Word
sardine
Phoneticssar·dine, stress on the second syllable
/sɑɹˈdin/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small silver fish from the sea that you often buy in a can.
n. a small marine fish of the herring family, widely eaten fresh or preserved in oil or brine.
Examples
“I eat sardines on toast for lunch.”
“She opens a can of sardines and mixes them with lemon and olive oil for a quick dinner.”
“Packed tightly in the tin, the sardines retained their rich, salty flavour that recalled small coastal markets and morning boats.”
Examples
simple
“I eat sardines on toast for lunch.”
contextual
“She opens a can of sardines and mixes them with lemon and olive oil for a quick dinner.”
complex
“Packed tightly in the tin, the sardines retained their rich, salty flavour that recalled small coastal markets and morning boats.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sardine” in context.
Verb
01. buy sardine
“I often buy sardines in cans from the supermarket.”
verb + noun
02. eat sardine
“They eat sardines on toast for breakfast.”
verb + noun
03. grill sardine
“My father grills sardines with olive oil and garlic.”
verb + noun
04. sardine swims
“The sardine swims in large groups called schools.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. canned sardine
“We ate canned sardines with bread for a quick lunch.”
adj + noun
06. fresh sardine
“You can buy fresh sardines at the harbour market.”
adj + noun
07. grilled sardine
“We tried grilled sardines with lemon at the restaurant.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. can of sardine
“I bought a can of sardines to make sandwiches.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a can of sardines
“He bought a can of sardines from the corner shop.”
10. a tin of sardines
“She opened a tin of sardines to make lunch.”
11. packed like sardines
“We were packed like sardines on the crowded bus.”
12. sardines on toast
“I had sardines on toast for breakfast this morning.”
Real-World Examples
“Sardines are a staple for Moroccan households, and the country is the world's top exporter of the fish, thanks to its long Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.” Etymology
Borrowed from French sardine (cognate with Spanish sardina, Italian sardina), Latin sardīna; from Ancient Greek σαρδίνη (sardínē).
Pliny states that its name was ultimately derived from Sardis, in Lydia, where the sard was first discovered; but probably ultimately derived from Persian sered ("yellowish-red").
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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