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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237 words
prate
C2
/preɪt/
to talk at length in a foolish, trivial, or tiresome way
unacknowledged
C2
/ˌʌn.əkˈnɑː.lɪdʒd/
not admitted, recognized, or accepted as true or existing
viz
C2
/vɪz/
namely; that is to say, used to introduce a clarification or list
gibber
C2
/ˈdʒɪb.ɚ/
to speak rapidly and incoherently, especially from fear, excitement, or confusion
elide
C2
/ɪˈlaɪd/
to omit a sound, syllable, word, or other element
colloquially
C2
/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əli/
In informal, everyday language.
aphorism
C2
/ˈæfərɪzəm/
a concise, memorable statement expressing a general truth or principle
interlocutor
C2
/ˌɪn.təɹˈlɑk.jə.təɹ/
A person who takes part in dialogue or conversation: a locutive partner.
rhetorically
C2
/rəˈtɔrɪkli/
In a way that asks a question without expecting an answer.
stenography
C2
/stəˈnɑːɡrəfi/
the art, system, or practice of recording speech rapidly in shorthand or with a stenotype machine
philologist
C2
/fɪˈlɑːlədʒɪst/
a scholar who studies the historical development, structure, and relationships of languages, especially through written texts
felicitation
C2
/fəˌlɪsəˈteɪʃən/
formal and usually plural: an expression of congratulation, pleasure, or good wishes offered for someone's success or good fortune
telegraphy
C2
/təˈlɛɡɹəfi/
the practice or technology of transmitting coded messages over long distances by electrical, optical, or radio signals
splutter
C2
/ˈsplʌtɚ/
to speak rapidly or confusedly with spitting sounds, especially from anger or excitement
pule
C2
/pjuːl/
to cry or whine weakly
garble
C2
/ˈɡɑː(ɹ)bəl/
To pick out such parts (of a text) as may serve a purpose not intended by the original author; to mutilate; to pervert.
invective
C2
/ɪnˈvɛktɪv/
Something spoken or written, intended to cast shame, disgrace, censure, or reproach on another.
screed
C2
/skɹid/
A piece of writing (such as an article, letter, or list) or a speech, especially if long.
sidereal
C2
/saɪˈdɪɚ.i.əl/
(of divisions of time) determined by daily motion of the stars
braggadocio
C2
/ˌbræɡəˈdoʊtʃioʊ/
arrogant or exaggerated boasting intended to impress others
elucidation
C2
/ɪˌlusɪˈdeɪʃən/
the act or process of making something clear by explaining it
palter
C2
/ˈpɔl.tɚ/
To talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.
badinage
C2
/ˌbɑdɪˈnɑʒ/
playful, lighthearted teasing or witty conversation
inkpot
C2
/ˈɪŋkˌpɑt/
a small pot or container for holding writing ink, especially for use with a dip pen or quill
logorrhea
C2
/ˌlɔ.ɡəˈɹi.ə/
Excessive and often uncontrollable speaking due to a mental disorder.
disputation
C2
/ˌdɪspjəˈteɪʃən/
formal argument or sustained verbal controversy about a question
polemical
C2
/pəˈlɛmɪkəl/
expressing strong criticism or argument about a controversial subject
reprehend
C2
/ˌɹɛpɹəˈhɛnd/
express strong disapproval of
enthuse
C2
/ɛnˈθuz/
To talk or write about something with great excitement and enthusiasm.
ductus
C2
/ˈdʌktəs/
the characteristic direction, order, speed, and manner of the strokes used in handwriting or calligraphy
expostulate
C2
/ɪkˈspɑːstʃəleɪt/
to reason or protest earnestly with someone in an effort to dissuade or correct them, usually followed by with
importunity
C2
/ˌɪmpɔrˈtuːnəti/
persistent and pressing requests or demands, especially when they are troublesome
précis
C2
/ˈpreɪ.si/
a concise summary of the essential facts or main points of a text, speech, or argument
ideogram
C2
/ˈɪd.i.oʊ.ɡɹæm/
a written or graphic symbol that represents an idea or thing without directly representing the sounds of its name
append
C2
/ʌˈpɛnd/
to add something at the end of a document, list, or data structure
discursive
C2
/dɪˈskɝsɪv/
moving from subject to subject rather than following a concise, orderly line
corrector
C2
/kəˈrɛktɚ/
a person, device, or process that identifies and corrects errors, faults, or improper behavior
sibilant
C2
/ˈsɪbɪlənt/
having or producing a hissing or hushing sound
blether
C2
/ˈblɛðər/
chiefly Scottish and Northern English: foolish, idle, or long-winded talk
sophist
C2
/ˈsoʊfɪst/
a person who uses clever but fallacious or misleading arguments
downstroke
C2
/ˈdaʊnˌstɹoʊk/
a stroke or movement made downward, especially with a pen, brush, tool, or musical plectrum
gibe
C2
/dʒaɪb/
a mocking or insulting remark intended to wound or provoke
flapdoodle
C2
/ˈflæpˌduːdəl/
informal, often dated: foolish, pretentious, or insincere talk; nonsense
speechmaking
C2
/ˈspiːtʃˌmeɪ.kɪŋ/
delivering an address to a public audience
dragoman
C2
/ˈdræɡəmən/
an interpreter and guide in the Near East
demur
C2
/dɪˈmɝ/
to raise an objection or express reluctance, often politely
disavowal
C2
/ˌdɪs.əˈvaʊ.əl/
an act or statement denying knowledge of, responsibility for, connection with, or support for something
valediction
C2
/ˌvæləˈdɪkʃən/
the act of saying farewell, or the words used when parting
pabulum
C2
/ˈpæbjʊləm/
bland, simplistic, or intellectually undemanding material offered as if it were nourishing
upstroke
C2
/ˈʌpˌstɹoʊk/
a stroke or movement made upward, especially with a pen, brush, piston, or musical plectrum
stenographic
C2
/ˌstɛnəˈɡɹæfɪk/
relating to, written in, or employing shorthand or stenography
gnomic
C2
/ˈnoʊmɪk/
expressed in a short, mysterious way that seems wise but is difficult to understand
declamation
C2
/ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/
the formal, forceful, or theatrical delivery of a speech
shibboleth
C2
/ˈʃɪb.əl.eθ/
a slogan, belief, or custom strongly associated with a group, especially one repeated after it has lost much of its original force or truth
prattler
C2
/ˈpɹætəlɚ/
a person who talks at length in a foolish, trivial, or childlike way
incommunicable
C2
/ˌɪn.kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/
That cannot be communicated or transmitted
neologism
C2
/niˈɑləˌd͡ʒɪzəm/
A word or phrase which has recently been coined; a new word or phrase.
