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.
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275 words
belongings
B2
/bɪˈlɔŋɪŋz/
The things that a person owns, especially items they can carry.
liberal
B2
/ˈlɪˌbɝːəl/
Willing to respect and accept ideas, behaviour, or opinions different from your own.
karaoke
B2
/ˌkæ.ɹiˈoʊ.ki/
A form of entertainment in which people sing popular songs along with recorded music while reading the words on a screen.
privately
B2
/ˈpɹaɪvɪtli/
In a way that is secret or only between the people directly involved.
dense
B2
/ˈdɛns/
Containing a lot of things or people packed closely together.
sympathetic
B2
/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/
Showing that you understand and care about someone's feelings or problems.
founder
B2
/ˈfæʊ̯n.də/
A person who starts or establishes a company, organization, or institution.
tame
B2
/teɪm/
(Of an animal) used to people and not wild or dangerous.
outsider
B2
/ˌaʊtˈsaɪdəɹ/
Someone who does not belong to a particular group, community, or organization.
scrooge
B2
/skɹuːd͡ʒ/
A person who hates spending money; a miser.
captive
B2
/ˈkæptɪv/
Kept as a prisoner or not allowed to be free.
needy
B2
/ˈniːdi/
Very poor and lacking the things needed to live.
offender
B2
/əˈfen.dɚ/
A person who breaks the law; a criminal.
patriot
B2
/ˈpeɪ.tɹi.ət/
A person who loves their country and is proud to support and defend it.
influential
B2
/ˌɪnfluˈɛnʃəl/
Having a lot of power to affect people, decisions, or events.
tyrant
B2
/ˈtaɪrənt/
A ruler who uses power in a cruel and unjust way.
conquest
B2
/ˈkɑnkwɛst/
The act of taking control of a country or people by force.
popularity
B2
/ˌpɑ.pjəˈlæɹ.ə.ti/
The state of being liked or enjoyed by many people.
usher
B2
/ˈʌʃəɹ/
To lead or guide someone to a place, especially to their seat.
holder
B2
/ˈhoʊɫdɚ/
An object made to hold or support something.
circumstance
B2
/ˈsɝ.kəmˌstæns/
A fact or condition that affects a situation or event.
supervision
B2
/ˌsupɚˈvɪʒən/
The act of watching over and directing a person, group, or activity.
diarrhea
B2
/ˌdaɪɝˈiːə/
An illness in which a person passes very soft or watery waste from the bowels frequently.
supplier
B2
/səˈplaɪə/
A person or company that provides goods or services to others.
analyst
B2
/ˈænəlɪst/
A person whose job is to study information carefully and explain what it means.
dictator
B2
/ˈdɪkˌteɪtəɹ/
A ruler who has complete power over a country, especially one who took it by force and rules cruelly.
commonwealth
B2
/ˈkɑmənˌwɛlθ/
A group of countries or states that share a common government or interests.
inventor
B2
/ɪnˈvɛntɚ/
A person who creates or designs something new.
trader
B2
/ˈtɹeɪdɚ/
A person who makes a living by buying and selling goods or shares.
muse
B2
/mjuz/
A person or thing that gives an artist ideas and inspiration.
helper
B2
/ˈhɛlpɚ/
A person who helps someone with a task.
nobility
B2
/noʊˈbɪlɪti/
The group of people in a society who have a high social rank, often with inherited titles; the aristocracy.
starvation
B2
/stɑɹˈveɪʃən/
Severe suffering or death caused by not having enough food.
explorer
B2
/ɛkˈsplɔːɹə(ɹ)/
A person who travels to unknown or unfamiliar places to discover new things.
diplomat
B2
/ˈdɪp.lə.mæt/
An official who represents their country in dealings with other countries.
peer
B2
/pɪɹ/
To look closely or with difficulty, as if trying to see something clearly.
youthful
B2
/ˈjuːθfəl/
Young, or looking and seeming young.
manufacturer
B2
/ˌmænjəˈfækt͡ʃɚɚ/
A person or company that makes goods, especially in large quantities.
flawless
B2
/ˈflɔ.ləs/
Perfect, with no faults or mistakes.
controversy
B2
/kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si/
A serious public argument or disagreement about something.
manhood
B2
/ˈmænhʊd/
the status of being a man
seeker
B2
/ˈsikəɹ/
A person who is looking for something or trying to get it.
needless
B2
/ˈniːdləs/
Not needed and able to be avoided; unnecessary.
worldly
B2
/ˈwɜː(ɹ)ldli/
Concerned with ordinary life and material things rather than with religion or the spirit.
disposition
B2
/ˌdɪs.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
A person's natural character or mood.
infrastructure
B2
/ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/
The basic systems and facilities a country or community needs to function, such as roads, power, and water.
ballot
B2
/ˈbælət/
A piece of paper used to record a secret vote.
holocaust
B2
/ˈhɑl.əˌkɔst/
A huge act of destruction and loss of life, especially by war or fire.
supervise
B2
/ˈsu.pɚˌvaɪz/
To watch over and direct a person, group, or task to make sure it is done properly.
