pig
gb/pˈɪɡ/ us/pˈɪɡ/
A1
English
~ 8000
disznó, sertés, fakabát, disznóhús, sertéshús, tuskó, nyersvas, csőgörény
NOUN
A1
1
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] pig; raise/keep [pigs]
The children fed the pigs on their grandparents’ farm.
A gyerekek etették a disznókat a nagyszüleik farmján.
We could hear the pigs squealing from the barn.
Hallottuk, ahogy a disznók visítanak az istállóból.
Farmers often keep pigs together in large pens.
That pig looks almost ready to go to market.
They decided to raise pigs instead of chickens.
Learner examples
There are three pigs on the farm.
Három disznó van a farmon.
The pig is eating from the bucket.
A disznó a vödörből eszik.
His uncle keeps many pigs for meat.
The pig lies in the mud.
We saw a big pink pig at the zoo.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call the meat from a pig simply "pig" (e.g. *I like pig*). In standard English, the meat is usually called "pork", "bacon", or "ham" depending on the cut and preparation.
Meaning
farm animal raised for meat
Collocations
keep pigs
|raise pigs
|a fat pig
|a dirty pig
|pig farm
|pig farmer
Synonyms
hog (In everyday English mostly used for a very large pig or in set phrases; in American farming can be a general term for pig.)
Antonyms
cow (Another common farm animal; not a direct semantic opposite, but often contrasts with pigs in farming contexts.)
Themes
animals
|food
|farming
|food_drink
Definition
A farm animal with a fat body and short legs that people keep for meat like pork and bacon.
A large domesticated farm animal with a thick body, short legs, and a flat nose, kept for its meat such as pork, bacon, and ham.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
2
disznó
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a (real) pig; be such a pig
Don’t be such a pig—leave some pizza for everyone else.
Ne légy már ilyen disznó — hagyj pizzát a többieknek is.
He never helps with the dishes; he can be a real pig sometimes.
Soha nem segít elmosogatni; néha igazi disznó tud lenni.
Stop talking with your mouth full, you pig.
She called him a sexist pig after his rude comment.
You’re a pig if you think you can treat people like that.
Learner examples
He eats like a pig and never says thank you.
Úgy eszik, mint egy disznó, és soha nem mond köszönetet.
You are a pig if you never clean your room.
Disznó vagy, ha soha nem takarítod ki a szobádat.
She thinks he is a pig because he is very rude.
Don’t be a pig; share the cake.
He was a pig to his friends, so they left.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this word too freely without realizing it is clearly insulting. It should only be used when you really want to be rude or when joking with close friends who are not offended.
Meaning
greedy or unpleasant person
Collocations
such a pig
|a real pig
|a sexist pig
|an absolute pig
Synonyms
jerk (Informal insult focusing more on someone being mean or inconsiderate rather than specifically greedy or dirty.)
Antonyms
gentleman (Describes a man who is polite and considerate, contrasting with the rude or selfish behavior suggested by "pig".)
Themes
insults
|character
|daily life
|communication
|emotions
Definition
A rude word for someone who takes too much, is very messy, or does not care about other people.
An insulting word for a person who behaves in a very greedy, dirty, rude, or inconsiderate way.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
3
fakabát
C1
Usage pattern:
the pigs; call [a police officer] a pig
He shouted, "The pigs are here!" as the police vans arrived.
Azt kiabálta: „Itt vannak a fakabátok!” amikor megérkeztek a rendőrségi furgonok.
Calling the officers pigs only made the situation worse.
A rendőröket fakabátoknak nevezni csak rontott a helyzeten.
The graffiti on the wall said, "Fight the pigs."
Some protestors chanted insults at the pigs during the march.
Using the word "pig" for police is considered very offensive.
Learner examples
He called the police "pigs," and they were angry.
Fakabátnak nevezte a rendőröket, és azok dühösek lettek.
Some people say "pigs" when they talk about the police.
Néhányan „fakabátoknak” mondják a rendőröket.
Do not call a police officer a pig; it is very rude.
The sign said, "Stop the pigs," meaning the police.
