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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157 words
corpse
C2
/koɹps/
A dead body, especially of a person.
milord
C2
/mɪˈlɔɹd/
a respectful form of address for an English nobleman or lord
signor
C2
/siːˈnjɔːr/
a courtesy title used before the name of, or in addressing, an Italian man; equivalent to Mr. or sir
viper
C2
/ˈvaɪpɚ/
a person who is considered dangerous
babu
C2
/ˈbɑːbuː/
South Asian, often historical in English: a respectful title or form of address for a man, commonly placed after a personal name
goblin
C2
/ˈɡɑb.lɪn/
a small, grotesque, supernatural, and folkloric creature that makes trouble for human beings
concubine
C2
/ˈkɑːŋkjəbaɪn/
historical: a woman recognized as a man's sexual partner but given lower social or legal status than a wife
hysteria
C2
/hɪˈstɛɹiə/
Wild, uncontrollable emotion, especially fear or panic, that spreads through a group of people.
hermit
C2
/ˈhɝmɪt/
A person who lives alone and avoids the company of others.
huddle
C2
/ˈhʌdəl/
To crowd closely together, often for warmth or safety.
palate
C2
/pəˈleʈ/
The roof of the mouth, which separates the mouth from the nasal passage.
curator
C2
/kjʊəˈɹeɪtə(ɹ)/
A person who manages and organizes a collection in a museum, gallery, or library.
sever
C2
/ˈsɛv.ɚ/
to cut off from a whole
cadaver
C2
/kəˈdævɚ/
the dead body of a human being
cavalier
C2
/ˌkævəˈlɪɚ/
showing an arrogant or dismissive lack of proper concern
beneficiary
C2
/ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.ɚ.i/
A person who gains an advantage or benefit from something.
senorita
C2
/ˌsen.jəˈriː.t̬ə/
a Spanish or Spanish-speaking girl or unmarried young woman, especially when addressed or referred to with the title equivalent to Miss
smother
C2
/ˈsməðər/
deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion
condone
C2
/kənˈdoʊn/
To accept or forgive behaviour that most people think is wrong.
scavenger
C2
/ˈskævəndʒɝ/
An animal that feeds on dead bodies or rotting matter.
anonymity
C2
/ˌænəˈnɪmɪti/
The state of being unknown by name; keeping your identity hidden.
integration
C2
/ˌɪn.təˈɡɹeɪ.ʃən/
The process of becoming a full, accepted part of a community, especially for people from a different background.
Siamese
C2
/ˌsaɪəˈmiːz/
historical: relating to Siam, the former name of Thailand, or to its people, culture, or language
callous
C2
/ˈkæləs/
Cruel and uncaring about other people's feelings or suffering.
exorcist
C2
/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsɪst/
A person who performs rituals to drive out evil spirits.
posterity
C2
/pɑːˈstɛrəti/
All future generations of people.
spinster
C2
/ˈspɪnstɚ/
dated and often disparaging: an unmarried woman, especially one regarded as past the usual age for marriage
bystander
C2
/ˈbaɪˌstænd.ə(ɹ)/
a person who is present at an event but does not take part
Peruvian
C2
/pəˈɹuː.vi.ən/
relating to Peru, its people, languages, culture, or geography
Mongolian
C2
/mɒŋˈɡoʊliən/
relating to Mongolia, its people, language, or culture
mystique
C2
/mɪˈstiːk/
An air of mystery, fascination, or special importance surrounding a person or thing.
deviant
C2
/ˈdiːviːənt/
Differing sharply from what is normal or socially accepted.
contagion
C2
/kənˈteɪd͡ʒən/
The spread of a disease from one person to another by close contact.
Burmese
C2
/bɝːˈmiːz/
the principal language of Myanmar, belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family
philanthropist
C2
/fəˈlænθrəpəst/
A person who gives money and help to good causes to improve people's lives.
recluse
C2
/ɹɪˈkluːs/
A person who chooses to live alone and avoid other people.
cannibalism
C2
/ˈkænəbəlɪzəm/
the practice of a human eating human flesh
embodiment
C2
/ɛmˈbɑːdiːmənt/
A person or thing that is a perfect example of an idea or quality.
esquire
C2
/ˈɛskwaɪɚ/
in the United States, a lawyer, especially when Esquire or Esq. is placed after the person's name
gentleness
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩nəs/
acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered
adept
C2
/əˈdɛpt/
Highly skilled and capable at something.
deterrent
C2
/dɪˈtɝənt/
Something that discourages people from doing something.
vandal
C2
/ˈvændəl/
A person who deliberately destroys or damages property, especially other people's.
practitioner
C2
/pɹækˈtɪʃənəɹ/
A person who works in a profession or skilled field, especially medicine or law.
cinematographer
C2
/ˌsɪnɪməˈtɑːgrəfɝ/
The person in charge of the camera work and lighting when making a film.
ingrate
C2
/ˈɪnɡɹeɪt/
A person who shows no gratitude for what they have been given.
magnate
C2
/ˈmæɡneɪt/
A very rich and powerful person in business or industry.
debutante
C2
/ˈdɛb.jə.tɑːnt/
a young woman formally introduced into fashionable society, traditionally at a ball or reception
depressive
C2
/dɪˈprɛsɪv/
Relating to or showing depression; gloomy and low in spirit.
allotment
C2
/əˈlɔt.mɛnt/
An amount of something given to a person or set aside for a purpose.
philistine
C2
/ˈfɪlɪˌstaɪn/
A person who has no interest in or appreciation of art and culture.
