trek
gb/tɹˈɛk/ us/tɹˈɛk/
B1
English
~ 5900
gyalogtúra, túra, gyalogtúrázik, túrázik, hosszú út, elbumlizik, elcaplat, elgyalogol, Nagy Trek, nagy vándorlás
NOUN
B1
1
gyalogtúra
B1
túra
A2
Usage pattern:
a trek [through/across/over] [a place]
They went on a five-day trek through the Himalayas.
Ötnapos gyalogtúrát tettek a Himalájában.
The second day of the trek was the hardest, with a steep climb to the pass.
A túra második napja volt a legnehezebb: meredeken kellett felkapaszkodni a hágóhoz.
We booked a guided trek in the national park to see the glaciers.
After a long trek across the valley, the village finally came into view.
Learner examples
We did a long trek in the mountains last summer.
Tavaly nyáron hosszú túrát tettünk a hegyekben.
The trek took three days, and we slept in tents.
A túra három napig tartott, és sátrakban aludtunk.
Our trek through the forest was very tiring but beautiful.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “trek” for any trip by car, train, or plane. A trek is mainly a long walk, often in nature. Also, do not confuse “trek” (journey) with “track” (a path or a song on an album).
Meaning
long, difficult walk, especially outdoors
Collocations
three-day trek
|mountain trek
|trek through the jungle
|guided trek
|trek across the desert
Synonyms
hike (Often suggests a long walk in nature, but can sound less extreme or demanding than a trek.)
Antonyms
stroll (A stroll is a short, easy walk, the opposite of a long, difficult trek.)
Themes
travel
|nature
|leisure
|sports
Definition
A long, hard walk, usually in the mountains or in wild nature.
A long, often difficult walk or journey, usually on foot in the countryside, mountains, or other wild places.
VERB
B1
2
túrázik
A2
Usage pattern:
to trek [through/across/over] [a place]
We spent two weeks trekking through the Andes.
Két hétig gyalogtúráztunk az Andokban.
They trekked across the glacier with an experienced guide.
Tapasztalt vezetővel gyalogoltak át a gleccseren.
She plans to trek from village to village, staying in local homes.
The group trekked for eight hours before reaching the campsite.
Learner examples
We will trek up the mountain tomorrow.
Holnap felgyalogolunk a hegyre.
They trekked through the jungle to see the waterfall.
Gyalog vágtak át a dzsungelen, hogy megnézzék a vízesést.
Last year he trekked across the country for charity.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *“trek a car”* or *“trek by bus”*. “Trek” is almost always done on foot. Use “travel” or “go” for trips by car, bus, or train.
Meaning
to make a long difficult walk
Collocations
trek through the mountains
|trek across the desert
|trek for miles
|trek up the hill
|trek along the trail
Synonyms
hike (Very close in meaning, but “trek” often suggests a longer or harder journey than “hike”.)
Antonyms
drive (Driving covers distance by vehicle with less physical effort, the opposite of trekking on foot.)
Themes
travel
|nature
|leisure
|sports
Definition
To walk a long, hard way, usually in the mountains or in wild nature.
To make a long, often difficult journey on foot, especially through the countryside, mountains, or other wild areas.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a [bit/real] of a trek [to somewhere]
It’s a bit of a trek from here to the nearest supermarket.
Innen elég hosszú az út a legközelebbi szupermarketig.
Getting to my office is a real trek in the morning traffic.
Reggelente a forgalomban kész túra bejutni az irodámba.
The school is quite a trek from our house, so the kids take the bus.
Thanks for coming all this way; I know it’s a trek for you.
Learner examples
It is a long trek from my home to the train station.
Hosszú az út az otthonomtól a vasútállomásig.
Going to that shop is a bit of a trek.
Elmenni abba a boltba elég nagy túra.
The trek from the bus stop to my house takes thirty minutes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning must be in nature, like mountains. In informal speech, “trek” can also describe a long or tiring trip across a city, to work, to school, or to a friend’s house.
Meaning
long, tiring trip to somewhere
Collocations
a bit of a trek
|a real trek
|trek into town
|trek to the station
|long trek home
Synonyms
schlep (Informal; often used in American English for a tiring or annoying trip, while “trek” is more general informal English.)
Antonyms
short walk (A short walk does not feel long or tiring, unlike a trek.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|daily_life
|transportation
Definition
A trip that feels long and tiring, even if it is inside a city.
