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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37 words
carol
C1
/ˈkærəl/
a joyful song, especially a traditional religious song sung at Christmas
canvas
C1
/ˈkænvəs/
A strong, rough cloth used for tents, sails, bags, and shoes.
masculine
C1
/ˈmæskjələn/
(music or poetry) ending on an accented beat or syllable
encore
C1
/ˈɑnkoɹ/
an extra or repeated performance given after the scheduled program, usually in response to applause
aesthetic
C1
/ɛsˈθɛ.tɪk/
Relating to beauty or the appreciation of beautiful things.
jig
C1
/dʒɪɡ/
a lively traditional dance with quick steps and jumps, or the music for it
concerto
C1
/kənˈt͡ʃɛɹtoʊ/
A piece of music written for one or more solo instruments and an orchestra.
presto
C1
/ˈprɛs.toʊ/
used to announce a sudden or seemingly magical result
tapestry
C1
/ˈtæp.ə.stri/
a thick woven textile with a picture or decorative design, especially one hung on a wall
palette
C1
/ˈpælɪt/
a thin board or other flat surface on which an artist arranges and mixes paints
calligraphy
C1
/kəˈlɪɡ.rə.fi/
the art or practice of producing beautiful, decorative handwriting
cadence
C1
/ˈkeɪdəns/
the rhythmic flow or pattern of sounds in speech, writing, or movement
fresco
C1
/ˈfrɛskoʊ/
the technique of painting with water-based pigment on fresh, damp plaster
falsetto
C1
/fɔlˈsɛt.oʊ/
a male singing voice with artificially high tones in an upper register
fanciful
C1
/ˈfænsɪfl̩/
Imagined rather than based on facts; unrealistic.
mandolin
C1
/ˈmæn.dəˌlɪn/
a small plucked string instrument of the lute family, usually with four paired courses tuned like a violin
romanticism
C1
/roʊˈmæn.tə.sɪ.zəm/
the late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century movement in European art, literature, and music that emphasized imagination, emotion, individual experience, and nature
smartly
C1
/ˈsmɑː(ɹ)tli/
in a stylish manner
patchwork
C1
/ˈpætʃˌwɝk/
the craft or method of sewing differently shaped pieces of fabric together into a larger design
artistically
C1
/ɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪstɪkli/
In a skilful or creative way that shows artistic taste.
monogram
C1
/ˈmɑː.nəˌɡræm/
a design made by combining or interweaving a person's or organization's initials as an identifying mark
couplet
C1
/ˈkʌplət/
two successive lines of verse that form a unit, often sharing a meter and rhyme
diorama
C1
/ˌdaɪəˈrɑmə/
a three-dimensional model or display of a scene, often with figures arranged before a painted background
croon
C1
/kruːn/
to sing or hum softly in a low, gentle, or sentimental voice
stencil
C1
/ˈstɛn.səl/
a thin sheet with letters, shapes, or a design cut from it, used to reproduce the pattern on another surface
warble
C1
/ˈwɔːr.bəl/
to sing with trills or rapid, smooth variations in pitch, like a bird
dramatize
C1
/ˈdræmətaɪz/
to adapt a story or event for performance as a play, film, radio work, or television program
symphonic
C1
/sɪmˈfɑː.nɪk/
relating to, written as, or characteristic of a symphony or symphony orchestra
timbre
C1
/ˈtæm.bɚ/
The quality of a sound independent of its pitch and volume.
inlay
C1
/ɪnˈleɪ/
to decorate a surface by setting pieces of another material into it
futurist
C1
/ˈfjuːtʃɝɪst/
a person who studies current trends in order to forecast possible future developments
poetess
C1
/ˈpoʊ.ɪˌtɛs/
A woman who writes poetry.
poetical
C1
/poʊˈɛtɪkl̩/
Synonym of poetic.
trenchant
C1
/ˈtɹɛnʃənt/
Fitted to trench or cut; gutting; sharp.
caricaturist
C1
/ˌker.ə.kəˈtʃʊr.ɪst/
an artist or writer who creates caricatures by exaggerating distinctive features for comic, critical, or satirical effect
recitative
C1
/ˌrɛsɪtəˈtiːv/
a speechlike style of singing in opera, oratorio, and related music, used especially to advance dialogue or narrative between more melodic passages
playact
C1
/ˈpleɪˌækt/
to behave theatrically or pretend feelings or intentions that are not genuine