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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83 words
napoleon
C2
/nəˈpoʊ.li.ən/
historical: a French gold coin worth twenty francs, first issued under Napoleon I
mina
C2
/ˈmaɪnə/
an ancient Greek and Middle Eastern unit of money, commonly reckoned as one sixtieth of a talent
mercenary
C2
/ˈmɝ.sə.ˌnɛɹ.i/
A soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them, rather than out of loyalty.
dole
C2
/doʊl/
chiefly British and informal: money paid by the government to people who are unemployed
shilling
C2
/ˈʃɪlɪŋ/
an English coin worth one twentieth of a pound
levy
C2
/ˈlɛvi/
a charge imposed and collected
rupee
C2
/ˈruːpiː/
the monetary unit of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles
sou
C2
/suː/
a former French coin of low denomination
lombard
C2
/ˈlɑːmbɑːrd/
historical: a pawnshop or lending house that advances money against pledged goods
bullion
C2
/ˈbʊl.jən/
gold or silver in bulk form, especially bars or ingots valued by weight
materialistic
C2
/məˌtɪəɹ.i.əˈlɪs.tɪk/
Caring too much about money and possessions.
solicit
C2
/səˈlɪsɪt/
To ask for or try to obtain something, such as help, money, or opinions.
promissory
C2
/ˈpɹɑmɪsɔɹi/
relating to or having the character of a promise
remit
C2
/ɹiˈmɪt/
To send money in payment for something.
subsidize
C2
/ˈsʌbsɪˌdaɪz/
To help pay for something by giving money, usually so its cost stays low.
opulent
C2
/ˈɒpjʊlənt/
Showing great wealth and luxury; richly grand.
groat
C2
/ɡroʊt/
historical: an English or Scottish coin, especially the English silver coin worth four old pence
usury
C2
/ˈjuːʒəɹi/
the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest
opulence
C2
/ˈɒp.jʊl.əns/
Great wealth shown through luxurious and lavish living.
florin
C2
/ˈflɔːr.ɪn/
a gold coin first minted in medieval Florence, or any of several European coins modeled on it
lavishly
C2
/ˈlævɪʃli/
in a rich and lavish manner
economize
C2
/iˈkɑnəmaɪz/
To save money by spending less and avoiding waste.
paymaster
C2
/ˈpeɪˌmæstɚ/
an official or employee responsible for paying wages, especially to workers or troops
inarticulate
C2
/ɪn.ɑɹˈtɪk.jə.lət/
without or deprived of the use of speech or words
shekel
C2
/ˈʃɛkəl/
the basic unit of money in Israel
pennyworth
C2
/ˈpɛniwɝːθ/
an amount of something that can be bought for one penny
patrimony
C2
/ˈpætrəˌmoʊni/
property or an estate inherited from one's father or other ancestor
remittance
C2
/ɹɪˈmɪtəns/
A sum of money sent to someone, especially as payment.
largesse
C2
/lɑɹˈ(d)ʒɛs/
A specific gift of money, etc., given in this way, specifically (historical) at harvest time; a donation, a gratuity.
drachma
C2
/ˈdræk.mə/
the standard unit of currency used in modern Greece before the euro was introduced
coffer
C2
/ˈkɔfɚ/
a strong box or chest for storing money or valuables
ducat
C2
/ˈdʌk.ət/
historical: a gold or silver coin formerly issued by many European states, especially the widely traded gold ducat
fourpence
C2
a former English silver coin worth four pennies
bilk
C2
/bɪlk/
to escape, either physically or mentally
cashbox
C2
/ˈkæʃ.bɑːks/
a locked or sturdy box used for holding cash, coins, or other valuables
lucre
C2
/ˈlukɚ/
money or profit, especially when regarded as sordid, corrupting, or dishonestly gained
livre
C2
/ˈliːvɹə/
A unit of currency formerly used in France, divided into 20 sols or sous.
corollary
C2
/kɒˈɹɒləɹi/
a practical consequence that follows naturally
insolvency
C2
/ɪnˈsɑːlvənsi/
the state of being unable to pay debts when they become due
halfpenny
C2
/ˈheɪp(ə)ni/
an English coin worth half a penny
moneyed
C2
/ˈmʌniːd/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
specie
C2
/ˈspiːʃi/
money in the form of coins, especially gold or silver coins with intrinsic value rather than paper currency
picayune
C2
/ˌpɪkəˈjun/
Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial.
