rare
gb/ɹˈɛɹ/ us/ɹˈɛɹ/
A2
English
~ 1900
ritka, véres, kivételes
A2
1
ritka
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is rare
It's rare to see such clear skies in this city.
Ebben a városban ritkán látni ilyen tiszta eget.
She has a rare ability to make everyone feel welcome.
Ritka képessége van: mindenkivel el tudja érni, hogy szívesen látottnak érezze magát.
Finding that book in perfect condition is quite rare.
They spotted a rare bird in the forest.
This is a rare chance to meet the author in person.
Learner examples
It is rare to see snow here.
Ritka itt havat látni.
That is a rare flower.
Ez egy ritka virág.
He has a rare skill in music.
A rainbow is rare in the desert.
This is a rare day without rain.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rare' with 'raw' when talking about food, but 'rare' means uncommon, while 'raw' means uncooked.
Meaning
Uncommon or unusual
Collocations
rare opportunity
|rare occasion
|rare species
|rare event
|rare talent
Synonyms
uncommon (Slightly more formal; same core meaning of not frequent.)
|
unusual (More emphasis on being different from normal.)
Antonyms
common (Happening often or found in many places.)
|
frequent (Happening often within a short time.)
Themes
frequency
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not common; not seen or happening often.
Not common, happening, or found very often.
A2
2
véres
B1
Usage pattern:
[meat] is rare
I ordered my steak rare.
Véresen kértem a steakemet.
The chef recommends serving this cut of beef rare.
A séf azt ajánlja, hogy ezt a marhahúsrészt véresen tálalják.
She prefers her lamb rare rather than well-done.
The burger was more rare than I expected.
He likes his roast beef served rare.
Learner examples
I want my steak rare.
Véresen kérem a steakemet.
The meat is rare inside.
A hús belül véres.
She eats rare beef.
The steak is red because it is rare.
He asked for a rare burger.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'rare' here means expensive or special, but in cooking it refers to how much the meat is cooked.
Meaning
Lightly cooked meat
Collocations
rare steak
|cooked rare
|served rare
Synonyms
undercooked (General term for not cooked enough; can be negative, unlike 'rare' which is desirable for some meats.)
Antonyms
well-done (Meat cooked fully through until no pink remains.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
Meat that is cooked only a little and still red inside.
(Of meat, especially beef) cooked very little so that the inside remains red and cool or warm.
B1
3
kivételes
B2
Usage pattern:
a rare [noun]
She has a rare talent for storytelling.
Kivételes tehetsége van a történetmeséléshez.
It was a rare pleasure to hear him sing live.
Kivételes élmény volt élőben hallani őt énekelni.
The museum houses some rare works of art.
He displayed rare courage under pressure.
This dessert is a rare treat.
Learner examples
She has a rare gift for music.
Kivételes tehetsége van a zenéhez.
It was a rare joy to see them again.
Kivételes öröm volt újra látni őket.
He has rare skill in painting.
That was a rare meal.
This artist has rare talent.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'uncommon' meaning simply infrequent, but here it means unusually good or excellent.
Meaning
Exceptionally good or fine
Collocations
rare beauty
|rare talent
|rare treat
Synonyms
exceptional (Highlights being much better than average.)
|
remarkable (Emphasizes being worthy of attention due to excellence.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Normal, not special or excellent.)
Themes
evaluation
|praise
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very special and good; better than usual.
Unusually good, excellent, or remarkable in quality.
B2
4
ritka
B1
Usage pattern:
[substance/air] is rare
The climbers struggled to breathe in the rare mountain air.
A hegymászók nehezen kaptak levegőt a ritka hegyi levegőben.
Helium is rarer than oxygen in the atmosphere.
A légkörben a hélium ritkább, mint az oxigén.
The soup was too rare for my taste, almost watery.
Rare gases are used in lighting equipment.
At high altitudes, the air becomes more rare.
Learner examples
The air is rare on the mountain.
A hegyen ritka a levegő.
Water here is not rare but thin air is.
Itt vízből nincs hiány, de a levegő ritka.
This soup is too rare and watery.
We breathe rare air high up.
Gas can be rare at high places.
Meaning
Low density or thin consistency
Collocations
rare air
|rare atmosphere
Synonyms
thin (General term for low density; can refer to air or material.)
Antonyms
dense (Having parts close together; thick.)
Themes
science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Thin or light, with few parts in it or far apart.
Having a low density; thin, light, or less compact than usual.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rare
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛɹ/
US/ɹˈɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
rare (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rare)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rare
- Comparative: rarer
- Superlative: rarest
Word family
Expressions
a rare bird
1/ə ɹˈɛɹ bˈɚd/
idiom
informal
An unusual person or thing
A person or thing that is very unusual or special.
Examples
- In politics, he's a rare bird—honest and straightforward.
- Such dedication in young athletes is a rare bird these days.
in rare form
1/ˈɪn ɹˈɛɹ fˈɔɹm/
idiom
informal
Performing unusually well or energetically
Acting in an unusually good, fun, or skillful way at that time.
Examples
- The comedian was in rare form last night and had everyone laughing nonstop.
- She was in rare form during the debate, answering every question perfectly.
rare occasion
1/ɹˈɛɹ ɔkˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
An event that happens infrequently
An event that does not happen often.
Examples
- It's a rare occasion when all the family gets together.
- Such offers are a rare occasion in this store.