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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45 words
cigar
C2
/sɪˈɡɑɹ/
a roll of tobacco leaves made to be smoked
filth
C2
/fɪlθ/
disgusting dirt, refuse, or other foul matter
jag
C2
/dʒæɡ/
a sharp projection or rough point on an edge or surface
loch
C2
/lɔx/
in Scotland, a lake or a narrow arm of the sea
charisma
C2
/kəˈɹɪzmə/
a personal attractiveness or interestingness that enables you to influence others
starlight
C2
/ˈstɑː(ɹ)laɪt/
Light emitted from stars.
armageddon
C2
/ˌɑɹ.məˈɡɛ.dn̩/
the end of the world
dem
C2
/dɛm/
Clipping of Democrat.
hindsight
C2
/ˈhaɪn(d)saɪt/
Understanding of an event only after it has already happened.
smudge
C2
/ˈsmʌdʒ/
a blemish made by dirt
crutch
C2
/kɹʌt͡ʃ/
anything that serves as an expedient
salvo
C2
/ˈsælvoʊ/
a sudden outburst of cheers
libido
C2
/ləˈbaɪˌdoʊ/
a Freudian term for sexual urge or desire
smut
C2
/smʌt/
sexually explicit or obscene writing, images, or other material, especially when regarded as having little artistic value
rummage
C2
/ˈrʌmɪdʒ/
a thorough search for something, often causing disorder or confusion
trove
C2
/troʊv/
a valuable or interesting collection of things, especially one that has been discovered
paraphernalia
C2
/ˌpɛɹəfɚˈneɪli.ə/
a collection of miscellaneous equipment or objects used for a particular activity
voyeur
C2
/vɔɪˈjɜɹ/
a viewer who enjoys seeing the sex acts or sex organs of others
hullo
C2
/hʌˈləʊ/
an expression of greeting
throwback
C2
/ˈθɹoʊ.bæk/
a reappearance of an ancestral trait or a person or thing resembling an earlier type
zealot
C2
/ˈzɛl.ət/
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
scion
C2
/ˈsaɪ.ən/
a descendent or heir
milkmaid
C2
/ˈmɪlkmeɪd/
a woman who works in a dairy
goer
C2
/ˈɡoʊɚ/
One who, or that which, goes.
nib
C2
/nɪb/
the pointed part of a pen that contacts the writing surface and delivers ink
libidinous
C2
/lɪˈbɪ.dɪ.nəs/
driven by lust
bravura
C2
/brəvˈjʊrə/
brilliant and showy technical skill
joist
C2
/d͡ʒɔɪst/
beam used to support floors or roofs
calyx
C2
/ˈkæ.lɪks/
(botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud
hotchpotch
C2
/ˈhɒt͡ʃpɒt͡ʃ/
a confused or miscellaneous mixture of different things
cigarillo
C2
/ˌsɪɡ.əˈrɪl.oʊ/
a small, narrow cigar, usually only somewhat larger than a cigarette and wrapped in tobacco leaf or tobacco-based material rather than ordinary paper
cheroot
C2
/ʃəˈruːt/
a short, narrow cigar with both ends cut flat
lasciviousness
C2
/ləˈsɪvi.əsnəs/
feeling morbid sexual desire or a propensity to lewdness
miscellany
C2
/ˈmɪsəˌleɪni/
a varied collection or mixture of different kinds of things
dottle
C2
/ˈdɑː.təl/
the partly burned or unburned plug of tobacco left in the bowl of a pipe
reinterpretation
C2
/riːɪnˌtɝːprəˈteɪʃən/
a new or different interpretation
unsaved
C2
/ˌʌnˈseɪvd/
not preserved, rescued, or protected from loss or destruction
postprandial
C2
/ˌpoʊs(t)ˈpɹæn.di.əl/
following a meal, especially dinner
rencontre
C2
/rɑːnˈkɑːntrə/
literary or archaic: a chance or unexpected meeting or encounter
promptitude
C2
/ˈprɑːmp.təˌtuːd/
the characteristic of doing things without delay
appurtenance
C2
/əˈpɝtənəns/
an accessory, subordinate part, or piece of equipment belonging to something more important
limn
C2
/lɪm/
to depict, describe, or delineate clearly in words or images
flatout
C2
inconveniency
C2
/ˌɪnkənˈvinjənsi/
inconvenience; the quality or fact of causing difficulty or trouble
penetralia
C2
/ˌpɛ.nəˈtɹeɪ.li.ə/
the innermost parts