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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196 words
palmer
C2
/ˈpɑmɚ/
historical: a pilgrim to the Holy Land, traditionally identified by the palm branch carried on returning home
epic
C2
/ˈep.ɪk/
constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic
deacon
C2
/ˈdiːkən/
in several Christian churches, an ordained minister ranking below a priest
padre
C2
/ˈpɑdɹeɪ/
a Christian priest, especially in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking community
genie
C2
/ˈdʒiːni/
a jinn: a spirit being in Islamic and pre-Islamic Arabian tradition, capable of choosing good or evil and normally invisible to humans
hydra
C2
/ˈhaɪdrə/
in Greek mythology, a many-headed serpent whose severed heads grew back
pagan
C2
/ˈpeɪɡən/
a follower of a polytheistic, nature-centered, or pre-Christian religion, including a person in a modern Pagan tradition
chastity
C2
/ˈt͡ʃæstɪti/
Vow made, usually because of moral or religious beliefs, to abstain from sexual relations.
horoscope
C2
/ˈhɔɹəˌskoʊp/
an astrological forecast of a person's future, often published according to their zodiac sign
blasphemy
C2
/ˈblæs.fə.mi/
speech or conduct that shows contempt for God, a religion, or something held sacred
heretic
C2
/ˈhɛɹɪtɪk/
Someone whose beliefs are contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to.
chalice
C2
/ˈtʃælɪs/
a stemmed ceremonial cup, especially the cup used for wine in the Christian Eucharist
godless
C2
/ˈɡɑdləs/
not believing in or acknowledging a god or gods
sacrilege
C2
/ˈsækɹəlɪdʒ/
the violation, misuse, or profanation of something regarded as sacred
sacrament
C2
/ˈsæk.rə.mənt/
a Christian rite regarded as an outward sign of divine grace, such as baptism or the Eucharist
infidel
C2
/ˈɪnfədəl/
historical and often offensive: a person regarded as not accepting the religion considered true by the speaker
leviathan
C2
/ləˈvaɪəθ(ə)n/
a vast and powerful sea creature described in the Hebrew Bible
celibacy
C2
/ˈsɛləbəsi/
abstaining from sexual relations, for example because of religious vows
adhere
C2
/ædˈhɪɹ/
To stick firmly to a surface.
passover
C2
/ˈpæsˌoʊvɚ/
the Jewish spring festival commemorating the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt
crucifixion
C2
/ˌkɹuː.səˈfɪk.ʃən/
execution by fastening a person to a cross or upright structure and leaving them to die
sharif
C2
/ʃəˈriːf/
a descendant of the prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima, traditionally entitled to a rank of nobility
nymph
C2
/nɪmf/
in classical mythology, a female spirit associated with a natural place such as a spring, forest, or mountain
martyrdom
C2
/ˈmɑrtərdəm/
death or severe suffering endured because of loyalty to a religion, belief, or cause
caliph
C2
/ˈkeɪlɪf/
a Muslim political and religious ruler claiming succession to the authority of the prophet Muhammad
circumcision
C2
/ˌsɝkəmˈsɪʒən/
the surgical removal of the foreskin, often performed as a religious rite or medical procedure
pagoda
C2
/pəˈɡoʊ.də/
a Hindu or Buddhist temple or sacred tower, especially one built in several upward-curving tiers
sprite
C2
/spɹaɪt/
a small supernatural being such as an elf, fairy, or spirit
rectory
C2
/ˈrɛk.tɚ.i/
a house provided for or occupied by a rector or another member of the clergy
fornication
C2
/ˌfɔɹnɪˈkeɪʃən/
sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other, especially when regarded as illicit in religious or legal doctrine
blasphemous
C2
/ˈblæsfəməs/
showing gross disrespect or contempt for God, a religion, or something regarded as sacred
presbyterian
C2
/ˌpɹɛz.bɪˈtɪɹ.i.ən/
a member of a Protestant church governed by elected elders
hubris
C2
/ˈhjubɹɪs/
Excessive arrogance or pride, or presumption; originally (Greek mythology) toward the gods.
Jesuit
C2
/ˈdʒɛʒuɪt/
a member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order
diocese
C2
/ˈdaɪ.ə.sɪs/
a district under the pastoral and administrative authority of a bishop
vicarage
C2
/ˈvɪk.ɚ.ɪdʒ/
the house provided as the official residence of a Church of England vicar
gentile
C2
/ˈdʒɛntaɪl/
a person who is not Jewish, often written with an initial capital
churchyard
C2
/ˈt͡ʃɝt͡ʃ.jɑɹd/
land beside or around a church, often used as a burial ground
catechism
C2
/ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/
a summary of Christian doctrine arranged as questions and answers for instruction
fakir
C2
/fəˈkɪr/
a Muslim religious mendicant, especially a Sufi ascetic who renounces material possessions
perdition
C2
/pɚˈdɪʃən/
eternal spiritual punishment or damnation
orc
C2
/ɔrk/
in fantasy literature and games, a member of a race of aggressive, often monstrous humanoid creatures
sacrilegious
C2
/ˌsækrəˈlɪdʒəs/
showing gross disrespect for, or violating, something regarded as sacred
cassock
C2
/ˈkæsək/
a long, close-fitting garment worn by members of the clergy in some Christian traditions
papacy
C2
/ˈpeɪpəsi/
the office, authority, or institution of the pope and the system by which the Roman Catholic Church is governed
pontiff
C2
/ˈpɑːntɪf/
the pope, especially when referred to formally
tabernacle
C2
/ˈtæbɚnækl̩/
the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites according to the Hebrew Bible
faun
C2
/fɔn/
in Roman mythology and later art, a rustic nature spirit represented as partly human and partly goat
fallacy
C2
/ˈfɛl.ə.si/
A mistaken belief based on faulty reasoning.
dervish
C2
/ˈdɝvɪʃ/
a member of a Sufi Muslim religious order, traditionally committed to poverty and devotional discipline
necromancer
C2
/ˈnɛkrəˌmænsɚ/
a person believed to communicate with the dead for divination or to summon or control the dead by magic
sanctify
C2
/ˈsæŋktəfaɪ/
to make holy or formally set apart for sacred use
archdeacon
C2
/ˌɑːɹtʃˈdiːkən/
a senior Christian cleric who assists a bishop in administering part or all of a diocese, especially in the Anglican Church
vestal
C2
/ˈvɛstəl/
a Vestal Virgin, one of the priestesses who tended the sacred fire of Vesta in ancient Rome
vespers
C2
/ˈvɛspɚz/
an evening service of prayer in several Christian traditions; one of the canonical hours
elysium
C2
/ɪˈlɪʒiəm/
in Greek mythology, the paradise where favored heroes and the blessed dead enjoy an ideal afterlife
anathema
C2
/əˈnæθəmə/
something or someone intensely disliked, rejected, or regarded as wholly unacceptable
sacrosanct
C2
/ˈsæk.ɹoʊˌsæŋkt/
Beyond alteration, criticism, or interference, especially due to religious sanction; inviolable.
theologian
C2
/ˌθi.əˈloʊdʒən/
a scholar or specialist who studies theology and religious doctrine
sibyl
C2
/ˈsɪbəl/
in the ancient world, a woman believed to deliver divine prophecies or oracles
evangelist
C2
/ɪˈvændʒəlɪst/
a Christian preacher who seeks to convert others or revive religious faith
vestry
C2
/ˈvɛstɹi/
a room in or attached to a church where clergy put on vestments, sacred objects are kept, or meetings are held
parsonage
C2
/ˈpɑːrsənɪdʒ/
a house provided by a church as the residence of its minister or parson
incubus
C2
/ˈɪŋkjəbəs/
in folklore, a male demon believed to lie upon and sexually assault sleeping women
mercurial
C2
/mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/
relating to or containing or caused by mercury
consecration
C2
/ˌkɒnsɪˈkɹeɪʃən/
(religion) sanctification of something by setting it apart (usually with religious rites) as dedicated to God
excommunicate
C2
/ˌɛkskəˈmjunəkeɪt/
to officially exclude someone from participation or membership in a church or religious community
apostate
C2
/əˈpɔs.teɪt/
Guilty of apostasy.
