their role as the league's perennial underdog.