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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64 words
dumb
B2
/dʌm/
Stupid or silly (informal).
attached
B2
/əˈtætʃt/
Feeling fondness or affection for someone or something.
Dutch
B2
/dʌtʃ/
relating to the Netherlands, its people, culture, or language
draft
B2
/ˈdræft/
An early version of a piece of writing that you may still change.
info
B2
/ˈɪnfoʊ/
Information; facts or details about something.
reminder
B2
/ɹɪˈmaɪndəɹ/
A message or note that helps you remember something.
likewise
B2
/ˈlaɪkˌwaɪz/
In the same way; similarly.
metaphor
B2
/ˈmɛt.ə.foɹ/
A way of describing something by calling it something else to suggest they are alike, without using 'like' or 'as'.
brag
B2
/ˈbɹeɪ̯ɡ/
To talk with too much pride about what you have or have done.
troll
B2
/tɹɑl/
someone who deliberately provokes or harasses people online
gibberish
B2
/ˈd͡ʒɪ.bə.ɹɪʃ/
speech or writing that is unintelligible, incoherent, or meaningless
posh
B2
/pɑʃ/
Elegant, luxurious, and often expensive.
interpretation
B2
/ɪnˌtɝpɹəˈteɪʃən/
the meaning or explanation you give to something that is not clear.
deliberate
B2
/dɪˈlɪb.ɚ.ət/
Done on purpose, not by accident.
subtitle
B2
/ˈsʌbtaɪtəl/
Words shown on screen that translate or write out the dialogue in a film or show.
interpret
B2
/ɪnˈtɝ.pɹɪt/
to decide what something means; to understand it in a particular way.
verbal
B2
/ˈvɝ.bəl/
Spoken rather than written.
forum
B2
/ˈfɔɹəm/
A place, meeting, or website where people exchange ideas and opinions.
scramble
B2
/ˈskɹæmbl̩/
To climb or move quickly using your hands and feet, especially over rough ground.
whine
B2
/waɪn/
to complain in an irritating, high-pitched, or drawn-out voice; informal and disapproving
completion
B2
/kəmˈpliːʃən/
The act of finishing something, or the state of being finished.
slang
B2
/ˈslæŋ/
Very informal words and expressions used in everyday speech rather than formal language.
forthcoming
B2
/fɔɹθˈkʌmɪŋ/
Going to happen or appear soon.
ditto
B2
/ˈdɪtoʊ/
in the same way; with the same statement applying to what follows
imagery
B2
/ˈɪmɪd͡ʒɹi/
Vivid language that creates pictures in the reader's mind, especially in writing.
repetition
B2
/ˌɹɛp.əˈtɪʃ.ən/
The act of doing or saying something again.
converse
B2
/kənˈvɝs/
To talk with someone; to have a conversation.
specify
B2
/ˈspɛs.əˌfaɪ/
To state something clearly and exactly.
comprehension
B2
/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/
the ability to understand something
coherent
B2
/koʊˈhɛɹ.ənt/
Logical, clear, and well organized, with all the parts fitting together.
illustrate
B2
/ˈɪl.əˌstɹeɪt/
To make something clearer by giving an example or comparison.
prose
B2
/ˈpɹoʊz/
Ordinary written or spoken language, as opposed to poetry.
verbally
B2
/vɝˈbæli/
In spoken words rather than in writing.
mouthpiece
B2
/ˈmaʊθ.piːs/
the part of a pipe, musical instrument, telephone, or similar device placed at or near the mouth
whisperer
B2
/ˈwɪspɚɚ/
a person who speaks very quietly or in whispers
falter
B2
/ˈfɔltəɹ/
To become weaker or less steady; to lose strength or confidence.
caption
B2
/ˈkæp.ʃən/
A short piece of text printed under a picture to explain it.
fib
B2
/fɪb/
a small or relatively harmless lie
illustration
B2
/ˌɪl.əˈstɹeɪ.ʃən/
A picture or drawing in a book, magazine, or other text.
scribble
B2
/ˈskɹɪbəl/
To write or draw something quickly and carelessly.
sonnet
B2
/ˈsɒnɪt/
A poem of fourteen lines with a fixed rhyme scheme.
sneer
B2
/snɪɚ̯/
To smile or speak in a way that shows scorn or contempt.
stammer
B2
/ˈstæmɚ/
To speak with difficulty, repeating sounds or pausing nervously.
postmark
B2
/ˈpoʊstˌmɑrk/
an official mark stamped on mail that usually records where and when it entered the postal system and cancels the stamp
unburden
B2
/ʌnˈbɝː.dən/
to relieve yourself of worries, guilt, or secrets by telling someone about them
crier
B2
/ˈkɹaɪɚ/
historical: an official who publicly announced news, proclamations, or court proceedings
clamor
B2
/ˈklæm.ɚ/
loud and persistent outcry from many people
advocacy
B2
/ˈædvəkəsi/
public support for an idea, cause, policy, or course of action
legible
B2
/ˈlɛdʒəbəl/
clear enough to be read or deciphered
synonym
B2
/ˈsɪn.əˌnɪm/
A word or phrase that means the same, or nearly the same, as another.
intonation
B2
/ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/
the pattern of rising and falling pitch in a person's speech
generalize
B2
/ˈd͡ʒen.(ə.)ɹə.lɑez/
To make a broad statement that is supposed to apply to many cases, based on only a few examples.
bookish
B2
/ˈbʊkɪʃ/
Very fond of reading and studying.
postscript
B2
/ˈpoʊstˌskrɪpt/
a note added to a letter after the signature, usually introduced by P.S.
communicative
B2
/kəˈmjuː.nə.keɪ.t̬ɪv/
Willing to talk and share information with others.
misinterpretation
B2
/ˌmɪsɪnˌtɝːprəˈteɪʃən/
an incorrect understanding or explanation of something
subjunctive
B2
/səbˈd͡ʒʌŋktɪv/
Relating to a verb form used to show wishes, doubts, or things that are not facts.
fluency
B2
/ˈfluːənsi/
The ability to speak or write a language smoothly and easily.
indent
B2
/ˈɪndɛnt/
To begin a line of text further from the margin than the other lines.
referent
B2
/ˈɹɛf(ə)ɹənt/
The thing in the world that a word or phrase refers to.
reword
B2
/ˌriˈwɝd/
to express the same statement or idea again using different words
italicize
B2
/ɪˈtæl.ɪ.saɪz/
To print or write words in italics, the slanted style of letters
first language
B2
charade
B2
/ʃəˈreɪd/
an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance