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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290 words
brandy
C2
/ˈbɹændi/
distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice
stroll
C2
/stɹoʊl/
a leisurely walk, usually in some public place
coop
C2
/kuːp/
a small enclosure or shelter for poultry or other small animals
rosemary
C2
/ˈɹoʊzˌmɛɹi/
an aromatic evergreen shrub with narrow leaves, grown as a culinary and medicinal herb
tar
C2
/tɑɹ/
coat with tar
afar
C2
/ˈɑːfɑː(ɹ)/
A member of the people who speak this language and reside in these regions.
watchman
C2
/ˈwɒtʃmən/
A man set to watch: a man who keeps guard, especially one who guards a building, or the streets of a city, by night; (loosely) any such person of any sex or gender.
stump
C2
/stʌmp/
remove tree stumps from
meddle
C2
/ˈmɛd.əl/
To interfere in or with; to concern oneself with unduly.
vineyard
C2
/ˈvɪn.jɚd/
A grape plantation, especially one used in the production of wine.
fern
C2
/fɝn/
Any of a group of some twenty thousand species of vascular plants classified in the division Pteridophyta that lack seeds and reproduce by shedding spores to initiate an alternation of generations.
myrtle
C2
/ˈmɝːtəl/
an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Myrtus, with aromatic leaves and white or pink flowers
pasture
C2
/ˈpæs.t͡ʃɚ/
bulky food like grass or hay for browsing or grazing horses or cattle
burr
C2
/bɝ/
a rough or prickly seed case, husk, or flower head that clings to fur or clothing
birch
C2
/bɝt͡ʃ/
to whip with a birch twig
sup
C2
/sʌp/
a small amount of liquid food
fragrant
C2
/ˈfɹæ.ɡɹənt/
Sweet-smelling; having a pleasant (usually strong) scent or fragrance.
plough
C2
/plaʊ/
a farm tool used to cut and turn over soil before planting
bale
C2
/beɪl/
a large quantity of material compressed and tightly bound for storage or transport
dahlia
C2
/ˈdæljə/
a tuberous flowering plant of the genus Dahlia, native to Mexico and cultivated for its large, brightly colored flower heads
hoe
C2
/hoʊ/
dig with a hoe
mistletoe
C2
/ˈmɪsəlˌtoʊ/
an evergreen plant that grows parasitically on trees and bears white berries
hyacinth
C2
/ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/
a bulbous garden plant with a dense spike of fragrant, brightly colored flowers
putty
C2
/ˈpʌti/
apply putty in order to fix or fill
bluebell
C2
/ˈbluˌbɛl/
Various flowering plants with blue, usually pendulous, flowers.
floral
C2
/ˈfloɹəl/
decorated with, made from, or resembling flowers
gourd
C2
/ɡɔɹd/
a fruit with a hard rind from a trailing or climbing plant of the squash family, often grown for decoration or practical use
rhubarb
C2
/ˈruːbɑːrb/
a garden plant with large leaves and long, thick, sour-tasting stalks that are cooked with sugar as food
fennel
C2
/ˈfɛnəl/
an aromatic herb with feathery leaves and yellow flowers, cultivated for its edible leaves, seeds, and swollen stem base
grange
C2
/ɡreɪndʒ/
a farm or farmhouse with its outbuildings, especially one formerly belonging to a monastery or estate
magnolia
C2
/ˌmæɡˈnoʊliə/
a tree or shrub of the genus Magnolia, typically bearing large, fragrant flowers
juniper
C2
/ˈd͡ʒunɪpɚ/
an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Juniperus, with needlelike or scalelike leaves and aromatic berrylike cones
kelp
C2
/ˈkɛlp/
large brown seaweeds having fluted leathery fronds
mahogany
C2
/məˈhɑɡəni/
The valuable wood of any of various tropical American evergreen trees, of the genus Swietenia, mostly used to make furniture.
rosebud
C2
/ˈroʊzˌbʌd/
the unopened or partly opened flower bud of a rose
hemlock
C2
/ˈhɛmˌlɒk/
poisonous drug derived from an Eurasian plant of the genus Conium
pitchfork
C2
/ˈpɪt͡ʃˌfɔɹk/
a long-handled hand tool with sharp widely spaced prongs for lifting and pitching hay
beech
C2
/biːt͡ʃ/
A tree of the genus Fagus having a smooth, light grey trunk, oval, pointed leaves, and many branches.
livid
C2
/ˈlɪvɪd/
furiously angry
cypress
C2
/ˈsaɪprəs/
An evergreen coniferous tree with flattened shoots bearing small scale-like leaves, whose dark foliage is sometimes associated with mourning, in family Cupressaceae, especially the genera Cupressus and Chamaecyparis.
briar
C2
/ˈbɹaɪɚ/
a thorny shrub or vine
nuptial
C2
/ˈnʌp.ʃəl/
of or relating to a wedding
redwood
C2
/ˈrɛdˌwʊd/
a very tall conifer, especially the coast redwood or giant sequoia of western North America
hickory
C2
/ˈhɪkəɹiː/
any of several North American hardwood trees of the genus Carya, many of which bear edible nuts
carnation
C2
/kɑɹˈneɪ.ʃən/
a cultivated Eurasian plant with fragrant, usually ruffled flowers in white, pink, red, or other colors
mandrake
C2
/ˈmændreɪk/
a Mediterranean plant of the genus Mandragora with a thick often forked root and toxic tropane alkaloids
poplar
C2
/ˈpɑːplɚ/
any of various fast-growing deciduous trees of the genus Populus, often with leaves that tremble in the wind
bracken
C2
/ˈbrækən/
a tall, coarse fern that often grows in dense stands on open or wooded land
whither
C2
/ˈwɪðəɹ/
Interrogative senses.
