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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164 words
whinner
C2+
/ˈhwɪnər/
dialectal: to whine or cry in a weak, high-pitched manner
rat-tat
C2+
/ˈrætˌtæt/
a rapid series of short, sharp knocks or tapping sounds
guggle
C2+
/ˈɡʌɡəl/
to make the bubbling or gurgling sound of liquid flowing through a narrow opening
dour
C2+
/dʊɹ/
stern, gloomy, or forbidding in manner or appearance
forbidding
C2+
/fɚˈbɪdɪŋ/
unfriendly or threatening in appearance; grim
fondle
C2+
/ˈfɑndəl/
to touch or stroke gently and affectionately
ken
C2+
/kɛn/
range of knowledge or sight; to know or perceive
apparition
C2+
/ˌæpəˈrɪʃən/
a ghostly figure or a sudden striking appearance
conspicuous
C2+
/kənˈspɪkjuəs/
clearly visible or attracting notice; striking
meek
C2+
/miːk/
quiet, gentle, and submissive
aroma
C2+
/əˈroʊmə/
a distinctive, usually pleasant smell
bleary
C2+
/ˈblɪri/
(of eyes or vision) dim, blurred, or tired-looking
delectable
C2+
/dɪˈlɛktəbəl/
delicious; highly pleasing to the taste or senses
vulgar
C2+
/ˈvʌlɡɚ/
lacking refinement or good taste; coarse
ching
C2+
/tʃɪŋ/
an imitation of a ringing metallic sound; slang for money
daybreak
C2+
/ˈdeɪˌbreɪk/
the first appearance of light in the morning; dawn
refined
C2+
/rɪˈfaɪnd/
elegant and cultured in taste or manner; freed from impurities
unrefined
C2+
/ˌʌnrɪˈfaɪnd/
not processed or purified; coarse in manner or taste
abash
C2+
/əˈbæʃ/
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
baffle
C2+
/ˈbæfəl/
to confuse or perplex; a device that restrains flow or sound
behold
C2+
/bɪˈhoʊld/
to see or observe, especially something remarkable
cheery
C2+
/ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; cheerful
din
C2+
/dɪn/
a loud, prolonged, confused noise
emit
C2+
/ɪˈmɪt/
to discharge or send out, as light, sound, or gas
espy
C2+
/ɪˈspaɪ/
to catch sight of, especially something distant or partly hidden
flavorful
C2+
/ˈfleɪvərfəl/
full of rich and pleasing flavor
flavorsome
C2+
/ˈfleɪvərsəm/
having a full, appetizing flavor
grope
C2+
/ɡroʊp/
to feel about uncertainly with the hands, as in the dark
loathe
C2+
/loʊð/
to feel intense dislike or disgust for
observant
C2+
/əbˈzɝvənt/
quick to notice things; attentive
tumult
C2+
/ˈtuːmʌlt/
a loud, confused noise or a state of violent disorder and commotion
uproar
C2+
/ˈʌprɔr/
a loud and impassioned noise or public outburst of protest
ambrosial
C2+
/æmˈbroʊʒəl/
exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; worthy of the gods
cimmerian
C2+
/sɪˈmɪriən/
very dark or gloomy, as in perpetual darkness
clatter
C2+
/ˈklætɚ/
to make a loud rattling sound, as of hard objects striking
darkling
C2+
/ˈdɑrklɪŋ/
in the dark or growing dark; obscure
decorous
C2+
/ˈdɛkərəs/
correct and proper in behavior or appearance
flavorous
C2+
/ˈfleɪvərəs/
full of flavor; savory
gamy
C2+
/ˈɡeɪmi/
having the strong flavor or smell of game meat; spirited
leer
C2+
/lɪr/
to look in a lustful, sly, or malicious way
microscopical
C2+
/ˌmaɪkrəˈskɑpɪkəl/
of or relating to the microscope; visible only under magnification
noiseless
C2+
/ˈnɔɪzləs/
making or accompanied by no sound
noisome
C2+
/ˈnɔɪsəm/
having an extremely offensive smell; harmful or disagreeable
odor
C2+
/ˈoʊdər/
a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
oversight
C2+
/ˈoʊvərˌsaɪt/
an unintentional failure to notice; supervision or watchful care
semblance
C2+
/ˈsɛmbləns/
an outward appearance or likeness, often superficial
sentience
C2+
/ˈsɛnʃəns/
the capacity to feel, perceive, or experience sensations
sparkler
