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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329 words
la
C2
/lɑ/
an archaic exclamation expressing surprise, emphasis, or mild protest
gimme
C2
/ˈɡɪmiː/
informal: a written representation of the rapid pronunciation of give me
slut
C2
/slʌt/
offensive: a person, especially a woman, contemptuously judged to be sexually promiscuous
sonny
C2
/ˈsʌni/
an informal, often affectionate form of address to a boy or younger man
lo
C2
/loʊ/
archaic or literary: used to call attention to something surprising or important
faggot
C2
/ˈfæɡ.ət/
historical: a bundle of sticks or branches bound together for fuel
yah
C2
/jɑː/
a dialect or eye-dialect spelling of you
fritz
C2
/fɹɪts/
the state of being defective.
raft
C2
/ɹæft/
make into a raft
yer
C2
/jɚ/
nonstandard pronunciation spelling of your
mutt
C2
/mʌt/
informal: a foolish, contemptible, or irritating person
hag
C2
/hæɡ/
an insulting term for an old woman regarded as ugly, unpleasant, or frightening
shag
C2
/ʃæɡ/
strong, coarse-cut tobacco
golly
C2
/ˈɡɑli/
a mild, old-fashioned expression of surprise, alarm, or enthusiasm
fudge
C2
/fʌd͡ʒ/
A type of very sweet candy or confection, usually made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.
git
C2
/ɡɪt/
an eye-dialect or pronunciation spelling of get
wench
C2
/wɛntʃ/
a girl or young woman; now dated and often humorous, dismissive, or offensive
girlie
C2
/ˈgɝːli/
informal, often dated: a girl or young woman, sometimes used as an affectionate form of address
damsel
C2
/ˈdæmzəl/
dated or literary: a young unmarried woman, especially one of noble birth
abed
C2
/əˈbɛd/
in bed, especially while resting, sleeping, or remaining there later than usual
ferret
C2
/ˈfɛɹɪt/
domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits
uber
C2
/ˈuːbɚ/
informal: extreme, outstanding, or superior to others of its kind
subversive
C2
/səbˈvɝsɪv/
Intending to subvert, overturn, undermine or debase.
eskimo
C2
/ˈɛskɪmoʊ/
historical collective label for Inuit and Yupik peoples and related Arctic communities; now often considered outdated or offensive, especially in Canada and Greenland
whimsical
C2
/ˈwɪmzɪkəl/
Given to whimsy.
savvy
C2
/ˈsævi/
Shrewd, well-informed and perceptive.
sho
C2
/ʃoʊ/
nonstandard pronunciation spelling of sure, shore, or so
hussy
C2
/ˈhʌsi/
old-fashioned, offensive: an insulting term for a woman or girl judged sexually immoral
lor
C2
/lɔɹ/
a sentence-final particle in Singapore and Malaysian English that emphasizes an obvious conclusion, resignation, or inevitability
summat
C2
/ˈsʌm.ət/
something, in nonstandard Northern and Midlands English
stint
C2
/stɪnt/
an individual's prescribed share of work
harlot
C2
/ˈhɑɹlət/
dated and offensive: a woman described as a prostitute or as sexually promiscuous
duress
C2
/duˈɹɛs/
compulsory force or threat
rummy
C2
/ˈrʌm.i/
in informal British use, odd, peculiar, or suspicious
incorrigible
C2
/ɪnˈkɔɹɪd͡ʒəb(ə)l/
Defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.
fie
C2
/faɪ/
archaic or literary: an exclamation expressing disgust, disapproval, shame, or outrage, often followed by on or upon
lout
C2
/laʊt/
a rude, aggressive, or badly behaved man or boy
wer
C2
/wɜr/
historical: a man, or the monetary value assigned to a man's life under early Germanic law
squaw
C2
/skwɔ/
dated and offensive: a Native American woman or wife
tush
C2
/tʌʃ/
an exclamation expressing impatience, dismissal, or disbelief
injun
C2
/ˈɪndʒən/
offensive and dated: an alteration of Indian formerly used for a Native American
camaraderie
C2
/ˌkɑm(ə)ˈɹɑdəɹi/
Close friendship in a group of friends or teammates.
incendiary
C2
/ɪnˈsɛn.di.ɛɹ.i/
capable of catching fire spontaneously or causing fires or burning readily
vail
C2
/veɪl/
to lower or take off something, especially a hat, as a sign of respect or submission
zephyr
C2
/ˈzɛfɚ/
a slight wind, usually refreshing
replenish
C2
/ɹɪˈplɛn.ɪʃ/
To refill; to renew; to supply again or to add a fresh quantity to.
