quaint
gb/kwˈeɪnt/ us/kwˈeɪnt/
B2
English
~ 5400
bájosan régies, furcsán régimódi, idejétmúlt
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a quaint [place/building/custom]
They stayed in a quaint little village by the sea.
Egy bájos, régies hangulatú kis faluban szálltak meg a tenger mellett.
The town is full of quaint cottages with thatched roofs.
A város tele van bájos, régies, nádfedeles házikókkal.
We had lunch in a quaint café down a narrow street.
Tourists love the quaint streets and old market square.
The hotel has a quaint charm that makes guests feel at home.
Learner examples
We walked through a quaint old town.
Végigsétáltunk egy bájos, régies óvároson.
They bought a house in a quaint village.
Egy bájos, régies faluban vettek házat.
There is a quaint café on the corner.
The city center has many quaint buildings.
Her parents live in a quaint cottage in the countryside.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "quaint" with "quiet" because they look similar. "Quaint" means old-fashioned and charming, not silent or with little noise. Another mistake is using "quaint" to describe people (e.g., "a quaint man"), which can sound strange or even slightly negative; it is usually used for places, buildings, or customs.
Meaning
attractively old-fashioned and unusual
Collocations
quaint little town
|quaint village
|quaint cottage
|quaint café
|quaint streets
|quaint charm
Synonyms
charming (General positive word for something attractive; not limited to old-fashioned things like "quaint" is.)
|
picturesque (Often used for places that look beautiful like a picture; suggests visual beauty more strongly than "quaint".)
|
old-fashioned (Describes something from an earlier time but does not always sound positive or cute the way "quaint" does.)
Antonyms
modern (Focuses on being current or up to date, the opposite of the old-time feeling of "quaint".)
|
contemporary (Stresses belonging to the present time, without the nostalgic feeling that "quaint" suggests.)
Themes
travel
|culture
|aesthetics
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Nice and interesting because it is old or a bit unusual, usually used for places or things, not people.
Pleasantly or attractively unusual in an old-fashioned or slightly different way, especially for places, buildings, or customs.
C1
2
idejétmúlt
B2
Usage pattern:
[an idea/custom/view] is quaint
He has the quaint notion that people still write long love letters by hand.
Az a furcsán régimódi elképzelése van, hogy az emberek még mindig kézzel írnak hosszú szerelmes leveleket.
Some of their rules about dress now seem rather quaint.
Az öltözködésre vonatkozó szabályaik közül néhány ma már meglehetősen idejétmúltnak tűnik.
Her belief that everyone in the city knows their neighbors is charming but quaint.
The idea that women should not work outside the home is more than quaint; it is offensive.
The law is based on quaint assumptions about family life from a century ago.
Learner examples
My grandfather has some quaint ideas about work and family.
A nagyapámnak vannak furcsán régimódi elképzelései a munkáról és a családról.
Their old school rules seem quaint today.
Az iskolájuk régi szabályai ma már idejétmúltnak tűnnek.
The teacher laughed at his quaint belief about how people lived in the past.
Some customs in the village felt quaint to the young visitors.
Many people now think that rule is quaint and out of date.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "quaint" is always positive, but in this sense it can sound mildly critical, suggesting that an idea or custom is out of date or unrealistic. Be careful: using "quaint" about someone’s serious beliefs can sound insulting or dismissive.
Meaning
odd or slightly inappropriate old-fashioned
Collocations
quaint notion
|quaint idea
|quaint custom
|quaint tradition
|quaint expression
|quaint belief
Synonyms
old-fashioned (Also means not modern; unlike "quaint", it does not always suggest something strangely or charmingly out of date.)
|
dated (Clearly not modern and usually negative; lacks the softness or slight charm that "quaint" can have.)
|
naïve (Suggests simple and not thinking about modern realities; overlaps when a "quaint" view seems innocent and unrealistic.)
Antonyms
modern (Describes ideas and customs that fit current times, unlike "quaint" ones that feel from the past.)
|
progressive (Stresses forward-looking, reform-minded beliefs, the opposite of the outdated feel of a "quaint" view.)
Themes
culture
|society
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Old and a bit strange for today, so that it seems not modern or a little silly.
Strange or unusual in an old-fashioned way that may seem out of date, naïve, or not suitable for modern times.
Grammar
Dictionary form
quaint
IPA
GB/kwˈeɪnt/
US/kwˈeɪnt/
Syllables & stress
quaint (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (quaint)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: quaint
- Comparative: quainter
- Superlative: quaintest
Word family
Forms
quainter
adjective
quaintest
adjective
Core family
quaintly
adverb
quaintness
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.