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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529 words
cock
C2
/kɑk/
to tilt or slant to one side
alpha
C2
/ˈælfə/
early testing stage of a software or hardware product
phoebe
C2
/ˈfiːbi/
any of several small North American flycatchers of the genus Sayornis, especially the eastern phoebe
pony
C2
/ˈpoʊni/
A small serving of an alcoholic beverage, especially beer.
swamp
C2
/ˈswɑmp/
a situation fraught with difficulties and imponderables
stunt
C2
/stʌnt/
a difficult, unusual, or dangerous feat
rogue
C2
/ˈɹoʊ̯ɡ/
A scoundrel, rascal or unprincipled, deceitful, and unreliable person.
raven
C2
/ˈɹeɪvən/
feed greedily
steed
C2
/stiːd/
A stallion, especially one used for riding.
lizard
C2
/ˈlɪz.ɚd/
Any reptile of the order Squamata that is not a snake or part of Mosasauria — typically characterised by a rounded torso, a short neck with an elevated head, four limbs and a long tail, although some species are legless.
womb
C2
/wuːm/
In female mammals, the organ in which the young are conceived and grow until birth; the uterus.
drone
C2
/dɹoʊn/
A male ant, bee, or wasp, which does not work but can fertilize the queen.
ungrateful
C2
/ʌnˈɡɹeɪtfəl/
not feeling or showing gratitude
moose
C2
/muːs/
large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
crust
C2
/kɹʌst/
to form a crust or form into a crust
velvet
C2
/ˈvɛlvɪt/
A closely woven fabric (originally of silk, now also of cotton or man-made fibres) with a thick short pile on one side.
wretch
C2
/ɹɛt͡ʃ/
An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person.
weasel
C2
/ˈwizəl/
a small slender carnivorous mammal of the genus Mustela or a related genus
cobra
C2
/ˈkoʊbrə/
any of several venomous Asian or African elapid snakes that can spread the ribs of the neck to form a hood, especially a snake of the genus Naja
scorpion
C2
/ˈskɔːrpiən/
an arachnid with grasping pincers and a segmented tail ending in a venomous sting
peck
C2
/pɛk/
To strike or pierce with the beak or bill (of a bird).
shaggy
C2
/ˈʃæɡi/
Having long, thick, and uncombed hair, fur or wool.
panther
C2
/ˈpænθɚ/
a black-coated leopard, or less often a black-coated jaguar
trance
C2
/tɹæns/
A state of awareness, concentration, or focus that filters experience and information (for example, a state of meditation or possession by some being).
lair
C2
/lɜː(ɹ)/
a place where a wild animal lives or hides
hare
C2
/hɛɚ/
swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs
tit
C2
/tɪt/
a small, active songbird that often feeds on insects and seeds
teal
C2
/tiːl/
any of several small, short-necked dabbling ducks, especially species traditionally placed in the genus Anas
boar
C2
/boɹ/
A wild boar (Sus scrofa), the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig.
skunk
C2
/skʌŋk/
a small black-and-white American mammal that can spray a powerful-smelling defensive fluid
rust
C2
/ɹʌst/
a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems
gallows
C2
/ˈɡæloʊz/
A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.
obnoxious
C2
/əbˈnɑkʃəs/
Unjustly disagreeable, argumentative or objectionable; brazenly rude.
raccoon
C2
/ræˈkuːn/
a nocturnal North American mammal with a black facial mask, dexterous forepaws, and a ringed tail
hutch
C2
/hʌtʃ/
a cage or enclosed box in which rabbits or other small animals are kept
horseback
C2
/ˈhɔɹsˌbæk/
on the back of a horse
eel
C2
/iːl/
Any freshwater fish of the order Anguilliformes, which are elongated and resemble snakes.
bullock
C2
/ˈbʊlək/
a young bull that has been castrated, especially one raised or used as an ox
latch
C2
/læt͡ʃ/
fasten with a latch
python
C2
/ˈpaɪθɑn/
a large nonvenomous constricting snake of the family Pythonidae, native chiefly to Africa, Asia, and Australia
horseman
C2
/ˈhɔɹsmən/
A soldier on horseback, especially a cavalryman.
frown
C2
/ˈfɹæʊ̯n/
A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration.
snuff
C2
/snɐf/
inhale audibly through the nose
roach
C2
/roʊtʃ/
a silvery-green European freshwater fish, or any of several related fishes
chestnut
C2
/ˈt͡ʃɛs(t)ˌnʌt/
of a golden brown to reddish brown color
sled
C2
/slɛd/
A small, light vehicle with runners, used recreationally, mostly by children, for sliding down snow-covered hills; no draft animal pulls it.
harem
C2
/ˈhæɹəm/
The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.
runt
C2
/rʌnt/
the smallest or weakest animal in a litter
mackerel
C2
/ˈmækərəl/
a streamlined sea fish with dark wavy markings, commonly caught for food
ostrich
C2
/ˈɔs.tɹɪt͡ʃ/
fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet
implore
C2
/ɪmˈploɹ/
To beg or plead for (something) earnestly or urgently; to beseech.
