Explanation at your level:
A parent is your mom or your dad. They take care of you. If you have a mom and a dad, you have two parents. You can say: 'My parent is nice.'
A parent is a person who has a child. Most children live with their parents. We use this word to talk about moms and dads together. For example, 'My parents are at work.'
The word parent is used to describe a mother or father. It is a very common term in English. You might hear people talk about 'parenting,' which is the act of raising a child. It is a neutral word used in almost every situation.
In English, parent is a versatile noun. Beyond the literal meaning, it is often used in compound nouns like 'single parent' or 'foster parent.' It is the standard term in professional and academic writing when discussing family structures.
The term parent serves as the bedrock for discussions regarding kinship and social responsibility. In advanced discourse, it can be used figuratively, such as in 'the parent company,' which refers to a corporation that owns smaller subsidiaries. Understanding the nuance of parental roles is essential for high-level communication.
Etymologically derived from the Latin parere, the word parent carries a weight of biological and social obligation. In literary and formal contexts, it denotes the progenitor or the foundational source of something. It is a word that bridges the gap between domestic intimacy and structural hierarchy, appearing in everything from legal statutes to poetic metaphors about the origins of ideas.
30秒でわかる単語
- A parent is a mother or father.
- It is a countable noun.
- It can be used as an adjective (parent company).
- The plural is parents.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word parent. At its core, a parent is simply a mother or a father. It is a fundamental word used to describe the family relationship between an adult and the child they are raising.
Think of it as the primary caregiver role. Whether it is a biological connection, an adoption, or a guardianship, the word captures that special bond of guidance and protection. You will hear this word used constantly in daily life, from school forms to casual conversations about family.
The word parent has a fascinating history! It comes from the Latin word parere, which actually means 'to bring forth' or 'to produce.' It entered the English language way back in the 15th century.
It is related to other words like parentage and parity. Historically, it was used to describe anyone who was an ancestor, but over time, it narrowed down to specifically mean the immediate mother or father. It is a great example of how language evolves to be more specific to our daily needs.
Using parent is pretty straightforward. You can use it in casual settings, like 'My parents are coming over,' or in formal ones, like 'Parental guidance is advised.' It is a neutral, standard term.
Common combinations include single parent, working parent, and expecting parent. It is much more common to use this term than to list 'mother and father' every single time you need to refer to them as a unit.
While 'parent' itself isn't always the main focus of idioms, it appears in many phrases. 1. Parental guidance: Used in movies to warn kids. 2. Like parent, like child: Meaning a child acts like their parent. 3. Helicopter parent: A parent who is overly involved. 4. Tiger parent: A very strict parent. 5. Foster parent: Someone who cares for a child temporarily.
Grammatically, parent is a countable noun. You can say 'one parent' or 'two parents.' In the US, it is pronounced PAIR-ent, while in the UK, it is often PEAR-ent.
It rhymes with words like apparent, inherent, and transparent. Remember, the stress is always on the first syllable. It is a very stable word that doesn't change its form much, making it easy to use in sentences!
Fun Fact
It comes from the same root as 'parenthesis' in some linguistic theories!
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'pair' plus 'ent'.
Sounds like 'pair' plus 'unt'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'a' as 'ah'
- Ignoring the second syllable
- Rhyming with 'patent'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Pluralization
parent -> parents
Articles
a parent
Possessives
parent's
Examples by Level
My parent is kind.
My mother/father is kind.
Singular subject.
I love my parents.
I love my mom and dad.
Plural noun.
She is a parent.
She has a child.
Article usage.
Where are your parents?
Where are your mom and dad?
Question form.
My parent works hard.
My mom/dad works hard.
Verb agreement.
He is a good parent.
He takes care of his child well.
Adjective usage.
Parents help children.
Moms and dads help kids.
General statement.
Call your parent.
Phone your mom or dad.
Imperative.
My parents are very supportive.
She is a single parent.
The school needs to talk to a parent.
My parents live in London.
Being a parent is a big job.
I look like my parent.
Are your parents coming?
He is a proud parent.
Working parents often struggle with childcare.
The school organized a parent-teacher meeting.
She is a foster parent to three children.
Parental involvement is key to success.
My parents have been married for years.