collusion
C2
/kəˈluːʒən/
A private, cooperative agreement or arrangement between groups that otherwise maintain the pretense of competition, contention or non-cooperation.
grandiose
C2
/ɡɹæn.diˈəʊs/
Large and impressive, in size, scope or extent.
bilge
C2
/bɪld͡ʒ/
to take in water at the bilge
raucous
C2
/ˈɹɔkəs/
Harsh and rough-sounding.
amicable
C2
/ˈæ.mɪ.kə.bəl/
Showing friendliness or goodwill.
kidder
C2
/ˈkɪd.ɚ/
informal: a person who jokes, teases, or tries to deceive others playfully
echelon
C2
/ˈeɪ-/
A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.
quay
C2
/keɪ/
a wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
bosh
C2
/bɑʃ/
foolish, untrue, or pretentious talk or writing; nonsense
foreseeable
C2
/fɔrˈsiːəbəl/
capable of being anticipated
trollop
C2
/ˈtrɑː.ləp/
old-fashioned and offensive: an insulting term for a woman regarded as sexually promiscuous or immoral
gad
C2
/ɡæd/
dated: a mild exclamation of surprise, emphasis, or impatience, used as a euphemism for God
racy
C2
/ˈreɪsi/
lively, vigorous, and full of distinctive character, especially in speech or writing
begrudge
C2
/bɪˈgrʌdʒ/
to wish ill or allow unwillingly
alt
C2
/ɑːlt/
alternative or outside the cultural mainstream
uncompromising
C2
/ənˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/
not making concessions
hocus-pocus
C2
/ˌhoʊ.kəsˈpoʊ.kəs/
deceptive, meaningless, or unnecessarily obscure talk or activity used to confuse or impress people
scuttle
C2
/ˈskʌt.l̩/
To deliberately sink one's ship or boat by any means, usually by order of the vessel's commander or owner.
spearhead
C2
/ˈspɪɹ.hɛd/
be the leader of
conducive
C2
/kənˈdusɪv/
Tending to contribute to, encourage, or bring about some result.
jettison
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɛɾəsən/
to drop or throw something, as from a ship or airplane
jaundice
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɔndɪs/
distort adversely
strumpet
C2
/ˈstrʌmpɪt/
old-fashioned and disparaging: a woman who sells sex
ambivalent
C2
/æmˈbɪvələnt/
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
dispensation
C2
/ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən/
The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution
natty
C2
/ˈnæti/
Natural, as opposed to steroid enhanced.
fathead
C2
/ˈfæthɛd/
informal and insulting: a stupid or foolish person
pish
C2
/pɪʃ/
dated: used to express impatience, disdain, contempt, or dismissal
nave
C2
/neɪv/
The navel.
acumen
C2
/əˈkjumən/
A bony, often sharp, protuberance, especially that of the ischium.
circumvent
C2
/səːkəmˈvɛnt/
to beat through cleverness and wit
levee
C2
/ˈlɛvi/
The steep bank of a river.
woeful
C2
/ˈwəʊfəl/
Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity.
whet
C2
/ˈwɛt/
make keen or more acute
genteel
C2
/d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/
Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish refinement; excessively polite.
peruse
C2
/pɝˈuːz/
examine or consider with attention and in detail
debonair
C2
/dɛbəˈnɛɹ/
having a sophisticated charm
satirical
C2
/səˈtɪɹɪkəl/
exposing human folly to ridicule
nary
C2
/ˈnɛri/
informal or dialectal: not a single; not any, used before a singular count noun
aegis
C2
/ˈiːdʒəs/
Guidance, protection; endorsement, sponsorship.
unassuming
C2
/ʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
omniscient
C2
/ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
Having total knowledge.
indomitable
C2
/ɪnˈdɑmɪtəbl̩/
Incapable of being subdued, overcome, or vanquished.
resplendent
C2
/ɹɪˈsplɛn.dənt/
Shining brilliantly; gleaming; radiant.
een
C2
/iːn/
Scots and Northern English: eyes
litany
C2
/ˈlɪtəni/
any long and tedious address or recital
knell
C2
/nel/
To signal or proclaim something (especially a death) by ringing a bell.
sot
C2
/sɑt/
dated and disapproving: a habitual drunkard
purist
C2
/ˈpjʊɹ.ɪst/
Of or pertaining to purism.
gestation
C2
/d͡ʒɛsˈteɪʃən/
the period during which an embryo develops, about 266 days in humans