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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529 words
hobble
C2
/ˈhɒbəl/
strap the foreleg and hind leg together on each side (of a horse) in order to keep the legs on the same side moving in unison
cicada
C2
/sɪˈkeɪdə/
a stout-bodied insect with large transparent wings, whose males produce a loud buzzing or clicking call
warbler
C2
/ˈwɔːrblɚ/
any of numerous small, active songbirds, especially members of the Old World family Sylviidae or the New World family Parulidae
mussel
C2
/ˈmʌsəl/
a marine or freshwater bivalve mollusc with an elongated shell, often living attached to rocks or buried in a riverbed
retinue
C2
/ˈɹɛ.tɪ.n(j)uː/
A group of attendants or servants, especially of someone considered important.
hermaphrodite
C2
/hɝˈmæfɹədaɪt/
Cosexual: an organism possessing both types of gonads; a flower possessing both stamens and pistils.
alpaca
C2
/ælˈpækə/
a domesticated South American camelid kept for its soft fleece
ermine
C2
/ˈɝmɪn/
a stoat in its white winter coat, apart from the black tip of its tail
wombat
C2
/ˈwɑːmˌbæt/
a stocky, burrowing Australian marsupial of the family Vombatidae, with short legs and strong digging claws
viscous
C2
/ˈvɪs.kəs/
Of or pertaining to viscosity.
equine
C2
/ˈɛkˌwaɪn/
relating to, affecting, or resembling horses and other members of the horse family
coccyx
C2
/ˈkɑksɪks/
The final (bottom-most) fused vertebrae at the base of the spine, the tailbone.
bluish
C2
/ˈbluːɪʃ/
Having a tint or hue similar to the colour blue.
muskrat
C2
/ˈmʌskˌræt/
a semiaquatic North American rodent with dark brown fur and a long, flattened, scaly tail
leathery
C2
/ˈlɛðəɹi/
Having the consistency, feel, or texture of leather.
lemming
C2
/ˈlɛmɪŋ/
a small, short-tailed rodent of Arctic and subarctic tundra regions
whelp
C2
/wɛlp/
a young dog or wolf, or the young of certain other carnivorous mammals
gizzard
C2
/ˈɡɪzɚd/
a thick-walled muscular part of the digestive tract that grinds food in birds and various other animals
bullfrog
C2
/ˈbʊlˌfrɑɡ/
a large frog, especially the North American species Lithobates catesbeianus, whose deep call resembles a bull's bellow
dobbin
C2
/ˈdɑbɪn/
dated: a quiet, patient horse used for ordinary farm work or transport
periwinkle
C2
/ˈpɛrəˌwɪŋkəl/
a small edible marine snail of the genus Littorina, especially the common periwinkle
anemone
C2
/əˈnem.ə.ni/
a sea animal related to coral, with a cylindrical body and a ring of stinging tentacles
chamois
C2
/ˈʃæmwɑːz/
A short-horned goat antelope native to mountainous terrain in southern Europe; Rupicapra rupicapra.
gyroscope
C2
/ˈd͡ʒaɪ.ɹəˌskoʊp/
An apparatus composed of a wheel which spins inside of a frame (gimbal) and causes the balancing of the frame in any direction or position. In the form of a gyroscopic stabilizer, used to help keep aircraft and ships steady.
crustacean
C2
/kɹʌsˈteɪʃən/
an arthropod such as a crab, lobster, shrimp, or barnacle, usually with a hard shell
plover
C2
/ˈplʌvɚ/
a compact shorebird with a short bill, pointed wings, and a habit of running along open ground or water margins
asp
C2
/æsp/
a venomous snake of North Africa traditionally identified with the cobra said to have killed Cleopatra
halcyon
C2
/ˈhælʃən/
Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
narwhal
C2
/ˈnɑːrwəl/
a medium-sized Arctic toothed whale whose male usually bears a long, spirally twisted tusk formed from an upper canine tooth
ibex
C2
/ˈaɪbɛks/
a wild mountain goat of the genus Capra, typically with large backward-curving horns
bedbug
C2
/ˈbɛdˌbʌɡ/
a small, flat, nocturnal insect that hides near sleeping places and feeds on the blood of people or other warm-blooded animals
silkworm
C2
/ˈsɪlkwɝm/
the silk-producing caterpillar of a moth, especially the domesticated Bombyx mori raised for commercial silk
mimicry
C2
/ˈmɪmɪkri/
An act or ability to simulate or effect the appearance, characteristics, or behavior of someone or something else.