She thinks the word "pig" for police is hateful.
Common mistake:
Learners may hear this in movies or music and not realize how offensive it is in real life. It should not be used in polite or neutral conversation and can cause serious trouble if said directly to officers.
Meaning
insulting term for police
Collocations
the pigs
|riot pigs
|call the pigs
|bloody pigs
Synonyms
cop (Neutral or mildly informal word for a police officer, not usually insulting, unlike "pig".)
Antonyms
civilian (A person who is not in the police or armed forces, contrasting with the targeted group of the insult.)
Themes
law
|insults
|society
|communication
Definition
A very rude slang word for a police officer.
A strongly insulting slang word for a police officer or for the police as a group.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
eat [pig]; cook [pig]
They roasted a whole pig for the festival.
Az ünnepre egy egész disznót sütöttek meg.
We don’t eat pig in this household for religious reasons.
Vallási okokból ebben a háztartásban nem eszünk disznóhúst.
The restaurant serves grilled pig with spicy sauce.
He gave up pig but still eats chicken and fish.
This stew is made with pig and vegetables.
Learner examples
They cooked a big pig for the party.
A bulira egy nagy disznót sütöttek.
Some people do not eat pig for religious reasons.
Néhány ember vallási okokból nem eszik disznóhúst.
This soup has pig and rice in it.
I like pig, but my friend likes chicken more.
We had pig and potatoes for dinner.
Common mistake:
In standard English, people usually say "pork", "bacon", or "ham" instead of simply "pig" for the meat. Saying *I like pig* can sound strange, childish, or dialectal, though it will usually be understood.
Meaning
meat from a pig (informal)
Collocations
pig meat
|roast pig
|spit-roast pig
|whole pig
Synonyms
pork (The normal and more specific word for pig meat in standard English; "pig" as meat is more informal and less common.)
Antonyms
beef (Meat from a cow; contrasts with pig meat as another common type of meat.)
Themes
food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
Meat that comes from a pig, used as a general word instead of saying pork, bacon, or ham.
Meat from a pig, especially when referred to in a general, informal, or non-specific way instead of using terms like pork, bacon, or ham.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
a pig of [metal]; cast [metal] into pigs
The blast furnace produces pig iron that is later refined into steel.
A nagyolvasztó nyersvasat állít elő, amit később acéllá finomítanak.
Workers stacked the lead pigs in the warehouse.
A munkások a raktárban egymásra rakták az ólomtuskókat.
Each pig of iron weighs several hundred kilos.
The plant casts the molten metal into pigs for transport.
These pigs are then remelted and alloyed for specific uses.
Learner examples
The factory makes big pigs of iron.
A gyár nagy vastuskókat gyárt.
They move the heavy metal pigs with a crane.
A nehéz fémtuskókat daruval mozgatják.
Each pig of metal is very heavy.
The hot metal is poured into a mold to make pigs.
These pigs will later become steel bars.
Meaning
block of crude metal
Collocations
pig iron
|lead pig
|cast into pigs
|stack pigs
Synonyms
ingot (A more general technical term for a shaped block of metal; not limited to crude metal from a smelter.)
Antonyms
sheet metal (Metal processed into thin sheets, contrasting with the rough, block form of a pig.)
Themes
industry
|engineering
|materials
|science
|work
Definition
A big, rough piece of metal, such as iron, made in a factory before it is made into other shapes.
A large rough block of metal, especially iron or lead, as it comes from the smelter before being processed further.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
csőgörény
C1
Usage pattern:
run a pig through [a pipeline]; launch a pig
Engineers ran a pig through the line to remove built-up wax.
A mérnökök egy csőgörényt futtattak végig a vezetéken, hogy eltávolítsák a lerakódott viaszt.
An intelligent pig was used to inspect the pipeline for corrosion.
A vezeték korróziójának ellenőrzésére intelligens csőgörényt használtak.
The pig became stuck halfway along the pipeline and had to be recovered.
They launched the pig from the offshore platform early in the morning.
Regular pigging reduces the risk of pipeline blockages.
Learner examples
The company used a pig to clean the long oil pipe.