tontine
C2
/ˈtɑnˌtiːn/
a joint investment or annuity in which the benefits or shares of members who die pass to the surviving participants
merk
C2
/mɝːk/
a historical Scottish silver coin and unit of account worth thirteen shillings and fourpence Scots
pecuniary
C2
/pəˈkjuniˌɛɹi/
relating to or involving money
defray
C2
/dɪˈfɹæɪ/
bear the expenses of
baksheesh
C2
/ˌbækˈʃiːʃ/
a tip, gratuity, or small bribe given to obtain service or cooperation, especially in parts of Asia and the Middle East
moneybag
C2
/ˈmʌniˌbæɡ/
a bag or pouch used to hold or carry money
impecunious
C2
/ˌɪm.pəˈkjuː.ni.əs/
Lacking money.
tenpence
C2
/ˈtɛnpəns/
the sum or value of ten pence, especially in historical British currency
denarius
C2
/dɪˈner.i.əs/
the principal silver coin of ancient Rome, originally worth ten asses and later sixteen, and equal to four sesterces
munificence
C2
/mjuːˈnɪfɪsəns/
Great generosity, especially in giving money or gifts.
twopenny
C2
/ˈtʌpəni/
costing or worth two old pennies
self-aggrandizement
C2
/ˈsɛlˈfægrənˌdaɪzmənt/
Acting to increase your own power, wealth, or importance.
taxonomic
C2
/ˌtæksəˈnɒmɪk/
of or relating to taxonomy
emolument
C2
/əˈmɑljəmənt/
Payment or financial benefit received from a job or official position.
usurious
C2
/juˈʒʊriəs/
charging or involving illegally or unfairly high interest on a loan
arrear
C2
/əˈɹɪɹ/
an unpaid or overdue amount, now most commonly used in the plural arrears
unstinting
C2
/ˌʌnˈstɪntɪŋ/
Generous and tireless with one's contributions of money, time, etc.
sestertius
C2
/sɛˈstɝʃiəs/
an ancient Roman coin and unit of account worth one-quarter of a denarius, originally two and a half asses and later four asses
debenture
C2
/dəˈbɛntʃɝ/
a long-term debt instrument issued by a company or government; in US usage it is usually unsecured, while in UK usage it may be secured on assets
remunerate
C2
/rɪˈmjunəˌreɪt/
to pay or otherwise reward someone for work, services, or a loss
coiner
C2
/ˈkɔɪnɚ/
a person who makes counterfeit coins
fiar
C2
/ˈfiːər/
in Scotland, an officially determined standard price, especially an annual legally fixed price for grain; usually used in the plural fiars
acceptor
C2
/əkˈsɛptɚ/
a person or institution that accepts a bill of exchange and thereby undertakes to pay it when due
obolus
C2
/ˈɑː.bə.ləs/
an ancient Greek coin, especially a small silver coin worth one sixth of a drachma
stiver
C2
/ˈstaɪvər/
a former Dutch coin worth one twentieth of a guilder
tallage
C2
/ˈtælɪdʒ/
historical: a tax or compulsory payment levied by a feudal lord or monarch on tenants, towns, or royal lands
piastre
C2
/piˈæstɚ/
historical: a coin or monetary unit of varying value, especially a Spanish piece of eight or an Ottoman currency unit
unthrifty
C2
/ʌnˈθrɪfti/
wasteful or imprudent in the use of money or resources; not economical
multure
C2
/ˈmʌltʃɚ/
historical or chiefly Scottish: a fee paid to a mill owner for grinding grain or pulverizing ore, often taken in kind
annuitant
C2
the recipient of an annuity
opulently
C2
In a way that shows great wealth and luxury.
recoinage
C2
/ˌriːˈkɔɪnɪdʒ/
the act or process of replacing existing coins by minting them again, often at a new weight or standard
excisable
C2
/ˈeksaɪzəbəl/
finance and law: liable to an excise duty or tax
tawdriness
C2
/ˈtɔːdrinəs/
the quality of being showy but cheap and of poor quality
seigniorage
C2
/ˈseɪnjərɪdʒ/
the profit made by a government or mint from issuing currency
exigible
C2
/ˈɛksədʒəbəl/
legally due, demandable, or capable of being exacted, especially of a debt, tax, or payment
alcavala
C2
/ˌælkəˈvɑlə/
historical: a Spanish sales tax charged on transfers of movable or immovable property, often at each successive sale
louis
C2
/ˈluːi/
historical: any of several French gold or silver coins issued under kings named Louis, especially the louis d'or
bimetallism
C2
/baɪˈmɛtəlˌɪzəm/
a monetary standard in which two metals, usually gold and silver, are legal tender at a fixed ratio of value
cruzado
C2
/ˌkruːˈzɑːdoʊ/
a former currency of Brazil, introduced in 1986 and divided into one hundred centavos