aviary
C2
/ˈeɪviˌɛəɹi/
a building where birds are kept
sandpiper
C2
/ˈsændpaɪpər/
any of numerous small or medium-sized wading birds of the family Scolopacidae, typically with a slender bill and a piping call
lory
C2
/ˈlɔːri/
any of several small, brightly colored Australasian parrots with brush-tipped tongues adapted for feeding on nectar and soft fruit
cavalcade
C2
/ˈkæv.əlˌkeɪd/
A procession of riders, vehicles, ships, etc.
marsupial
C2
/mɑɹˈsu.pi.əl/
of or relating to the marsupials
kestrel
C2
/ˈkɛstrəl/
a small falcon that often hovers while hunting, especially the common kestrel or American kestrel
linnet
C2
/ˈlɪnɪt/
a small Old World finch whose male develops crimson markings on the forehead and breast
finny
C2
/ˈfɪn.i/
having fins or resembling a fin
polecat
C2
/ˈpoʊlˌkæt/
a dark-brown Eurasian mustelid that releases a strong-smelling secretion when threatened
pupa
C2
/ˈpjuːpə/
an insect in the inactive stage between larva and adult
kingfisher
C2
/ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃɝ/
a nonpasserine large-headed bird with a short tail and long sharp bill
sprat
C2
/spræt/
a small silvery marine fish of the herring family, especially the European sprat, eaten as food or used as bait
firelight
C2
/ˈfaɪɚ.laɪt/
The light of a fire, such as from a campfire or fireplace.
tsetse
C2
/ˈtsiː.tsiː/
any blood-feeding African fly of the genus Glossina, some species of which transmit trypanosomes that cause sleeping sickness in humans and disease in livestock
chela
C2
/ˈkiː.lə/
a pincerlike claw at the end of a limb of a crustacean or arachnid
bantam
C2
/ˈbæntəm/
a chicken of a naturally small breed or a miniature variety of a larger breed
mastiff
C2
/ˈmæstəf/
an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
hansom
C2
/ˈhænsəm/
Ellipsis of Hansom cab.
sheldrake
C2
/ˈʃɛlˌdreɪk/
an older name for a shelduck, especially a male bird of the genus Tadorna
stegosaurus
C2
/ˌstɛɡəˈsɔrəs/
a large herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Stegosaurus, with upright plates along its back and spikes on its tail
wattle
C2
/ˈwɑtl̩/
A construction of branches and twigs woven together to form a wall, barrier, fence, or roof.
tallow
C2
/ˈtæloʊ/
A hard animal fat obtained from suet, etc.; used in cooking as well as to make candles, soap and lubricants.
horsy
C2
/ˈhɔːr.si/
relating to, resembling, or characteristic of horses
shrike
C2
/ʃɹaɪk/
a predatory songbird with a hooked bill, known for impaling uneaten prey on thorns or wire
strenuously
C2
/ˈstrɛnjuːəsli/
In a strenuous manner.
tern
C2
/tɝːn/
a slender seabird related to gulls, typically with long pointed wings and a forked tail
mesmerize
C2
/ˈmɛzməɹaɪz/
To exercise mesmerism on; to affect another person, such as to heal or soothe, through the use of animal magnetism.
yearling
C2
/ˈjɪrlɪŋ/
an animal between one and two years old, or otherwise classed as being in its second year
vertebrate
C2
/ˈvɛɹ.tɪ.bɹeɪt/
having a backbone or spinal column
noddy
C2
/ˈnɑːdi/
any of several stout-bodied tropical seabirds of the genus Anous, closely related to terns
opossum
C2
/əˈpɑsəm/
a mainly nocturnal American marsupial with a pointed snout and usually a long, nearly hairless prehensile tail
goldfinch
C2
/ˈɡoʊldˌfɪnt͡ʃ/
small European finch having a crimson face and yellow-and-black wings
whippoorwill
C2
/ˈʍɪp.ɚˌwɪl/
a nocturnal North American nightjar whose repeated call sounds like 'whip-poor-will'
marmot
C2
/ˈmɑrmət/
a large, stocky burrowing rodent of the squirrel family, typically living in mountainous or northern regions
mammary
C2
/ˈmæməɹi/
Of or relating to the mamma or breast (of a woman or a female animal).
