teach
gb/tˈit͡ʃ/ us/tˈit͡ʃ/
A1
English
~ 1000
tanít, megtanít, ráébreszt
VERB
A1
1
tanít
A1
Usage pattern:
to teach [someone] [something]
She teaches math at the local high school.
Matematikát tanít a helyi középiskolában.
My father taught me how to ride a bike.
Apám tanított meg biciklizni.
He teaches English to international students.
They teach first aid to new employees.
I taught my dog to sit on command.
Learner examples
She teaches English.
Angolt tanít.
I teach my brother to swim.
Úszni tanítom az öcsémet.
He teaches at a school.
We teach children every day.
My mother teaches me cooking.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'teach' with 'learn'. Remember: 'teach' means you give knowledge, 'learn' means you receive knowledge.
Meaning
Give knowledge or skills
Collocations
teach a class
|teach a lesson
|teach someone English
|teach skills
|teach children
Synonyms
instruct (More formal and often used in professional or academic contexts.)
|
educate (Broader in scope, often referring to overall intellectual and moral development.)
Antonyms
learn (The opposite role in the learning process; the receiver of knowledge instead of the giver.)
Themes
education
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To help someone learn something by explaining or showing them.
To help someone learn a subject, skill, or behavior by explaining or showing how to do it.
VERB
A1
2
megtanít
A2
Usage pattern:
to teach [someone] how to [verb]
Can you teach me how to play the guitar?
Meg tudsz tanítani gitározni?
She taught her son how to tie his shoes.
Megtanította a fiát bekötni a cipőjét.
He taught me how to use the new software.
My uncle taught me how to fish when I was young.
They taught us how to prepare the dish step by step.
Learner examples
Please teach me how to swim.
Kérlek, taníts meg úszni.
I teach my friend how to cook rice.
Megtanítom a barátomat rizst főzni.
He teaches her how to use the phone.
Can you teach me how to drive?
We teach them how to play football.
Meaning
Show how to do something
Collocations
teach someone to drive
|teach someone to cook
|teach someone how to read
Synonyms
coach (Often used for sports or personal skill development.)
|
train (Implies repeated practice and preparation for a specific task.)
Antonyms
mislead (To give wrong instructions or guidance.)
Themes
education
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To show someone how to do something by doing it or explaining it.
To demonstrate or guide someone in performing a task or activity by example or instruction.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to teach [someone] a lesson
Losing the match taught him the importance of teamwork.
A meccs elvesztése ráébresztette arra, mennyire fontos a csapatmunka.
Her mistake taught her to double-check her work.
A hibája megtanította arra, hogy kétszer is ellenőrizze a munkáját.
That experience taught me never to ignore safety rules.
The accident taught them to be more careful on the road.
Learner examples
The trip taught me about history.
Az utazás sokat tanított nekem a történelemről.
His words taught me to be kind.
A szavai arra tanítottak, hogy kedves legyek.
The game taught us teamwork.
The accident taught me safety.
That story taught children honesty.
Meaning
Cause understanding of a lesson
Collocations
teach someone a lesson
Synonyms
discipline (Focuses more on punishment or correction.)
|
enlighten (Focuses more on giving insight or understanding, often in a positive sense.)
Antonyms
corrupt (To lead someone into wrong understanding or behavior instead of teaching them correctly.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
To make someone understand something important, often after something happens.
To make someone realize or learn something, often as a result of an experience or consequence.
Grammar
Dictionary form
teach
IPA
GB/tˈit͡ʃ/
US/tˈit͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
teach (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (teach)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: teach
- 3rd Person Singular: teaches
- Present Participle: teaching
- Past: taught
- Past Participle: taught
Word family
Forms
teaches
verb
teaching
verb
taught
verb
Core family
teacher
noun A1
Related words
teachable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unteachable
adjective
Advanced or less common
teachability
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past: taught Verb
- Irregular past participle: taught Verb
Expressions
teach oneself
1/tˈit͡ʃ wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Learn without a teacher
To learn something by yourself, without a teacher.
Examples
- He taught himself to play piano by watching videos online.
- I taught myself Spanish using free apps.
teach the ropes
1/tˈit͡ʃ ðə ɹˈoʊps/
idiom
informal
Show basic skills for job/task
To show someone the basic things they need to know for a job or activity.
Examples
- On my first day, my coworker taught me the ropes.
- She will teach you the ropes so you can start working right away.
teach someone a lesson
1/tˈit͡ʃ sˈʌmwˌʌn ə lˈɛsən/
idiom
Make someone change via consequences
To make someone suffer or have problems so they will not do something bad again.
Examples
- The defeat taught the team a lesson about overconfidence.
- The coach made them run extra laps to teach them a lesson about punctuality.
- She refused to help him, hoping it would teach him a lesson.
- He was taught a lesson when his prank backfired.