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