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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
120 words
buffalo
C2+
/ˈbʌf.ə.loʊ/
any of several Old World animals resembling oxen including, e.g., water buffalo
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jackal
C2+
/ˈd͡ʒækəl/
an Old World nocturnal canine mammal closely related to the dog
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walrus
C2+
/ˈwɑl.ɹəs/
A large Arctic marine mammal related to seals and having long tusks, tough, wrinkled skin, and four flippers, Odobenus rosmarus.
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man-eater
C2+
/ˈmænˌiːtɚ/
an animal that has killed and eaten humans, especially a tiger, lion, crocodile, or shark
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devilfish
C2+
/ˈdɛvəlˌfɪʃ/
any of several large or striking marine animals, especially an octopus or manta ray
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madrina
C2+
/mɑːˈdriːnə/
in South American pack travel, a steady mare or other animal wearing a bell and leading a troop of mules
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toxodon
C2+
/ˈtɑksəˌdɑn/
a large extinct herbivorous South American mammal of the genus Toxodon, a member of the hoofed-mammal order Notoungulata
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declivity
C2+
/dɪˈklɪvɪti/
An inward curve of the exoskeleton of an insect, such as between body segments; a segment of an insect's body where the exoskeleton curves inward.
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babirusa
C2+
/ˌbɑːbiˈruːsə/
a wild pig of the Indonesian genus Babyrousa, whose adult males have long upper canine teeth that curve upward through the snout
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arachnologist
C2+
/əˌrækˈnɑːlədʒɪst/
a scientist who specializes in the study of spiders and other arachnids
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posthouse
C2+
/ˈpoʊsthaʊs/
historical: an inn or relay station where post horses were exchanged and riders or travelers could lodge
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hindfoot
C2+
/ˈhaɪndˌfʊt/
a rear foot of a four-legged animal, especially when contrasted with a forefoot
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fang
C2+
/fæŋ/
a long sharp tooth, as of a snake or dog
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bitch
C2+
/bɪtʃ/
a female dog; (vulgar) a spiteful person or to complain
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carrion
C2+
/ˈkæriən/
the decaying flesh of dead animals
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chum
C2+
/tʃʌm/
a close friend; (verb) to bait water with fish remains to attract fish
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doghouse
C2+
/ˈdɔɡˌhaʊs/
a small shelter for a dog; figuratively, a state of disfavor
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badger
C2+
/ˈbædʒɚ/
a burrowing nocturnal mammal; to pester or harass persistently
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hog
C2+
/hɑɡ/
a domesticated pig; also, to take or use selfishly
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hound
C2+
/haʊnd/
a hunting dog; also, to pursue or harass relentlessly
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pest
C2+
/pɛst/
a destructive insect or animal, or an annoying person
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sire
C2+
/ˈsaɪɚ/
a male parent of an animal, or a respectful address to a king
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snare
C2+
/snɛr/
a trap for catching animals, or anything that entangles
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bayard
C2+
/ˈbeɪərd/
a bay horse; also a heedless, self-confident person
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birdie
C2+
/ˈbɝdi/
a small bird; in golf, a hole played one under par
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chick
C2+
/tʃɪk/
a young bird, especially a newly hatched chicken
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covey
C2+
/ˈkʌvi/
a small flock of birds, especially partridge or quail
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decoy
C2+
/ˈdiˌkɔɪ/
something used to lure or mislead, often a fake bird
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dotterel
C2+
/ˈdɑtərəl/
a small migratory plover of upland and tundra habitats
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halter
C2+
/ˈhɔltɚ/
a rope or strap for leading an animal; a noose for hanging
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pup
C2+
/pʌp/
a young dog or the young of certain other animals
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serpent
C2+
/ˈsɜrpənt/
a snake, especially a large or symbolically evil one
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anaconda
C2+
/ˌænəˈkɑndə/
a large non-venomous constricting snake of tropical South America
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animalism
C2+
/ˈænəməˌlɪzəm/
preoccupation with physical appetites; the doctrine that humans are merely animals
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bulldog
C2+
/ˈbʊlˌdɔɡ/
a stocky short-faced dog breed; to attack or hold stubbornly
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canary
C2+
/kəˈnɛri/
a small yellow songbird often kept as a pet
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cub
C2+
/kʌb/
the young of a bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal
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grub
C2+
/ɡrʌb/
a larva of an insect; food (slang); to dig or search
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moggy
C2+
/ˈmɑɡi/
a cat, especially a non-pedigree or ordinary house cat
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mongrel
C2+
/ˈmʌŋɡrəl/
a dog or animal of mixed or indeterminate breed
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nestling
C2+
/ˈnɛstlɪŋ/
a young bird too young to leave the nest
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pike
C2+
/paɪk/
a long-bodied predatory freshwater fish, or a long-shafted spear
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relict
C2+
/ˈrɛlɪkt/
a surviving remnant of a former population or species
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angelfish
C2+
/ˈeɪndʒəlˌfɪʃ/
a brightly colored tropical fish with a flattened, disk-shaped body
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animalcule
C2+
/ˌænɪˈmælkjul/
a microscopic animal, such as an amoeba or other tiny organism
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animalivore
C2+
/ˌænɪˈmælɪˌvɔr/
an animal that feeds on other animals; a carnivore
