Schéma d’usage :
a cordial [relationship/meeting/welcome] with [someone]
Despite the difficult negotiations, the talks remained cordial throughout.
A nehéz egyeztetések ellenére a tárgyalások végig szívélyes hangnemben zajlottak.
She wrote a cordial letter thanking them for their hospitality.
Szívélyes hangú levelet írt, amelyben megköszönte a vendéglátásukat.
The two former rivals now have a cordial relationship.
He gave me a cordial welcome when I arrived at the office.
Their meeting was brief but perfectly cordial.
Exemples pédagogiques
Our neighbors are very cordial to us.
A szomszédaink nagyon szívélyesek velünk.
The manager was cordial and answered all my questions.
A vezető szívélyes volt, és minden kérdésemre válaszolt.
They have a cordial relationship with their old boss.
Thank you for your cordial welcome at the party.
The discussion was tense, but everyone stayed cordial.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use "cordial" where "casual" or "informal" would be more natural, especially for friendly situations among close friends. "Cordial" is usually used for polite, respectful friendliness, often between people who are not very close or in business and official contexts. Another mistake is pronouncing it like "cor-dial" with a hard /d/; it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr-dʒəl/.
Sens
warm and politely friendly
Collocations
cordial relations
|cordial relationship
|cordial welcome
|cordial invitation
|cordial atmosphere
|cordial meeting
Synonymes
friendly (More general and common; does not suggest the same formal politeness as "cordial".)
|
amiable (Describes a pleasant, good-natured character; less tied to formal situations than "cordial".)
Antonymes
hostile (Describes relations or behavior that are unfriendly and opposed, the opposite of cordial interaction.)
|
cold (Suggests distant and unfriendly behavior, lacking the warmth implied by "cordial".)
Thèmes
social
|emotions
|business
|formalities
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Définition
Polite and friendly in a warm, honest way, often in a formal situation.
Warm, polite, and genuinely friendly in attitude or behavior, especially in a formal or semi-formal situation.
Schéma d’usage :
some cordial in [a glass/of water]
The children drank blackcurrant cordial with their lunch.
A gyerekek ebédhez feketeribizli-szörpöt ittak.
Please buy a bottle of orange cordial for the party.
Kérlek, vegyél egy üveg narancsszörpöt a bulira.
She poured a little cordial into the glass and topped it up with water.
This lemon cordial is too sweet if you don’t dilute it properly.
We always keep some fruit cordial in the cupboard for visitors.
Exemples pédagogiques
Would you like some orange cordial?
Kérsz egy kis narancsszörpöt?
He mixed the cordial with cold water.
Hideg vízzel keverte össze a szörpöt.
The kids drank cherry cordial after school.
She keeps a big bottle of cordial in the fridge.
You need to add more water to the cordial.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners who know American English sometimes think "cordial" always means an alcoholic drink; in British English this common meaning is non-alcoholic and similar to "squash". Also, learners may incorrectly use it for any soft drink; it specifically refers to a concentrated syrup you dilute with water.
Sens
sweet fruit drink concentrate (BrE)
Collocations
blackcurrant cordial
|orange cordial
|fruit cordial
|glass of cordial
|dilute the cordial
|make up the cordial
Synonymes
squash (Common British term for the same type of concentrated soft drink; "cordial" can sound slightly more old-fashioned or brand-like in some areas.)
Antonymes
plain water (Contains no added sweetness or flavor, unlike sugary, flavored cordial.)
Thèmes
food
|drinks
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Définition
A very sweet fruit drink you mix with water before you drink it (mainly British English).
A very sweet, usually fruit-flavored, non-alcoholic concentrated drink that is mixed with water before drinking, especially in British English.
Schéma d’usage :
a [fruit/herbal] cordial after [a meal]
They finished the meal with a small cordial.
Az étkezést egy pohárka likőrrel fejezték be.
She offered her guests coffee and a cherry cordial.
Kávéval és cseresznyelikőrrel kínálta a vendégeit.
He prefers an herbal cordial instead of dessert.
The restaurant serves a complimentary cordial after dinner.
She sipped a cordial while they talked by the fire.
Exemples pédagogiques
He ordered a cordial after dinner.
Vacsora után rendelt egy likőrt.
Would you like a small cherry cordial?
