snail
gb/snˈeɪl/ us/snˈeɪl/
A2
English
csiga, csigalassú, araszol, csigalassúsággal halad
NOUN
A2
1
csiga
A2
Usage pattern:
a snail; snails
A snail was inching across the path after the rain.
Egy csiga araszolt át az ösvényen az eső után.
The children found an empty snail shell in the garden.
A gyerekek egy üres csigaházat találtak a kertben.
Snails can damage young plants in spring.
Learner examples
I saw a snail on the leaf.
Láttam egy csigát a levélen.
The snail has a shell.
A csigának csigaháza van.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse snail with slug (a slug usually has no shell).
Meaning
a small slow shelled animal
Collocations
garden snail
|land snail
|sea snail
|snail shell
|snail slime
|snail trail
|snail eggs
|pet snail
|snail population
|snail bait
Synonyms
gastropod (A broader, more technical term that includes snails and slugs.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|gardening
Definition
A small animal with a shell that moves very slowly.
A small mollusk with a soft body that usually carries a coiled shell and moves slowly, leaving a trail of slime.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
2
csiga
B1
csigalassú
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a snail; [something] is a snail
Come on, you snail—everyone else is already outside.
Gyerünk már, te csiga – mindenki más már kint van.
The old laptop is a snail when it starts up.
A régi laptop indításkor csigalassú.
Without coffee, I’m a snail in the morning.
Learner examples
He’s a snail today.
Ma csigalassú.
My computer is a snail.
A számítógépem csigalassú.
Common mistake:
This is informal and can sound rude if you say it directly to someone.
Meaning
a very slow person or thing
Collocations
be such a snail
|move like a snail
|walk like a snail
|a complete snail
|traffic is a snail
Synonyms
slowpoke (Very common informal word for a slow person.)
|
laggard (More formal; suggests someone who falls behind.)
Antonyms
speedster (Someone or something that goes very fast.)
Themes
people
|everyday_life
|movement
Definition
Someone or something that is very slow.
A person or thing that moves or works very slowly.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
snail (along) (past/through/toward) [place]
Traffic snails along on this road every evening.
Ezen az úton minden este csak araszol a forgalom.
The line snaked forward, snailing toward the ticket booth.
A sor kígyózva haladt előre, csigalassúsággal araszolva a jegypénztár felé.
We snailed through security because the scanners were down.
Learner examples
The cars snail along in the rain.
Az autók az esőben csak araszolnak.
Common mistake:
Most often used with an adverb or particle like along (e.g., 'snail along').
Meaning
move extremely slowly
Collocations
snail along
|snail through
|snail toward
|snail past
|snail around
Synonyms
crawl (Common word for moving very slowly; not limited to vehicles.)
|
inch (Emphasizes very small, slow progress.)
Antonyms
race (To move very fast.)
|
dash (To move quickly and suddenly.)
Themes
movement
|everyday_life
Definition
To go very slowly.
To move very slowly, especially in a way that feels frustratingly slow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
snail
IPA
GB/snˈeɪl/
US/snˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
snail (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (snail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: snail
- Plural: snails
Expressions
at a snail's pace
1/ˈæt ə snˈeɪlz pˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
informal
move very slowly
To move very slowly, like a snail.
Examples
- Traffic was moving at a snail's pace.
- The project is progressing at a snail's pace.
at a snail's pace
1/ˈæt ə snˈeɪlz pˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
very slowly
Very slowly.
Examples
- The project is moving at a snail's pace.
- Because of the fog, traffic was crawling at a snail's pace.
- Repairs are happening at a snail's pace due to parts shortages.
Learner examples
- The line moved at a snail's pace.
snail along
1/snˈeɪl əlˈɔŋ/
phrasal verb
informal
move forward very slowly
To go forward very slowly.
Examples
- Cars snailed along behind the accident.
- We snailed along the coast road, stopping every few minutes for photos.
- The queue snailed along, but we eventually got in.
Learner examples
- The cars snailed along.
snail mail
1/snˈeɪl mˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
informal
letters sent by the post
Regular mail (not email).
Examples
- They still send invoices by snail mail.
- I’ll email the form today, but I can also send a copy by snail mail if you need it.
- The package arrived late because it went by snail mail.
Learner examples
- I got a letter by snail mail.
snail trail
1/snˈeɪl tɹˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
slimy track left behind
The wet, shiny line a snail leaves behind.
Examples
- We could see the snail trail across the patio tiles.
- A snail trail shimmered on the sidewalk in the morning light.
- Wipe the table—there’s a snail trail on it.
Learner examples
- The snail left a trail on the stone.