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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229 words
heroin
C2
/ˈhɛɹ.oʊ.ɪn/
a powerful, highly addictive opioid made from morphine, usually illegal and associated with a high risk of overdose and dependence
antidote
C2
/ˈæn.tɪ.doʊt/
A medicine that stops the harmful effects of a poison.
douche
C2
/duːʃ/
offensive slang: an unpleasant, contemptible, or obnoxious person
contagious
C2
/kənˈteɪdʒəs/
capable of being transmitted from one person or organism to another, especially through direct or indirect contact
scalpel
C2
/ˈskælpəl/
a small knife with a very sharp blade, used especially in surgery and dissection
hiccup
C2
/ˈhɪk.ʌp/
an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords and a short sound
nauseous
C2
/ˈnɔʃəs/
feeling sick and likely to vomit; affected by nausea
childbirth
C2
/ˈtʃaɪld.bɝːθ/
the process or event of giving birth to a baby at the end of pregnancy
dementia
C2
/dɪˈmɛnʃə/
a syndrome involving progressive decline in memory, reasoning, language, or other cognitive abilities
herpes
C2
/ˈhɝːpiːz/
a common lifelong viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2, sometimes producing recurring sores around the mouth or genitals
cholera
C2
/ˈkɑːlərə/
an acute intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae, usually spread through contaminated food or water and capable of causing severe watery diarrhea and dehydration
pox
C2
/pɑks/
dated, especially in the pox or great pox: syphilis
measles
C2
/ˈmizəlz/
a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, cough, inflamed eyes, and a spreading red rash
suture
C2
/ˈsuːtʃər/
an immovable fibrous joint, especially the seam between bones of the skull
psychosis
C2
/saɪˈkoʊsɪs/
a severe mental state involving impaired contact with reality, often including delusions or hallucinations
tic
C2
/tɪk/
a sudden, rapid, repeated movement or vocal sound that is difficult to control
irritable
C2
/ˈɪɹɪtəbl̩/
Easily exasperated or excited.
epilepsy
C2
/ˈepəlepsi/
a neurological disorder characterized by an enduring tendency to have recurrent unprovoked seizures
balm
C2
/bɑm/
a soothing or medicinal ointment applied to the skin
chloroform
C2
/ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/
to anesthetize with chloroform
hunchback
C2
/ˈhʌntʃ.bæk/
a dated and potentially offensive term for a person with a markedly hunched back or kyphosis
sanatorium
C2
/ˌsænəˈtɔriəm/
an institution providing medical treatment, rest, and supervised recovery, especially for chronic illnesses such as tuberculosis; chiefly historical
succumb
C2
/səˈkʌm/
To give in to something you cannot resist, such as pressure, temptation, or desire.
scab
C2
/skæb/
a dry crust of blood and tissue that forms over a wound while it heals
aphrodisiac
C2
/ˌæfroʊˈdiziæk/
a food, drug, or other substance believed to increase sexual desire or arousal
bile
C2
/baɪl/
a bitter digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder
sprain
C2
/spɹeɪn/
to injure a joint by suddenly twisting or stretching its ligaments without dislocating it
cleanliness
C2
/ˈklɛn.li.nɛs/
diligence in keeping clean
pacemaker
C2
/ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkər/
a small implanted electronic device that regulates an abnormal heartbeat
leprosy
C2
/ˈlɛprəsi/
a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves; Hansen's disease
rheumatism
C2
/ˈɹuːmətɪzəm/
an older, nonspecific term for painful or stiff conditions affecting joints, muscles, or connective tissue
scrotum
C2
/ˈskroʊtəm/
the external pouch of skin and muscle that contains the testes in most male terrestrial mammals
comatose
C2
/ˈkoʊməˌtoʊs/
in a coma or a state of deep, prolonged unconsciousness
mucus
C2
/ˈmjuːkəs/
a slippery secretion produced by mucous membranes and some other biological surfaces for protection or lubrication
thyroid
C2
/ˈθaɪrɔɪd/
an endocrine gland in the neck that produces hormones regulating metabolism, growth, and development
gangrene
C2
/ˈɡæŋˌɡɹiːn/
the death and decay of body tissue, usually caused by loss of blood supply and sometimes complicated by infection
forceps
C2
/ˈfɔɹ.sɛps/
a medical or surgical instrument with two blades or pincers, used for grasping, holding, or extracting something
stethoscope
C2
/ˈstɛθəsˌkoʊp/
a medical instrument used to listen to sounds made by the heart, lungs, and other internal organs
typhus
C2
/ˈtaɪfəs/
any of a group of acute bacterial diseases caused by Rickettsia and spread by lice, fleas, or mites, typically producing high fever and a rash
loathsome
C2
/ˈloʊð.səm/
causing or able to cause nausea
tartar
C2
/ˈtɑːrtɚ/
a hard deposit of mineralized dental plaque that forms on teeth; dental calculus
amputation
C2
/ˌæm.pjəˈteɪ.ʃən/
the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or other body part
scurvy
C2
/ˈskɜɹvi/
Of a person or thing: disgustingly mean; contemptible, despicable, low.
dysentery
C2
/ˈdɪsənˌtɛri/
an intestinal infection causing severe diarrhea, often with blood or mucus, abdominal pain, and fever
grouse
C2
/ɡræɔs/
To complain or grumble.
placebo
C2
/pləˈsi.boʊ/
A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment.
