아침식사
Breakfast is the first meal you eat after waking up in the morning.
Explanation at your level:
Breakfast is the first meal of the day. You eat it in the morning. For example, you can eat eggs or bread for breakfast. It gives you energy.
Breakfast is a common meal. Most people eat breakfast at home or at a cafe. Common foods are cereal, milk, and fruit. Do you like a big breakfast?
As the first meal of the day, breakfast helps you start your morning. Many people find it difficult to skip breakfast because they feel hungry. It is often considered the most important meal for health.
The term breakfast signifies the end of the overnight fast. While dietary habits vary, nutritionists often emphasize the importance of a balanced breakfast to maintain focus and energy levels throughout the morning.
Beyond its literal nutritional function, breakfast has evolved into a cultural ritual. From the elaborate 'Full English' to the minimalist 'continental' style, breakfast reflects regional traditions and socio-economic shifts in how we structure our daily time.
Etymologically, breakfast is a testament to the linguistic transparency of Middle English. It serves as a cornerstone of daily human rhythm, often serving as a metaphor for beginnings or the 'breaking' of stagnant cycles in both literature and colloquial speech.
Word in 30 Seconds
- First meal of the day
- Breaks the overnight fast
- Usually eaten in the morning
- Commonly uncountable
The word breakfast is a compound word made of 'break' and 'fast'. It literally means to break the fast that your body has been in while you were sleeping all night long.
Think of it as the fuel your body needs to jumpstart your day. Whether you prefer a quick bowl of cereal or a big plate of eggs and bacon, it is the meal that sets the tone for your morning routine.
The word breakfast dates back to the 15th century. It is a direct combination of the verb break and the noun fast, referring to the time during sleep when one does not eat.
Historically, in the Middle Ages, many people only ate two meals a day. The idea of a morning meal became more common as work schedules changed during the Industrial Revolution. It is fascinating how a simple linguistic construction describes a biological necessity so perfectly.
You use breakfast as a noun in daily life. Common phrases include having breakfast, eating breakfast, or making breakfast.
In formal settings, you might hear about a business breakfast, which is a meeting held over the first meal of the day. It is a very neutral and common term used by everyone from children to corporate CEOs.
1. Breakfast of champions: Used jokingly to describe a meal that is unhealthy but satisfying. 2. Eat someone for breakfast: To defeat someone easily in a competition. 3. Breakfast nook: A small, cozy area in a kitchen for eating. 4. Continental breakfast: A light morning meal, usually bread and coffee, served at hotels. 5. Full English breakfast: A large, hearty meal featuring eggs, bacon, beans, and sausages.
Breakfast is an uncountable noun when referring to the meal in general, but it can be countable when referring to specific instances (e.g., 'we had two breakfasts on our vacation').
The IPA is /ˈbrekfəst/. Note that the 'ea' makes a short 'e' sound, which is a common tricky point for learners. It rhymes with words like vest or test if you focus on the suffix.
Fun Fact
It replaced the older term 'morrow-mete'.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'e' sound, clear 'k', unstressed 'fust'.
Similar to UK, very standard American English.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'ea' as 'ee'
- Emphasizing the second syllable
- Adding an extra sound after 'k'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Articles with meals
I eat breakfast.
Countable vs Uncountable
Breakfast is uncountable.
Verb collocations
Have breakfast.
Examples by Level
I eat breakfast at 7 AM.
I eat / morning meal / at 7 o'clock
Use 'at' for time.
Breakfast is good.
The meal is tasty
Subject + verb + adjective.
Do you like breakfast?
Question about the meal
Question form.
I make breakfast.
I prepare the meal
Verb 'make' + noun.
He eats breakfast.
He consumes the meal
Third person singular 'eats'.
We want breakfast.
We are hungry for it
Verb 'want' + noun.
This is my breakfast.
This food belongs to me
Possessive pronoun.
No breakfast today.
Skipping the meal
Noun phrase.
I usually have coffee for breakfast.
They serve breakfast until 10 AM.
My favorite breakfast is pancakes.
Let's go out for breakfast.
She never skips breakfast.
Breakfast is ready on the table.
He cooked a big breakfast.
We had a quick breakfast.
A healthy breakfast includes protein and fiber.
Many hotels offer a complimentary breakfast.
I prefer a light breakfast during the week.
Business breakfasts are common in this industry.
Skipping breakfast can make you feel tired.
She prepared a traditional breakfast for us.
The cafe is famous for its all-day breakfast.
Eating breakfast together is a family tradition.
A nutritious breakfast is essential for cognitive performance.
The hotel provides a continental breakfast for guests.
He often conducts meetings over a working breakfast.
Some people prefer to delay breakfast until mid-morning.
The aroma of breakfast cooking filled the house.
They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the terrace.
Breakfast habits vary significantly across different cultures.
