pumpkin
gb/pˈʌmpkɪn/ us/pˈʌmpkɪn/
A2
English
sütőtök, halloweeni tök, töklámpás, sütőtökszínű, sütőtök-narancssárga, kicsim, kobak
NOUN
A2
1
sütőtök
A2
Usage pattern:
[eat/cook/buy] a pumpkin; pumpkin + [dish/ingredient]
I bought a small pumpkin to make soup.
Vettem egy kisebb sütőtököt, hogy levest készítsek belőle.
She blended the cooked pumpkin into a smooth puree.
A megpuhult sütőtököt sima pürévé turmixolta.
Pumpkin is in season in the fall.
Learner examples
I like pumpkin soup.
Szeretem a sütőtöklevest.
We cooked a pumpkin for dinner.
Vacsorára sütőtököt készítettünk.
Common mistake:
Learners may call all squash varieties “pumpkin”; in English, many similar vegetables are “squash,” while “pumpkin” is a specific common type.
Meaning
large edible orange squash
Collocations
pumpkin soup
|pumpkin pie
|roast pumpkin
|pumpkin puree
|canned pumpkin
|pumpkin bread
|pumpkin curry
|pumpkin seeds
|pumpkin filling
|fresh pumpkin
Synonyms
squash (Broader term for related vegetables; not all squash are pumpkins.)
|
winter squash (Category that includes pumpkins and similar types.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|cooking
|plants
Definition
A large orange vegetable that people cook and eat.
A large round squash with a thick orange rind and firm flesh, eaten as a vegetable and used in many dishes.
NOUN
B1
2
sütőtök
A2
Usage pattern:
grow pumpkin(s); a pumpkin plant/vine
The pumpkin plant spread across the garden bed.
A sütőtök indái szétterültek a kerti ágyásban.
Bees pollinate the pumpkin flowers in early summer.
A méhek nyár elején beporozzák a sütőtök virágait.
We trained the pumpkin vines to grow along the fence.
Learner examples
We grew pumpkin plants in our garden.
Sütőtököt termesztettünk a kertünkben.
Common mistake:
Learners may use “pumpkin” only for the fruit; it can also refer to the plant in gardening contexts.
Meaning
plant that grows pumpkins
Collocations
pumpkin vine
|pumpkin plant
|pumpkin flowers
|pumpkin leaves
|grow pumpkins
|pumpkin field
|pumpkin garden
|pumpkin seedlings
Synonyms
pumpkin vine (Emphasizes the long, trailing growth habit.)
Themes
plants
|gardening
Definition
The plant that grows pumpkins.
The spreading vine-like plant that produces pumpkins.
NOUN
B1
3
töklámpás
B1
Usage pattern:
carve a pumpkin; a Halloween pumpkin
We put two pumpkins on the front porch for Halloween.
Két halloweeni tököt tettünk a bejárat elé.
He carved a scary face into the pumpkin and lit it from inside.
Ijesztő arcot faragott a tökbe, majd belülről megvilágította.
The store window was filled with pumpkins and autumn leaves.
Learner examples
We carved a pumpkin.
Halloweeni tököt faragtunk.
Common mistake:
A carved pumpkin with a face and a candle is often called a “jack-o'-lantern,” but people also casually say “a pumpkin” when the meaning is clear.
Meaning
pumpkin used as decoration
Collocations
carved pumpkin
|Halloween pumpkin
|pumpkin lantern
|decorate with pumpkins
|pumpkin face
|pumpkin carving kit
Synonyms
jack-o'-lantern (Specifically a carved pumpkin lantern, often with a face.)
Themes
holidays
|daily_life
|arts_and_crafts
Definition
A pumpkin used to decorate, especially for Halloween.
A pumpkin, often hollowed out and sometimes carved, used as a seasonal decoration, especially at Halloween.
B1
4
Usage pattern:
pumpkin + [noun]
She wore a pumpkin scarf that stood out in the crowd.
Sütőtökszínű sálat viselt, ami feltűnt a tömegben.
They chose a pumpkin shade for the kitchen walls.
Sütőtökszínű árnyalatot választottak a konyha falaira.
The logo uses a pumpkin orange background.
Learner examples
My bag is pumpkin orange.
A táskám sütőtök-narancssárga.
Common mistake:
Learners may expect a separate adjective form; in English, color words are often used directly before a noun (e.g., “pumpkin dress”).
Meaning
bright yellowish-orange color
Collocations
pumpkin orange
|pumpkin dress
|pumpkin sweater
|pumpkin paint
|pumpkin shade
|pumpkin-colored
Synonyms
orange (More general; “pumpkin” suggests a deeper, warmer orange.)
Antonyms
blue (Opposite on the usual warm–cool color contrast.)
Themes
colors
|clothing_and_fashion
|design
Definition
Orange, like a pumpkin.
Having a strong yellowish-orange color like the skin of a pumpkin.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
5
kicsim
A2
Usage pattern:
(my) pumpkin
Come here, pumpkin—I want to show you something.
