tavern
gb/tˈævɚn/ us/tˈævɚn/
B2
English
~ 26800
kocsma, fogadó
NOUN
B2
1
kocsma
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] goes to the tavern
They stopped at a small tavern on the edge of town for a drink.
Betértek egy kis kocsmába a város szélén egy italra.
The film opens with a tense scene in a smoky seaside tavern.
A film egy feszült jelenettel kezdődik egy füstös tengerparti kocsmában.
He works evenings at a downtown tavern that features live music.
The village tavern was full of noise and laughter after the match.
The sign above the tavern door swung gently in the wind.
Learner examples
We met our friends at a tavern after work.
Munka után a kocsmában találkoztunk a barátainkkal.
There is an old tavern near the river.
Van egy régi kocsma a folyó közelében.
Many people in the story drink and talk in the tavern.
The tavern is busy on Friday nights.
He owns a small tavern in the city center.
Common mistake:
Learners often think "tavern" is a common everyday word like "bar" or "pub". In modern English, especially in speech, people usually say "bar" (US) or "pub" (UK). "Tavern" is more common in book titles, business names, or historical/fantasy stories. Learners also sometimes confuse the spelling and pronunciation with "cavern" (a large cave), which is unrelated.
Meaning
bar-like place serving alcohol
Collocations
local tavern
|busy tavern
|old tavern
|tavern owner
|tavern bar
|crowded tavern
Synonyms
bar (The most common modern word in general American English for a place where people drink alcohol; sounds more up-to-date than "tavern".)
|
pub (Very common in British and Irish English; suggests a friendly neighborhood place, while "tavern" sounds more old-fashioned or story-like.)
|
saloon (Often associated with the American Old West or older style bars; can sound even more historical or regional than "tavern".)
Antonyms
home (Contrasts a public place for social drinking with a private living place.)
Themes
daily life
|food and drink
|travel
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A place like a bar where people go to drink alcohol, often heard in stories or in the names of old-style bars.
A public drinking place, similar to a bar or pub, where alcoholic drinks are sold to be consumed on the premises; in modern English, often felt as slightly old-fashioned or used in names and historical or fantasy settings.
C1
LITERARY
2
fogadó
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] stays at an old tavern
The weary travelers found shelter at a small roadside tavern before the storm hit.
A fáradt utazók menedéket találtak egy kis út menti fogadóban, mielőtt lecsapott a vihar.
In the novel, the heroes plan their journey in a crowded tavern where merchants and sailors stay overnight.
A regényben a hősök egy zsúfolt fogadóban tervezik meg az útjukat, ahol kereskedők és tengerészek is megszállnak éjszakára.
The old coaching tavern once served as a key stop for horses and mail coaches between the two cities.
Learner examples
Long ago, travelers slept at a tavern on the road.
Régen az utazók egy út menti fogadóban aludtak.
In the story, they eat and sleep at a country tavern.
A történetben egy falusi fogadóban esznek és alszanak.
The old tavern gave food, drink, and beds to travelers.
People stopped their horses and stayed at the tavern.
The village had one small tavern for travelers.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is mainly historical or literary. In modern travel, people usually talk about staying at a "hotel", "motel", or "guesthouse", not a "tavern". This meaning often appears in older novels or fantasy stories describing past times.
Meaning
old-style inn with food and drink
Collocations
roadside tavern
|wayside tavern
|country tavern
|coaching tavern
|old roadside tavern
|tavern and inn
Synonyms
inn (Emphasizes lodging for travelers; often used for small hotels or historical places, while this sense of "tavern" stresses both drinking and sometimes lodging.)
|
roadhouse (A place beside a main road serving food and drink; can be modern or historical, while "tavern" in this sense is mostly historical or literary.)
Antonyms
private residence (Contrasts a public lodging and eating place with a home that does not take paying guests.)
Themes
travel
|history
|literature
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
In older times, a place next to a road where travelers could eat, drink alcohol, and sometimes sleep.
Historically, an inn-like establishment where travelers could eat, drink, and sometimes stay the night, often located along roads or in small towns.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tavern
IPA
GB/tˈævɚn/
US/tˈævɚn/
Syllables & stress
tav - ern (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tav)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tavern
- Plural: taverns
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.