oriole
C2
/ˈɔriˌoʊl/
any of various brightly colored songbirds, including New World orioles of the genus Icterus and Old World orioles of the family Oriolidae
bulbul
C2
/ˈbʊlˌbʊl/
any of a family of often gregarious songbirds native to Africa and Asia
instigation
C2
/ˌɪnstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement; especially to evil or wickedness.
placental
C2
/pləˈsɛntəl/
relating to, supplied through, or possessing a placenta
biped
C2
/ˈbaɪpɛd/
an animal, person, or machine that walks on two feet or legs
gnu
C2
/nuː/
a large African antelope with a heavy head, curved horns, sloping back, and long tufted tail; a wildebeest
toucan
C2
/ˈtuːˌkæn/
a tropical American bird with a very large, often brightly colored bill
ocelot
C2
/ˈɑːsəlɑːt/
a medium-sized, mostly nocturnal wild cat of the Americas with a yellowish coat marked by dark spots and elongated blotches
topmost
C2
/tɑpˈmoʊst/
At or nearest to the top; uppermost; being the very highest.
marmoset
C2
/ˈmɑːrməˌzɛt/
a small Central or South American monkey of the callitrichid group, typically with clawlike nails on most digits
exasperation
C2
/ˌɛkˌsæspɝˈeɪʃən/
actions that cause great irritation or even anger
oryx
C2
/ˈɔːrɪks/
a large African or Arabian antelope of the genus Oryx, with a pale coat, dark facial markings, and long nearly straight horns
pachyderm
C2
/ˈpækɪdɝːm/
an elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, or other large thick-skinned mammal formerly grouped in the obsolete order Pachydermata
egret
C2
/ˈiː.ɡrət/
a long-legged wading bird in the heron family, often white and sometimes bearing long breeding plumes
dulcet
C2
/ˈdʌlsɛt/
pleasing to the ear
titmouse
C2
/ˈtɪtˌmaʊs/
a small songbird of the tit family, especially one of the North American genus Baeolophus; historically also used more broadly for tits
dugong
C2
/ˈduɡɑŋ/
sirenian tusked mammal found from eastern Africa to Australia
tench
C2
/tɛntʃ/
a robust freshwater fish, Tinca tinca, native to Europe and western Asia and widely introduced elsewhere
curlew
C2
/ˈkɝːluː/
a large migratory wading bird of the genus Numenius, with long legs and a long slender bill curved downward
tapir
C2
/ˈteɪpiːə(ɹ)/
An odd-toed ungulate of the genus Tapirus with a long prehensile upper lip.
spoor
C2
/spʊr/
the tracks, scent, droppings, or other trail left by an animal
saiga
C2
/ˈsaɪɡə/
a migratory antelope of the Eurasian steppe with a distinctive enlarged, flexible nose
rookery
C2
/ˈrʊk.ɚ.i/
a breeding colony or nesting place of rooks, penguins, seals, or other social animals
conger
C2
/ˈkɑŋɡɚ/
any of several large, scaleless marine eels of the genus Conger or family Congridae, found in temperate and tropical coastal waters
saurian
C2
/ˈsɔriən/
a lizard or lizardlike reptile, especially a large or prehistoric reptile
dace
C2
/deɪs/
a small, slender European freshwater fish, Leuciscus leuciscus, that commonly swims in shoals
lamprey
C2
/ˈlæmpri/
a jawless, eel-shaped aquatic vertebrate with a round sucking mouth, many species of which attach to other fish
allosaurus
C2
/ˌæloʊˈsɔrəs/
a large two-legged carnivorous dinosaur of the genus Allosaurus that lived during the Late Jurassic period