medley
C2
/ˈmɛdli/
Combat, fighting; a battle.
slouch
C2
/ˈslɐʊ̯t͡ʃ/
A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance
peony
C2
/ˈpiːəni/
a flowering plant of the genus Paeonia with large fragrant flowers.
husk
C2
/hʊsk/
the dry outer covering of a seed, fruit, or vegetable
wormwood
C2
/ˈwɚm.wʊd/
a strongly aromatic, intensely bitter plant of the genus Artemisia, especially Artemisia absinthium
greenery
C2
/ˈɡriː.nɚ.i/
green leaves, plants, or vegetation considered collectively
aloe
C2
/ˈæ.loʊ/
any succulent plant of the genus Aloe, with a rosette of thick pointed leaves
narcissus
C2
/nɑːrˈsɪs.əs/
a bulbous spring-flowering plant with white, yellow, or orange trumpet-shaped flowers, including daffodils and jonquils
frond
C2
/frɑːnd/
a large or divided leaf, especially the leaf of a fern, palm, or cycad
vegetative
C2
/ˈvɛdʒəteɪtɪv/
relating to plant growth or to asexual propagation from stems, roots, leaves, or other nonreproductive parts
acacia
C2
/əˈkeɪ.ʃə/
a shrub or tree of the tribe Acacieae, often thorny and bearing clusters of small flowers
honeysuckle
C2
/ˈhʌnisʌkəl/
a climbing or shrubby plant of the genus Lonicera, typically bearing fragrant tubular flowers rich in nectar
pimpernel
C2
/ˈpɪmpɚˌnɛl/
a low-growing plant with small star-shaped flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel or a related species
columbine
C2
/ˈkɑl.əmˌbaɪn/
any plant of the genus Aquilegia, with showy flowers whose petals or sepals have long backward-pointing spurs
liana
C2
/liˈɑnə/
a woody climbing plant, especially one growing in a tropical forest
nettle
C2
/ˈnɛtəl/
a plant with tiny hairs that sting or irritate the skin
skiff
C2
/skɪf/
A small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and square stern.
guano
C2
/ˈɡwɑːnoʊ/
the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as fertilizer
alder
C2
/ˈɔldɚ/
any tree or shrub of the genus Alnus in the birch family, typically growing in cool, moist ground and bearing catkins and small woody cones
humerus
C2
/ˈhjuːməɹəs/
The bone of the upper arm.
equatorial
C2
/ˌɛkwəˈtɔːɹiəl/
of or existing at or near the geographic equator
valerian
C2
/vəˈlɪriən/
a perennial flowering plant of the genus Valeriana, especially Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink or white flowers
sorrel
C2
/ˈsɔɹəl/
any of several plants with tart, acidic leaves, especially common sorrel of the dock family
chicory
C2
/ˈtʃɪkəri/
a perennial plant with blue flowers, Cichorium intybus, cultivated for its leaves and root
hawthorn
C2
/ˈhɔ.θɔɹn/
a thorny shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus, bearing clusters of white or pink flowers and small red fruits
dusky
C2
/ˈdʌs.ki/
lighted by or as if by twilight
corolla
C2
/kəˈɹoʊlə/
the petals of a flower considered collectively, usually forming a whorl inside the calyx
wallflower
C2
/ˈwɔlˌflaʊ.ɚ/
Any of several short-lived herbs or shrubs of the Erysimum genus with bright yellow to red flowers.
maudlin
C2
/ˈmɔːd.lɪn/
Either of two aromatic plants, costmary or sweet yarrow.
granary
C2
/ˈɡɹænəɹi/
a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed
cattleman
C2
/ˈkætəlmən/
a person who owns, raises, or manages cattle, especially on a ranch
lichen
C2
/ˈlaɪ.kən/
Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of algae and fungi, often found as white or yellow-to-blue–green patches on rocks, old walls, etc.
geranium
C2
/dʒəˈreɪniəm/
a flowering plant of the genus Geranium, commonly called a cranesbill and often grown as a hardy garden perennial
patchouli
C2
/pəˈt͡ʃuli/
a tropical aromatic plant, or the strong-scented oil and perfume obtained from it
yucca
C2
/ˈjʌkə/
any of a genus of evergreen plants with stiff sword-shaped leaves and tall clusters of white flowers, native chiefly to warm, dry parts of North and Central America
farmyard
C2
/ˈfɑɹmˌjɑɹd/
the open area beside or among the buildings of a farm
bramble
C2
/ˈbɹæm.bəl/
a rough, thorny shrub or vine, especially a blackberry bush
cowshed
C2
/ˈkaʊˌʃɛd/
a farm building in which cows are kept
larch
C2
/lɑːrtʃ/
a coniferous tree of the genus Larix that bears soft needles in clusters and sheds them each autumn
fetid
C2
/ˈfɛtɪd/
Foul-smelling, stinking.
sprig
C2
/sprɪɡ/
a small shoot, twig, or cluster cut from a plant
expediency
C2
/ɛkˈspiː.dɪ.ən.si/
The quality of being fit or suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended; suitability for particular circumstance or situation.
boll
C2
/boʊl/
the rounded seed capsule of a plant such as cotton or flax
arable
C2
/ˈer.ə.bəl/
suitable for or used in growing crops
succour
C2
/ˈsʌkɚ/
Aid, assistance, or relief given to one in distress; ministration.
sassafras
C2
/ˈsæsəfræs/
an aromatic deciduous tree of the genus Sassafras, especially the eastern North American species Sassafras albidum
oleander
C2
/ˌoʊliˈændɚ/
a poisonous evergreen shrub with narrow leathery leaves and clusters of white, pink, or red flowers, widely grown in warm regions