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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517 words
excuse
B2
/ɪksˈkjuz/
A reason you give to explain or defend a mistake or failure.
tough
B2
/tɐf/
Difficult to do or deal with.
cute
B2
/kjuːt/
Pretty and attractive, especially in a small, sweet way.
evil
B2
/ˈi.vəl/
Morally very bad; wanting to harm others.
grand
B2
/ɡɹænd/
Large, impressive, and magnificent.
sexy
B2
/ˈsɛk.si/
Sexually attractive or appealing.
rat
B2
/ɹæt/
A small grey or brown rodent with a long tail, larger than a mouse.
crack
B2
/ˈkræk/
A line on a surface where something has broken but not separated.
literally
B2
/ˈlɪtəɹəli/
In the exact, basic sense of the words; not figuratively.
squad
B2
/ˈskwɑd/
A small group of people working or trained together for a common purpose.
estate
B2
/ɛˈsteɪt/
A large area of land owned by one person or family, usually with a big house.
nightmare
B2
/ˈnaɪt.mɛɚ/
A frightening or upsetting dream.
actual
B2
/ˈækʃuəl/
real and existing in fact, rather than imagined or guessed
mask
B2
/mask/
A covering for the face, used for protection or to hide who you are.
navy
B2
/ˈneɪvi/
The part of a country's armed forces that fights at sea, including its ships and sailors.
fever
B2
/ˈfivɚ/
A body temperature that is higher than normal, usually caused by illness.
mighty
B2
/ˈmaɪti/
Very strong, large, or powerful.
legend
B2
/ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/
An old, well-known story that may not be completely true.
fox
B2
/fɑks/
A wild animal like a small dog, with reddish-brown fur, pointed ears, and a long bushy tail.
precisely
B2
/pɹɪˈsaɪs.li/
Exactly; in an exact way.
pulse
B2
/pʌls/
The regular beating of blood through your body, which you can feel at your wrist or neck.
pitch
B2
/pɪt͡ʃ/
To throw a ball, especially to a batter in baseball.
snap
B2
/snæp/
To break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound.
chop
B2
/t͡ʃɑp/
To cut something into pieces with quick, hard strokes of a knife or axe.
jet
B2
/ˈd͡ʒɛt/
A fast aircraft powered by jet engines instead of propellers.
invisible
B2
/ɪnˈvɪzəb(ə)l/
Impossible to see; not able to be seen.
whiskey
B2
/ˈwɪski/
A strong alcoholic drink made from grain such as barley, corn, or rye.
fabulous
B2
/ˈfæbjʊləs/
Extremely good; wonderful.
cable
B2
/ˈkeɪ.bəl/
A set of wires covered in plastic that carries electricity or signals.
squeeze
B2
/skwiːz/
To press something firmly, especially from two sides.
badge
B2
/bæd͡ʒ/
A small piece of metal, plastic, or cloth worn to show who you are, your rank, or that you belong to a group.
polish
B2
/ˈpoʊlɪʃ/
To rub the surface of something to make it smooth and shiny.
eagle
B2
/ˈiːɡəl/
A large, powerful bird of prey with a hooked beak and very sharp eyesight.
barn
B2
/[ˈbɑɹn]/
A large farm building used to store crops or keep animals.
patch
B2
/pæt͡ʃ/
A piece of material used to cover and repair a hole in clothing or another object.
rocky
B2
/ˈɹɑki/
Covered with or full of rocks.
sack
B2
/ˈsæk/
A large bag made of strong material like cloth or paper, used for carrying things.
gently
B2
/ˈd͡ʒɛntli/
In a soft, careful, and kind way.
petty
B2
/ˈpɛt.i/
Small and not important.
tag
B2
/teɪɡ/
A small label attached to something to give information or identify it.
cherry
B2
/ˈtʃɛri/
A small, round, red or dark fruit with a stone in the middle.
lance
B2
/læns/
A long spear used by soldiers on horseback.
stink
B2
/stɪŋk/
To have a strong, unpleasant smell.
rusty
B2
/ˈɹʌsti/
Covered with rust, the reddish-brown coating that forms on old metal.
twisted
B2
/ˈtwɪstɪd/
Bent or turned out of its normal shape; distorted.
sweep
B2
/swip/
To clean a floor or surface using a broom or brush.
tender
B2
/ˈtɛn.dɚ/
Gentle, kind, and loving.
tub
B2
/tʌb/
A small round plastic container with a lid, used for holding food or other things.
so-called
B2
/ˈsoʊˌkɔld/
Called by this name, though the speaker doubts it is true or deserved.