outing
B2
/ˈaʊtɪŋ/
A short trip taken for pleasure, usually with other people.
trainee
B2
/tɹeɪˈni/
A person who is being trained for a job.
bossy
B2
/ˈbɔsi/
Always telling other people what to do in an annoying way.
bio
B2
/ˈbaɪoʊ/
A short description of a person's life or background, often on a profile.
infectious
B2
/ˌɪnˈfɛkʃəs/
Able to be passed from one person to another, used about a disease.
trio
B2
/ˈtɹioʊ/
A group of three people or things considered together.
lush
B2
/lʌʃ/
Growing thickly and healthily; full of green plants.
infect
B2
/ɪnˈfɛkt/
To pass a disease to a person, animal, or thing.
selfless
B2
/ˈsɛlfləs/
caring more about other people's needs than your own
spokesman
B2
/ˈspoʊksmən/
A man who speaks officially on behalf of a person or group.
archaeologist
B2
/ˌɑɹ.kiˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒɪst/
A person who studies human history by digging up and examining old objects and remains.
follower
B2
/ˈfɑːloʊɝ/
A person who subscribes to someone's posts on social media.
nobleman
B2
/ˈnoʊbl̩mən/
A man of high social rank, especially one with an inherited title.
pedestrian
B2
/pəˈdɛstɹiən/
A person who is walking, especially in a street or area where there are vehicles.
incurable
B2
/ˌɪnˈkjʊɹəbl/
Not able to be cured.
caveman
B2
/ˈkeɪvˌmæn/
an early human popularly imagined as living in caves
obituary
B2
/əˈbɪt͡ʃəˌwɛɹi/
An article in a newspaper about a person who has recently died, often describing their life.
mimic
B2
/ˈmɪm.ɪk/
To copy the way someone speaks or behaves, often to make people laugh.
thoughtless
B2
/ˈθɔtləs/
Not thinking about how your actions affect other people; inconsiderate.
unattractive
B2
/ˌənəˈtræktɪv/
Not pleasant to look at; lacking beauty or charm.
stereotype
B2
/ˈstɛɹ.i.əˌtaɪp/
A fixed, oversimplified idea about what a person or group is like.
recruitment
B2
/rɪˈkruːt.mənt /
The process of finding and hiring new people for jobs or for the armed forces.
healthcare
B2
/ˈhɛlθkɛɚ/
The services that keep people healthy and treat illness.
excel
B2
/ɪkˈsɛl/
To be very good at something; to do something extremely well.
ethic
B2
/ˈɛθ.ɪk/
A set of beliefs about what is right and wrong that guides a person or group.
jeweler
B2
/ˈd͡ʒuːələ(ɹ)/
A person who makes, repairs, or sells jewelry.
aristocracy
B2
/ˌɛɹ.ɪˈstɑ.kɹə.si/
The highest social class, usually with inherited titles and wealth.
shopkeeper
B2
/ˈʃɒpkiːpɚ/
A person who owns or runs a small shop.
commemorate
B2
/kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/
To honor and remember an important person or event, often with a ceremony.
mobility
B2
/moʊˈbɪlɪti/
The ability to move or be moved freely.
attribute
B2
/ˈæt.ɹɪˌbjut/
To say that something is caused by or belongs to a particular person or thing.
playwright
B2
/ˈpleɪˌɹaɪt/
A person who writes plays for the theatre.
sociable
B2
/ˈsoʊʃəbəl/
Friendly and enjoying the company of other people.
alcoholism
B2
/ˈælkə(ˌ)hɔˌlɪzəm/
A serious illness in which a person cannot control their drinking of alcohol.
enroll
B2
/ɛnˈɹoʊl/
To officially join a course, school, or organization.
spokesperson
B2
/ˈspoʊksˌpɝsən/
A person who speaks officially on behalf of a group, company, or organization.
vocalist
B2
/ˈvoʊkəlɪst/
A singer, especially in a band or group.
socialize
B2
/ˈsoʊʃəlaɪz/
To spend time with other people in a friendly, relaxed way.
outreach
B2
/ˈaʊtˌriːtʃ/
organized efforts to contact and provide information or services to people who might otherwise lack access
nomad
B2
/ˈnoʊmæd/
A member of a group of people who move from place to place rather than living in one fixed home, often to find food or pasture for their animals.
programmer
B2
/ˈpɹoʊɡɹæmɚ/
A person who writes computer programs.
mumble
B2
/ˈmʌmbəl/
To speak quietly and unclearly so people cannot understand you.
humanly
B2
/ˈhjuːmənli/
within the limits of human ability, effort, or endurance, especially in the phrase humanly possible
giveaway
B2
/ˈgɪvəˌweɪ/
Something given to people for free, often to promote a product.
innate
B2
/ɪˈneɪt/
Existing in a person or animal from birth; natural rather than learned.
townspeople
B2
/ˈtaʊnzˌpiːpəl/
the people who live in a particular town
sociology
B2
/ˌsoʊ.siˈɑː.lə.dʒi/
the systematic study of society, social institutions, relationships, groups, and patterns of human behaviour