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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56 words
homecoming
C2
/ˈhoʊmˌkʌmɪŋ/
a coming to or returning home
elope
C2
/iˈloʊp/
to leave secretly in order to marry, or to marry privately without a public ceremony or advance announcement
bridesmaid
C2
/ˈbraɪdzˌmeɪd/
a person, traditionally a woman, who attends and supports a bride at a wedding
paternity
C2
/pəˈtɜːnɪti/
the state of being a father
pap
C2
/pæp/
US dialect: father; pa
matchmaker
C2
/ˈmæt͡ʃˌmeɪkɚ/
someone who arranges (or tries to arrange) marriages for others
conjugal
C2
/ˈkɑnd͡ʒəɡəl/
relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses
amour
C2
/əˈmʊɹ/
a love affair, especially one kept secret or considered illicit
wedlock
C2
/ˈwɛd.lɑːk/
the state of being married, especially in the phrases in wedlock and out of wedlock
godson
C2
/ˈɡɑdˌsʌn/
a male godchild, especially one whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
monogamy
C2
/məˈnɑː.ɡə.mi/
the practice or state of being married to only one person at a time
née
C2
/neɪ/
used before a married woman's birth surname
betrothal
C2
/bɪˈtroʊ.ðəl/
a formal agreement or mutual promise to marry; an engagement
matrimonial
C2
/ˌmætrəˈmoʊniəl/
relating to marriage or to the relationship between married partners
kinsman
C2
/ˈkɪnzmən/
a male relative, especially one belonging to the same extended family; now often literary or historical
procreate
C2
/ˌpɹəʊkɹiˈeɪt/
have offspring or produce more individuals of a given animal or plant
spousal
C2
/ˈspaʊzəl/
relating to a spouse
incestuous
C2
/ɪnˈsɛs.tʃu.əs/
involving or characterized by sexual relations between people too closely related to marry legally
virginal
C2
/ˈvɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒɪnəl/
Pure and untouched; like a virgin.
foundling
C2
/ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/
an abandoned infant or child whose parents are unknown
suckle
C2
/ˈsʌk.əl/
to feed by drawing milk from a breast or udder
endearment
C2
/ɪnˈdɪrmənt/
a word, name, gesture, or action that expresses affection
sterility
C2
/stɝˈɪlɪti/
The condition of being unable to produce children or offspring.
correlate
C2
/ˈkɔɹəleɪt/
To have a close connection or relationship with something else, so that they change together.
banns
C2
/bænz/
a public announcement, traditionally made in church, of an intended marriage
kinfolk
C2
/ˈkɪnfoʊk/
old-fashioned or regional: one's relatives or family considered collectively
assignation
C2
/ˌæsɪɡˈneɪʃən/
often dated: a secret appointment to meet, especially between lovers
groomsman
C2
/ˈɡruːmzmən/
a man who attends and supports a bridegroom at a wedding
childbearing
C2
/ˈtʃaɪldˌbɛɹɪŋ/
the process or period of carrying and giving birth to children
swaddle
C2
/ˈswɑːdəl/
to wrap a baby closely in cloth so that its arms and legs are held securely
grandmamma
C2
/ˌɡrændməˈmɑ/
Grandmother.
patronymic
C2
/ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk/
a name derived from the given name of a person's father or a male ancestor
monogamist
C2
/məˈnɑːɡəmɪst/
a person who has only one spouse or romantic partner at a time, or who advocates that practice
polyamorous
C2
/ˌpɑliˈæmərəs/
involving or open to romantic relationships with more than one partner, with everyone informed and consenting
jilt
C2
/dʒɪlt/
to suddenly reject or abandon a romantic partner, especially shortly before an expected marriage
betroth
C2
/bəˈtɹoʊð/
to formally promise someone in marriage or become formally engaged to marry
grandsire
C2
/ˈɡrændsaɪɹ/
a grandfather, especially in old-fashioned or literary language
connubial
C2
/kəˈnubiəl/
relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses
cohabit
C2
/koʊˈhæbɪt/
to live together as an intimate couple, especially without being married
coquetry
C2
/ˈkoʊkətri/
playfully flirtatious behavior intended to attract interest, often without serious romantic intent
kinswoman
C2
/ˈkɪnzwʊmən/
a female relative; a woman belonging to the same family or kin group
inamorata
C2
/ɪnˌæməˈrɑːtə/
literary or humorous: a woman with whom someone is in love; a female lover
dandle
C2
/ˈdændəl/
to move a baby or small child playfully up and down in one's arms or on one's knee
filiation
C2
/ˌfɪliˈeɪʃən/
the relationship of a child to a parent, especially as legally or genealogically established
consanguinity
C2
/kɑnsæŋˈɡwɪnɪti/
relationship by descent from a common ancestor; blood kinship
misalliance
C2
/ˌmɪsəˈlaɪəns/
an unsuitable or ill-judged partnership or alliance
nursling
C2
/ˈnɝzlɪŋ/
literary: a young child or animal being nursed or cared for
amatory
C2
/ˈæməˌtɔri/
literary: relating to or expressive of romantic or sexual love
fosterage
C2
/ˈfɑstərɪdʒ/
the practice or process of raising another person's child as one's own, especially as a historical social custom
affiance
C2
/əˈfaɪəns/
archaic: to promise someone in marriage; to betroth
exogamy
C2
/ɛkˈsɑːɡəmi/
marriage outside a defined kinship or social group, especially when required by custom or law
hymeneal
C2
/ˌhaɪməˈniəl/
relating to marriage or a wedding; nuptial, chiefly in literary use
sonship
C2
/ˈsʌnʃɪp/
the state, status, or relation of being a son
amorist
C2
/ˈæm.ər.ɪst/
a person devoted to love or lovemaking; a lover
polyandrist
C2
/ˌpɑliˈændrɪst/
a person who practices polyandry; in its marital sense, a woman who has more than one husband at the same time
stirp
C2
/stɝp/
a line of descent from a common ancestor; a stock or lineage