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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62 words
tang
C2
/tæŋ/
a strong, sharp, and distinctive taste or smell
tweet
C2
/ˈtwit/
a short, high-pitched chirping sound, especially one made by a small bird
howl
C2
/ˈhæʊ̯l/
a long loud emotional utterance
clang
C2
/ˈklæ̝ŋ/
a loud resonant repeating noise
malice
C2
/ˈmælɪs/
The desire to harm others or to see them suffer.
tinkle
C2
/ˈtɪŋkəl/
to make a series of light, clear ringing sounds
glittering
C2
/ˈɡlɪtəɹɪŋ/
sparkling or shining with many small flashes of light
hue
C2
/hju/
a color or shade of color
tinny
C2
/ˈtɪni/
having a thin, harsh, metallic sound
clack
C2
/klæk/
a sharp, hard sound made when solid objects strike together
squint
C2
/skwɪnt/
To look at something with your eyes partly closed, often because of bright light or to see better.
jangle
C2
/ˈdʒæŋɡəl/
to make or cause a harsh, discordant metallic ringing sound
blam
C2
/blæm/
used to represent a sudden explosive impact or gunshot
radiance
C2
/ˈɹeɪdi.əns/
bright light or a warm glow sent out from something
resounding
C2
/riːˈsaʊndɪŋ/
Very great and unmistakable; emphatic
sensuous
C2
/ˈsɛnʃuəs/
giving pleasure to or strongly appealing to the physical senses
lurid
C2
/ˈlʊɹɪd/
Describing shocking or horrifying things, especially violence or sex, in too much vivid detail.
olfactory
C2
/ɑlˈfæktəri/
relating to the sense of smell or to the organs used for smelling
vapid
C2
/ˈvæpɪd/
lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest
dowdy
C2
/ˈdaʊdi/
lacking in smartness or taste
pitter-patter
C2
/ˈpɪtərˌpætər/
a rapid succession of light tapping sounds, especially footsteps or raindrops
exude
C2
/ɪɡˈzud/
To show a quality or feeling strongly and clearly through the way you look or behave.
twang
C2
/twæŋ/
a sharp, vibrating sound like that of a plucked string
telescopic
C2
/ˌtɛləˈskɔpɪk/
Made of parts that slide into one another so the whole can be made longer or shorter.
condiment
C2
/ˈkɑn.də.mənt/
a preparation (a sauce or relish or spice) to enhance flavor or enjoyment
crawly
C2
/ˈkrɔːli/
moving by crawling or seeming to be full of crawling creatures
hallucinatory
C2
/həˈluːsənəˌtɔri/
relating to, consisting of, or producing hallucinations
murk
C2
/mɝk/
an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance
aural
C2
/ˈɔɹəl/
relating to or characterized by an aura
intelligible
C2
/ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/
well articulated or enunciated, and loud enough to be heard distinctly
whish
C2
/wɪʃ/
a soft rushing or hissing sound made by rapid movement through air or water
sputter
C2
/ˈspʌt.ɚ/
to make a series of soft explosive, spitting, or popping sounds
chirrup
C2
/ˈtʃɪrəp/
a short, repeated high-pitched sound such as the call of a small bird or insect
cacophonous
C2
/kəˈkɑfənəs/
having an unpleasant sound
siss
C2
/sɪs/
to make or utter with a sharp hissing sound
odorous
C2
/ˈoʊdərəs/
having or giving off a noticeable or distinctive smell
whang
C2
/wæŋ/
a loud, sharp, resonant sound, especially one made by a forceful impact
resoundingly
C2
/rɪˈzaʊndɪŋli/
In a clear and unmistakable way; emphatically
nearsightedness
C2
/ˈnɪrˌsaɪ.tɪd.nəs/
the condition of seeing nearby objects clearly but distant objects indistinctly
euphonious
C2
/juːˈfoʊ.ni.əs/
pleasant, harmonious, and agreeable to the ear
impalpable
C2
/ɪmˈpælpəbəl/
unable to be touched or physically felt; intangible or insubstantial
lorgnette
C2
/lɔːrˈnjet/
a pair of eyeglasses mounted in a frame with a handle and held in front of the eyes rather than worn
kinesthetic
C2
/ˌkɪnəsˈθɛtɪk/
relating to the sense of bodily position, muscular movement, and effort
insensibility
C2
/ɪnˌsen.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/
lack of physical sensation or awareness; unconsciousness
unperceived
C2
/ˌʌnpərˈsivd/
not perceived, noticed, or consciously registered
syllabic
C2
/sɪˈlæb.ɪk/
Relating to syllables.
clangor
C2
/ˈklæŋ(ɡ)ɚ/
a loud, resonant noise or confused series of metallic sounds
effulgence
C2
/ɪˈfʌldʒəns/
brilliant radiance or a dazzling emission of light
inartistic
C2
Lacking artistic skill or taste.
sough
C2
/saʊ/
to make a low, continuous murmuring, sighing, or rustling sound
tangibility
C2
/ˌtændʒəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being perceptible by touch
pomander
C2
/ˈpoʊ.mæn.dɚ/
historical: a ball of aromatic substances carried for fragrance or as a supposed protection against infection
unobserving
C2
/ˌʌnəbˈzɝvɪŋ/
failing to notice or pay careful attention; unobservant
luridly
C2
In a way that describes shocking things in too much vivid or sensational detail.
crepitation
C2
/ˌkrɛp.əˈteɪ.ʃən/
a crackling, rattling, or popping sound
gustation
C2
/ɡʌˈsteɪʃən/
the sense or faculty of taste
unwinking
C2
/ʌnˈwɪŋkɪŋ/
not blinking or closing the eyes
coruscation
C2
/ˌkɒɹəsˈkeɪʃən/
a sudden or striking display of brilliance
tactual
C2
/ˈtæktʃuəl/
relating to the sense of touch
tintinnabulum
C2
/ˌtɪntɪˈnæbjʊləm/
a small tinkling bell, especially a historical bell used to summon members of a religious community
savorless
C2
/ˈseɪvərləs/
having little or no taste, flavor, or appetizing quality
feelable
C2
/ˈfiːləbəl/
capable of being felt through touch, sensation, or emotion