stern
gb/stˈɚn/ us/stˈɚn/
B1
English
~ 2500
szigorú, kemény, tat, hajófar
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is stern with [someone/something]
The teacher gave the students a stern warning about cheating.
A tanár szigorúan figyelmeztette a diákokat, hogy ne puskázzanak.
Her stern expression made it clear she was not joking.
Szigorú arckifejezése egyértelművé tette, hogy nem viccel.
He spoke in a stern tone that silenced the room.
The manager's stern approach kept the team focused.
The principal looked at him with a stern face.
Learner examples
The teacher has a stern voice.
A tanárnak szigorú hangja van.
My father is stern when I am late.
Az apám szigorú, ha elkésem.
She gave me a stern look.
He is a stern man at work.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stern' with 'stubborn'; 'stern' describes seriousness or strictness, not refusal to change one's opinion regardless of reason.
Meaning
strict and serious in manner
Collocations
stern look
|stern warning
|stern expression
|stern tone
|stern face
Synonyms
strict (Implies firm enforcement of rules or discipline, similar to 'stern' but can be less about appearance and more about behavior.)
|
severe (Stronger in suggesting harshness or intensity of manner than 'stern'.)
Antonyms
lenient (Shows tolerance and willingness to allow more freedom, opposite of 'stern'.)
Themes
personality
|communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Serious and not smiling; showing you will not change your mind easily.
Showing firmness, strictness, and seriousness, often in a way that shows disapproval or demands obedience.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
2
The name of the vessel was painted on its stern.
A hajó nevét a tatjára festették.
They stood at the stern watching the wake of the ship.
A taton álltak, és a hajó nyomában húzódó habcsíkot nézték.
A small flag waved from the stern.
Waves crashed against the stern as we sailed into the wind.
Learner examples
We sat at the stern of the boat.
A csónak tatján ültünk.
The flag is on the stern.
A zászló a taton van.
The captain stood at the stern.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'stern' (rear of a ship) with 'stem' (front post of a ship) due to similar spelling.
Meaning
back part of a ship or boat
Collocations
ship's stern
|at the stern
|towards the stern
Synonyms
aft (A nautical term for the direction toward the back of a ship; less often used as a noun.)
Antonyms
bow (The front part of a ship, opposite of the stern.)
Themes
transport
|nautical
|travel
|transportation
Definition
The back part of a ship or boat.
The rear end of a ship or boat, opposite the bow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stern
IPA
GB/stˈɚn/
US/stˈɚn/
Syllables & stress
stern (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stern)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: stern
- Comparative: sterner
- Superlative: sternest
Noun
- Base: stern
- Plural: sterns
Word family
Forms
sterns
noun
sterner
adjective
sternest
adjective
Core family
sternly
adverb B2
sternness
noun
Expressions
at the stern
1/ˈæt ðə stˈɚn/
fixed phrase
technical
located at back of a ship
In the back part of a ship or boat.
Examples
- The crew gathered at the stern to watch the sunset.
- They stored fishing gear at the stern.
stern warning
1/stˈɚn wˈɔɹnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
serious caution to someone
A strong and serious message telling someone to stop doing something bad or dangerous.
Examples
- The police issued a stern warning to the protesters.
- She gave her son a stern warning about lying.