Kérsz egy kis cseresznyelikőrt?
They drank a sweet cordial at the end of the meal.
She poured the cordial into tiny glasses.
The bar has many different fruit cordials.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners are often confused because in British English "cordial" usually means a non-alcoholic drink, but in North American English it often means a sweet alcoholic liqueur. Pay attention to context and region when choosing this word.
Sens
sweet alcoholic liqueur (AmE)
Collocations
after-dinner cordial
|cherry cordial
|herbal cordial
|sip a cordial
|cordial glass
Synonymes
liqueur (Standard term for sweet, flavored alcoholic drinks; "cordial" is especially common in North American usage.)
Antonymes
soft drink (A non-alcoholic drink, contrasting with the alcoholic nature of a cordial in this sense.)
Thèmes
drinks
|food
|leisure
|food_drink
|daily_life
Définition
A sweet alcoholic drink with strong flavor that you drink in small amounts, especially in American English.
A sweet, flavored alcoholic liqueur that is usually drunk in small amounts, especially after a meal, particularly in North American English.
Schéma d’usage :
cordial [dislike/support/agreement] for [someone/something]
He has a cordial dislike for dishonest politicians.
Őszinte ellenszenvet érez a tisztességtelen politikusok iránt.
The proposal received their cordial support.
A javaslatot teljes szívvel támogatták.
She expressed her cordial agreement with the committee’s decision.
There is cordial hatred between the two rival gangs in the novel.
The plan met with cordial approval from the board.
Exemples pédagogiques
She has a cordial dislike of lying.
Őszinte ellenszenvet érez a hazudozás iránt.
The team gave cordial support to the new coach.
A csapat teljes szívvel támogatta az új edzőt.
He showed cordial agreement with the idea.
They felt cordial hatred for the cruel leader.
The project had cordial approval from the manager.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may think "cordial" is always positive, but in this sense it often modifies negative feelings like "dislike" or "hatred" and simply means the feeling is very strong and complete.
Sens
strong and wholehearted (feelings)
Collocations
cordial dislike
|cordial hatred
|cordial support
|cordial agreement
Synonymes
wholehearted (Emphasizes complete support or enthusiasm; "cordial" can also be used for strong negative feelings such as dislike.)
|
deep-seated (Suggests strong, long-held feelings, often negative; "cordial" sounds more formal and deliberate.)
Antonymes
lukewarm (Describes weak, half-hearted feelings or support, opposite of the strong feeling implied by "cordial".)
Thèmes
emotions
|opinions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Définition
Very strong and complete in feeling, like strong support or strong dislike, in formal style.
Very strong and complete in feeling or support, often used for likes, dislikes, or agreement in formal or literary style.
Schéma d’usage :
take a cordial for [the heart/nerves]
The doctor prepared a cordial to steady her nerves.
Az orvos gyógyitalt készített, hogy megnyugtassa az idegeit.
In the old novel, the patient is given a cordial before sleep.
A régi regényben a beteg elalvás előtt gyógyitalt kap.
They believed the herbal cordial would restore his strength.
She sipped a cordial prescribed by the village healer.
The apothecary mixed a warming cordial for the sick child.
Exemples pédagogiques
In the story, the woman drinks a cordial to feel better.
A történetben a nő gyógyitalt iszik, hogy jobban legyen.
The old doctor gives the man a special cordial.
Az öreg orvos különleges gyógyitalt ad a férfinak.
People once used a cordial as medicine for the heart.
The healer makes a strong cordial from herbs.
He takes a cordial when he feels weak.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may try to use this old medical meaning in modern conversation. Today, this sense is rare and sounds literary or historical; use "medicine" or "tonic" instead in everyday speech.
Sens
old use: strengthening medicine drink
Collocations
take a cordial
|cordial draught
|cordial medicine
|restorative cordial
Synonymes
tonic (Modern word for a medicine or drink meant to give strength; "cordial" in this sense is old-fashioned or literary.)
Antonymes
poison (Harms or kills the body, opposite of a cordial's intended strengthening or healing effect.)
Thèmes
medicine
|history
|health
|food_drink
Définition
An old word for a drink used as medicine to make the body or heart feel stronger or calmer.
An old-fashioned medicinal drink or preparation taken to strengthen, calm, or stimulate the heart and body.