Gyere ide, kicsim – szeretnék mutatni valamit.
Good night, my pumpkin.
Jó éjszakát, kicsim.
She calls her daughter “pumpkin” when she’s being affectionate.
Learner examples
Hi, pumpkin.
Szia, kicsim.
Common mistake:
This is used as a form of address (“Hi, pumpkin”), not usually to describe a person in third person.
Meaning
affectionate nickname for someone
Collocations
my pumpkin
|little pumpkin
|hey, pumpkin
|sweet pumpkin
Synonyms
sweetheart (More common and not tied to a cute imagery word.)
|
honey (Common affectionate nickname; slightly more intimate in some contexts.)
Themes
relationships
|communication
Definition
A sweet name you call someone you love.
A friendly, affectionate name used when speaking to someone, especially a child or romantic partner.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
6
kobak
B2
Usage pattern:
use your pumpkin; hit [someone] on the pumpkin
Use your pumpkin and read the instructions first.
Használd a kobakodat, és először olvasd el az útmutatót.
He bumped his pumpkin on the cabinet door.
Beütötte a kobakját a szekrényajtóba.
I can’t think straight today—my pumpkin feels full of cotton.
Common mistake:
This use is informal and can sound rude; it’s not appropriate in formal writing.
Meaning
a person’s head (slang)
Collocations
use your pumpkin
|hit him on the pumpkin
|bonk on the pumpkin
Synonyms
head (Neutral, standard word.)
|
noggin (Informal, playful word for head.)
Themes
body
|humor
|communication
Definition
Your head (informal).
A person’s head or brain, used jokingly or mildly insultingly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pumpkin
IPA
GB/pˈʌmpkɪn/
US/pˈʌmpkɪn/
Syllables & stress
pump - kin (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pump)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pumpkin
- Plural: pumpkin, pumpkins
Word family
Forms
pumpkins
noun
Related words
squash
noun B1
gourd
noun
Advanced or less common
pumpkiny
adjective
Expressions
pumpkin carving
1/pˈʌmpkɪn kˈɑɹvɪŋ/
fixed phrase
activity of carving pumpkins
Making designs in a pumpkin for Halloween.
Examples
- We had a pumpkin carving party the weekend before Halloween.
- Pumpkin carving can get messy, so cover the table.
- There’s a pumpkin carving contest at the community center.
Learner examples
- We went pumpkin carving.
pumpkin patch
1/pˈʌmpkɪn pˈæt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
field where pumpkins are grown
A place where pumpkins grow, where people often go to pick one.
Examples
- We took the kids to a pumpkin patch to pick their own pumpkins.
- The pumpkin patch is busiest on weekends in October.
- They met at the pumpkin patch and took photos.
Learner examples
- We went to a pumpkin patch.
pumpkin pie
1/pˈʌmpkɪn pˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
pie with pumpkin filling
A sweet pie made with pumpkin.
Examples
- She baked a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.
- Do you want whipped cream on your pumpkin pie?
- This recipe makes two pumpkin pies.
Learner examples
- I ate pumpkin pie.
pumpkin seeds
1/pˈʌmpkɪn sˈidz/
fixed phrase
edible seeds of a pumpkin
Seeds from a pumpkin that you can eat.
Examples
- We roasted the pumpkin seeds with salt.
- Pumpkin seeds add crunch to salads.
- He snacked on pumpkin seeds during the movie.
Learner examples
- I eat pumpkin seeds.
pumpkin spice
1/pˈʌmpkɪn spˈaɪs/
fixed phrase
spice blend used for pumpkin flavor
A mix of spices used in pumpkin-flavored food and drinks.
Examples
- Pumpkin spice shows up in stores every fall.
- I added pumpkin spice to the batter for extra flavor.
- They sell pumpkin spice candles and soaps now too.
Learner examples
- I like pumpkin spice.
pumpkin spice latte
1/pˈʌmpkɪn spˈaɪs lˈɑtˌeɪ/
fixed phrase
coffee drink with pumpkin spices
A latte with pumpkin-spice flavor.
Examples
- She ordered a pumpkin spice latte on her way to work.
- Pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu for the season.
- He tried a pumpkin spice latte for the first time and liked it.
Learner examples
- I ordered a pumpkin spice latte.
turn into a pumpkin
1/tˈɚn ˈɪntu ə pˈʌmpkɪn/
idiom
informal
become useless after a deadline
To stop being good or working after a certain time.
Examples
- If I’m not in bed by midnight, I turn into a pumpkin the next day.
- The discount ends at 9 p.m.—after that, it turns into a pumpkin.
- My energy turns into a pumpkin after long meetings.
use your pumpkin
1/jˈuz jˈʊɹ pˈʌmpkɪn/
idiom
informal
think carefully; use your head
Think and use common sense.
Examples
- Use your pumpkin—if the light is red, don’t cross.
- Come on, use your pumpkin and back up your files.
- He told me to use my pumpkin and double-check the address.