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
41 words
sacrifice
C1
/ˈsæk.ɹɪˌfaɪs/
The act of giving up something valuable for the sake of something more important.
kirk
C1
/kɜɹk/
a Scottish church
almighty
C1
/ɔlˈmaɪti/
having unlimited power; omnipotent, especially as an epithet for God
prophet
C1
/ˈpɹɑ.fɪt/
A person believed to speak on behalf of God and deliver religious messages
preacher
C1
/ˈpɹit͡ʃɚ/
A person whose job is to give religious talks and lead worship.
rabbi
C1
/ˈræb.aɪ/
a Jewish religious scholar and teacher qualified to interpret Jewish law
shrine
C1
/ʃraɪn/
a sacred place dedicated to a deity, saint, ancestor, relic, or other revered figure
resurrection
C1
/ɹɛzəˈɹɛkʃən/
a revival from inactivity and disuse
congregation
C1
/ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən/
A group of people gathered together for a religious service.
archbishop
C1
/ˌɑɹtʃˈbɪʃəp/
a senior Christian bishop who leads an archdiocese or presides over a province of dioceses
chaplain
C1
/ˈtʃæplɪn/
a member of the clergy or another religious representative appointed to serve an institution, group, or private household
baptism
C1
/ˈbæptɪzəm/
a Christian sacrament or rite involving water that marks spiritual cleansing and admission to the Church
talisman
C1
/ˈtælɪzmən/
an object believed to provide magical protection, good luck, health, or power
friar
C1
/ˈfraɪɚ/
a male member of a Christian mendicant order, such as the Franciscans or Dominicans
papal
C1
/ˈpeɪpəl/
relating to the pope, the papacy, or the pope's authority
devout
C1
/dɪˈvaʊt/
deeply committed to a religion and its practices
confessor
C1
/kənˈfɛsɚ/
a priest who hears confessions and grants or pronounces absolution
archangel
C1
/ˈɑrkeɪndʒəl/
an angel of the highest or a particularly high rank in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition
rosary
C1
/ˈɹoʊzəɹi/
a string of beads used for counting prayers, especially in Roman Catholic devotion
sanctity
C1
/ˈsæŋktɪti/
The state of being holy or sacred.
theology
C1
/θiˈɒ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The study of God, religion, and religious beliefs.
sacrificial
C1
/ˌsækrəˈfɪʃəl/
relating to, offered in, or used for a religious or ritual sacrifice
devotee
C1
/ˌdɛv.əˈtiː/
A person who is extremely enthusiastic about and devoted to something.
christen
C1
/ˈkrɪs.ən/
to baptize someone in a Christian ceremony and formally give them a name
saintly
C1
/ˈseɪntli/
resembling or befitting a saint in holiness, virtue, patience, or kindness
nunnery
C1
/ˈnʌn(ə)ɹi/
a convent for nuns, or the buildings occupied by such a religious community
manna
C1
/ˈmænə/
in the Book of Exodus, the food miraculously supplied to the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness
cherub
C1
/ˈtʃɛrəb/
in Western art, an angel represented as a small, plump, winged child
evangelical
C1
/iːvænˈd͡ʒɛlɪkəl/
relating to a Protestant Christian movement that emphasizes personal conversion, biblical authority, and preaching the gospel
mythic
C1
/ˈmɪθɪk/
relating to, described in, or having the character of a myth
ecclesiastical
C1
/əˌkli.ziˈæ.stə.kəl/
Of or pertaining to the church.
devotional
C1
/dɪˈvoʊʃənəl/
relating to religious worship, prayer, or private devotion
mitre
C1
/ˈmaɪtəɹ/
a tall ceremonial headdress worn by a bishop or certain other church dignitaries
ordination
C1
/ˌɔːr.dənˈeɪ.ʃən/
the ceremony or process by which someone is officially made a priest, minister, or other religious leader
worshipper
C1
/ˈwɝʃɪpɚ/
a person who worships a god, especially one attending a religious service
graveside
C1
/ˈɡreɪv.saɪd/
the area immediately beside or around a grave
palmistry
C1
/ˈpɑməstri/
the claimed practice of interpreting the lines and features of a person's palm to describe character or predict the future
immolate
C1
/ˈɪm.ə.leɪt/
offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction
immolation
C1
/ˈɪməˌleɪʃən/
the act of killing, sacrificing, or destroying by fire
heathenism
C1
/ˈhiːðənˌɪzəm/
dated: beliefs or conduct regarded as non-Christian or irreligious
idolatry
C1
/aɪˈdɑːlətri/
the worship of idols or physical objects as gods