stentorian
C2
/stenˈtɔːriən/
extremely loud and powerful, especially when describing a person's voice
intelligibility
C2
/ɪnˌtɛlədʒəˈbɪləti/
the quality or degree of being understandable or capable of rational explanation
picaresque
C2
/pɪkəˈɹɛsk/
involving clever rogues or adventurers especially as in a type of fiction
execration
C2
/ˌɛksəˈkreɪʃən/
a curse or forceful expression of hatred and condemnation
euphony
C2
/ˈjuːfəni/
A pronunciation of letters and syllables which is pleasing to the ear.
panegyric
C2
/ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪk/
a formal speech or piece of writing that offers elaborate praise
typewrite
C2
/ˈtaɪp.raɪt/
dated: to write or produce text with a typewriter
exclamatory
C2
/ɪkˈsklæməˌtɔɹi/
expressed as, containing, or resembling an exclamation
temporize
C2
/ˈtɛmpəraɪz/
to delay making a decision or commitment, or to act evasively, in order to gain time or an advantage
gesticulation
C2
/dʒɛˌstɪkjəˈleɪʃən/
an expressive movement of the hands, arms, or body, especially one made while speaking
mispronunciation
C2
/mɪspɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
an incorrect pronunciation or the act of pronouncing something incorrectly
defamer
C2
/dɪˈfeɪmɚ/
a person who damages another person's reputation by making false or malicious statements
stenograph
C2
/ˈstɛn.ə.ɡɹæf/
to write down or report speech rapidly in shorthand
heliograph
C2
/ˈhiːliəˌɡræf/
an instrument that sends coded signals over a distance by reflecting flashes of sunlight with a mirror
signification
C2
/ˌsɪɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
reduplication
C2
/rɪˌduːplɪˈkeɪʃən/
a word-formation process in which all or part of a word, root, or syllable is repeated
prolixity
C2
/pɹoʊˈlɪksəti/
the quality of using too many words or continuing for a tiresomely long time
recriminate
C2
/ɹɪˈkɹɪmɪneɪt/
to answer an accusation by making a counteraccusation
indite
C2
/ˌɪnˈdaɪt/
to write or compose a text, especially a formal or literary one
volubility
C2
the quality of being facile in speech and writing
disputant
C2
/dɪˈspjuːtənt/
formal: a person who takes part in a dispute, controversy, or debate
raillery
C2
/ˈreɪlɚi/
formal: good-humored teasing, banter, or lightly mocking talk
stentor
C2
/ˈstɛntɝ/
a person with an exceptionally loud or powerful voice
misstatement
C2
/ˌmɪsˈsteɪtmənt/
an inaccurate or incorrect statement, especially one made unintentionally
moue
C2
/muː/
a small pout or grimace expressing disdain, discontent, mock annoyance, or flirtatious displeasure
traduce
C2
/tɹəˈdus/
to speak maliciously and falsely about someone; to defame
eulogist
C2
/ˈjuːlədʒɪst/
a person who delivers a speech or piece of writing in praise of someone, especially at a funeral
declamatory
C2
/dɪˈklæməˌtɔri/
delivered in the forceful, formal manner of a public speech or recitation
periphrasis
C2
/pəˈrɪfrəsɪs/
an indirect or roundabout way of expressing something
elogium
C2
/ɪˈloʊdʒiəm/
a formal expression of praise; an encomium or eulogy
disquisition
C2
/ˌdɪs.kwɪˈzɪʃ.ən/
a long, formal, and methodical discussion or written analysis of a subject
blandishment
C2
/ˈblæn.dɪʃ.mənt/
Flattering words or actions used to coax or persuade someone.
lexicographer
C2
/ˌlɛksɪˈkɑɡrəfər/
a person who writes, compiles, or edits dictionaries
expatiate
C2
/ɪkˈspeɪʃɪeɪt/
to speak or write at length and in detail about a subject, usually followed by on or upon
ululation
C2
/ˌjuljuˈleɪʃən/
a long, loud, wavering or trilling cry expressing strong emotion, or the act of making such a cry
expostulation
C2
/ɪkˌspɑː.stjəˈleɪ.ʃən/
an earnest expression of disagreement, protest, or complaint intended to persuade someone
scurrility
C2
/skəˈrɪləti/
coarse, abusive, obscene, or foul-mouthed language
adjuration
C2
/ˌædʒəˈreɪʃən/
an earnest appeal, solemn command, or urgent entreaty
interrogatively
C2
In a questioning way; as if asking a question.