C2+
/ˈspɑrklər/
a hand-held firework that emits bright sparks
stillness
C2+
/ˈstɪlnəs/
the absence of movement or sound; calm quiet
unseemly
C2+
/ʌnˈsimli/
not in good taste or proper; indecorous
acerbic
C2+
/əˈsɝbɪk/
sharp and biting in tone, manner, or taste
behear
C2+
/bɪˈhɪr/
to hear or listen to (archaic)
bruit
C2+
/brut/
to spread a report or rumor; an abnormal sound heard in auscultation
caliginous
C2+
/kəˈlɪdʒɪnəs/
(literary) misty, dim, or dark; obscure
caress
C2+
/kəˈrɛs/
to touch or stroke gently and lovingly
darksome
C2+
/ˈdɑrksəm/
dark or gloomy; shadowy
decorously
C2+
/ˈdɛkɚəsli/
in a manner showing proper decorum and good taste
discordant
C2+
/dɪsˈkɔrdənt/
disagreeing or clashing; harsh and unharmonious in sound
fishwife
C2+
/ˈfɪʃwaɪf/
a woman who sells fish; a coarse, loud-mouthed woman
fizz
C2+
/fɪz/
a hissing or bubbling sound, or effervescence in a drink
flaming
C2+
/ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
burning with flames; bright red or intense
fleer
C2+
/flɪr/
to laugh or grin mockingly; a derisive look or remark
forgiveness
C2+
/fɚˈɡɪvnəs/
the act of pardoning an offense or ceasing to feel resentment
gloominess
C2+
/ˈɡluminəs/
the state of being dark, dim, or melancholy
homeliness
C2+
/ˈhoʊmlinəs/
plainness of appearance, or simple, unpretentious comfort
insulation
C2+
/ˌɪnsəˈleɪʃən/
material used to prevent the passage of heat, sound, or electricity
lowering
C2+
/ˈlaʊərɪŋ/
dark and threatening, as of the sky; scowling
murky
C2+
/ˈmɝki/
dark, dim, and unclear; obscure or suspect
quietness
C2+
/ˈkwaɪətnəs/
the state of being calm, still, or free from noise
scrunch
C2+
/skrʌntʃ/
to crush or crumple, or to make a crunching sound
skulk
C2+
/skʌlk/
to move or lurk furtively in order to avoid notice
soundless
C2+
/ˈsaʊndləs/
making or accompanied by no sound; silent
sunshiny
C2+
/ˈsʌnʃaɪni/
bright with sunshine; cheerful
transfigurement
C2+
/trænsˈfɪɡjərmənt/
a transformation in form or appearance, especially an exalting one
acclamation
C2+
/ˌækləˈmeɪʃən/
loud and enthusiastic approval or applause
acidulent
C2+
/əˈsɪdjələnt/
somewhat sour or sharp in taste or temper
acoustical
C2+
/əˈkustɪkəl/
relating to sound or the science of sound
acuity
C2+
/əˈkjuəti/
sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing
advertent
C2+
/ədˈvɜrtənt/
attentive; heedful and giving careful notice
alertness
C2+
/əˈlɜrtnəs/
the state of being watchful and quick to notice or respond
auditory
C2+
/ˈɔdəˌtɔri/
relating to the sense or organs of hearing
aviso
C2+
/əˈvaɪzoʊ/
a dispatch boat, or an official notice or advice
banging
C2+
/ˈbæŋɪŋ/
informally excellent or very good; also a loud repeated knocking
blare
C2+
/blɛr/
to sound loudly and harshly; a loud raucous noise
choky
C2+
/ˈtʃoʊki/
tending to choke or feel constricted; British slang for prison
clairvoyance
C2+
/klɛrˈvɔɪəns/
the supposed power to perceive things beyond normal sensory contact
clamorous
C2+
/ˈklæmərəs/
loud and insistent in noise or demand
clink
C2+
/klɪŋk/
to make a light sharp ringing sound; informally, prison
clunk
C2+
/klʌŋk/
a dull heavy sound, as of metal striking metal
comeliness
C2+
/ˈkʌmlinəs/
pleasing physical appearance; attractiveness
confessional
C2+
/kənˈfɛʃənəl/
a booth for hearing confession; intimately self-revealing
creaky
C2+
/ˈkriki/
making a harsh squeaking sound; stiff and decrepit
dawning
C2+
/ˈdɔnɪŋ/
the beginning or first appearance of something
deafen
C2+
/ˈdɛfən/
to make deaf or overwhelm with noise
deafening
C2+
/ˈdɛfənɪŋ/
extremely loud
deface
C2+
/dɪˈfeɪs/
to spoil the surface or appearance of