3.1 Hyponyms

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What Are Hyponyms and Hypernyms?

We are all familiar with synonyms: words that mean the same thing.

A hyponym is a word that describes things more specifically. Proper nouns are good examples of hyponyms. Niagara Falls is a hyponym for the concept of waterfall. Ford is a hyponym for the concept car.

Hypernyms are words that refer to broad categories or general concepts. Car or airplane are hypernyms for more precise terms like Toyota Camry, or Boeing 747.

•     diamond, emerald, and ruby are hyponyms of the word gemstone
•     poker, roulette, and craps are hyponyms of the word game
•     cyan, navy, and ultramarine are hyponyms of the word blue (which, in turn, is a hyponym of the word color)
•     fork, knife, and spoon are hyponyms of the word utensil

Hyponyms don’t have to be nouns. Other parts of speech can be hyponyms, too. For example, the words roast, parboil, and sear are hyponyms of the verb to cook.

Not every group of hyponyms has a hypernym. For example, English doesn’t have a higher-level word that refers specifically to aunt and uncle, although there is sibling to refer to brother and sister.

 

So, intead of speak or talk you can use other words such as:

Speaking loudly:

• shout: speak in a loud voice, in anger or to get attention.
  He had to shout because the music was too loud.
• yell: cry out loudly, in fear, pain or excitement.
  She yelled in terror when she saw the dead cat.
• scream: cry out very loudly on a high note, in fear, pain, anger or laughter.
  The baby was screaming the whole day.
• shriek: scream.
  The men shrieked with laughter.
• call: speak in a loud clear voice, shout, cry.

      They called for help.

Speaking quietly

• whisper: speak softly, without vibrating the vocal cords, privately or secretly.
  She whispered the secret word in my ear.
• mumble: speak unclearly, so that others can't hear.
  He mumbled something at me which I didn't understand.
• mutter: speak in a low voice, which is hard to hear.
  She was muttering something to herself as she went out.
• murmur: speak in a soft, quiet voice that is difficult to hear clearly.
  The classmates murmured during the test.

Speaking a lot

• ramble: talk continuously, in a confused way.
  Stop rambling and get to the point, please!
• chat: have a friendly informal conversation.
  They chatted away in the corner.
• gossip: talk about the affairs of other people.
  She was gossiping about her neighbours all day.

Showing emotion

• whine: complain in a sad, annoying voice about something.
  'I don't want to go,' whined Peter.
• cheer: shout because of happiness.
  The public cheered when the team appeared.
• snap: say something quickly in an angry way.
  'What do you want?' the waiter snapped.

Being almost unable/willing to talk

• hesitate: be slow to speak (or act) because one is uncertain or unwilling to talk.
  He hesitated before answering my question.
• hum: make a low continuous sound, when you take a long time deciding what to say.
  She hummed at the beginning of the oral exam.
• grunt: make short sounds or say a few words in a rough voice, when you don't want to talk. (Pigs also grunt).
  She grunted a few words and left the table.
• stammer: speak with pauses and repeating the same sound or syllable, habitually or from fear or excitement.
  'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stammered.