unction
C2
/ˈʌŋkʃən/
the ceremonial act of anointing someone with oil, especially as a religious rite
episcopal
C2
/ɪˈpɪskəpəl/
of or relating to bishops or to government of a church by bishops
minaret
C2
/ˌmɪnəˈret/
a tall, slender tower attached to or standing near a mosque, traditionally used for the call to prayer
presbytery
C2
/ˈprɛzbɪtɛri/
in Presbyterian churches, a governing council of ministers and elected elders from congregations in a district
homily
C2
/ˈhɑməli/
a sermon explaining a religious or moral subject, especially one based on a passage of scripture
prelate
C2
/ˈprel.ət/
a Christian cleric of high rank or authority, such as a bishop, archbishop, or abbot
liturgy
C2
/ˈlɪtɚd͡ʒi/
a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
enchanter
C2
/ɪnˈtʃæntɚ/
a magician or sorcerer who casts spells
witchery
C2
/ˈwɪtʃəri/
witchcraft or the supposed practice of magic
pentecostal
C2
/ˌpen.tɪˈkɒs.təl/
of or relating to or occurring at Pentecost
sacristan
C2
/ˈsækɹɪstən/
The person who maintains the sacristy and the sacred objects it contains.
primacy
C2
/ˈpɹaɪ.mə.si/
The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc.
votive
C2
/ˈvoʊ.tɪv/
offered, dedicated, or performed in fulfillment of a vow or as an expression of devotion
necromancy
C2
/ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/
the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially to obtain hidden knowledge or predict the future
sepulcher
C2
/ˈsepəlkɚ/
literary or historical: a tomb, grave, or chamber in which a dead person is buried
neophyte
C2
/ˈniː.əˌfaɪt/
A beginner; someone who is new to an activity, subject, or belief.
churchwarden
C2
/ˈtʃɝːtʃˌwɔrdən/
a lay officer responsible for the property, administration, and secular affairs of an Anglican parish
seraph
C2
/ˈsɛɹəf/
an angel of the seraphim, traditionally represented with six wings and ranked in the highest order of Christian angelology
godhead
C2
/ˈɡɑdˌhɛd/
divine nature, rank, or essence; the state of being a god
ablution
C2
/əˈbluː.ʃən/
the act of washing oneself, especially as part of a regular routine; often plural
transmigration
C2
/ˌtɹænzmaɪˈɡɹeɪʃən/
the passage of a soul after death into another body or form of life
omniscience
C2
/ɑmˈnɪʃəns/
the state or capacity of knowing everything, especially as an attribute of a deity
mythos
C2
/ˈmɪθoʊs/
the body of myths, stories, and symbols associated with a culture, religion, tradition, or fictional world
asceticism
C2
/əˈsɛt.əˌsɪz.əm/
the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from physical comforts or pleasures
naiad
C2
/ˈneɪ.æd/
in Greek mythology, a female nymph believed to inhabit and protect a spring, river, lake, or fountain
chasuble
C2
/ˈtʃæz.jə.bəl/
the sleeveless outer liturgical vestment worn by a priest when celebrating the Eucharist or Mass
obsequies
C2
/ˈɑːbsɪkwiz/
funeral rites or ceremonies, especially formal ones
iconoclast
C2
/aɪˈkɑn.əˌklæst/
One who destroys religious images or icons, especially an opponent of the Orthodox Church in the 8th and 9th centuries, or a Puritan during the European Reformation.