A long or tiring trip from one place to another, often in a town or city, and often described with mild complaint.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
to trek [all the way] [to somewhere]
We had to trek all the way across campus to find the right building.
Át kellett caplatnunk az egész kampuszon, mire megtaláltuk a megfelelő épületet.
I’m not trekking into town again today just for one small thing.
Nem fogok ma még egyszer bebumlizni a városba egy apróság miatt.
She treks an hour to work every morning because there’s no direct bus.
They trekked back home after midnight because there were no taxis.
Learner examples
I trek forty minutes to school every day.
Mindennap negyven percet caplatok az iskoláig.
We trekked across the city to visit our friend.
Átbumliztunk az egész városon, hogy meglátogassuk a barátunkat.
He doesn’t want to trek to the mall in the rain.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this informal sense in very formal writing. In essays or reports, it is usually better to say “travel,” “commute,” or “walk a long way” instead of “trek.”
Meaning
to make a long tiring trip
Collocations
trek all the way
|trek to the shops
|trek into town
|trek across campus
|trek home
Synonyms
trudge (“Trudge” focuses more on the heavy, slow way of walking; “trek” focuses more on the long or tiring distance.)
Antonyms
zip (Informal; to move quickly and easily, the opposite feeling of slowly trekking a long way.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|daily_life
|transportation
Definition
To go a long way that feels tiring or annoying, often inside a city.
To travel a long or tiring distance to get somewhere, often in a town or city, and often with mild complaint.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
5
Nagy Trek
C1
Usage pattern:
the [Great] Trek
The Great Trek reshaped the political map of nineteenth-century South Africa.
A Nagy Trek átrajzolta a 19. századi Dél-Afrika politikai térképét.
Many families joined the trek in search of new farming land.
Sok család csatlakozott a vándorláshoz, hogy új művelhető földet találjon.
The museum has a special exhibition on the Voortrekkers and their long trek north.
Learner examples
The book tells the story of a long trek of farmers in South Africa.
A könyv dél-afrikai gazdák hosszú vándorlásának történetét meséli el.
In history class we learned about the Great Trek.
Történelemórán a Nagy Trekről tanultunk.
They studied why so many people joined the trek to the north.
Meaning
long historical migration journey
Collocations
the Great Trek
|Boer trek
|Voortrekker trek
|pioneer trek
Synonyms
migration (A general word for people moving to live in a new place; “trek” here is more specific and historical.)
Antonyms
settlement (Settlement is the act of staying and establishing a community, the opposite of undertaking a long migration trek.)
Themes
history
|migration
|travel
|transportation
Definition
A long move by many people, often with wagons, used in history, especially in South Africa.
A long, organized journey of migration, especially by ox-drawn wagon, used mainly in historical descriptions of South African history.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trek
IPA
GB/tɹˈɛk/
US/tɹˈɛk/
Syllables & stress
trek (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (trek)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: trek
- Plural: treks
Verb
- Base: trek
- 3rd Person Singular: treks
- Present Participle: trekking
- Past: trekked
Word family
Forms
treks
noun
trekking
verb
trekked
verb
Core family
trekker
noun
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: trekking Verb
- Irregular past: trekked Verb
Expressions
a bit of a trek
1/ə bˈɪt əv ə tɹˈɛk/
idiom
informal
annoyingly long journey somewhere
Used to say that going to a place takes a long time or feels tiring or annoying.
Examples
- It’s a bit of a trek from here to your place, but I’ll come anyway.
- The new office is a bit of a trek from the station, so most people take a taxi.
- Thanks for visiting; I know it’s a bit of a trek for you on a weeknight.
go on a trek
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈɔn ə tɹˈɛk/
fixed phrase
begin a trekking trip
To leave and do a long, hard walk, usually in nature or mountains, for adventure or exercise.
Examples
- We’re planning to go on a trek in Nepal next summer.
- She wants to go on a three-day trek in the national park with some friends.
- Before you go on a trek, make sure you have good boots and enough water.
the Great Trek
1/ðə ɡɹˈeɪt tɹˈɛk/
fixed phrase
formal
historic Boer migration in South Africa
The long journey in the 1830s and 1840s when many Dutch-speaking farmers (Boers) moved by wagon from the Cape Colony to the interior of South Africa.
Examples
- We studied the causes of the Great Trek in our history class.
- The museum has original wagons used during the Great Trek.
- The Great Trek led to the founding of several Boer republics in the interior.