tuna
B1Informal to neutral.
Definition
Meaning
A large, saltwater fish, prized as food and for sport fishing.
1. The edible flesh of this fish, often canned or served as steaks. 2. Colloquial term for money in some contexts (US slang, archaic).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to the fish (noun) and its meat (uncountable noun). The slang meaning for money is dated and rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The slang for 'money' is primarily American. The fish 'tunny' is a less common British variant.
Connotations
In both varieties, primarily associated with food (sandwiches, salads, steaks) and fishing. In the US, may evoke stronger associations with canned food and 'tuna casserole'.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties for the core meaning.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[eat/have/cook] + tuna[a can/packet/steak] of tunatuna + [is/are] + caught/fishedVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[US, dated] He's got a lot of tuna. (He has a lot of money.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the fishing industry, import/export, and food retail sectors.
Academic
Used in marine biology, environmental studies (overfishing), and culinary arts.
Everyday
Commonly used in contexts of cooking, shopping, and dining.
Technical
Specific species names are used (Thunnus albacares - yellowfin, Thunnus thynnus - bluefin).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To tuna
- tunaing
- tunaed
American English
- To tuna
- tunaing
- tunaed
adjective
British English
- tuna-filled sandwich
American English
- tuna-based salad
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like tuna sandwiches.
- We bought a can of tuna.
- Would you prefer chicken or tuna for your salad?
- Fresh tuna is more expensive than the canned variety.
- The conservation status of bluefin tuna has become a major international issue.
- She prepared a Nicoise salad with seared tuna and green beans.
- The documentary exposed the unsustainable practices of some industrial tuna fisheries.
- His dissertation analysed the regulatory frameworks governing transboundary tuna stocks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TUNE a fish might sing. A TUNA sings a 'tune-a'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TUNA IS A RESOURCE (to be harvested, canned, consumed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid false cognate with Russian 'тунец' (tunets) - it's the same word, so no trap. Ensure correct declension in English (uncountable for meat: 'some tuna', 'a lot of tuna').
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun for the meat: *'I ate two tunas.' (Correct: 'I ate two tuna steaks' or 'I ate some tuna.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common collocation with 'tuna'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring to the meat/food, it is uncountable (e.g., 'some tuna'). When referring to individual fish, it can be countable (e.g., 'We caught three tuna').
'Tunny' is an older, chiefly British term for the same fish, but 'tuna' is now the standard term worldwide.
Primarily no. There is dated American slang for 'money', and it is also the name of a type of cactus fruit (prickly pear), but the fish meaning is overwhelmingly dominant.
Yes, 'tuna fish' is a common, though somewhat redundant, compound noun used especially to distinguish it from other meanings or in contexts like 'tuna fish salad'.