Hypernyms & Hyponyms
A hypernym is a general word for a whole category; a hyponym is a more specific word that belongs to it. 'Fruit' is a hypernym, and 'apple', 'mango' and 'cherry' are its hyponyms. These relationships form a family tree of meaning: a poodle is a dog, a dog is a mammal, and a mammal is an animal.
This guide lists everyday hypernyms with a selection of their hyponyms, grouped into animals and nature, food, objects, people and places, and verbs. Understanding these levels helps you choose words that are as precise or as general as you need.
27 entries in this category
Actions (Verbs)
3Hyponyms: stroll, march, stride, tiptoe, wander
"To tiptoe is to walk quietly on the balls of your feet."
Hyponyms: whisper, shout, mutter, declare, mumble
""Be quiet," she whispered - a quieter way to say it."
Hyponyms: glance, stare, peer, gaze, glare
"He glanced at his watch - a quick look."
Animals & Nature
7Hyponyms: mammal, bird, reptile, fish, insect, amphibian
"Every mammal is an animal, but not every animal is a mammal."
Hyponyms: eagle, sparrow, penguin, owl, parrot
"A penguin is a bird that cannot fly."
Hyponyms: poodle, beagle, Labrador, Dalmatian, terrier
"A beagle is a kind of dog bred for hunting."
Hyponyms: oak, maple, pine, birch, willow
"An oak is a tree that can live for centuries."
Hyponyms: rose, tulip, daisy, lily, sunflower
"Tulips are spring flowers."
Hyponyms: rain, snow, fog, hail, thunder
"Fog is the type of weather pilots dread most."
Hyponyms: ocean, sea, lake, river, pond
"A pond is a small body of water."
Food & Drink
4Hyponyms: apple, mango, banana, cherry, grape
"Mangoes are a tropical fruit."
Hyponyms: carrot, broccoli, spinach, potato, onion
"Broccoli is a green vegetable full of vitamins."
Hyponyms: water, tea, coffee, juice, milk
"Tea is the most popular drink in Britain."
Hyponyms: bake, fry, boil, roast, grill, steam
"To bake is one way to cook, using dry oven heat."
Objects & Materials
8Hyponyms: chair, table, sofa, wardrobe, bed
"A wardrobe is a large piece of furniture."
Hyponyms: car, bus, bicycle, lorry, motorcycle
"A lorry is a heavy goods vehicle."
Hyponyms: piano, violin, trumpet, drum, flute
"The violin is a stringed musical instrument."
Hyponyms: hammer, screwdriver, saw, wrench, drill
"A wrench is the right tool for loosening bolts."
Hyponyms: shirt, jeans, coat, dress, jumper
"A coat is outer clothing for cold weather."
Hyponyms: iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminium
"Copper is a metal that conducts electricity well."
Hyponyms: circle, square, triangle, hexagon, oval
"A hexagon is a shape with six sides."
Hyponyms: red, blue, green, yellow, purple
"Purple is a colour made by mixing red and blue."
People, Places & Ideas
5Hyponyms: house, castle, skyscraper, church, factory
"A skyscraper is a very tall building."
Hyponyms: doctor, teacher, engineer, plumber, lawyer
"Nursing is a demanding but rewarding profession."
Hyponyms: aunt, cousin, grandfather, nephew, sister
"A cousin is a relative on your parent's side of the family."
Hyponyms: football, tennis, cricket, swimming, rugby
"Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport."
Hyponyms: joy, anger, fear, sadness, surprise
"Fear is an emotion that protects us from danger."