pray
gb/pɹˈeɪ/ us/pɹˈeɪ/
A2
Αγγλικά
~ 7000
imádkozik, remél, kérem, kérjük, kérlek, legyen szíves, kérelmez
ΡΉΜΑ
A2
1
imádkozik
B1
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to pray to [deity] for [something]
Every night they pray to God for their children's safety.
Minden este Istenhez imádkoznak a gyermekeik biztonságáért.
The villagers gathered in the temple to pray for rain.
A falusiak összegyűltek a templomban, hogy esőért imádkozzanak.
She knelt by the bed and prayed for strength to face the next day.
We held hands and prayed over the sick child.
He silently prayed that his loved ones would be protected during the storm.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
She prays to God every morning.
Minden reggel Istenhez imádkozik.
They pray for their family when they are worried.
Amikor aggódnak, a családjukért imádkoznak.
We go to church to pray together.
He prays for peace in the world.
The old woman sits and prays in the small chapel.
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes say *"pray God"* instead of *"pray to God"*. Use *"pray to [someone]"* for who you speak to, and *"pray for [something/someone]"* for what you ask about. Also, do not use *pray* when you only mean *hope* in non-religious contexts; say *"I hope it doesn't rain"*, not always *"I pray it doesn't rain"*.
Σημασία
speak to God or a god
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
pray to God
|pray for help
|pray for peace
|pray for [someone]
|pray together
|kneel and pray
Συνώνυμα
worship (Focuses more on honoring and praising a god; not always about asking for something.)
|
implore (Means to beg very seriously; not limited to religious contexts.)
Αντώνυμα
curse (Calling for harm or misfortune instead of asking a god for help or blessing.)
Θέματα
religion
|emotions
|daily life
|communication
Ορισμός
To talk to God or a god, usually to ask for help or say thank you.
To speak to God or a god, especially to ask for help, guidance, or forgiveness, or to give thanks or worship.
ΡΉΜΑ
B1
2
remél
A2
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to pray (that) [clause]
I’m just praying it doesn’t rain on our wedding day.
Csak nagyon remélem, hogy nem esik az eső az esküvőnk napján.
She prayed that her name would be on the acceptance list.
Nagyon remélte, hogy a neve rajta lesz a felvételi listán.
We all prayed nothing would go wrong during the surgery.
He silently prayed that nobody had seen his mistake.
They prayed for a miracle, even though the chances were small.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
I pray that you arrive safely.
Nagyon remélem, hogy épségben megérkezel.
We pray it does not snow tomorrow.
Nagyon reméljük, hogy holnap nem fog havazni.
She prays that her team will win.
He prays nothing bad will happen.
They pray that their plan will work.
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may overuse *pray* in casual situations where native speakers usually say *hope*. For everyday wishes like exams, weather, or travel, *"I hope..."* is more common; *"I pray..."* can sound very serious or dramatic.
Σημασία
strongly hope for something
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
pray it works
|pray nothing goes wrong
|pray for a miracle
|pray it doesn’t rain
|just pray and wait
Συνώνυμα
hope (More general and neutral; *pray* suggests a stronger or more emotional wish.)
|
wish (Often less intense or more hypothetical than *pray* in this sense.)
Αντώνυμα
dread (Means to strongly fear or expect something bad, the opposite emotional direction of *praying for* a good outcome.)
Θέματα
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ορισμός
To really, really hope that something happens or does not happen.
To feel or express a very strong hope that something will or will not happen, sometimes without clear religious intent.
ΡΉΜΑ
B2
FORMAL
3
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
pray [bare infinitive]
Pray sit down and make yourself comfortable.
So, pray tell, how did you manage that?
Pray forgive my interruption, but I must speak.
Pray continue; I am most interested in your story.
Pray be careful how you speak of my family.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
In old books, a man says, “Pray sit, madam.”
He says, “Pray forgive me,” in a formal way.
People today almost never say “Pray tell” except as a joke.
The host said, “Pray come in and rest.”
“Pray listen,” the teacher said in the story.
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes think this use of *pray* is modern or common because they see it in literature or subtitles. In real life, most speakers do not use *pray* this way except humorously or in imitation of old-fashioned style. Use *please* instead in normal conversation.
Σημασία
formal way to say “please”
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
pray continue
|pray tell
|pray be seated
|I pray you
|pray forgive me
Συνώνυμα
please (Modern and common; *pray* is old-fashioned or used jokingly or dramatically.)
Αντώνυμα
demand (A forceful request without politeness, contrasting with the very polite tone of *pray* in this sense.)
Θέματα
politeness
|literature
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ορισμός
A very formal, old way to say “please,” used before a verb when asking someone to do something.
