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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191 words
piper
C2
/ˈpaɪ.pɚ/
a musician who plays a pipe, flute, or especially bagpipes
madonna
C2
/məˈdɑː.nə/
an artistic representation of the Virgin Mary, especially with the infant Jesus
anthem
C2
/ˈæn.təm/
a song of praise, loyalty, or shared identity, especially for a nation, institution, or religious body
cupid
C2
/ˈkjuːpɪd/
A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love.
tempo
C2
/ˈtɛm.poʊ/
in music, the speed at which a composition is to be played
chime
C2
/ˈtʃaɪm/
a melodious ringing sound, or a set of tuned bells or metal bars that produces it
bugle
C2
/ˈbjuːɡəl/
a simple brass instrument, usually without valves, used especially for military signals
carmine
C2
/ˈkɑɹmaɪn/
a vivid purplish-red pigment or dye traditionally made from cochineal insects
choreography
C2
/ˌkɔɹiˈɑɡɹəfi/
The art of arranging the steps and movements of a dance.
soprano
C2
/səˈpɹænoʊ/
the highest female voice
clarinet
C2
/ˌklæɹɪˈnɛt/
A woodwind musical instrument that has a distinctive liquid tone whose characteristics vary among its three registers: chalumeau (low), clarion (medium), and altissimo (high).
handiwork
C2
/ˈhændiˌwɝk/
work done by hand, or an object made through manual skill
piccolo
C2
/ˈpɪk.ə.loʊ/
a small transverse flute pitched an octave above the standard concert flute, with a bright, penetrating sound
ut
C2
/uːt/
music: the original solfege name for the first note of a major scale, now usually called do
serenade
C2
/ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/
a song or musical performance given for someone, traditionally outdoors in the evening as an expression of love
fife
C2
/ˈfaɪf/
a small, high-pitched transverse flute, traditionally played with drums in military music
bard
C2
/bɑɹd/
a poet and singer in a Celtic tradition, especially one who composed verses celebrating heroes and notable events
vamp
C2
/væmp/
a short, repeated, often improvised musical accompaniment or chord progression
sonata
C2
/səˈnɑːtə/
a substantial musical composition for one instrument or a small group, usually arranged in several contrasting movements
hallmark
C2
/ˈhɔlmɑɹk/
A distinguishing characteristic.
lute
C2
/luːt/
a plucked string instrument with a rounded back, flat front, fretted neck, and usually a bent-back pegbox
baroque
C2
/bəˈɹoʊk/
In the highly decorated, dramatic style of European art and music of about 1600 to 1750.
dynamo
C2
/ˈdaɪnəmoʊ/
An electricity generator; a dynamo-electric machine.
debacle
C2
/dɪˈbɑ.kəl/
An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.
figuratively
C2
/fɪgˈjʊrətɪvli/
In a way that is meant as an image or comparison, not literally.
ode
C2
/oʊd/
a formal lyric poem, often addressed to and celebrating or reflecting on a person, event, object, or idea
coercion
C2
/koʊˈɝʒən/
Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.
minstrel
C2
/ˈmɪnstrəl/
historical: a travelling musician, singer, poet, or storyteller, especially in medieval Europe
complacent
C2
/kəmˈpleɪsənt/
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
tarnish
C2
/ˈtɑɹnɪʃ/
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
oboe
C2
/ˈoʊ.boʊ/
a high-pitched woodwind instrument with a narrow conical bore and a double reed, used especially in orchestras and chamber music
choral
C2
/ˈkɔrəl/
relating to, written for, or performed by a choir or chorus
requiem
C2
/ˈrɛkwiəm/
a Christian Mass or other service for the repose of the dead
ragtime
C2
/ˈɹæɡˌtaɪm/
a style of music, especially for piano, with a strongly syncopated melody over a steady rhythm
pungent
C2
/ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/
strong and sharp
bijou
C2
/ˈbiːʒuː/
a small jewel, ornament, or finely made decorative object
figurine
C2
/fɪɡ(j)əˈɹin/
a small sculpted or moulded representation of a person, animal, or imaginary figure, often made as an ornament or collectible
holistic
C2
/hoʊˈlɪs.tɪk/
Relating to a study of the whole instead of a separation into parts.
ditty
C2
/ˈdɪti/
a short, simple song or verse, especially one that is light or easy to remember
crescendo
C2
/kɹɪˈʃɛn.doʊ/
a gradual increase in loudness, in music
organist
C2
/ˈɔrgənəst/
a person who plays an organ
fantasia
C2
/fænˈteɪ.zi.ə/
a free-form instrumental composition, often weaving together several themes
rhapsody
C2
/ˈræpsədi/
an intensely enthusiastic or emotional expression in speech or writing
placate
C2
/ˈpleɪkeɪt/
To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate.
harpsichord
C2
/ˈhɑːrp.sɪ.kɔːrd/
a keyboard instrument in which pressing a key plucks a string, producing a bright, crisp tone
troubadour
C2
/ˈtrubəˌdɔr/
a medieval lyric poet and musician, especially one composing in Occitan and singing of courtly love
cathartic
C2
/kəˈθɑɹtɪk/
Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis.
