squat
gb/skwˈɑt/ us/skwˈɑt/
A2
English
~ 9600
leguggol, guggolás, önkényesen elfoglal, önkényes lakásfoglalóként él, foglalt ház, önkényesen elfoglalt épület, semmit sem, egy fikarcnyit sem, zömök, guggoló helyzet
VERB
A2
1
leguggol
A2
Usage pattern:
to squat [down] (near [something])
He squatted down to tie his shoelaces.
Leguggolt, hogy bekösse a cipőfűzőjét.
The children squatted on the ground and drew shapes in the dust.
A gyerekek leguggoltak a földre, és alakzatokat rajzoltak a porba.
Please squat over the target and keep your heels on the floor.
She squatted with the barbell across her shoulders.
The photographer squatted beside the road to get a lower angle.
Learner examples
He squats down to look at the small cat.
Leguggol, hogy közelebbről megnézze a kismacskát.
The woman squats on the floor to clean it.
A nő leguggol a padlóra, hogy megtisztítsa.
I squat and then stand up ten times every morning.
They squat near the fire to keep warm.
She squats with the heavy weight on her shoulders.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "sit" instead of "squat". "Sit" means to rest your weight on your bottom, usually on a chair or the floor, while "squat" means to bend your knees and lower your body without sitting, keeping your feet on the ground.
Meaning
bend knees and lower body
Collocations
squat down
|squat on the ground
|squat next to [someone]
|squat over the toilet
|squat with weights
|hold a squat
Synonyms
crouch (Often suggests bending low to hide or protect yourself, while squat is more neutral and also common in exercise contexts.)
Antonyms
stand up (Describes moving from a low or sitting position to an upright position, the opposite of squatting down.)
Themes
body
|fitness
|daily_life
|health
Definition
To bend your knees and move your body down near the ground, with your feet flat.
To bend your legs and lower your body so that you are close to the ground, usually with your feet flat.
NOUN
A2
2
guggolás
B1
Usage pattern:
to do [number] squats
My trainer told me to do three sets of ten squats.
Az edzőm azt mondta, csináljak három sorozatot tíz-tíz guggolással.
Squats are great for building strong legs and glutes.
A guggolás kiváló a láb és a farizom erősítésére.
He added front squats to his workout program.
If your knees hurt during squats, check your form.
We finished the class with jump squats and lunges.
Learner examples
I do squats three times a week.
Hetente háromszor csinálok guggolást.
Squats make my legs feel very tired.
A guggolástól nagyon elfárad a lábam.
The coach shows us how to do a squat.
She can do twenty squats without stopping.
He does squats and push-ups every morning.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "I make squats" instead of "I do squats". In English, we say "do squats" for this exercise.
Meaning
leg-strength exercise movement
Collocations
do squats
|bodyweight squats
|deep squats
|heavy squats
|squat routine
|squat rack
Synonyms
leg exercise (More general; any exercise for the legs, not only the specific squat movement.)
Antonyms
rest (Refers to not exercising or using your muscles, the opposite of doing squats.)
Themes
fitness
|health
|sports
Definition
An exercise where you bend your knees and move your body down and up to make your legs strong.
A strength exercise in which you repeatedly bend your knees to lower your body and then return to standing, usually to train the legs and hips.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to squat in [a building / on land]
Several families were squatting in the abandoned apartment block.
Több család élt önkényes lakásfoglalóként az elhagyatott lakótömbben.
They chose to squat in the old factory after they lost their jobs.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy önkényesen elfoglalják a régi gyárat, miután elveszítették az állásukat.
Activists began to squat in the building to stop it from being demolished.
The group had been squatting on the land for more than a year.
He was arrested after trying to squat in a vacant shop.
Learner examples
They squat in an empty house because they have no money.
Egy üres házban laknak engedély nélkül, mert nincs pénzük.
Some people squat in old buildings in the city.
Vannak, akik régi városi épületekben élnek önkényes lakásfoglalóként.
The group plans to squat in the office to protest the company.
Police told the people not to squat on the land.
He started to squat in the empty hotel last winter.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the physical exercise. Context usually makes it clear: if it is about houses or land, it means to live there without permission; if it is about the body, it means to bend your knees.
Meaning
live in property illegally
Collocations
squat in an empty house
|squat in a building
|squat on public land
|families squatting in abandoned homes
|illegally squat
Synonyms
occupy (More general; does not always mean without permission, while squat specifically implies lack of legal right.)
Antonyms
vacate (Means to leave a building or place that you were using or living in, the opposite of continuing to squat there.)
Themes
law
|housing
|society
Definition
To stay and live in a house or other place when you do not have the right or permission to be there.