She considers breakfast the cornerstone of her daily routine.
The ritual of breakfast serves as a grounding start to the day.
He opted for a high-protein breakfast to sustain his energy.
Breakfast menus in this region are surprisingly diverse.
The concept of breakfast has evolved with modern lifestyles.
They debated the health benefits of breakfast at length.
The restaurant specializes in gourmet breakfast cuisine.
A hearty breakfast is the best remedy for a long day.
She found solace in the simple routine of making breakfast.
The etymological roots of breakfast reveal the necessity of breaking the nightly fast.
Breakfast is often romanticized in literature as a symbol of domestic tranquility.
His breakfast routine was as rigid as the morning commute.
The cultural significance of breakfast cannot be overstated in this society.
She curated a breakfast spread that impressed all her guests.
The debate over the optimal breakfast time remains unresolved.
A breakfast meeting is the hallmark of a busy executive.
The morning light caught the table set for breakfast.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"eat someone for breakfast"
to defeat easily
The champion will eat the challenger for breakfast.
casual"breakfast of champions"
a joke for unhealthy food
Coffee and donuts: the breakfast of champions.
casual"breakfast nook"
small eating space
We have a cozy breakfast nook.
neutral"continental breakfast"
light hotel meal
The room price includes a continental breakfast.
neutral"full English breakfast"
large, cooked meal
I want a full English breakfast today.
neutral"breakfast meeting"
meeting over food
We have a breakfast meeting at 8 AM.
formalEasily Confused
Both are morning meals.
Brunch is later and larger.
Breakfast at 7, brunch at 11.
Both are meals.
Lunch is midday.
Breakfast is early, lunch is at noon.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + eat + breakfast
I eat breakfast.
Subject + have + breakfast + with + person
I have breakfast with my mom.
Subject + prepare + a + breakfast
She prepared a hearty breakfast.
Subject + skip + breakfast
I never skip breakfast.
Subject + serve + breakfast + at + time
They serve breakfast at 8.
Word Family
Nouns
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Do not use 'the' before meals.
'Breakfast' is not usually used as a verb.
Usually unnecessary to use a possessive.
Breakfast is uncountable.
Use 'have' for meals, not 'do'.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a clock breaking a giant loaf of bread.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used daily to discuss morning plans.
Cultural Insight
Breakfast varies wildly by country.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'the' before meals.
Say It Right
Focus on the short 'e'.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use 'do' with breakfast.
Did You Know?
It's a compound word.
Study Smart
Use it in your daily diary.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
BREAK the FAST of the night.
Visual Association
An alarm clock ringing next to a plate of eggs.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe what you ate for breakfast today in three sentences.
Word Origin
Middle English
Original meaning: Breaking the fast
Cultural Context
None, universally understood.
Breakfast is a significant social and nutritional event in English-speaking countries.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At a hotel
- Is breakfast included?
- What time is breakfast served?
With friends
- Let's grab breakfast.
- Where should we have breakfast?
At home
- Breakfast is ready!
- What's for breakfast?
In business
- We have a breakfast meeting.
Conversation Starters
"What do you usually eat for breakfast?"
"Do you like to cook breakfast?"
"Is breakfast your favorite meal?"
"Do you ever skip breakfast?"
"What is a traditional breakfast in your country?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your perfect breakfast.
Why do you think people skip breakfast?
Write about a memorable breakfast you had.
How has your breakfast habit changed?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt is often called that, though it depends on your lifestyle.
Yes, if you are describing a specific type or instance.
It is a common Australian/British slang for breakfast.
Usually no, just 'eat breakfast'.
A light meal of bread and coffee.
It is a mix of breakfast and lunch.
BREK-fust.
Because you break your overnight fast.
Test Yourself
I eat ___ at 8 AM.
Breakfast is the morning meal.
What does 'break the fast' mean?
It refers to ending the overnight fast.
Breakfast is always a countable noun.
It is usually uncountable.
Word
Meaning
These are common collocations.
Subject + verb + object + frequency.
Score: /5
Summary
Breakfast literally means breaking your overnight fast.
- First meal of the day
- Breaks the overnight fast
- Usually eaten in the morning
- Commonly uncountable
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a clock breaking a giant loaf of bread.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used daily to discuss morning plans.
Cultural Insight
Breakfast varies wildly by country.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'the' before meals.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More food words
~정도
A1Suffix meaning "about" or "approximately."
추가
A2Addition, extra (e.g., extra order).
몇 개
A2How many items?
~은/는 후에
A2After ~ing; indicates an action that occurs subsequent to another.
중에서
A2Among, out of (selection).
식욕
A2Appetite.
에피타이저
A2An appetizer.
전채
A2Appetizer.
먹음직스럽다
B2To look appetizing, delicious.
사과
A1apple
