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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61 words
unprofessional
C2+
/ˌənprəˈfɛʃənəl/
not characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession
unprepared
C2+
/ˌənpriːˈpɛrd/
Not prepared; caught by surprise.
tumble-down
C2+
/ˈtʌmbəlˌdaʊn/
dilapidated, ramshackle, or in such poor condition that collapse seems likely
chairback
C2+
/ˈtʃɛrˌbæk/
the upright rear part of a chair that supports the sitter's back
doghole
C2+
/ˈdɔɡˌhoʊl/
derogatory: a mean, cramped, or squalid dwelling or place considered fit only for dogs
girandole
C2+
/ˈdʒɪrənˌdoʊl/
an ornamental branched candlestick or wall light, often mounted against a mirror
washpan
C2+
/ˈwɑːʃˌpæn/
a broad, shallow pan or basin used to hold water for washing
loghouse
C2+
/ˈlɔːɡˌhaʊs/
a house built from horizontally laid logs; a log cabin
closet
C2+
/ˈklɑzət/
a small enclosed storage room; to shut away in private
mat
C2+
/mæt/
a piece of coarse fabric for the floor; also to become tangled
bakehouse
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌhaʊs/
a building or room in which bread is baked; a bakery
perennial
C2+
/pəˈrɛniəl/
lasting or recurring through many years; a plant living for years
senate
C2+
/ˈsɛnət/
a legislative or governing assembly, especially an upper house
bedchamber
C2+
/ˈbɛdˌtʃeɪmbɚ/
a private room used for sleeping; a bedroom
bridewell
C2+
/ˈbraɪdwɛl/
(archaic) a prison or house of correction
cathedra
C2+
/kəˈθidrə/
the official chair or throne of a bishop or professor
flooring
C2+
/ˈflɔrɪŋ/
the material used to make the floor of a room
gutter
C2+
/ˈɡʌtɚ/
a channel along a roof or roadside for carrying off rainwater
gymnasium
C2+
/dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a room or building equipped for physical exercise or sports
lounge
C2+
/laʊndʒ/
a room for relaxing; to recline or loll idly
moggy
C2+
/ˈmɑɡi/
a cat, especially a non-pedigree or ordinary house cat
barroom
C2+
/ˈbɑrˌrum/
a room or establishment with a bar serving alcoholic drinks
bedfast
C2+
/ˈbɛdˌfæst/
confined to bed by illness; bedridden
biologically
C2+
/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkli/
in a way relating to biology or living organisms
buttress
C2+
/ˈbʌtrəs/
a support projecting from a wall; to reinforce or strengthen
cabinetmaking
C2+
/ˈkæbɪnətˌmeɪkɪŋ/
the craft of making fine wooden furniture and cabinets
cabinetworker
C2+
/ˈkæbɪnətˌwɜrkɚ/
a skilled craftsman who makes cabinets and fine furniture
ceil
C2+
/sil/
to line or cover the inner roof of a room with plaster or boards
curtilage
C2+
/ˈkɜrtɪlɪdʒ/
the enclosed land immediately surrounding a house
dresser
C2+
/ˈdrɛsər/
a chest of drawers or a kitchen sideboard for dishes
estray
C2+
/ɪˈstreɪ/
a domestic animal found wandering with no apparent owner
grille
C2+
/ˈɡrɪl/
a grating of bars protecting an opening or window
hinge
C2+
/hɪndʒ/
a jointed device on which a door turns; to depend on something
householdry
C2+
/ˈhaʊsˌhoʊldri/
household affairs or domestic management
lodger
C2+
/ˈlɑdʒɚ/
a person who rents a room in another's house
maisonette
C2+
/ˌmeɪzəˈnɛt/
a small house or a two-floor apartment with its own entrance
manservant
C2+
/ˈmænˌsɝvənt/
a male domestic servant
menage
C2+
/meɪˈnɑʒ/
a household or domestic establishment and its members
mendicity
C2+
/mɛnˈdɪsəti/
the state or practice of begging for a living
mog
C2+
/mɑɡ/
a cat, especially an ordinary domestic one
patio
C2+
/ˈpætioʊ/
a paved outdoor area adjoining a house
physiology
C2+
/ˌfɪziˈɑlədʒi/
the branch of biology dealing with the functions of living organisms and their parts
quilt
C2+
/kwɪlt/
a padded bed covering of stitched layers, or to make one
sedan
C2+
/sɪˈdæn/
an enclosed car seating four or more; an enclosed carried chair
summertree
C2+
/ˈsʌmɚtri/
a main horizontal beam supporting the joists of a floor or roof
tabulate
C2+
/ˈtæbjəleɪt/
to arrange data in a table or systematic column form
thatch
C2+
/θætʃ/
straw or reeds used to make a roof; to roof with such material
toxin
C2+
/ˈtɑksɪn/
a poisonous substance produced by a living organism
unfurnish
C2+
/ʌnˈfɜrnɪʃ/
to strip of furniture or equipment
ma'am
C2+
/mæm/
A form of address for a woman: contraction of madam.
confessedly
C2+
/kənˈfɛsɪdli/
Admittedly; by one's own confession.
truckle-bed
C2+
/ˈtrʌk.əl ˌbɛd/
a low bed on small wheels or casters that can be rolled beneath a higher bed when not in use
toldo
C2+
/ˈtoʊl.doʊ/
a Central or South American shelter, especially a rounded Indigenous hut or tent covered with hides
teaboard
C2+
/ˈtiˌbɔrd/
a tray or portable board used for serving tea
firelit
C2+
/ˈfaɪɚˌlɪt/
illuminated by the light of a fire
bedquilt
C2+
/ˈbɛdˌkwɪlt/
dated or archaic: a quilted coverlet used as the top covering on a bed
dogiron
C2+
/ˈdɔɡˌaɪɚn/
historical: an andiron, one of a pair of metal supports for logs in a fireplace
dwellinghouse
C2+
/ˈdwɛlɪŋˌhaʊs/
formal or legal: a building, or part of one, used as a private residence
electrolier
C2+
/əˌlɛk.trəˈlɪr/
historical: a decorative ceiling or wall fixture holding several electric lamps; an electric chandelier
penetralium
C2+
/ˌpɛnɪˈtɹeɪliəm/
the innermost (or most secret) part of a building; an inner sanctum; a sanctum sanctorum.
porte-cochere
C2+
/ˌpɔrt koʊˈʃɛr/
canopy extending out from a building entrance to shelter those getting in and out of vehicles