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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625 words
monsieur
C2
/məˈsjʊə(ɹ)/
A man, especially a French gentleman.
proposition
C2
/ˌpɹɑpəˈzɪʃən/
An idea, plan, or suggestion that is offered for consideration.
slit
C2
/ˈslɪt/
a long narrow opening
slippery
C2
/ˈslɪpəɹi/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
merit
C2
/ˈmɛɹɪt/
A good quality that deserves praise or reward.
gale
C2
/ɡeɪl/
A very strong wind.
eminence
C2
/ˈɛmɪnəns/
The state of being famous and highly respected in a field.
fiery
C2
/ˈfaɪəɹi/
like or suggestive of fire
bogus
C2
/ˈboʊ.ɡəs/
Fake or not genuine; pretending to be real.
bridal
C2
/ˈbɹaɪd(ə)l/
of or pertaining to a bride
noose
C2
/nuːs/
a trap for birds or small mammals
unsolved
C2
/ʌnˈsɑlvd/
not solved
bleach
C2
/bliːt͡ʃ/
the whiteness that results from removing the color from something
abusive
C2
/əˈbju.sɪv/
characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment
vermin
C2
/ˈvɝmɪn/
Small harmful animals or insects, such as rats, mice, or fleas, that are hard to control.
artifact
C2
/ˈɑɹtɪfækt/
An object made by people, especially an old or historically interesting one
majestic
C2
/məˈd͡ʒɛstɪk/
Having qualities of splendor or royalty.
apiece
C2
/əˈpis/
Each by itself; for or to each one.
valiant
C2
/ˈvæliənt/
having or showing valor
trifle
C2
/ˈtɹaɪfəl/
Something of very little importance or value.
hypothetical
C2
/ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/
Based on a possible situation or idea rather than on real facts.
entrust
C2
/ɪnˈtɹʌst/
confer a trust upon
impeccable
C2
/ɪmˈpɛkəbəl/
Perfect, with no faults, flaws, or mistakes.
jerky
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɝki/
moving or proceeding in sudden, uneven starts rather than smoothly
malicious
C2
/məˈlɪʃəs/
Intending to harm or hurt others; full of spite.
deluxe
C2
/dəˈlʌks/
elegant and sumptuous
anew
C2
/əˈnu/
Again, once more; afresh, in a new way, newly.
uncanny
C2
/ʌnˈkæni/
Strange and mysterious in a way that is hard to explain and slightly unsettling.
quagmire
C2
/ˈkwæɡ.maɪɹ/
a situation that is difficult to reslove
paramount
C2
/ˈpæɹəˌmaʊnt/
More important than anything else; supreme.
tut
C2
/tʌt/
Rubbish.
stellar
C2
/ˈstɛlɚ/
Exceptional, exceptionally good.
ravine
C2
/ɹəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley, especially one formed by running water
snort
C2
/snɔɹt/
make a snorting sound by exhaling hard
lumpy
C2
/ˈlʌm.pi/
filled or covered with lumps; uneven rather than smooth
discreetly
C2
/dᵻˈskritli/
Acting in a discreet manner; acting in a way that respects privacy or secrecy; quietly
wholly
C2
/ˈhoʊ.li/
Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent.
maverick
C2
/ˈmævəɹɪk/
Someone who thinks and acts independently and refuses to follow the usual rules.
infernal
C2
/ɪnˈfɝnəl/
Extremely annoying.
wayward
C2
/ˈweɪwə(ɹ)d/
Stubbornly doing as one pleases and refusing to behave properly.
corpus
C2
/ˈkɔɹpəs/
A large collection of written or spoken texts used for study.
conqueror
C2
/ˈkɑŋˌkɚ.ɚ/
Someone who conquers.
smoky
C2
/ˈsmoʊki/
marked by or emitting or filled with smoke
rhetorical
C2
/ɹɪˈtɔɹɪkəl/
Asked only to make a point, without expecting any answer.
brood
C2
/bɹuːd/
To think anxiously or unhappily about something for a long time.
amor
C2
/ˈæmɝ/
Alternative spelling of amour.
bonny
C2
/ˈbɑːni/
very pleasing to the eye
eminent
C2
/ˈɛmɪnənt/
Famous and highly respected in a particular field.
ruddy
C2
/ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
airtight
C2
/ˈɛrˌtaɪt/
sealed so that air or another gas cannot pass in or out
maggot
C2
/ˈmæɡət/
The small, soft, legless larva of a fly, often found in rotting meat or waste.
