English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
Choose your level
View all levels
196 words
sort
B1
/soɹt/
A type or kind of thing or person.
sex
B1
/sɛks/
Whether a person or animal is male or female, based on their body and reproductive role.
chief
B1
/t͡ʃiːf/
The leader or head of a group, organization, or tribe.
general
B1
/ˈd͡ʒen.(ə.)ɹəl/
Relating to the main parts of something rather than the details.
detective
B1
/dɪˈtɛktɪv/
A police officer whose job is to solve crimes by gathering evidence.
drunk
B1
/dɹʌŋk/
Affected by drinking too much alcohol, so you cannot think or act normally.
gay
B1
/ɡeɪ/
Sexually attracted to people of the same sex; homosexual.
prince
B1
/pɹɪns/
The son of a king or queen, or a male member of a royal family.
spirit
B1
/ˈspɪɹɪt/
The non-physical part of a person, thought of as the seat of feelings and character; the soul.
fellow
B1
/ˈfɛloʊ/
A man or boy, often used in a friendly or casual way.
monster
B1
/ˈmɑnstɚ/
A large, frightening, imaginary creature.
opening
B1
/ˈoʊ.pə.nɪŋ/
A gap or hole that you can pass through or see through.
funeral
B1
/ˈfju.nəɹ.əl/
A ceremony held for a person who has died, usually with a burial or cremation.
personally
B1
/ˈpɝ.sə.nə.li/
Used to give your own opinion.
dating
B1
/ˈdeɪtɪŋ/
The activity of going out with people to find a romantic partner.
murderer
B1
/ˈmɝdɚɚ/
A person who kills another person on purpose.
liar
B1
/ˈlaɪ.ɚ/
A person who tells lies, especially one who lies often.
giant
B1
/ˈd͡ʒaɪ.ənt/
Extremely large.
poison
B1
/ˈpoɪ.zən/
A substance that can harm or kill a living thing if it is swallowed, breathed in, or absorbed.
governor
B1
/ˈɡʌv(ə)nə(ɹ)/
The person in charge of running a state or region, especially in the United States.
prisoner
B1
/ˈpɹɪzənɚ/
A person who is kept in a prison.
sports
B1
/spɔɹts/
Physical games and activities played according to rules; plural of sport.
reputation
B1
/ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/
The general opinion that people have about someone or something.
beloved
B1
/bɪˈlʌvd/
Loved very much.
identity
B1
/aɪˈdɛn(t)ɪti/
Who a person is; the qualities that make someone or something distinct.
confirm
B1
/kənˈfɝm/
To say or show that something is definitely true or correct.
status
B1
/ˈsteɪt.əs/
A person's position or rank compared to others in society.
patience
B1
/ˈpæɪ̯.ʃəns/
The ability to stay calm and wait without getting angry or upset.
behalf
B1
/bɪˈhæf/
Acting as the representative of, or for the benefit of, someone else (usually in 'on behalf of').
organization
B1
/ˌoɹ.ɡə.nɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
A group of people working together for a shared purpose, such as a company or charity.
monk
B1
/mʌŋk/
A man who lives apart from the world in a religious community and has taken religious vows.
individual
B1
/ɪndɪˈvɪd͡ʒʊəl/
A single person, considered separately from a group.
signature
B1
/ˈsɪɡ.nə.t͡ʃɚ/
Your name written by yourself, used to show who you are or that you approve something.
humanity
B1
/hjuˈmænɪti/
All human beings considered together as a group.
producer
B1
/pɹəˈdusɚ/
A person or company that makes goods or grows food to be sold.
intense
B1
/ˌɪnˈtɛns/
very strong, great, or extreme.
worthy
B1
/ˈwɝði/
Good enough to deserve respect, attention, or a particular thing.
typical
B1
/ˈtɪp.ɪ.kəl/
Having the usual qualities of a particular group, kind, or person.
remarkable
B1
/ɹɪˈmɑɹ.kə.bl̩/
So unusual or impressive that people notice and talk about it.
baker
B1
/ˈbeɪ.kɚ/
A person who makes and sells bread, cakes, and similar foods.
homeless
B1
/ˈhoʊmlɪs/
Having nowhere to live.
unfortunate
B1
/ʌnˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt/
Unlucky, or caused by bad luck.
technique
B1
/tɛkˈniːk/
A particular way of doing something that needs skill or knowledge.
terror
B1
/ˈtɛɹ.ɚ/
Very strong fear.
gossip
B1
/ˈɡɑsəp/
Talk or rumours about other people's private lives, often unkind or untrue.
mankind
B1
/mænˈkaɪnd/
All human beings considered together; the human race.
announcement
B1
/əˈnaʊns.mənt/
A public or official statement giving people information.
poet
B1
/ˈpoʊ.ət/
A person who writes poems.
