Understanding ‘Labour’: Key IELTS Vocabulary Explained
Learn about the word ‘labour’ for your IELTS exam. This video covers its meanings as a noun and verb, etymology, synonyms, antonyms, and common usage errors. Improve your English vocabulary and avoid mistakes in spelling and pronunciation.
Imagine waking up every morning, getting ready, and heading to work. That daily effort you put in is what we call labour.
Today, we’re exploring this important word that’s not just part of our everyday lives, but also a key term for your IELTS exam.
Word type: Labour can function as both a noun and a verb in English.
Meaning: As a noun, labour refers to physical or mental work, especially hard physical work.
It can also mean the workers of a country or industry as a group. In a medical context, it describes the process of giving birth.
As a verb, to labour means to work hard or to have difficulty doing something.
Word history: The word labour comes from the Latin word labor, meaning toil, work, or exertion.
It entered the English language through Old French in the 14th century.
Antonyms: Some opposites of labour include rest, relaxation, and leisure.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to labour include work, toil, exertion, effort, and drudgery.
Examples use in sentences:
As a noun: The construction of the new bridge required a lot of manual labour. As a verb: He laboured for hours to finish the project before the deadline.
In its political sense: The Labour Party has been a major force in British politics for decades. In its medical use: She went into labour early in the morning.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing labour with labor. Labour is the British spelling, while labor is the American spelling.
In IELTS, you should consistently use British spelling, so remember to include the U in labour. Another error is using labour incorrectly in phrases.
For example, it’s correct to say hard labour or manual labour, but not heavy labour. Lastly, be careful with the pronunciation.
It’s not lay-bor, but lay-ber. To wrap up, labour is a versatile word that can describe the work we do, the workers as a group, or even the process of childbirth.
By understanding its various uses and contexts, you’ll be better equipped to use it correctly in your IELTS exam and in everyday communication.
Remember to practice using this word in your own sentences to fully grasp its meaning and usage.
