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
66 words
hunting
B2
/ˈhʌntɪŋ/
The activity of chasing and killing wild animals for food or sport.
punch
B2
/pʌnt͡ʃ/
A hard hit with the fist.
flesh
B2
/flɛʃ/
The soft part of the body between the skin and the bones.
starving
B2
/ˈstɑɹvɪŋ/
Extremely hungry.
goat
B2
/ɡoʊt/
A farm animal with horns, kept for its milk, meat, and wool.
dough
B2
/doʊ/
a thick, moldable mixture of flour and liquid, often with other ingredients, that is baked into bread or pastry
neat
B2
/ˈniːt/
Tidy and arranged in an orderly way.
cocktail
B2
/ˈkɑk.teɪl/
A mixed alcoholic drink, usually made from spirits combined with fruit juice or other flavours.
pudding
B2
/ˈpʊd.ɪŋ/
A sweet, soft dessert, often made with milk, eggs, or flour.
starve
B2
/stɑɹv/
To die or suffer badly because of a lack of food.
dash
B2
/dæʃ/
To run or move somewhere very quickly.
ling
B2
/ˈlɪŋ/
A long, slender saltwater fish related to cod, often eaten as food.
slaughter
B2
/ˈslɔtɚ/
To kill animals for food.
tray
B2
/tɹeɪ/
A flat object with raised edges used for carrying food, drinks, or other items.
peel
B2
/piːl/
To remove the skin or outer covering from a fruit or vegetable.
sage
B2
/seɪd͡ʒ/
A herb with grey-green leaves used to add flavor to food.
microwave
B2
/ˈmaɪkɹəˌweɪv/
An oven that cooks or heats food quickly using electromagnetic waves.
pickle
B2
/ˈpɪkəl/
A cucumber or other vegetable preserved in vinegar or salty water.
bourbon
B2
/ˈbɜː(ɹ).bən/
An American whiskey made mostly from corn and aged in charred oak barrels.
cocoa
B2
/ˈkoʊ.koʊ/
A hot drink made with milk or water, cocoa powder, and sugar.
thigh
B2
/θaɪ/
The part of the leg between the hip and the knee.
dairy
B2
/ˈdɛɚ.i/
Food made from milk, such as cheese, butter, and yogurt.
cracker
B2
/ˈkɹæk.ɚ/
a thin, dry, crisp biscuit, often eaten with cheese or a spread
salsa
B2
/ˈsɑl.sə/
A spicy sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and chilli peppers, often eaten with Mexican food.
catering
B2
/ˈkeɪt(ə)ɹɪŋ/
The business of providing food and drink for events and occasions.
risotto
B2
/rɪˈzoʊ.toʊ/
an Italian dish of rice cooked gradually in stock until creamy, often with cheese, vegetables, meat, or seafood
broth
B2
/brɑːθ/
a savory liquid made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables in water
bologna
B2
/bəˈloʊni/
a large, finely ground cooked sausage, typically made from a mixture of meats and served in slices
almond
B2
/ˈɑːl.mənd/
the edible oval seed of the almond tree, commonly treated as a nut
mutton
B2
/ˈməʈʈən/
The meat of an adult sheep, eaten as food.
asparagus
B2
/əˈspær.ə.ɡəs/
the tender young shoots of Asparagus officinalis, eaten as a vegetable
barley
B2
/ˈbɑɹli/
A grain crop used as food and for making beer and whisky.
nibble
B2
/ˈnɪbəl/
to eat something in small bites, often slowly or intermittently
bran
B2
/bræn/
the tough outer layers of a cereal grain, separated from flour during milling and used as food or animal feed
waterproof
B2
/ˈwɔt̬ɚˌpruf/
Made so that water cannot get through or in.
refreshment
B2
/rəˈfrɛʃmənt/
That which refreshes, such as a light snack or drink.
typhoid
B2
/ˈtaɪ.fɔɪd/
A serious infectious disease that causes fever and severe stomach illness, spread through contaminated food or water.
respiration
B2
/ɹɛspɪˈɹeɪʃən/
The process of breathing in and out.
prawn
B2
/pɹɔn/
A small sea creature with a shell and ten legs, eaten as food and similar to a shrimp.
deliverance
B2
/dɪˈlɪvɝəns/
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
tripe
B2
/traɪp/
the prepared stomach lining of a cow or another ruminant, eaten as food
pâté
B2
/pæˈteɪ/
a rich, smooth paste made from finely ground meat, fish, or vegetables, often served cold
paprika
B2
/pəˈpɹiːkə/
a red powdered spice made from dried sweet peppers or chili peppers
nutmeg
B2
/ˈnʌtmɛɡ/
the hard aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, grated or ground for use as a spice
fillet
B2
/ˈfɪlɪt/
a boneless piece or strip of meat or fish, especially a tender cut of beef or a side of fish
teaspoon
B2
/ˈtiˌspun/
A small spoon used for stirring drinks like tea or coffee.
centigrade
B2
/ˈsɛntəˌgreɪd/
Measuring temperature on a scale where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees.
artichoke
B2
/ˈɑɹtətʃoʊk/
the immature flower head of the globe artichoke, whose fleshy leaf bases and heart are eaten as a vegetable
millet
B2
/ˈmɪlət/
a small round grain produced by several cereal grasses and eaten as food
cutlet
B2
/ˈkʌt.lət/
a small, usually thin piece of meat, often cut from near the ribs and cooked by frying or grilling
lentil
B2
/ˈlɛn.təl/
a small, flat, lens-shaped seed cooked and eaten as a pulse
gooseberry
B2
/ˈɡusˌbɛɹi/
a small, round, tart berry, usually green, yellow, or red, used fresh or in preserves and desserts
soybean
B2
/ˈsɔɪˌbin/
The edible bean of a plant grown widely for food and oil, rich in protein.
buckwheat
B2
/ˈbʌkˌwiːt/
a broad-leaved Asian plant grown for its edible triangular seeds, especially Fagopyrum esculentum
whey
B2
/weɪ/
the watery liquid left after milk has curdled and the curds have been removed, especially during cheesemaking
preservative
B2
/prɪˈzɝvətɪv/
a substance added to food, medicine, wood, or another material to prevent decay, spoilage, or deterioration
eatable
B2
/ˈiːtəbəl/
fit or suitable to be eaten, though not necessarily pleasant
wineglass
B2
/ˈwaɪnˌɡlæs/
a drinking glass, typically with a bowl, stem, and foot, designed for serving wine
serviette
B2
/ˌsɝː.viˈet/
a square of cloth or paper used at a meal to protect clothing and wipe the mouth or fingers; a napkin
overfeed
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈfiːd/
to give a person or animal more food than is healthy or necessary
sparerib
B2
/ˌspɛɚˈɹɪb/
A cut of pork ribs with most of the meat trimmed away.
junk food
B2
crockery
B2
/ˈkrɑkəri/
plates, dishes, cups, and other similar items used for serving and eating food
meringue
B2
/məˈræŋ/
a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar, baked until crisp
rind
B2
/ɹaɪnd/
the tough outer layer of certain fruits, especially citrus fruits
pepper-shaker
B2
/ˈpɛpərˌʃeɪkər/
a small container with perforations in its top, used for sprinkling ground pepper