tension
B1
/ˈtɛnʃən/
A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, often in difficult situations.
volunteer
B1
/ˌvɑlənˈtɪɹ/
A person who offers to do something, often without being paid.
sailor
B1
/ˈseɪ.lɚ/
A person who works on a ship or sails boats.
idol
B1
/ˈaɪ.dl̩/
A person who is greatly admired or loved, especially a famous entertainer.
butcher
B1
/ˈbʊt͡ʃɚ/
A person who cuts and sells meat.
celebrity
B1
/səˈlɛb.ɹɪ.ɾi/
A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport.
boxing
B1
/ˈbɑːksɪŋ/
A sport in which two people fight by punching each other with gloved fists.
generally
B1
/ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɚ.li/
In most cases; usually.
secretly
B1
/ˈsiː.kɹɪt.li/
in a way that is hidden from other people
carriage
B1
/ˈkæɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/
A vehicle with wheels, usually pulled by horses, for carrying people.
associate
B1
/əˈsoʊʃieɪt/
To connect one thing with another in your mind.
exclusive
B1
/ɪksˈkluːsɪv/
Limited to one person or group; not shared with others.
companion
B1
/kəmˈpæn.jən/
A person or animal you spend a lot of time with, often a friend or partner.
majority
B1
/məˈd͡ʒɑ.ɹɪti/
More than half of a group of people or things.
administration
B1
/ədˌmɪn.əˈstɹeɪ.ʃən/
The process of running or managing an organization, business, or system.
mutual
B1
/ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/
Felt or done by each of two or more people towards the other; reciprocal.
medium
B1
/ˈmiː.di.əm/
A way of communicating or presenting information.
settlement
B1
/ˈsɛ.təl.mənt/
An official agreement that ends a dispute, often without going to court.
choir
B1
/kwaɪɚ/
A group of people who sing together, especially in a church or at a concert.
landlord
B1
/ˈlæn(d).lɔɹd/
A person who rents out a room, house, or land to other people.
representative
B1
/ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛnt(ət)ɪv/
A person chosen to act or speak for others.
magician
B1
/məˈd͡ʒɪʃən/
A performer who entertains audiences with tricks and illusions.
herd
B1
/hɝd/
A large group of animals of one kind, especially cattle or other livestock, that live or move together.
alcoholic
B1
/ˌæl.kəˈhɔ.lɪk/
Containing alcohol.
accountant
B1
/əˈkaʊn.tənt/
A person whose job is to keep, check, and report on money records for a person or business.
resident
B1
/ˈɹɛzɪd(ə)nt/
A person who lives in a particular place.
architect
B1
/ˈɑɹ.kɪˌtɛkt/
A person whose job is to design buildings and oversee their construction.
wardrobe
B1
/ˈwɔɹdɹoʊb/
A tall piece of furniture used for storing clothes.
demonstration
B1
/ɖe.mɔːns.ʈreː.ʃən/
A public protest by a group of people, often about a political issue.
mechanic
B1
/mɪˈkænɪk/
A person whose job is to repair and maintain machines, especially vehicles.
relation
B1
/ɹəˈlæ̝ɪʃ(ə)n/
The way in which two or more things are connected.
adopt
B1
/əˈdɑpt/
To legally take another person's child into your family and raise it as your own.
consideration
B1
/kənˌsɪd.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
Careful thought about something before making a decision.
nevertheless
B1
/ˌnɛvɚðəˈlɛs/
In spite of what has just been said; even so.
supposedly
B1
/səˈpoʊ̯.zɪd.li/
According to what people say or believe, though it may not be true.
handwriting
B1
/ˈhændɹaɪtɪŋ/
The way a particular person writes by hand.
jewel
B1
/d͡ʒul/
A precious stone, especially one set in a ring or necklace.
sensation
B1
/sɛnˈseɪʃən/
A physical feeling that you get through your body, such as touch, heat, or pain.
confirmation
B1
/ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/
A statement or proof that something is true or has happened.
instructor
B1
/ɪnˈstɹʌktɚ/
A person who teaches a skill or subject, especially a practical one.
parrot
B1
/ˈpæɹət/
A brightly coloured tropical bird with a hooked beak that can copy human speech.
acquaintance
B1
/ʌˈkweɪn.təns/
Someone you know slightly, but who is not a close friend.
caller
B1
/ˈkɔlɚ/
A person who makes a telephone call.
competitive
B1
/kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/
Involving people or companies trying to be more successful than one another.
disabled
B1
/dɪˈseɪbəld/
Having a physical or mental condition that limits movement, senses, or activities.
skeleton
B1
/ˈskɛlətən/
the frame of bones that supports the body of a person or animal
terrorism
B1
/ˈtɛɹəɹɪzəm/
The use of violence and fear against people to achieve political aims.
specially
B1
/ˈspɛʃəli/
For one particular purpose, person, or occasion.