turkey
gb/tˈɚki/ us/tˈɚki/
A1
English
~ 2900
pulyka, pulykahús, balfék, bukás, Törökország
NOUN
A1
1
pulyka
A2
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] turkey
We had roast turkey for dinner on Thanksgiving.
Hálaadáskor sült pulykát ettünk vacsorára.
The farmer raises chickens and turkeys.
A gazda csirkéket és pulykákat tart.
She bought a frozen turkey from the supermarket.
Wild turkeys can be seen in the forest.
He carved the turkey at the table.
Learner examples
We eat turkey at Christmas.
Karácsonykor pulykát eszünk.
The turkey is in the oven.
A pulyka a sütőben van.
I see a turkey on the farm.
He cuts the turkey with a knife.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'turkey' (the bird) with 'Turkey' (the country); note the capital letter for the country.
Meaning
Large bird raised for meat
Collocations
roast turkey
|turkey sandwich
|wild turkey
|cook a turkey
|turkey dinner
Synonyms
fowl (More general term for domesticated birds used for food.)
Antonyms
chicken (Not a true opposite, but a different common poultry bird; used in contrast in cooking contexts.)
Themes
food
|animals
|daily life
|food_drink
Definition
A big bird that people keep for its meat, often eaten at special meals like Thanksgiving.
A large domesticated bird native to North America, with dark plumage and a fan-shaped tail, commonly farmed for food.
NOUN
A1
2
pulykahús
A2
I made a sandwich with sliced turkey.
Szeletelt pulykahússal készítettem szendvicset.
She prefers turkey over chicken for sandwiches.
Szendvicsbe jobban szereti a pulykahúst, mint a csirkehúst.
We used leftover turkey to make soup.
Turkey breast is low in fat.
Learner examples
I like turkey in my sandwich.
Szeretem a pulykahúst a szendvicsemben.
We eat turkey for lunch.
Ebédre pulykahúst eszünk.
He cooks turkey for dinner.
Meaning
Meat from a turkey bird
Collocations
sliced turkey
|turkey breast
|turkey soup
|leftover turkey
Synonyms
poultry (General term for domestic bird meat, not specific to turkey.)
Antonyms
beef (Meat from cattle, contrasted with poultry products.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
The meat of a turkey bird that people eat.
The flesh of a turkey bird, used as food.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
3
balfék
B2
Usage pattern:
call [someone] a turkey
Don't be such a turkey—think before you act!
Ne legyél már ekkora balfék – gondolkodj, mielőtt csinálsz valamit!
He's a nice guy, but he's a bit of a turkey when it comes to fixing things.
Rendes srác, de ha szerelésről van szó, kissé balfék.
That salesman was a real turkey; he couldn't answer any of my questions.
Learner examples
He is a turkey in class.
Az órán elég balfék.
My friend is a turkey when he drives.
A barátom balfék, amikor vezet.
Don't be a turkey.
Meaning
Foolish or incompetent person
Collocations
real turkey
|act like a turkey
Synonyms
fool (General insult for someone acting without intelligence.)
Antonyms
genius (Person of exceptional intelligence; opposite in terms of ability.)
Themes
people
|emotions
|daily_life
Definition
A person who is not smart or does things badly.
A person who is regarded as stupid, clumsy, or unsuccessful.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
4
bukás
B1
The movie turned out to be a real turkey and lost millions.
A film igazi bukás lett, és milliókat bukott.
His new business idea was a turkey from the start.
Az új üzleti ötlete már kezdettől fogva bukás volt.
That play was the biggest turkey of the season.
Learner examples
The film was a turkey.
A film bukás volt.
His plan was a turkey.
A terve bukás volt.
The show was a big turkey.
Meaning
Complete failure of something
Collocations
box-office turkey
|total turkey
Synonyms
flop (Common informal term for an unsuccessful entertainment or venture.)
Antonyms
hit (A successful entertainment production or project.)
Themes
entertainment
|business
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A show, movie, or plan that fails completely.
Something, especially a play, movie, or other project, that fails badly and is unpopular or unsuccessful.
NOUN
A2
5
Törökország
A1
She traveled to Turkey last summer.
Tavaly nyáron Törökországba utazott.
Turkey borders eight countries, including Greece and Syria.
Törökország nyolc országgal határos, köztük Görögországgal és Szíriával.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey.
Learner examples
I live in Turkey.
Törökországban élek.
My friend is from Turkey.
A barátom Törökországból származik.
Turkey is near Greece.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'Turkey' (country) with 'turkey' (bird); note that the country name is capitalized.
Meaning
Country in Europe and Asia
Collocations
visit Turkey
|Turkey's capital
Synonyms
Republic of Turkey (Official full name of the country.)
Themes
geography
|travel
|politics
Definition
A country that is part in Europe and part in Asia; its capital is Ankara.
A country in southeastern Europe and western Asia, officially called the Republic of Turkey.
Grammar
Dictionary form
turkey
IPA
GB/tˈɚki/
US/tˈɚki/
Syllables & stress
tur - key (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: turkey
- Plural: turkey, turkeys
Word family
Forms
turkeys
noun
Expressions
cold turkey
1/kˈoʊld tˈɚki/
idiom
informal
Quit habit suddenly and completely
To stop taking something addictive, like cigarettes or drugs, all at once without reducing slowly.
Examples
- He quit smoking cold turkey last year.
- Some people find it too hard to go cold turkey when quitting caffeine.
like turkeys voting for Christmas
1/lˈaɪk tˈɚkiz vˈoʊtɪŋ fɚ kɹˈɪsməs/
idiom
informal
Choose something harmful to oneself
To make a choice that will hurt you in the end.
Examples
- Supporting that policy is like turkeys voting for Christmas—it will ruin them.
- It’s like turkeys voting for Christmas to agree to those cuts.
talk turkey
1/tˈɔk tˈɚki/
idiom
informal
Discuss seriously and directly
To talk in a serious and direct way about something important.
Examples
- Let's skip the small talk and talk turkey about the deal.
- It's time we talked turkey about your future here.