He is a very hands-on parent.
The child needs a parent's signature.
Expectant parents often buy many books.
The company is a parent organization for several smaller firms.
She balances her career with being a devoted parent.
Parental guidance is required for this film.
Many parents worry about social media usage.
He is a single parent raising two teenagers.
The parent company decided to sell the branch.
They are attending a parent support group.
Effective parenting requires patience.
The parent company announced a major restructuring.
Parental instincts often override logical reasoning.
She is a parent to a child with special needs.
The school values parental feedback highly.
He is a parent of two grown children.
The parent organization provides funding for the project.
Parental leave is a standard benefit in this country.
They are considered a model parent couple.
The parent body of the institution sets the curriculum.
Parental authority has shifted significantly over the century.
The parent cell divides to create new cells.
She is a parent to the community's future leaders.
The parent company maintains strict control over its subsidiaries.
Parental legacy is often a complex subject.
He acted in a parent-like capacity for his younger siblings.
The parent material of the soil is volcanic ash.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"Like parent, like child"
A child acts like their parent
He is messy, like parent, like child.
neutral"Helicopter parent"
Overly involved parent
Stop being a helicopter parent.
casual"Tiger parent"
Strict, high-achieving parent
She was raised by a tiger parent.
casual"Parental guidance"
Advice from parents
He needs parental guidance.
neutral"In loco parentis"
In the place of a parent
The teacher acts in loco parentis.
formal"Parent trap"
Kids trying to get parents together
They pulled a parent trap.
casualEasily Confused
similar root
parent is mom/dad, grandparent is parent's parent
My parent is my dad; my grandparent is his dad.
similar sound
patent is an invention right
He filed a patent for his invention.
rhyme
apparent means clear
It was apparent that he was tired.
adjective form
parental is the adjective
Parental guidance is needed.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + a + parent
She is a parent.
Subject + has + parents
He has two parents.
Parent + of + noun
He is the parent of two.
Parental + noun
Parental leave is important.
To + parent + object
They try to parent effectively.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
The apostrophe goes after the s for plural possessive.
Parenting is a noun/gerund, to parent is the verb.
Parental is an adjective, parent is the noun.
Parents is plural, so use are.
To parent means to raise, not necessarily to give birth.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine your parents at the front door.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to refer to both parents together.
Cultural Insight
Very common in school forms.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a regular noun.
Say It Right
Stress the first syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use 'parent' for 'grandparent'.
Did You Know?
It comes from Latin 'parere'.
Study Smart
Learn it with 'parenting'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
PA-RENT: PA (Dad) and RENT (he pays the rent).
Visual Association
A mother and father holding a child's hands.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write a sentence about your own parents.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: To bring forth
文化的な背景
Be inclusive of diverse family structures (single, same-sex, adoptive).
Highly valued role; often used in school and legal contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School
- parent-teacher meeting
- parent signature
- parent volunteer
Business
- parent company
- parent organization
- parent brand
Legal
- parental rights
- legal parent
- custodial parent
Family
- single parent
- expecting parent
- proud parent
Conversation Starters
"What is the best part about being a parent?"
"How has parenting changed over time?"
"Do you think parental guidance is still important?"
"What makes a good parent?"
"How do you balance work and being a parent?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your parents in three words.
What is a lesson your parent taught you?
How would you define a good parent?
Write about the challenges of being a parent.
よくある質問
8 問Usually, but can refer to 'parent companies'.
No, that is a grandparent.
No, parents is plural.
To parent.
It is neutral.
Parental.
Parents.
Not usually in modern English.
自分をテスト
The ___ is sleeping.
Parent is a person.
Which means a mother or father?
Parent is the correct term.
A parent is always a biological mother.
A parent can be adoptive or a guardian.
Word
意味
These are common collocations.
Being a parent is a hard job.
スコア： /5
Summary
A parent is the foundational figure in a child's life, whether biological or legal.
- A parent is a mother or father.
- It is a countable noun.
- It can be used as an adjective (parent company).
- The plural is parents.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine your parents at the front door.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to refer to both parents together.
Cultural Insight
Very common in school forms.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a regular noun.
例文
In context, `parent` expresses: parent (mother/father).
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