private
gb/pɹˈaɪvɪt/ us/pɹˈaɪvɪt/
A2
English
~ 700
nem nyilvános, privát, zártkörű, személyes, magánéleti, magán-, nem állami, saját, külön, közlegény
A2
1
Usage pattern:
a private [place/event/conversation]
The hotel has a private beach for guests only.
A szállodának saját strandja van, amelyet csak a vendégek használhatnak.
They held a private meeting to discuss the merger.
Zártkörű megbeszélést tartottak, hogy megvitassák a fúziót.
I need to make a private phone call.
Learner examples
This is my private room.
Ez az én saját szobám.
We had a private talk.
Négyszemközti beszélgetésünk volt.
The garden is private.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'private' with 'personal'; 'private' usually means restricted access, while 'personal' means related to oneself.
Meaning
Not open to the public
Collocations
private property
|private conversation
|private life
|private meeting
|private room
Synonyms
exclusive (Emphasizes restricted access, often implying high status.)
Antonyms
public (Open and accessible to everyone.)
Themes
daily life
|privacy
|society
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
For one person or group only, not for everyone.
Kept for the use of a particular person or group and not available to others.
B1
2
személyes
A2
magánéleti
B1
Usage pattern:
private [life/matters/feelings]
She doesn't like to talk about her private life in interviews.
Interjúkban nem szeret a magánéletéről beszélni.
He kept his private feelings to himself.
Magában tartotta legbensőbb érzéseit.
These are private matters between friends.
Learner examples
I don't talk about my private life.
Nem beszélek a magánéletemről.
She keeps her private feelings secret.
Titokban tartja a legbensőbb érzéseit.
This is a private matter.
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'secret' instead of 'private', but 'secret' implies intentional hiding, while 'private' just means personal.
Meaning
About personal life
Collocations
private life
|private feelings
|private matters
Synonyms
personal (Focuses more on individual identity and experiences.)
Antonyms
public (Concerning things known or shared by many people.)
Themes
daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
About your own life, not work or public things.
Relating to a person's personal affairs, relationships, or inner thoughts, not their public role.
B1
3
magán-
B1
nem állami
B1
Usage pattern:
private [company/business/school]
He works for a private company in the tech sector.
Egy magáncégnél dolgozik a technológiai szektorban.
Private schools often have smaller class sizes.
A magániskolákban gyakran kisebbek az osztálylétszámok.
The private sector is growing quickly.
Learner examples
I work for a private company.
Egy magáncégnél dolgozom.
She goes to a private school.
Magániskolába jár.
This hospital is private.
Meaning
Owned by individuals, not government
Collocations
private company
|private sector
|private school
Synonyms
independent (Stresses freedom from government control.)
Antonyms
public (Owned or run by the government.)
Themes
business
|economics
|finance
Definition
Owned by a person or company, not the government.
Owned or managed by an individual person or a non-governmental entity rather than the state.
A2
4
Usage pattern:
a private [bathroom/office/car]
The suite includes a bedroom with a private bathroom.
A lakosztályban van egy hálószoba saját fürdőszobával.
He enjoys having a private office at work.
Élvezi, hogy saját irodája van a munkahelyén.
Guests have access to a private parking area.
Learner examples
I have a private bathroom.
Van saját fürdőszobám.
She has a private office.
Saját irodája van.
This car is private.
Meaning
For one person's use only
Collocations
private bathroom
|private office
|private parking
Synonyms
personal (Focuses on belonging to one person specifically.)
Antonyms
shared (Used by more than one person.)
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Only for one person to use.
For the use of one person only; not shared with others.
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
5
közlegény
C1
Private Johnson reported for duty at 0600 hours.
Johnson közlegény 0600 órakor szolgálatra jelentkezett.
He joined the army as a private and worked his way up.
Közlegényként lépett be a hadseregbe, és fokozatosan feljebb jutott a ranglétrán.
The sergeant ordered the privates to line up.
Learner examples
He is a private in the army.
Közlegényként szolgál a hadseregben.
The private stands with other soldiers.
A közlegény a többi katonával együtt áll.
Private Lee is young.
Meaning
Lowest army rank soldier
Collocations
army private
|promoted from private
Synonyms
soldier (General term; does not specify rank.)
Themes
military
|politics
Definition
A soldier with the lowest job in the army.
A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.
Grammar
Dictionary form
private
IPA
GB/pɹˈaɪvɪt/
US/pɹˈaɪvɪt/
Syllables & stress
private (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (private)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: private
Noun
- Base: private
- Plural: privates
Word family
Expressions
go private
1/ɡˈoʊ pɹˈaɪvɪt/
fixed phrase
Change to private ownership/funding
To change from being run by the government to being run by a person or company.
Examples
- The company decided to go private after years on the stock market.
- Some schools have gone private due to funding cuts.
keep something private
1/kˈip sˈʌmθɪŋ pɹˈaɪvɪt/
fixed phrase
Not share information publicly
To not tell other people about something.
Examples
- I prefer to keep my finances private.
- She kept the news private until she was ready.
private parts
1/pɹˈaɪvɪt pˈɑɹts/
fixed phrase
Genital organs of the body
The sexual parts of your body that are usually covered by clothes.
Examples
- Teach children that no one should touch their private parts without permission.
- He felt embarrassed when the doctor examined his private parts.
in private
1/ˈɪn pɹˈaɪvɪt/
fixed phrase
away from other people
when other people cannot see, hear, or join; not in public
Examples
- They spoke in private about the issue.
- They argued loudly in public but later apologized in private.
- Please tell me in private if there’s a problem.
- If you have any questions, please ask me in private after class.
- The couple preferred to keep their problems in private.