steroid
C2
/ˈstɛɹɔɪd/
any of a class of organic compounds built around a characteristic structure of four fused carbon rings
constipation
C2
/ˌkɒnstɪˈpeɪʃən/
a condition in which bowel movements are infrequent or difficult
hashish
C2
/hæʃˈiːʃ/
a concentrated cannabis preparation made from the plant's compressed or purified resin
tapeworm
C2
/ˈteɪpˌwɝm/
a long, flat parasitic worm that lives as an adult in the intestine of a human or other vertebrate
ventricle
C2
/ˈvɛntrɪkəl/
either of the two lower chambers of the heart, which receive blood from an atrium and pump it into an artery
synergy
C2
/ˈsɪnəɹd͡ʒi/
The cooperation of two or more nerves, muscles, organs, etc.
phlegm
C2
/flɛm/
thick mucus produced in the respiratory passages, especially when coughed up
hypochondriac
C2
/ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndɹiæk/
a person persistently and excessively anxious about having or developing illness
venereal
C2
/vəˈnɪriəl/
relating to sexual intercourse, sexual desire, or the genitals
laudanum
C2
/ˈlɔːdənəm/
an alcoholic tincture of opium formerly used as a painkiller, sedative, and sleep aid
sunstroke
C2
/ˈsʌnˌstɹoʊk/
heatstroke caused by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or intense heat
twinge
C2
/twɪndʒ/
a sudden, brief, sharp pain
opiate
C2
/ˈoʊpiət/
a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or one of its natural derivatives
abrasion
C2
/əˈbreɪ.ʒən/
an area of skin scraped or worn away by friction
infertility
C2
/ˌɪnfɚˈtɪləti/
the inability or reduced ability of a person, animal, or population to produce offspring
virulent
C2
/ˈvɪr.jə.lənt/
able to cause severe disease; highly infectious or harmful
poultice
C2
/ˈpoʊltɪs/
a soft, moist, often heated mass applied to the body to soothe inflammation, pain, or infection
incontinence
C2
/ɪnˈkɑːn.tən.əns/
inability to control the bladder or bowels, resulting in involuntary urination or defecation
rickets
C2
/ˈrɪk.ɪts/
a childhood disorder in which poor bone mineralization, often from vitamin D deficiency, makes bones soft or deformed
nearsighted
C2
/ˈnɪɹˌsaɪtɪd/
able to see nearby objects clearly but unable to see distant objects clearly
subcutaneous
C2
/ˌsʌbkjʊˈteɪniəs/
situated, occurring, or administered beneath the skin
hairball
C2
/ˈhɛrˌbɔl/
a compact mass of swallowed hair or fur formed in the digestive tract of a person or animal; a trichobezoar
convalescent
C2
/ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsənt/
returning to health after illness or debility
scabies
C2
/ˈskeɪbiːz/
a contagious skin infestation caused by itch mites that burrow into the outer skin, producing intense itching and a pimple-like rash
mitral
C2
/ˈmaɪtrəl/
anatomy: relating to the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart
aphasia
C2
/əˈfeɪʒə/
a disorder caused by damage to language areas of the brain that impairs speaking, understanding, reading, or writing
congestive
C2
/kənˈdʒɛstɪv/
medical: involving or caused by an abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid
wheal
C2
/wiːl/
a raised mark or swelling on the skin, especially one caused by a blow, pressure, or an allergic reaction
welt
C2
/wɛlt/
a raised, often red mark on the skin caused by a blow, pressure, or irritation
tracheotomy
C2
/ˌtreɪkiˈɑtəmi/
a surgical operation that creates an opening into the trachea with a tube inserted to provide a passage for air
microcosm
C2
/ˈmaɪ.kɹəˌkɑz.əm/
The human body; a person.
homeopathic
C2
/ˌhoʊmiːoʊˈpæθɪk/
relating to homeopathy or to remedies prepared according to its principles
croup
C2
/kɹuːp/
an illness, chiefly in young children, that causes a harsh barking cough and difficulty breathing
interloper
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈloʊ̯pɚ/
One who interferes, intrudes or gets involved where not welcome, particularly a self-interested intruder.
liniment
C2
/ˈlɪn.ə.mənt/
a medicinal liquid or lotion rubbed on the skin to ease pain or stiffness
melancholia
C2
/ˌmɛlənˈkoʊliə/
historical psychiatry: a condition of profound depression, often with fear, guilt, slowed thought, or withdrawal
medulla
C2
/məˈdʌlə/
the medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brainstem, which helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and other automatic functions
myopic
C2
/maɪˈoʊ.pɪk/
affected by myopia; unable to see distant objects clearly without corrective lenses
gid
C2
/ɡɪd/
a parasitic disease, especially of sheep, in which a tapeworm larva in the brain causes dizziness and circling movements
hypnotherapy
C2
/ˌhɪpnoʊˈθɛɹəpi/
The use of hypnosis to treat illness or psychological problems.
malformation
C2
/ˌmælfɔɹˈmeɪʃən/
an abnormal shape or structure, especially one arising during bodily development
polyp
C2
/ˈpɑːlɪp/
an abnormal growth projecting from a mucous membrane, such as in the nose or colon
recuperation
C2
/rɪˌkuːpɝˈeɪʃən/
The process of recovering one's health gradually after illness or injury.
lozenge
C2
/ˈlɑz.ɪnd͡ʒ/
a small medicated tablet or sweet, often used for a sore throat
colitis
C2
/kəˈlaɪtɪs/
inflammation of the colon
transfuse
C2
/tɹænsˈfjuːz/
to transfer blood or another fluid into a person's or animal's bloodstream
speculum
C2
/ˈspɛkjələm/
a medical instrument used to hold open a body passage so that its interior can be examined
diuretic
C2
/ˌdaɪ.jəˈrɛt.ɪk/
a drug or other substance that increases urine production, often helping the body remove excess salt and water
apoplexy
C2
/ˈæpəplɛksi/
dated: sudden unconsciousness or paralysis caused by a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage
goiter
C2
/ˈɡɔɪtər/
an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland that can cause swelling at the front of the neck