human
gb/hjˈumən/ us/hjˈumən/
A2
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A person; a human being
A person; a man, woman, or child.
Usage pattern:
a human [being/person]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'human' (noun) with 'man' or 'person', not realizing 'human' is gender-neutral.
Synonyms
person (More general everyday term for an individual human being.)
Antonyms
animal (In this context, refers to non-human animals, often used in contrast to humans.)
Collocations
human being
|human rights
|human life
|human body
|human nature
Themes
people
|biology
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Every human has the right to live in safety.
- Scientists are studying how humans evolved.
- She is the first human to walk on this planet.
- Humans can adapt to many different environments.
Learner examples
- I am a human.
- Humans need food and water.
- A human can think and speak.
- This story is about a human who travels far.
adjective
B1
property
2
Relating to people
About people and what they are like.
Usage pattern:
[human] [traits/behavior/interaction]
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'human' instead of more specific adjectives like 'personal' or 'individual'.
Synonyms
personal (Can mean relating to an individual person rather than humanity in general.)
Antonyms
mechanical (Describes something done by a machine or without human qualities.)
Collocations
human error
|human behavior
|human experience
|human contact
Themes
people
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Making mistakes is a very human trait.
- The project will study human behavior under stress.
- She longed for human contact after months alone.
Learner examples
- It is normal to make a human mistake.
- Human life is important.
- We need human help to do this work.
adjective
B2
property
3
Kind and compassionate
Being kind and caring toward others.
Usage pattern:
to be human to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this emotional/ethical meaning with the general 'relating to people' meaning.
Synonyms
compassionate (Focuses more directly on feeling and showing sympathy for others' suffering.)
Antonyms
inhumane (Lacking kindness, compassion, or mercy.)
Collocations
human kindness
|deeply human response
Themes
emotions
|morality
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Helping strangers in need is the most human thing you can do.
- Her reaction was deeply human—she cried when she heard the news.
- It is only human to forgive mistakes.
Learner examples
- He was human and helped me.
- It is human to care for others.
- Being human means being kind.
Grammar
Dictionary form
human
IPA
GB/hjˈumən/
US/hjˈumən/
Syllables & stress
hu - man (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: human
Noun
- Base: human
- Plural: humans
Word family
Forms
humans
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
Expressions
human being
1/hjˈumən bˈiɪŋ/
fixed phrase
A person; individual human
One person; a man, woman, or child.
Examples
- Every human being deserves respect.
- She is a remarkable human being.
only human
1/ˈoʊnli hjˈumən/
fixed phrase
Having normal human faults
Not perfect; having normal human weaknesses or making mistakes.
Examples
- Don't be too hard on yourself—you're only human.
- He forgot her birthday, but he's only human.
to err is human
1/tə ˈɛɹ ˈɪz hjˈumən/
idiom
Mistakes are natural for humans
It is normal for people to make mistakes.
Examples
- She forgave him, knowing that to err is human.
- To err is human, but to forgive is divine.
human nature
1/hjˈumən nˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
Basic qualities of people
The usual ways people think, feel, and act that are part of being human.
Examples
- It's human nature to want to be liked.
- It's just human nature to want to belong.
- Helping others is part of human nature.
- Curiosity is part of human nature.