muzzle
C2
/ˈmʌzəl/
fit with a muzzle
homicidal
C2
/ˌhɑːməˈsaɪdəl/
characteristic of or capable of or having a tendency toward killing another human being
wolverine
C2
/ˈwʊlvəˌriːn/
a powerful, thickset northern mustelid, Gulo gulo, known for strength, endurance, and scavenging over a large range
medusa
C2
/mɪˈduːsə/
the free-swimming, usually bell-shaped and sexually reproducing stage of a cnidarian, commonly recognized as a jellyfish
mammal
C2
/ˈmæməl/
any warm-blooded vertebrate having the skin more or less covered with hair
mantis
C2
/ˈmæntɪs/
a predatory insect of the order Mantodea, with a mobile triangular head and powerful grasping forelegs held as if in prayer
newt
C2
/nuːt/
a small semiaquatic salamander whose adults typically have a lizard-like body and flattened tail
gauze
C2
/ɡɔːz/
A similar bleached cotton fabric used as a surgical dressing.
creak
C2
/kɹiːk/
a squeaking sound
mavis
C2
/ˈmeɪvɪs/
the song thrush; chiefly literary or Scottish
bison
C2
/ˈbaɪsən/
a large wild bovine of the genus Bison, with a massive head, short horns, and a shaggy forequarter
hornet
C2
/ˈhɔɹnɪt/
a large social wasp, especially one of the genus Vespa, capable of delivering a powerful sting
coney
C2
/ˈkoʊni/
archaic or historical: a rabbit, especially the European rabbit, or its fur
pheasant
C2
/ˈfɛzənt/
A bird of family Phasianidae, often hunted for food.
roe
C2
/roʊ/
a small Eurasian deer of the genus Capreolus, now usually called a roe deer
pug
C2
/pʌɡ/
a small, sturdy dog with a short muzzle, broad wrinkled face, smooth coat, and tightly curled tail
baa
C2
/bæ/
to make the characteristic bleating sound of a sheep or goat
vixen
C2
/ˈvɪksən/
a female fox
hock
C2
/hɑːk/
the joint in the hind leg of a horse or other hoofed animal between the knee and the fetlock
seine
C2
/sɛn/
fish with a seine
rattlesnake
C2
/ˈɹæt.əlˌsneɪk/
any of several venomous American pit vipers with interlocking horny segments at the tail tip that produce a rattling warning sound
filly
C2
/ˈfɪli/
a young female horse, especially one below the age at which it is called a mare
ruff
C2
/ɹəf/
common Eurasian sandpiper
condor
C2
/ˈkɒndɔː(ɹ)/
Either of two New World vultures, Vultur gryphus of the Andes or Gymnogyps californianus, a nearly extinct vulture of the mountains of California.
antelope
C2
/ˈæn.tɪ.loʊp/
The pronghorn, Antilocapra americana.
prowess
C2
/ˈpɹaʊəs/
Skillfulness or extraordinary ability in a particular area of expertise; dexterity, mastery, or proficiency.
midge
C2
/mɪdʒ/
a very small two-winged fly, including both biting and non-biting kinds
rhea
C2
/ˈriːə/
a large, fast-running, flightless bird native to South America, with long legs and three-toed feet
yelp
C2
/jɛlp/
a sharp, high-pitched cry, especially by a dog
oar
C2
/oɹ/
A type of lever used to propel a boat, having a flat blade at one end and a handle at the other, and pivoted in a rowlock atop the gunwale, whereby a rower seated in the boat and pulling the handle can pass the blade through the water by repeated strokes against the water's resistance, thus moving the boat.
fawn
C2
/fɔn/
A young deer.
gazelle
C2
/ɡəˈzel/
a small, slender, swift antelope native to Africa or Asia
dragonfly
C2
/ˈdræɡənˌflaɪ/
a predatory insect with a long body, very large eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings held open at rest, especially one of the infraorder Anisoptera
albatross
C2
/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
a very large oceanic bird with long, narrow wings adapted for gliding great distances
frock
C2
/fɹɑk/
To clothe (somebody) in a frock.
koala
C2
/koʊˈɑːlə/
a tree-dwelling Australian marsupial with thick grey fur, rounded ears, and a diet consisting mainly of eucalyptus leaves
trotter
C2
/ˈtrɑtər/
a foot of a pig or sheep, especially when prepared as food
iguana
C2
/ɪˈɡwɑːnə/
a large tropical American lizard, typically with a crest of spines along its back and a long tail
roost
C2
/ɹuːst/
a perch on which a bird rests or sleeps
greyhound
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪhaʊnd/
a tall slender dog of an ancient breed noted for swiftness and keen sight
coachman
C2
/ˈkoʊt͡ʃmən/
A man who drives a horse-drawn coach, a male coach driver.
gander
C2
/ˈɡæn.dɚ/
A male goose.
bluebird
C2
/ˈbluːˌbɝd/
any of three North American thrushes of the genus Sialia, whose males have conspicuous blue plumage
sardine
C2
/sɑrˈdiːn/
any of several small, oily, silvery fish related to herrings, especially a pilchard
starfish
C2
/ˈstɑɹˌfɪʃ/
a star-shaped marine echinoderm, typically with five or more arms radiating from a central disc