posthumous
C2
/ˈpɑs.t͡ʃə.məs/
occurring or coming into existence after a person's death
bagpipe
C2
/ˈbæɡpaɪp/
a wind instrument whose pipes are sounded from air stored in a bag, usually referred to in the plural as bagpipes
trill
C2
/trɪl/
a rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes
tableau
C2
/tæˈbloʊ/
a striking, vivid, or dramatic scene
orchestrate
C2
/ˈɔɹ.kəstˌɹeɪt/
to plan, coordinate, and direct the parts of a complex event or operation so they produce a desired result
statuette
C2
/ˌstætjuˈɛt/
a small statue or sculpted figure, especially one made as an ornament, study, or collectible
minuet
C2
/ˌmɪn.juˈɛt/
a slow, formal dance in triple time that was fashionable in European courts during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
pirouette
C2
/ˌpɪrəˈwɛt/
a rapid complete turn of the body on one foot or on the toes, especially in ballet
diminutive
C2
/dəˈmən.jə.təv/
very small
harmonium
C2
/hɑːrˈmoʊ.ni.əm/
a small keyboard instrument whose free reeds are sounded by air supplied through bellows
mangle
C2
/ˈmæŋ.ɡ(ə)l/
To damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or twisting it.
cancan
C2
/ˈkænˌkæn/
a lively French stage dance performed with high kicks, traditionally by a chorus line
languish
C2
/ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
become feeble
dilate
C2
/daɪˈleɪt/
become wider
etching
C2
/ˈɛt͡ʃ.ɪŋ/
The art of cutting a design into a metal plate with acid so prints can be made from it.
inimitable
C2
/ɪnˈɪmɪtəbl̩/
Beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless.
concertina
C2
/ˌkɑːnsərˈtiːnə/
a small free-reed musical instrument with bellows between two end boards, played by pressing buttons while expanding and compressing it
gamut
C2
/ˈɡæm.ət/
A (normally) complete range.
dichotomy
C2
/daɪˈkɑtəmi/
The division of a class into two disjoint subclasses that are together comprehensive, as the division of human into female and male.
nocturne
C2
/ˈnɑːk.tɝːn/
a gentle, lyrical, or dreamlike musical composition suggestive of night, especially one for solo piano
harmonics
C2
/hɑɹˈmɑnɪks/
the study of musical sounds, harmony, and their acoustic relationships
arabesque
C2
/ˌær.əˈbɛsk/
an intricate decorative design of interlacing lines, scrolling foliage, or geometric forms, especially in Islamic and Renaissance art
perpetrate
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ).pəˌtɹeɪt/
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
exacerbate
C2
/ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/
To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).
idyll
C2
/ˈaɪ.dəl/
a simple poem or prose work portraying pastoral life or a peaceful, contented scene
jejune
C2
/d͡ʒəˈdʒuːn/
lacking in nutritive value
modulate
C2
/ˈmɑ.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/
change the key of, in music
zither
C2
/ˈzɪ.ðɚ/
a stringed instrument with many strings stretched across a flat, usually horizontal soundbox and played by plucking or strumming
virtuosity
C2
/ˌvɜː(ɹ)tjuˈɒsɪti/
Outstanding technical skill, especially in music or art.
lilt
C2
/lɪlt/
a jaunty rhythm in music
chassé
C2
/ʃæˈseɪ/
a gliding dance step in which one foot moves to the side and the other closes to it
martinet
C2
/ˈmæɹtɪnɛt/
A strict disciplinarian.
cantata
C2
/kənˈtɑtə/
a work for one or more singers with instrumental accompaniment, typically arranged in several movements
iambic
C2
/aɪˈæm.bɪk/
composed of or characterized by iambs, metrical feet in which an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed one
satiate
C2
/ˈseɪʃɪeɪt/
To fill to satisfaction; to satisfy.
meritocracy
C2
/mɛɹəˈtɑkɹəsi/
Rule by merit and talent.
poseur
C2
/poʊˈzʊəɹ/
One who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others.
portraiture
C2
/ˈpɔː(ɹ)tɹɪtjʊə(ɹ)/
The art or practice of making portraits in painting or photography.
fulminate
C2
/ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/
come on suddenly and intensely
elegy
C2
/ˈɛləˌdʒiː/
A mournful or plaintive poem; a funeral song; a poem of lamentation.
brushwork
C2
/ˈbrʌˌʃwɝːk/
an artist's technique or characteristic manner of applying paint with a brush
expiate
C2
/ˈɛkspiːˌeɪt/
make amends for
typography
C2
/taɪˈpɑɡɹəfi/
the craft of composing type and printing from it
pianoforte
C2
/piˌænoʊˈfɔrteɪ/
the full or historical name for a piano, a keyboard instrument whose hammers strike strings and whose volume varies with the player's touch
dross
C2
/dɹɔs/
Worthless or trivial matter.
tuneless
C2
/ˈtuːn.ləs/
lacking a recognizable or pleasing melody; not tuneful
dactyl
C2
/ˈdæktɪl/
a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, or one long syllable followed by two short ones
waxwork
C2
/ˈwæks.wɝːk/
a lifelike figure or effigy modeled in wax
bourdon
C2
/ˈbʊɹdən/
a continuous low drone or bass tone, especially one produced by a bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy, or similar instrument