temperamental
gb/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/ us/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/
B2
English
szeszélyes, temperamentumbeli, alkati
B2
1
szeszélyes
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (often/a bit/highly) temperamental
She can be charming, but she’s also temperamental and gets upset over small things.
Tud elbűvölő lenni, de szeszélyes is, és apróságokon is kiborul.
The director was temperamental, so the crew learned to avoid him when he was stressed.
A rendező szeszélyes volt, ezért a stáb megtanulta, hogy kerülje, amikor feszült.
He’s been more temperamental since he stopped sleeping well.
Learner examples
My brother is temperamental and changes his mood quickly.
A bátyám szeszélyes, és gyorsan változik a hangulata.
She is temperamental, so I choose my words carefully.
Szeszélyes, ezért gondosan megválogatom a szavaimat.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean only “bad-tempered” or “angry”; it mainly means “moody/unpredictable.”
Meaning
moody and unpredictable
Collocations
a temperamental person
|a temperamental child
|a temperamental partner
|a temperamental boss
|temperamental behavior
|temperamental moods
|a temperamental streak
|highly temperamental
|a bit temperamental
|in a temperamental mood
Synonyms
moody (More general; less emphasis on unpredictability.)
|
volatile (Stronger; suggests sudden, intense changes and possible anger.)
|
mercurial (More literary; highlights rapid changes.)
Antonyms
even-tempered (Stays calm and consistent.)
|
steady (Reliable and not changeable in mood or reactions.)
Themes
emotions
|personality
|relationships
|daily_life
Definition
If someone is temperamental, their mood changes a lot and you cannot easily predict how they will react.
Having moods and reactions that change quickly and unpredictably, often becoming easily upset or difficult to deal with.
C1
2
szeszélyes
B2
Usage pattern:
[thing] is temperamental
My old printer is temperamental—it works one day and refuses the next.
A régi nyomtatóm szeszélyes: egyik nap működik, másnap pedig nem hajlandó.
The heating system is temperamental, so we keep a space heater as a backup.
A fűtési rendszer szeszélyes, ezért tartunk egy hősugárzót tartalékba.
It’s a great camera, but it can be temperamental in cold weather.
Learner examples
This car is temperamental and sometimes won’t start.
Ez az autó szeszélyes, és néha nem akar beindulni.
The printer is temperamental, so I save my work often.
A nyomtató szeszélyes, ezért gyakran mentem a munkámat.
Meaning
unreliable; works inconsistently
Collocations
a temperamental car
|a temperamental engine
|a temperamental printer
|a temperamental laptop
|temperamental equipment
|temperamental electronics
|a temperamental system
|a temperamental heating system
|a temperamental old camera
|temperamental machinery
Synonyms
unreliable (Neutral and broad; less person-like.)
|
finicky (Suggests it needs careful handling or exact conditions.)
|
faulty (Suggests an actual defect rather than inconsistency.)
Antonyms
reliable (Works consistently without problems.)
|
dependable (Emphasizes trustworthiness over time.)
Themes
technology
|daily_life
|work
Definition
If a machine is temperamental, it does not work the same way every time and sometimes stops working.
(Of a machine, device, or system) working inconsistently and likely to fail or behave unpredictably.
C1
FORMAL
3
alkati
B2
Usage pattern:
temperamental [differences/traits/factors]
The study looked at temperamental differences in how toddlers react to noise and change.
A kutatás azt vizsgálta, milyen temperamentumbeli különbségek vannak abban, ahogy a kisgyerekek a zajra és a változásra reagálnak.
Teachers may need different approaches for children with different temperamental traits.
A tanároknak más-más módszerekre lehet szükségük a különböző temperamentumbeli sajátosságú gyerekeknél.
She has a temperamental sensitivity to criticism that shows up in many settings.
Learner examples
People have different temperamental traits.
Az embereknek különböző alkati jellemzőik vannak.
The report discusses temperamental differences in children.
A jelentés a gyermekek közötti temperamentumbeli különbségeket tárgyalja.
Common mistake:
This meaning is different from “moody”; in formal contexts it can mean simply “about temperament.”
Meaning
relating to a person’s temperament
Collocations
temperamental differences
|temperamental traits
|temperamental factors
|temperamental variation
|temperamental predisposition
|temperamental style
|temperamental profile
|temperamental characteristics
|temperamental sensitivity
|temperamental reactivity
Synonyms
dispositional (More technical; common in psychology.)
|
personality (Broader; not limited to temperament.)
Antonyms
situational (Caused mainly by circumstances rather than stable tendencies.)
Themes
psychology
|personality
|education
Definition
Temperamental means connected to a person’s usual way of feeling and behaving.
Relating to temperament or typical emotional and behavioral tendencies, especially as a characteristic difference between people.
Grammar
Dictionary form
temperamental
IPA
GB/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/
US/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/
Syllables & stress
tem - pera - ment - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pera)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: temperamental
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.