A cég csőgörényt használt a hosszú olajvezeték kitisztítására.
A pig moves inside the pipe and pushes the dirt out.
A csőgörény a csőben halad, és kitolja a szennyeződést.
They sent a smart pig through the pipe to look for problems.
If the pig gets stuck, the engineers must find it.
The manager said they will run a pig every month.
Meaning
cleaning or inspection device in a pipe
Collocations
pipeline pig
|run a pig
|pig launcher
|pig receiver
|intelligent pig
Synonyms
pipeline scraper (Describes cleaning pigs specifically; does not cover more advanced inspection devices.)
Antonyms
bypass valve (A fixed device that redirects flow rather than moving through the pipeline like a pig.)
Themes
engineering
|industry
|technology
|work
Definition
A special tool that moves inside a long pipe to clean it or check it.
A device that is pushed through the inside of a pipeline to clean it, inspect it, or separate different products flowing through it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pig
IPA
GB/pˈɪɡ/
US/pˈɪɡ/
Syllables & stress
pig (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pig)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pig
- Plural: pig, pigs
Word family
Forms
pigs
noun
Core family
piglet
noun
Related words
pork
noun A2
pigsty
noun
Advanced or less common
piggish
adjective
Expressions
bleed like a stuck pig
1/blˈid lˈaɪk ə stˈʌk pˈɪɡ/
idiom
informal
bleed a lot from a wound
To bleed a lot from a cut or wound.
Examples
- He cut his hand and it was bleeding like a stuck pig.
- Your nose is bleeding like a stuck pig; tilt your head forward.
- The small cut made him bleed like a stuck pig.
buy a pig in a poke
1/bˈaɪ ə pˈɪɡ ˈɪn ə pˈoʊk/
idiom
informal
buy something unseen or unchecked
To buy something without looking at it carefully first, so you do not really know what you are getting.
Examples
- Buying a used car without an inspection is like buying a pig in a poke.
- Read the reviews so you don’t buy a pig in a poke.
- They bought a pig in a poke and the house needed huge repairs.
in a pig's eye
1/ˈɪn ə pˈɪɡz ˈaɪ/
idiom
informal
expression of strong disbelief
Used to say that you do not believe something at all or that it will not happen.
Examples
- "You’ll get the money back." "In a pig’s eye!"
- He says he’ll change, but in a pig’s eye.
- She’ll be home by midnight, in a pig’s eye.
make a pig's ear of [something]
1/mˈeɪk ə pˈɪɡz ˈɪɹ əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
do something very badly
To do something very badly so that it is a mess or a failure.
Examples
- He made a pig’s ear of the report and had to rewrite it.
- I really made a pig’s ear of that job interview.
- They made a pig’s ear of the new website launch.
male chauvinist pig
1/mˈeɪl ʃˈoʊvənɪst pˈɪɡ/
fixed phrase
informal
strong insult for a sexist man
A very insulting name for a man who thinks men are better than women and behaves in a sexist way.
Examples
- She called her boss a male chauvinist pig after his comments about women.
- Anyone who says women can’t lead is a male chauvinist pig.
- The show was full of jokes that made him sound like a male chauvinist pig.
pig out
1/pˈɪɡ ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
eat too much in a greedy way
To eat a lot of food in a greedy way, usually more than you need.
Examples
- We pigged out on pizza and ice cream last night.
- Try not to pig out on snacks before dinner.
- They pigged out at the buffet until they could hardly move.
sweat like a pig
1/swˈɛt lˈaɪk ə pˈɪɡ/
idiom
informal
sweat a lot
To sweat a lot so that your body is very wet.
Examples
- It was so hot on the train that I was sweating like a pig.
- I always sweat like a pig when I exercise.
- By the end of the race he was sweating like a pig.
when pigs fly
1/wˈɛn pˈɪɡz flˈaɪ/
idiom
informal
used to mean ‘never’
Used to say that something will never happen.
Examples
- "He’ll apologize." "Yeah, when pigs fly."
- I’ll lend you my car when pigs fly.
- She’ll stop checking her phone at work when pigs fly.