Athenian
C2
/əˈθiːniən/
a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Athens, especially of ancient Athens
nipper
C2
/ˈnɪp.ɚ/
informal, chiefly British: a young child
hapless
C2
/ˈhæplɪs/
Unlucky in a way that brings misfortune; ill-fated.
Toda
C2
/ˈtoʊdə/
a member of an Indigenous Dravidian people of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, southern India
marchioness
C2
/ˈmɑɹʃənɪs/
the wife or widow of a marquess
virtuoso
C2
/ˌvɝ.t͡ʃuˈoʊ.soʊ/
A person who is extremely skilled, especially a brilliant musician.
fraternal
C2
/fɹəˈtɝnəl/
(of twins) derived from two separate fertilized ova
arcane
C2
/ɑɹˈkeɪn/
Mysterious and understood by only a few people.
gauche
C2
/ɡoʊʃ/
Awkward and lacking social grace; likely to say or do the wrong thing.
seamless
C2
/ˈsiːmləs/
perfectly consistent and coherent
dispersal
C2
/dɪˈspɝːsəl/
The act of spreading or scattering things or people over a wide area.
reclusive
C2
/rɪˈkluːsɪv/
Choosing to live alone and avoid contact with other people.
curate
C2
/ˈkjʊɹɪt/
To carefully select and organize items, such as art, content, or products.
breadwinner
C2
/ˈbɹɛdˌwɪnɚ/
The person whose earnings are the main source of income for a household.
patriarchal
C2
/ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑɹkl̩/
relating to a social system in which men hold primary power and authority
handmaiden
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪdən/
historical: a female personal attendant or servant
impresario
C2
/ˌɪmpɹɪˈsɑːɹɪəʊ/
A person who organizes and finances concerts, plays, or other entertainment.
yokel
C2
/ˈjoʊ.kəl/
a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
bordello
C2
/bɔɹˈdɛl.oʊ/
a house or establishment where people pay for sexual services; a brothel
toady
C2
/ˈtoʊ.di/
a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
milieu
C2
/mɪlˈju/
The social setting or surroundings in which someone lives or works.
attuned
C2
/əˈtuːnd/
Aware of and able to respond well to something, such as people's feelings or a situation.
listless
C2
/ˈlɪstlɪs/
lacking zest or vivacity
archetype
C2
/ˈɑɹkɪtaɪp/
A perfect or typical example of a kind of person or thing.
cull
C2
/kʊl/
To select and gather the best items from a larger group.
instigator
C2
/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/
someone who deliberately foments trouble
Berber
C2
/ˈbɝ.bɚ/
a member of one of the Indigenous peoples of North Africa; many people prefer the self-designation Amazigh, plural Imazighen
schlep
C2
/ʃlɛp/
a Yiddish term for an awkward and stupid person
anthropological
C2
/æn.θɹə.pəˈlɑd͡ʒikəl/
Relating to anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures.
zoologist
C2
/zoʊˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies animals.
freemasonry
C2
/ˈfriˌmeɪsənri/
the organization, beliefs, and ceremonies of the Freemasons
shipmate
C2
/ˈʃɪpˌmeɪt/
a fellow member of a ship's crew or a person traveling on the same ship
derision
C2
/dɝˈɪʒən/
Mocking laughter or scorn; the act of making fun of someone or something.
waif
C2
/weɪf/
especially historical: a homeless, abandoned, or neglected person, especially a child
denunciation
C2
/dɪˌnənsiːˈeɪʃən/
A strong public statement criticizing someone or something.
enabler
C2
/ɛˈneɪbəlɝ/
A person or thing that makes something possible or helps it happen.
disseminate
C2
/dɪˈsemɪˌnæɪt/
To spread information or ideas widely to many people.
archetypal
C2
/ˈɑɹkɪtaɪpəl/
Being a perfect or most typical example of a kind of person or thing.
womankind
C2
/ˈwʊm.ənˌkaɪnd/
old-fashioned: women considered collectively, especially in contrast with men
ignominious
C2
/ɪɡ.nəˈmɪ.ni.əs/
Causing or deserving public shame and dishonour.
vandalize
C2
/ˈvændəlaɪz/
To deliberately damage or destroy property, especially public or other people's property.
gentlewoman
C2
/ˈdʒɛntəlˌwʊmən/
a woman of high social standing or good family, or one regarded as cultured and well-mannered; old-fashioned
saunter
C2
/ˈsɔntɚ/
a careless leisurely gait
procurer
C2
/prəˈkjʊr.ɚ/
a person who obtains or supplies someone or something for another, often through effort or special arrangements
wordsmith
C2
/ˈwɝdˌsmɪθ/
A person who uses words skilfully, especially a writer.