rough
gb/ɹˈʌf/ us/ɹˈʌf/
A2
English
~ 2500
érdes, nehéz, hozzávetőleges, vázlatos, durva, rough, magas füvű pályarész
A2
1
érdes
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is rough
The table's surface felt rough under my fingers.
Az asztal felülete érdes volt az ujjaim alatt.
His hands were rough from years of hard work.
Érdes volt a keze a sokéves kemény munkától.
Be careful, the metal has a rough edge.
The road was rough and full of potholes.
Learner examples
The wall is rough.
A fal érdes.
Her hands are rough.
Érdes a keze.
The ground is rough here.
This paper feels rough.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rough' with 'tough'; 'tough' refers to strength or difficulty, not texture.
Meaning
Uneven or coarse in texture
Collocations
rough surface
|rough skin
|rough texture
|rough edge
Synonyms
coarse (Implies a more grainy or crude texture, often used for fabrics or manners.)
Antonyms
smooth (Describes a surface without bumps or irregularities.)
Themes
daily life
|materials
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not smooth; having a surface with small high parts and low parts.
Having a surface that is not smooth, often with bumps, ridges, or irregularities.
B1
2
nehéz
A1
Usage pattern:
a rough [day/time/period]
She’s had a rough week at work.
Nehéz hete volt a munkahelyén.
It was a rough start to the season.
Nehéz volt a szezon kezdete.
He went through a rough patch after losing his job.
Learner examples
I had a rough day.
Nehéz napom volt.
He is going through a rough time.
Nehéz időszakon megy keresztül.
It was a rough night for me.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'rough' with 'tough' here; while similar in some contexts, 'rough' often focuses on discomfort rather than resilience.
Meaning
Difficult or unpleasant situation or time
Collocations
rough day
|rough time
|rough start
Synonyms
hard (A general term for something not easy to do or endure.)
Antonyms
easy (Describes something that is not difficult to experience.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Hard or unpleasant to experience.
Challenging, harsh, or unpleasant to go through, often causing discomfort or hardship.
B1
3
vázlatos
B2
Usage pattern:
a rough [idea/estimate/number]
I can give you a rough estimate of the cost.
Tudok adni egy hozzávetőleges becslést a költségekről.
He sketched a rough outline of the plan.
Vázlatosan felrajzolta a terv körvonalait.
That’s just a rough guess, not the final figure.
Learner examples
This is a rough number.
Ez csak egy hozzávetőleges szám.
I have a rough idea about the plan.
Nagyjából van elképzelésem a tervről.
We made a rough map.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'rough' means 'bad' here; it refers to lack of detail, not poor quality.
Meaning
Not exact; approximate
Collocations
rough estimate
|rough idea
|rough calculation
Synonyms
approximate (More formal; used in technical or precise contexts.)
Antonyms
exact (Fully accurate and detailed.)
Themes
measurement
|communication
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Close to the correct number, amount, or idea, but not exact.
Not exact or detailed, but close enough for general understanding.
B1
4
durva
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is rough with [someone/something]
The players were getting rough on the field.
A játékosok kezdtek durván játszani a pályán.
Don’t be so rough with the puppy.
Ne bánj ilyen durván a kiskutyával.
He gave me a rough shove as he passed.
Learner examples
The boys play rough.
A fiúk durván játszanak.
He is rough with his dog.
Durván bánik a kutyájával.
She pushed me in a rough way.
Meaning
Harsh or violent in action
Collocations
play rough
|rough handling
Synonyms
harsh (Can refer to both physical and non-physical severity; 'rough' here is more physical.)
Antonyms
gentle (Careful and soft in touch or action.)
Themes
sports
|behavior
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Strong and not gentle; may hurt someone or something.
Using force in a way that may cause harm or discomfort; not gentle.
NOUN
B2
5
rough
C2
His ball landed in the rough.
A labdája a roughban landolt.
She struggled to get out of the rough on her second shot.
A második ütésével is nehezen juttatta ki a labdát a roughból.
Avoid hitting into the rough if you can.
Learner examples
The ball is in the rough.
A labda a roughban van.
I hit my ball into the rough.
A roughba ütöttem a labdámat.
It is hard to play in the rough.
Meaning
Long grass area on golf course
Collocations
hit into the rough
Synonyms
long grass area (golf) (A descriptive phrase used instead of the golf term.)
Themes
sports
Definition
On a golf course, an area with long grass that is harder to hit the ball from.
An area on a golf course where the grass is longer and more difficult to play from, located outside the fairway.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rough
IPA
GB/ɹˈʌf/
US/ɹˈʌf/
Syllables & stress
rough (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rough)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rough
- Comparative: rougher
- Superlative: roughest
Word family
Expressions
in the rough
1/ˈɪn ðə ɹˈʌf/
fixed phrase
In an unfinished state
Not finished or prepared; in its natural form.
Examples
- The diamond was found in the rough before being cut and polished.
- His talent is still in the rough but shows great promise.
play rough
1/plˈeɪ ɹˈʌf/
fixed phrase
Play aggressively in sports/games
To play in a way that is strong and may hurt others, especially in games or sports.
Examples
- The kids were playing rough in the backyard.
- Some players like to play rough to intimidate opponents.
rough around the edges
1/ɹˈʌf ɚˈaʊnd ðə ˈɛd͡ʒɪz/
idiom
informal
Good overall but with small faults
Having some small problems or faults but still good in general.
Examples
- He’s a bit rough around the edges but has a good heart.
- The house is rough around the edges but very solid.
rough it
1/ɹˈʌf ˈɪt/
idiom
informal
Live without usual comforts for a while
To live without usual things like electricity, comfortable beds, or good food for a short time.
Examples
- We had to rough it during our camping trip.
- They roughed it in a small cabin with no running water.
take the rough with the smooth
1/tˈeɪk ðə ɹˈʌf wˈɪθ ðə smˈuð/
idiom
Accept good and bad together
Accept both good and bad parts of life or a situation without complaint.
Examples
- In this job you have to take the rough with the smooth.
- Marriage means taking the rough with the smooth.