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arachnid
C2+
/əˈræknɪd/
an eight-legged invertebrate such as a spider, scorpion, or mite
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baboon
C2+
/bæˈbun/
a large African or Arabian ground-dwelling monkey with a dog-like muzzle
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balloonfish
C2+
/bəˈlunˌfɪʃ/
a fish, such as the pufferfish, that can inflate its body with water or air
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bangtail
C2+
/ˈbæŋˌteɪl/
a horse with its tail cut squarely across; informally, a racehorse
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bannerfish
C2+
/ˈbænɚˌfɪʃ/
a tropical reef fish with a long trailing dorsal filament
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barghest
C2+
/ˈbɑrɡɛst/
a monstrous goblin-dog of northern English folklore, an omen of death
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beetle
C2+
/ˈbitəl/
an insect with hardened forewings; also to project or overhang
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bladebone
C2+
/ˈbleɪdboʊn/
the shoulder blade or scapula, especially of an animal
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bouillabaisse
C2+
/ˌbujəˈbeɪs/
a rich Provençal stew of mixed fish and shellfish
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burrow
C2+
/ˈbɜroʊ/
an animal's underground hole; to dig or nestle into something
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cetacean
C2+
/sɪˈteɪʃən/
a marine mammal of the order including whales, dolphins, and porpoises
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chelonian
C2+
/kɪˈloʊniən/
a reptile of the order comprising turtles and tortoises
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claw
C2+
/klɔ/
a sharp curved nail on an animal's foot; to scratch or grasp with it
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colt
C2+
/koʊlt/
a young male horse, usually under four years old
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coot
C2+
/kut/
a black aquatic bird with a white facial shield; or a foolish old man
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culmen
C2+
/ˈkʌlmən/
the ridge along the upper part of a bird's bill
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doe
C2+
/doʊ/
a female deer, rabbit, or hare
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estray
C2+
/ɪˈstreɪ/
a domestic animal found wandering with no apparent owner
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fauna
C2+
/ˈfɔnə/
the animals of a particular region, period, or habitat
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fledgling
C2+
/ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ/
a young bird newly able to fly, or an inexperienced beginner
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fowl
C2+
/faʊl/
a bird, especially a domesticated one kept for eggs or meat
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gammon
C2+
/ˈɡæmən/
cured ham from a pig's hind leg; nonsense or humbug
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hatchling
C2+
/ˈhætʃlɪŋ/
a young animal newly emerged from an egg
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herbivore
C2+
/ˈhɜːrbəˌvɔːr/
an animal that feeds on plants
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hinny
C2+
/ˈhɪni/
the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey
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hobbyhorse
C2+
/ˈhɑːbiˌhɔːrs/
a favourite topic one returns to insistently; a toy horse on a stick
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howler
C2+
/ˈhaʊlɚ/
a glaring and ludicrous mistake; also an animal that howls
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husbandry
C2+
/ˈhʌzbəndri/
the cultivation of crops and care of livestock; careful management of resources
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ich
C2+
/ɪtʃ/
a common protozoan disease of aquarium fish causing white spots
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kitter
C2+
/ˈkɪtər/
a young cat; a kitten (dialectal)
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leam
C2+
/lim/
a leash for a hound, or to lead a dog by such a leash
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livestock
C2+
/ˈlaɪvˌstɑk/
farm animals raised for use or profit
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maw
C2+
/mɔ/
the jaws or gullet of a voracious animal; a devouring opening
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mog
C2+
/mɑɡ/
a cat, especially an ordinary domestic one
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neb
C2+
/nɛb/
a bird's beak, or the nose or mouth (dialectal)
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paddock
C2+
/ˈpædək/
a small enclosed field for keeping or exercising horses
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proboscis
C2+
/prəˈbɑsɪs/
an elongated tubular mouthpart of an insect, or a long flexible snout
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provender
C2+
/ˈprɑvəndɚ/
animal fodder, or by extension food and provisions
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ratter
C2+
/ˈrætɚ/
a dog or other animal that hunts and kills rats
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redbreast
C2+
/ˈrɛdˌbrɛst/
a bird with a red breast, especially the European robin
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rook
C2+
/rʊk/
a black crow-like bird; a chess castle; to cheat or swindle
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scut
C2+
/skʌt/
the short erect tail of a hare, rabbit, or deer; menial drudgery
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sloth
C2+
/slɔθ/
habitual laziness; also a slow-moving tropical mammal
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squawk
C2+
/skwɔk/
a loud harsh cry, especially of a bird
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supercilium
C2+
/ˌsupɚˈsɪliəm/
the eyebrow, or a stripe of feathers above a bird's eye
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talon
C2+
/ˈtælən/
a sharp hooked claw, especially of a bird of prey
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tether
C2+
/ˈtɛðɚ/
a rope or chain that ties an animal so it can graze only within a set range
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tortoise
C2+
/ˈtɔrtəs/
a slow-moving land reptile with a domed protective shell
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tusk
C2+
/tʌsk/
a long pointed tooth projecting from the mouth of certain animals
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venom
C2+
/ˈvɛnəm/
poisonous fluid secreted by some animals; bitter malice
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