To live in or use a building or piece of land without permission from the owner, especially as a form of protest or because you have nowhere else to live.
NOUN
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to live in a squat
They spent several months living in a squat on the edge of the city.
Több hónapig éltek egy foglalt házban a város szélén.
The council decided to clear the squat and renovate the building.
Az önkormányzat úgy döntött, hogy kiüríti a foglalt házat, és felújítja az épületet.
Journalists visited a squat occupied by young artists and students.
Conditions in the squat were poor, with no heating or running water.
Neighbors complained about noise coming from the squat next door.
Learner examples
She lives in a squat with five other people.
Öt másik emberrel együtt egy foglalt házban lakik.
The police came to close the squat.
A rendőrség azért jött, hogy kiürítse a foglalt házat.
Many young people stay in a squat because rent is too high.
The city wants to turn the squat into new homes.
There is a large squat near the train station.
Meaning
illegally occupied building
Collocations
live in a squat
|evict people from a squat
|an abandoned squat
|a city squat
|run-down squat
Synonyms
illegal dwelling (Formal phrase; emphasizes the lack of legal right rather than the social or political side of squatting.)
Antonyms
legal residence (Refers to a home where people have official, legal permission to live, the opposite of a squat.)
Themes
housing
|society
|law
Definition
A house or other building where people live, even though they do not have permission from the owner.
A building where people live or stay without the legal right or permission of the owner.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
5
semmit sem
A2
Usage pattern:
not know squat about [something]
I don't know squat about cars.
Egy fikarcnyit sem értek az autókhoz.
All that extra work didn't mean squat in the end.
Az a sok pluszmunka végül semmit sem számított.
The new policy did squat to help small businesses.
He pretends he cares, but he doesn't give squat.
They promised support, but we got squat.
Learner examples
I don't know squat about baseball.
Semmit sem tudok a baseballról.
That old phone is worth squat now.
Az a régi telefon már semmit sem ér.
This new rule does squat to help us.
He talked a lot but did squat to fix the problem.
We waited all day and got squat from the company.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use this sense in positive sentences, like "I know squat about music" to mean "I know a lot". In English, this slang sense is almost always used in negative structures ("don't know squat", "didn't do squat").
Meaning
nothing; zero amount (slang)
Collocations
don't know squat
|doesn't mean squat
|didn't do squat
|diddly squat
|not worth squat
Synonyms
nothing (Neutral and standard; does not have the emotional or slang flavor that "squat" has.)
Antonyms
a lot (Means a large amount or very much, the opposite of "squat" meaning nothing.)
Themes
slang
|quantity
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used in negative sentences to mean nothing at all, often when you are angry or want to speak strongly.
Used in negative statements to mean nothing at all, no amount, or no knowledge, often to express annoyance or emphasis.
B2
6
zömök
B2
Usage pattern:
a squat [building / figure]
A squat grey building blocked the view of the river.
Egy zömök szürke épület elzárta a kilátást a folyóra.
The dog was small and squat, with very short legs.
A kutya kicsi és zömök volt, nagyon rövid lábakkal.
They lived in a squat brick house on the corner.
A squat tower stood at the entrance to the castle.
His squat frame made him look powerful on the rugby field.
Learner examples
They live in a squat stone house.
Egy zömök kőházban laknak.
The man is short and squat but very strong.
A férfi alacsony és zömök, de nagyon erős.
A squat tower stands next to the road.
The dog has a small, squat body.
We walked past a squat, ugly building.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "squat" with "squashed". "Squat" describes a natural shape that is short and broad; "squashed" suggests something was pressed or crushed.
Meaning
short and broad in shape
Collocations
a squat building
|a squat stone house
|a squat figure
|short and squat
|a low, squat tower
Synonyms
stocky (Usually used for people, especially men; often suggests being strong as well as short and broad.)
Antonyms
lanky (Describes someone tall and thin, almost the opposite body type from squat.)
Themes
appearance
|physical_world
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Short and wide in shape, not tall or thin, often looking heavy and strong.
Short and wide in a way that makes something look solid, thick, or heavy, especially a building or a person’s body.
NOUN
B1
7
guggolás
B1
Usage pattern:
to be in a squat
Hold the squat for ten seconds, then stand up slowly.
Tartsd meg a guggolást tíz másodpercig, aztán lassan állj fel.
She stayed in a low squat to stretch her hips.
Mély guggolásban maradt, hogy nyújtsa a csípőjét.
From a deep squat, he jumped as high as he could.
The coach corrected my squat, telling me to keep my heels down.
He relaxed into a comfortable squat by the campfire.