strictly
B2
/ˈstɹɪktli/
In a way that follows rules exactly and without exception.
deer
B2
/dɪɹ/
A wild animal with long legs and hooves; the males often have antlers.
strict
B2
/stɹɪkt/
Demanding that rules are obeyed and not allowing bad behavior.
stiff
B2
/stɪf/
Hard to bend or move; rigid.
concrete
B2
/ˌkɑnˈkɹit/
a hard building material made by mixing cement, sand, and water
laser
B2
/ˈleɪzɚ/
A device that produces a narrow, powerful beam of light.
rainbow
B2
/ˈɹeɪnboʊ/
A curved band of colours in the sky, formed when sunlight passes through rain.
illusion
B2
/[ɪˈluː.ʒən]/
A false idea or belief about something.
fatal
B2
/ˈfeɪ.təl/
Causing death.
copper
B2
/ˈkɑpəɹ/
A soft reddish-brown metal (symbol Cu) used in wires, pipes, and coins.
mansion
B2
/ˈmæn.ʃən/
A very large, grand, and expensive house.
donkey
B2
/ˈdɑŋ.ki/
A grey animal with long ears, similar to a small horse, used for carrying loads.
worm
B2
/wɝm/
A long, thin, soft creature with no legs that lives in soil.
ultimately
B2
/ˈʌl.tɪ.mɪt.li/
In the end; finally.
convention
B2
/kənˈvɛnʃən/
A way of behaving or doing things that most people in a group accept as normal.
creek
B2
/kɹik/
A small natural stream of water, smaller than a river.
gasp
B2
/ɡasp/
To take a sudden, short breath in, usually from shock or surprise.
crucial
B2
/ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/
Extremely important because it affects how something will turn out.
crab
B2
/ˈkræb/
A sea creature with a hard shell, ten legs, and large front claws.
olive
B2
/ˈɑ.lɪv/
A small, oval fruit with a stone inside, eaten as food or pressed for its oil; green when unripe, black when ripe.
bizarre
B2
/bɪˈzɑː(ɹ)/
Very strange and unusual in a surprising way.
identical
B2
/ɪˈdɛntɪkl̩/
Exactly the same; impossible to tell apart.
legitimate
B2
/lɪˈd͡ʒɪt.ɪ.mət/
Allowed by or in accordance with the law.
cope
B2
/koʊp/
To deal successfully with something difficult.
modest
B2
/ˈmɑdəst/
Not very large in size or amount.
essentially
B2
/ɪˈsɛnʃəli/
In the most basic and important way; really.
spark
B2
/spɑɹk/
A tiny burning or flashing piece of fire, often produced by something hot or electrical.
fierce
B2
/fɪɹs/
Very strong, violent, or intense.
pumpkin
B2
/ˈpʌm(p).kɪn/
A large round orange fruit that grows on a vine and is used as food and for decoration.
swan
B2
/swɑn/
A large water bird with a long neck and usually white feathers.
notebook
B2
/ˈnoʊtˌbʊk/
A book with blank pages for writing notes.
stain
B2
/steɪn/
A dirty mark that is hard to remove.
hairy
B2
/ˈhɛɹ.i/
Covered with a lot of hair.
childish
B2
/ˈt͡ʃaɪldɪʃ/
Behaving in a silly, immature way that you would not expect from an adult.
universal
B2
/ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/
Shared by or true for everyone in a group.
cane
B2
/keɪn/
A thin stick that someone leans on to help them walk.
exotic
B2
/ɪɡˈzɑtɪk/
From a faraway country and seeming exciting or unusual.
venture
B2
/ˈvɛn.t͡ʃɚ/
A new project or business activity, especially a risky one.
utterly
B2
/ˈʌtɝli/
Completely and totally.
coconut
B2
/ˈkoʊ.kəˌnʌt/
The large brown fruit of the coconut palm, with a hard, hairy shell and sweet white flesh inside.
thoroughly
B2
/ˈθɜɹ.ə.li/
In a careful and complete way.
clumsy
B2
/ˈklʌmzi/
Moving in an awkward way and often dropping or knocking things.
mock
B2
/mɔk/
To laugh at someone or something in an unkind way.
naval
B2
/ˈneɪvəl/
Connected with a navy or its ships.
peach
B2
/piːt͡ʃ/
A soft, round, juicy fruit with sweet yellow flesh and a fuzzy reddish-yellow skin.
mint
B2
/mɪnt/
A place where coins are officially made.
roar
B2
/ˈɹoɹ/
Of an animal such as a lion, to make a long, loud, deep sound.