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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32 words
cargo
C1
/ˈkɑɹɡoʊ/
Goods carried by a ship, aircraft, or vehicle.
bachelor
C1
/ˈbæt͡ʃ.ə.lɚ/
A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
shuttle
C1
/ˈʃʌt.əl/
a bus, train, aircraft, or other service that travels regularly between two points
saddle
C1
/ˈsæd(ə)l/
a seat fastened on a horse, bicycle, or similar vehicle for a rider
beacon
C1
/ˈbiːkən/
a fire, light, or signal used to warn or guide people
charter
C1
/ˈt͡ʃɑɹtɚ/
An official document that establishes an organization and sets out its rights and purposes.
clutch
C1
/klʌt͡ʃ/
To hold something tightly, usually with your hands.
manifest
C1
/ˈmænəˌfɛst/
Clear and obvious; easily seen or understood.
salvage
C1
/ˈsælvɪd͡ʒ/
To save something from being lost, damaged, or destroyed.
radiator
C1
/ˈreːdijeː(j)tɐ/
A metal device that gives off heat to warm a room, usually carrying hot water or steam.
propulsion
C1
/prəˈpʌl.ʃən/
the action or process of driving something forward
keel
C1
/kiːl/
the main lengthwise structure along the bottom of a ship or boat, supporting its frame and helping stabilize it
firewall
C1
/ˈfaɪ(ə)ɹˌwɔl/
A security system that controls the traffic coming into and out of a computer network
nautical
C1
/ˈnɔː.tɪ.kəl/
relating to ships, sailors, navigation, or travel by sea
gangway
C1
/ˈɡæŋweɪ/
a passage for walking between rows of seats, shelves, cabins, or other confined areas
dinghy
C1
/ˈdɪŋ.i/
a small open boat propelled by oars or a motor, often carried or towed by a larger vessel
gondola
C1
/ˈɡɑːn.də.lə/
a long, narrow, flat-bottomed Venetian boat propelled and steered with a single oar
aviator
C1
/ˈeɪ.viˌeɪ.tɚ/
a person who flies or operates an aircraft, especially a military or early aircraft pilot
jetty
C1
/ˈd͡ʒɛti/
a structure projecting into water to protect a shore or harbor, influence currents, or provide a landing place
congestion
C1
/kənˈdʒɛstʃən/
a state in which a road, place, or system is overcrowded or blocked, preventing free movement
tiller
C1
/ˈtɪlɚ/
a lever used to turn a boat's rudder and control its direction
stateroom
C1
/ˈsteɪtˌruːm/
a private sleeping cabin on a passenger ship or train
viaduct
C1
/ˈvaɪəˌdʌkt/
a long bridge, typically supported by a series of arches or spans, that carries a road or railway across a valley, low ground, or another obstacle
omnibus
C1
/ˈɑm.nə.bəs/
a bus, especially a large horse-drawn public vehicle of the nineteenth century
whaler
C1
/ˈweɪlɚ/
a person who hunts whales or works in the whaling industry
seamanship
C1
/ˈsiːmənˌʃɪp/
skill and practical knowledge in navigating, handling, operating, and maintaining a ship or boat
snowshoe
C1
/ˈsnoʊˌʃuː/
a broad, lightweight frame or platform attached to the foot to distribute weight when walking over deep snow
laneway
C1
/ˈleɪnˌweɪ/
a narrow road, lane, alley, or passage, often running behind or between buildings
balloonist
C1
/bəˈluːnɪst/
a person who pilots or travels in a balloon, especially a hot-air or gas balloon
footboard
C1
/ˈfʊtˌbɔrd/
a narrow platform or board on a vehicle, carriage, or railway car on which a person may stand or rest the feet
taximeter
C1
/ˈtæk.siˌmiː.t̬ɚ/
a device in a taxi that calculates and displays the fare according to distance traveled and waiting time
tailfin
C1
/ˈteɪlfɪn/
a decorative upswept extension on the rear of a car, popular in the 1950s and 1960s