Learner examples
Stay in a squat for five seconds.
Maradj guggolásban öt másodpercig.
She is in a squat next to the child.
Guggoló helyzetben van a gyerek mellett.
From a squat, he jumps into the air.
I move from a squat to a stand many times.
The teacher shows us a deep squat position.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "squat" can be both the movement (verb) and the position (noun). When you say "hold a squat", you mean to stay in the position, not to move up and down.
Meaning
body position with bent knees
Collocations
in a squat
|hold a squat
|rise from a squat
|a deep squat position
|stay in a squat
Synonyms
crouch (As a noun, it often has a more defensive or fearful feeling, while "squat" is more neutral or exercise-related.)
Antonyms
standing position (Refers to being upright on your feet with legs straight, the opposite of a squat position.)
Themes
body
|fitness
|health
Definition
A body position where you bend your knees and move your body down near the ground, with your feet flat.
A body position in which you are bent down with your knees deeply flexed and your body lowered close to the ground, usually with your feet flat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
squat
IPA
GB/skwˈɑt/
US/skwˈɑt/
Syllables & stress
squat (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (squat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: squat
Noun
- Base: squat
- Plural: squats
Verb
- Base: squat
- 3rd Person Singular: squats
- Present Participle: squatting
- Past: squatted
- Past Participle: squatted
Word family
Forms
squats
noun
squatting
verb
squatted
verb
Related words
squatter
noun
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: squatting Verb
- Irregular past: squatted Verb
- Irregular past participle: squatted Verb
Expressions
air squat
1/ˈɛɹ skwˈɑt/
fixed phrase
technical
bodyweight-only squat exercise
A squat exercise that you do with just your body, without any weights.
Examples
- We warmed up with twenty air squats before lifting.
- If your knees hurt, start with slow air squats.
deep squat
1/dˈip skwˈɑt/
fixed phrase
technical
very low squat position
A squat where you go very low, so your hips are lower than your knees.
Examples
- The coach asked us to do a deep squat and hold it for five seconds.
- Many people find it hard to keep their balance in a deep squat.
do squats
1/dˈu skwˈɑts/
fixed phrase
perform squat exercises
To do the squat exercise one or many times.
Examples
- I do squats and lunges every morning before work.
- They did squats until their legs were shaking.
doesn't mean squat
1/dˈʌzənt mˈin skwˈɑt/
idiom
slang
have no value or importance
To not be important or valuable at all.
Examples
- Your title doesn't mean squat if you can't do the job.
- To me, those awards don't mean squat.
don't do squat
1/dˈoʊnt dˈu skwˈɑt/
idiom
slang
do almost nothing (slang)
To do nothing, or almost nothing, when you should or could do something.
Examples
- They complain all day but don't do squat to change things.
- The new system doesn't do squat to make our work easier.
don't know squat
1/dˈoʊnt nˈoʊ skwˈɑt/
idiom
slang
know absolutely nothing (slang)
To know nothing at all about something, said in a strong, slang way.
Examples
- I don't know squat about fixing computers.
- They act confident, but they don't know squat about marketing.
short and squat
1/ʃˈɔɹt ˈænd skwˈɑt/
fixed phrase
short and broad in appearance
Short and wide in shape, not tall or thin.
Examples
- A short and squat tower stood by the river.
- The dog was short and squat but very fast.
squat down
1/skwˈɑt dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
lower your body by bending knees
To bend your knees and move your body down near the ground.
Examples
- She squatted down to speak to the child at eye level.
- Please squat down and check if the pipe is leaking.
squat on
1/skwˈɑt ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
informal
keep control of something unused
To keep something, especially land, a name, or information, without really using it or sharing it.
Examples
- The company has been squatting on that web address for years.
- He squatted on the empty land, hoping its value would rise.
squat rack
1/skwˈɑt ɹˈæk/
fixed phrase
technical
gym frame for barbell squats
A strong metal stand in a gym that holds the bar for heavy squats.
Examples
- He waited for someone to finish using the squat rack.
- Please put the weights back on the squat rack when you're done.
squat thrust
1/skwˈɑt θɹˈʌst/
fixed phrase
technical
dynamic squat–push-up exercise
An exercise where you start in a squat, jump your feet back into a push-up position, then jump them forward and return to a squat.
Examples
- The instructor made us do fifty squat thrusts in a row.
- Squat thrusts are a classic exercise used in military training.
squat toilet
1/skwˈɑt tˈɔɪlɪt/
fixed phrase
toilet used while squatting
A kind of toilet that you use while you squat, not sit.
Examples
- Many public restrooms in that country have squat toilets.
- She had never used a squat toilet before traveling to Asia.