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
ooh
C2
/ˈuː/
used to express surprise, admiration, pleasure, or discomfort
whoo
C2
/wuː/
an exclamation or cry representing a long whooping, hooting, or wailing sound
hm
C2
/həm/
used to show that the speaker is thinking, hesitating, doubtful, or considering what has just been said
goodnight
C2
/ˈgʊdˌnaɪt/
an instance of saying “good night”; a nighttime farewell.
interrogation
C2
/ɪnˌteɹ.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
The act of questioning someone closely, often by police.
summon
C2
/ˈsʌmən/
to order or ask someone to come
omega
C2
/ˌoʊˈmeɪɡə/
the twenty-fourth and final letter of the Greek alphabet, written Ω or ω
interrogate
C2
/ɪnˈtɛɹ.əˌɡeɪt/
To question someone closely and often aggressively.
ducky
C2
/ˈdʌki/
informal, especially British and sometimes dated: an affectionate form of address for a person
mandarin
C2
/ˈmæn.də.rɪn/
the major group of Chinese varieties spoken across much of China, especially Standard Mandarin
adios
C2
/ˌædiˈoʊs/
goodbye; used when parting from someone
wraith
C2
/ɹeɪθ/
A ghost or specter, especially a person's likeness seen just after their death.
ahoy
C2
/əˈhɔɪ/
nautical: used to hail a ship, lookout, or person and attract attention
eureka
C2
/jʊˈriːkə/
an exclamation of delight at suddenly discovering or solving something
fluke
C2
/fluk/
A lucky or improbable occurrence that could probably never be repeated.
ach
C2
/ɑːx/
An expression of annoyance.
eulogy
C2
/ˈjuː.lə.dʒi/
a speech or piece of writing praising a person who has died, usually delivered at a funeral
rhetoric
C2
/ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/
Language used skillfully, especially in speeches, to persuade or impress people.
Basque
C2
/bæsk/
the language of the Basque people, spoken in parts of northern Spain and southwestern France and not known to be related to any other living language
signorina
C2
/ˌsiːn.jəˈriː.nə/
an Italian title or form of address traditionally used for an unmarried woman or young woman
proverbial
C2
/prəˈvɝːbiːəl/
Used before a word from a well-known saying or metaphor to show you are not speaking literally.
ovation
C2
/oʊˈveɪʃən/
an enthusiastic public reception, especially a sustained burst of applause
blubber
C2
/ˈblʌbəɹ/
To cry loudly and messily, often while struggling to speak.
anecdote
C2
/ˈæn.ɪkˌdəʉt/
a short, often interesting or humorous account of a real incident
babel
C2
/ˈbeɪbəl/
a confused mixture of voices, languages, or other sounds
hubbub
C2
/ˈhʌbəb/
a loud, confused mixture of voices or other sounds; noisy commotion
sirree
C2
/sɚˈiː/
informal, chiefly US: an emphatic form of sir used after yes or no
intercede
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈsiːd/
to intervene by pleading with a person in authority on someone else's behalf
trite
C2
/tɹaɪt/
Often in reference to a word or phrase: used so many times that it is commonplace, or no longer interesting or effective; worn out, hackneyed.
conclusively
C2
/kənˈkluːsɪvli/
in a conclusive way
verbatim
C2
/vɝˈbeɪ.tɪm/
In exactly the same words; word for word.
behemoth
C2
/bəˈhi(ː).məθ/
Any great and mighty monster.
spiel
C2
/ʃpiːl/
a long, practiced speech intended to explain, promote, or persuade, especially a sales pitch
redefine
C2
/ˌriːdɪˈfaɪn/
to define a word, idea, role, or boundary again or in a different way
enchant
C2
/ɪnˈt͡ʃænt/
To cast a spell upon (often one that attracts or charms).
icebreaker
C2
/ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ/
an activity, remark, or question intended to reduce tension and help unfamiliar people begin interacting
mot
C2
/moʊ/
a short, pithy, or witty remark; a bon mot
wile
C2
/waɪl/
a clever trick or persuasive stratagem intended to deceive or manipulate someone, often used in the plural
allegory
C2
/ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/
A story whose characters and events stand for a deeper meaning, often a moral or political one.
ornate
C2
/ɔɹˈneɪt/
Decorated with a lot of complicated detail, sometimes too much.
hocus
C2
/ˈhoʊkəs/
dated: to trick, cheat, or deceive someone
laryngitis
C2
/lɛɹɪnˈd͡ʒaɪtɪs/
Inflammation of the larynx (voice box), usually causing a hoarse voice or loss of voice.
meld
C2
/ˈmɛld/
To combine (multiple things) together; to blend, to fuse.
clarion
C2
/ˈklæ.ɹi.ən/
brilliantly clear, loud, and commanding, especially of a voice, sound, or appeal
spate
C2
/ˈspeɪt/
A sudden heavy downpour of rain.
duplicitous
C2
/duːˈplɪsətəs/
Given to or marked by deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech.
bromide
C2
/ˈbɹoʊ.maɪd/
A dull person with conventional thoughts.
recitation
C2
/ˌɹɛsəˈteɪʃən/
The act of saying a poem, speech, or passage aloud, usually from memory.