finesse
C2
/fɪˈnɛs/
To play (a card) as a finesse.
blob
C2
/blɑb/
a small rounded or shapeless amount of a thick liquid or soft substance
authenticity
C2
/ɑθɛnˈtɪsɪti/
The quality of being real, genuine, and true to its origin
unintelligible
C2
/ˌʌnɪnˈtɛlɪd͡ʒɪbəl/
poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise
starry
C2
/ˈstɑɹ.i/
abounding with or resembling stars
nowt
C2
/naʊt/
A dumb, crass, or clumsy person, or a person who is difficult or stubborn.
ticklish
C2
/ˈtɪkəlɪʃ/
very sensitive to being tickled
tipsy
C2
/ˈtɪp.si/
slightly intoxicated
abominable
C2
/əˈbɑm.ə.nə.bl̩/
unequivocally detestable
splendor
C2
/ˈsplɛndɚ/
Great light, luster or brilliance.
hysterically
C2
/ˌhɪˈstɛrɪkli/
In a wild, uncontrollable, emotional way.
hamper
C2
/ˈhæm.pɚ/
To make something difficult to do; to slow or block progress.
zeppelin
C2
/ˈzɛpɪlɪn/
a large rigid dirigible designed to carry passengers or bombs
abstinence
C2
/ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/
The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
mesh
C2
/mɛʃ/
A material made of connected threads, wire, or rope with small evenly spaced holes.
sable
C2
/ˈseɪbəl/
black or very dark, especially in literary description or heraldry
babble
C2
/ˈbæb.(ə)l/
To talk quickly in a confused or foolish way that is hard to follow.
pushover
C2
/ˈpʊʃəʊvə(ɹ)/
any undertaking that is easy to do
astral
C2
/ˈæstɹəl/
being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars
handsomely
C2
/ˈhæn(t)səmli/
in a generously handsome manner
faceless
C2
/ˈfeɪs.ləs/
having no visible or recognizable face
veritable
C2
/ˈvɛ.ɹɪ.tə.bl/
Used to emphasise that a description is accurate or fitting; real or genuine.
red-hot
C2
/ˌredˈhɑːt/
so hot that it glows red
crippling
C2
/ˈkrɪpəlɪŋ/
Causing serious harm, damage, or a problem too big to overcome.
notoriously
C2
/noʊˈtɔriːəsli/
In a way that is widely known, usually for something bad or difficult.
indiscretion
C2
/ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɛʃən/
An unwise or careless act or remark, especially one that causes embarrassment.
shoddy
C2
/ˈʃɑ.di/
poorly made, carelessly done, or inferior in quality
shrill
C2
/ˈʃrɪl/
of colors that are bright and gaudy
buzzard
C2
/ˈbʌzəɹd/
A large bird of prey with broad wings and a broad tail, common in Europe.
faux
C2
/foʊ/
made in imitation of something else; artificial or not genuine
plume
C2
/ˈplum/
A large, showy feather, often used as a decoration.
cosmopolitan
C2
/ˌkɑz.məˈpɑl.ɪ.tən/
of worldwide scope or applicability
brimstone
C2
/ˈbɹɪmstoʊn/
An old name for the element sulfur.
magpie
C2
/ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/
A noisy black-and-white bird with a long tail, related to the crow.
repetitive
C2
/ɹɪˈpɛtɪtɪv/
characterized by repetition
enslave
C2
/ɪnˈsleɪv/
To make subservient; to strip one of freedom; enthrall.
meager
C2
/ˈmiɡɚ/
Small in amount and not enough; poor in quality.
moonlit
C2
/ˈmuːnˌlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
arduous
C2
/ˈɑɹ.d͡ʒu.əs/
Very difficult and tiring; requiring a lot of effort.
quiver
C2
/ˈkwɪvɚ/
To shake with small, rapid, trembling movements.
futuristic
C2
/ˌfjut͡ʃəˈɹɪstɪk/
having an appearance, technology, or style suggestive of an imagined future
diligently
C2
/ˈdɪləd͡ʒən(t)li/
In a careful and hardworking way, with steady effort.
sizable
C2
/ˈsaɪ.zə.bəl/
fairly large in size, amount, extent, or degree
colossus
C2
/kəˈlɑsəs/
a person or thing of immense size, power, or importance
mathematically
C2
/ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəli/
with respect to mathematics