Used in formal or old-fashioned style before a verb to mean “please,” often to introduce a polite request or question.
ΡΉΜΑ
C1
TECHNICAL
4
kérelmez
C1
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to pray [relief/judgment] from [court]
The plaintiff prays for judgment in the amount of $50,000.
A felperes 50 000 dollár megítélését kérelmezi.
In her complaint, she prays that the court grant injunctive relief.
Keresetlevelében azt kérelmezi, hogy a bíróság rendeljen el tiltó intézkedést.
The petitioners pray this honorable court to dismiss the charges.
The defendant prays that the case be transferred to another jurisdiction.
The motion prays for an order compelling discovery.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
In some legal texts, it says, “The plaintiff prays for relief.”
Egyes jogi szövegekben ez áll: „A felperes jogorvoslatot kér.”
Lawyers sometimes write, “The defendant prays that the court dismiss this case.”
Az ügyvédek néha ezt írják: „Az alperes kérelmezi, hogy a bíróság utasítsa el a keresetet.”
Here, *prays* means *formally asks* the court.
The document says, “The applicant prays that this court grant bail.”
Students of law must learn how *pray* is used in legal writing.
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may think this legal use of *pray* is related to religion in meaning. In legal texts, it simply means *formally request* and does not imply religious prayer.
Σημασία
formally request in legal writing
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
prays for judgment
|prays that the court
|prays for relief
|prays the court to
|plaintiff prays
Συνώνυμα
petition (Standard legal term for formally asking a court; close in register and context.)
Αντώνυμα
waive (To give up a right or claim, the opposite of formally asking for it.)
Θέματα
law
|official
|communication
Ορισμός
In legal language, to formally ask a court for a certain decision or action.
In legal documents, to make a formal request for a specific judgment, order, or remedy from a court.
Γραμματική
Λημματική μορφή
pray
IPA
GB/pɹˈeɪ/
US/pɹˈeɪ/
Συλλαβές και τόνος
pray (1 συλλαβή)
Stress on 1st syllable (pray)
Τύποι λέξης
Verb
- Base: pray
- 3rd Person Singular: prays
- Present Participle: praying
- Past: prayed
Οικογένεια λέξεων
Forms
prays
verb
praying
verb
prayed
verb
Core family
prayer
noun A2
Related words
prayerful
adjective
Advanced or less common
prayerfully
adverb
Εκφράσεις
pray about
1/pɹˈeɪ əbˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
seek guidance in prayer
To talk to God about a problem or choice and ask for help or guidance.
Παραδείγματα
- She said she needed time to pray about the job offer.
- Before we decide, let’s pray about it together.
- He spent the evening praying about how to handle the conflict.
pray for
1/pɹˈeɪ fɚ/
phrasal verb
ask God for something
To talk to God or a god and ask for a special thing, person, or result.
Παραδείγματα
- We all prayed for her quick recovery after the accident.
- They prayed for peace in the region every Sunday.
- He quietly prayed for guidance before making his decision.
pray for the best
1/pɹˈeɪ fɚ ðə bˈɛst/
fixed phrase
strongly hope for good outcome
To hope very much that things will end well, especially when you cannot control what will happen.
Παραδείγματα
- We’ve prepared as much as we can, so now we just have to pray for the best.
- Sometimes all you can do is pray for the best and see what happens.
- They sent the application and prayed for the best.
pray over
1/pɹˈeɪ ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
pray while near something
To say prayers while you are close to or touching someone or something, often asking for healing or blessing.
Παραδείγματα
- The family gathered to pray over their grandfather in the hospital.
- They prayed over the food before eating.
- Members of the church prayed over the new building during the opening ceremony.
pray tell
1/pɹˈeɪ tˈɛl/
idiom
informal
please tell me (explain)
A humorous or old-fashioned way to say “please tell me,” often when you are surprised or annoyed.
Παραδείγματα
- And how, pray tell, did you forget your own birthday?
- Where, pray tell, did you get that idea?
- What, pray tell, are you doing on the roof at midnight?
pray to
1/pɹˈeɪ tə/
phrasal verb
address a deity in prayer
To speak in prayer to a god, saint, or other holy figure.
Παραδείγματα
- Many sailors pray to Saint Nicholas for protection at sea.
- She prays to God every night before she sleeps.
- They prayed to their ancestors for wisdom and strength.
pray to God
1/pɹˈeɪ tə ɡˈɑd/
fixed phrase
pray specifically to God
To speak to God in prayer, often asking for help or saying thanks.
Παραδείγματα
- When he is afraid, he prays to God for comfort.
- They prayed to God for rain during the long drought.
- She teaches her children to pray to God before meals.