abbreviation
C2
/əˌbɹi.viˈeɪ.ʃn̩/
a shortened form of a word or phrase used to represent the whole
lucidity
C2
/luːˈsɪdəti/
clarity of expression, explanation, or style that makes something easy to understand
claptrap
C2
/ˈklæpˌtɹæp/
Empty verbiage or nonsense.
oratory
C2
/ˈɔ.ɹəˌtɔ.ɹi/
addressing an audience formally, usually a long and rhetorical address and often pompous
paraphrase
C2
/ˈper.ə.freɪz/
a restatement of a passage or idea in different words, usually to make its meaning clearer
firebrand
C2
/ˈfaɪɚ.bɹænd/
An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.
frenetic
C2
/ˈfɹɛ.nɪt.ɪk/
Frenzied and frantic, harried; having extreme enthusiasm or energy.
twaddle
C2
/ˈtwɑdəl/
speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
esprit
C2
/eˈspriː/
lively intelligence, wit, or vivacious cleverness
rigmarole
C2
/ˈrɪɡməˌroʊl/
a long, complicated, and often unnecessary procedure
tirade
C2
/ˈtaɪɹeɪd/
A long, angry or violent speech.
quoth
C2
/kwoʊθ/
said; an archaic past-tense verb used chiefly before a first- or third-person subject
alliteration
C2
/əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/
the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, especially in a phrase or line of verse
intercession
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈsɛʃən/
the act of intervening on another person's behalf, especially to plead for help, mercy, or agreement
hieroglyphic
C2
/ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/
written in or relating to a system that uses pictorial symbols, especially ancient Egyptian writing
Quechua
C2
/ˈkɛtʃwə/
a family of closely related Indigenous languages spoken across the Andes, especially in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile
articulation
C2
/ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The act of expressing thoughts or feelings clearly in words.
arraign
C2
/əˈɹeɪn/
to accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy
hearken
C2
/ˈhɑɹkən/
to listen attentively or give serious heed, especially in literary or archaic use
colloquial
C2
/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/
Used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing.
allegorical
C2
/ˌæl.ɪˈɡɔɹ.ɪ.kəl/
Using a story or symbols to express a deeper, hidden meaning.
revile
C2
/ɹəˈvaɪl/
To criticize someone harshly using abusive or insulting language.
schadenfreude
C2
/ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪ.də/
Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.
snippet
C2
/ˈsnɪpɪt/
A small piece or part of something, such as a song, text, or conversation.
epistle
C2
/ɪˈpɪsəl/
a formal or literary letter, especially a long one
sophistry
C2
/ˈsɑ.fɪ.stɹi/
The actions or arguments of a sophist.
pronouncement
C2
/prəˈnaʊns.mənt/
a formal or authoritative statement, especially one made publicly
colloquium
C2
/kəˈləʊkwiəm/
An academic meeting or seminar where scholars discuss a topic, often with a guest speaker.
prater
C2
/ˈpɹeɪtɚ/
a person who talks at length in a foolish, trivial, or irritating way
blatter
C2
/ˈblæt.əɹ/
dialectal: to talk rapidly, noisily, or foolishly
snivel
C2
/ˈsnɪv.əl/
to cry or complain in a weak, tearful way while sniffing
unpronounceable
C2
/ˌʌnprəˈnaʊnsəbəl/
very difficult to pronounce correctly
morass
C2
/məˈɹæs/
Anything that entraps or makes progress difficult.
rostrum
C2
/ˈɹɑstɹəm/
a raised platform for a public speaker, conductor, or other prominent person
nihilism
C2
/ˈnaɪ.əˌlɪz.m̩/
the delusion that things, or everything, including the self, do not exist
patois
C2
/pæˈtwɑ/
a regional dialect of a language
recrimination
C2
/rɪˌkrɪm.əˈneɪ.ʃən/
an angry accusation made in response to another accusation, especially as part of an exchange of blame
notepaper
C2
/ˈnoʊtˌpeɪ.pɚ/
paper, often in small sheets with matching envelopes, intended for writing letters or notes
transcriber
C2
/trænˈskraɪ.bɚ/
a person who converts speech, handwriting, or recorded material into written or typed text
accusatory
C2
/əˈkjuzəˌtɔri/
expressing, containing, or suggesting an accusation
telephonic
C2
/ˌtɛləˈfɑːnɪk/
of or relating to telephony
entreaty
C2
/ɛnˈtɹiːti/
earnest or urgent request
interrogative
C2
/ˌɪn.təˈɹɑ.ɡə.tɪv/
Asking a question or expressing inquiry.
philology
C2
/fɪˈlɑːlədʒi/
the scholarly study of historical texts through their language, transmission, literary context, and interpretation
stevedore
C2
/ˈstivəˌdɔɹ/
A dockworker involved in loading and unloading cargo, or in supervising such work.
recapitulate
C2
/ˌriːkəˈpɪtʃəˌleɪt/
summarize briefly
polyglot
C2
/ˈpɑlɪˌɡlɑt/
a person who can speak or use several languages
gabble
C2
/ˈɡæbəl/
rapid and indistinct speech