uncouth
gb/ˈʌŋkˈuθ/ us/ˈʌŋkˈuθ/
B2
English
~ 10000
faragatlan, otromba, idegen, ismeretlen, szokatlan
B2
FORMAL
1
faragatlan
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is uncouth
His jokes were so uncouth that several guests quietly left the table.
A viccei annyira otrombák voltak, hogy több vendég csendben felállt az asztaltól.
She found his loud, uncouth behavior embarrassing in front of her parents.
A szülei előtt kínosnak találta a hangos, faragatlan viselkedését.
The tourists were criticized for being uncouth and disrespectful in the small village.
He can be charming in emails, but in person he is surprisingly uncouth.
Making such an uncouth comment at a funeral was completely inappropriate.
Learner examples
The man at the next table was very uncouth and shouted at the waiter.
A mellettünk lévő asztalnál ülő férfi nagyon faragatlan volt, és rákiabált a pincérre.
My mother thinks chewing with your mouth open is uncouth.
Anyám szerint nyitott szájjal rágni faragatlan dolog.
She does not invite him to parties because he is uncouth.
It is uncouth to talk loudly on your phone in a quiet train.
His uncouth jokes made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "uncouth" just means "a little informal" or "casual", but it is a strong negative word and suggests rude or socially unacceptable behavior. It is also more formal than everyday words like "rude". Another mistake is using it as a noun (e.g., *"He is an uncouth"*); it is an adjective, so you should say "He is uncouth" or "He is an uncouth person."
Meaning
rude or socially awkward
Collocations
uncouth behavior
|uncouth manners
|loud and uncouth
|seem uncouth
|uncouth remark
|uncouth lout
Synonyms
rude (More common and general; does not always suggest social awkwardness or lack of refinement.)
|
crude (Often suggests offensive or dirty behavior or language, not just poor manners.)
|
boorish (Stronger and more negative; suggests clumsy, insensitive social behavior.)
|
ill-mannered (Focuses specifically on not having or showing good manners, less about being rough or loud.)
Antonyms
polite (Shows good manners and respect in social situations, the direct opposite of rude behavior.)
|
refined (Suggests elegant, controlled, and socially polished behavior, contrasting with rough, uncouth conduct.)
|
cultured (Emphasizes education and good taste in social life and the arts, opposed to being rough and uncouth.)
Themes
character
|social
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Describing someone who acts in a rude, rough, or socially awkward way and does not show good manners.
Describing a person or their behavior as rude, lacking good manners, or showing poor social skills, often in a loud or crude way.
C1
FORMAL
2
otromba
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] seems uncouth
The article’s uncouth writing style made it hard to take the argument seriously.
A cikk annyira otrombán volt megírva, hogy nehéz volt komolyan venni az érvelést.
He decorated the office with uncouth metal sculptures that clashed with the old wooden furniture.
Az irodát otromba fémszobrokkal díszítette, amelyek teljesen elütöttek a régi fabútoroktól.
The comedian’s uncouth language offended several people in the audience.
She considered the bright, clashing colors in the room rather uncouth.
The film was powerful but sometimes marred by uncouth dialogue.
Learner examples
Some people enjoy uncouth jokes, but others feel upset by them.
Vannak, akik szeretik az otromba vicceket, másokat viszont felzaklatnak.
The book was interesting, but the style was a little uncouth.
A könyv érdekes volt, de a stílusa kissé otromba volt.
He wore an uncouth jacket that did not fit the formal event.
The movie had many uncouth scenes and bad language.
The building looks uncouth next to the old, beautiful church.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "uncouth" can describe any low-quality thing, but it usually describes style, language, appearance, or surroundings that are rough or lack refinement, not just "bad" or "cheap" in general. It is less common in everyday speech than phrases like "not very elegant" or "a bit rough."
Meaning
rough or unpolished in style
Collocations
uncouth language
|uncouth joke
|uncouth writing
|uncouth design
|uncouth appearance
|uncouth surroundings
Synonyms
crude (Often suggests lack of subtlety, sometimes with a slightly offensive or unfinished quality.)
|
coarse (Emphasizes roughness and lack of delicacy, especially in language or materials.)
|
unpolished (Suggests something that has not been made smooth, elegant, or fully finished, often more neutral than "uncouth".)
Antonyms
elegant (Highlights beauty and grace in style, the opposite of rough and uncouth.)
|
refined (Stresses careful development and polish in style or taste, contrasting with unrefined, uncouth qualities.)
|
polished (Focuses on smooth, finished, and skillful style or presentation, the reverse of rough or clumsy expression.)
Themes
art
|communication
|appearance
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Describing language, style, or things that look or feel rough and not elegant or refined.
Describing something such as language, style, appearance, or surroundings as rough, crude, or lacking elegance and refinement.
C2
ARCHAIC
3
Usage pattern:
[something] is uncouth to [someone]
They journeyed into an uncouth land, far from any charted shore.
Egy ismeretlen földre jutottak, messze minden feltérképezett parttól.
To the villagers, the visitors’ dress and speech were uncouth and mysterious.
A falusiak szemében a látogatók öltözete és beszéde szokatlan és rejtélyes volt.
He wrote of the uncouth regions beyond the northern sea in his diary.
Learner examples
In old stories, writers sometimes call a far place an uncouth land.
Régi történetekben az írók néha ismeretlen földnek neveznek egy távoli helyet.
The hero travels to an uncouth country that few people know.
A hős egy ismeretlen országba utazik, amelyet szinte senki sem ismer.
This old poem uses the word "uncouth" to mean strange or new.
Common mistake:
Learners may encounter this archaic sense in older literature and mistakenly use it in modern speech to mean just "unfamiliar". In contemporary English, "uncouth" almost always means "rude" or "lacking refinement", so this older sense should usually be avoided in everyday use.
Meaning
unfamiliar or strange (archaic)
Collocations
uncouth land
|uncouth customs
|uncouth people
Synonyms
unfamiliar (Neutral modern term for something not known or experienced before.)
|
strange (Common modern word meaning unusual or not familiar; can sound less formal than "unfamiliar.")
Antonyms
familiar (Describes something well known or often experienced, opposite of unfamiliar or strange.)
|
known (States that something is recognized or identified, as opposed to being unknown or uncouth in the archaic sense.)
Themes
literature
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Old use: describing something that is strange or not known.
Old use: unfamiliar, strange, or not known, especially in reference to places, people, or customs.
Grammar
Dictionary form
uncouth
IPA
GB/ˈʌŋkˈuθ/
US/ˈʌŋkˈuθ/
Syllables & stress
un - couth (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (un)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: uncouth
Word family
Related words
uncouthly
adverb
uncouthness
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.