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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195 words
sherry
C2
/ˈʃɛɹi/
A fortified wine produced in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, or a similar wine produced elsewhere.
gong
C2
/ɡɔŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer
lookout
C2
/ˈlʊkaʊt/
A vantage point with a view of the surrounding area.
bladder
C2
/ˈblædɚ/
A container in the form of a flexible bag.
bloodshed
C2
/ˈblʌdˌʃɛd/
the shedding of blood resulting in murder
anal
C2
/ˈeɪnəl/
of, near, intended for, or involving the anus
urn
C2
/ɝn/
A vase with a footed base.
harp
C2
/hɑɹp/
play the harp
glitter
C2
/ˈɡlɪtəɹ/
A bright, sparkling light; shininess or brilliance.
slimy
C2
/ˈslaɪ.mi/
covered with or resembling slime
abdominal
C2
/æbˈdɑm.ə.nl̩/
of or relating to or near the abdomen
torso
C2
/ˈtɔrsoʊ/
the central part of the human body, excluding the head, neck, and limbs
bonnet
C2
/ˈbɑnɪt/
to dress in a bonnet
puberty
C2
/ˈpjuː.bɚ.ti/
the developmental stage in which hormonal changes make the body sexually mature and capable of reproduction
kale
C2
/kæɪl/
a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
pelvis
C2
/ˈpɛlvɪs/
The large compound bone structure at the base of the spine that supports the legs in hominids.
lagoon
C2
/ləˈguːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
groin
C2
/ɡrɔɪn/
the crease and surrounding region where the lower abdomen meets the inner thigh
knuckle
C2
/ˈnʌkəl/
one of the joints of a finger, especially when the hand is closed
aorta
C2
/eɪˈɔr.tə/
the body's main artery, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart into the systemic circulation
os
C2
/ɑs/
a bone, especially when identified by a Latin anatomical name
snout
C2
/snaʊt/
The long, projecting nose, mouth, and jaw of a beast, as of pigs.
armpit
C2
/ˈɑːrm.pɪt/
the hollow beneath the shoulder where the arm joins the body
carnal
C2
/ˈkɑɹnəl/
of or relating to the body or flesh
femur
C2
/ˈfiːmɚ/
the thighbone; the long bone between the hip and knee in a vertebrate
excrement
C2
/ˈɛkskɹəmənt/
waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body
feverish
C2
/ˈfi.vɚ.ɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
vascular
C2
/ˈvæskjəlɚ/
relating to, containing, or consisting of vessels that carry blood, lymph, sap, or other fluid in an organism
gout
C2
/ɡaʊt/
A painful disease that swells the joints, especially the big toe, caused by too much uric acid in the body.
rump
C2
/ˈɹʌmp/
the hindquarters of an animal, or informally the buttocks of a person
equilibrium
C2
/ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriːəm/
A state of balance in which opposing forces or influences cancel each other out.
cranial
C2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əl/
of or relating to the cranium which encloses the brain
rectum
C2
/ˈrɛktəm/
the final section of the large intestine, between the colon and the anal canal, where feces are held before elimination
mutilation
C2
/ˌmjuːtəˈleɪʃən/
The act of mutilating or the state of being mutilated.
entrails
C2
/ˈɛn.tɹeɪlz/
internal organs collectively (especially those in the abdominal cavity)
insurrection
C2
/ˌɪnsɝˈɛkʃən/
The action of part or all of a national population violently rising up against the government or other authority; (countable) an instance of this; a revolt, an uprising; specifically, one that is at an initial stage or limited in nature.
tibia
C2
/ˈtɪbiə/
the larger, inner bone of the lower leg between the knee and ankle; the shinbone
lumbar
C2
/ˈlʌmbɑɹ/
relating to the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis
clavicle
C2
/ˈklævɪkəl/
the collarbone, a curved bone joining the breastbone to the shoulder blade
cranium
C2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əm/
the part of the skull that encloses the brain
tendon
C2
/ˈtɛndən/
a strong band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone and transmits the muscle's force
esophagus
C2
/ɪˈsɑfəɡəs/
the muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach
windpipe
C2
/ˈwɪnd.paɪp/
the tube strengthened by rings of cartilage that carries inhaled air from the larynx toward the lungs; the trachea
sill
C2
/sɪl/
A breast wall; window breast; horizontal brink which forms the base of a window.
sphincter
C2
/ˈsfɪŋktɚ/
anatomy: a ring of muscle that contracts to narrow or close a bodily opening or passage
schooner
C2
/skuːnə(ɹ)/
A sailing ship with two or more masts, all with fore-and-aft sails; if two masted, having a foremast and a mainmast.
ejaculate
C2
/iˈdʒæk.jəˌleɪt/
to expel semen from the reproductive tract, typically during orgasm
occipital
C2
/ɑkˈsɪp.ət.l̩/
relating to or located at the back of the head, especially the occipital bone or lobe
parietal
C2
/pəˈraɪ.ə.təl/
relating to either of the two bones forming the upper sides and roof of the skull
ligament
C2
/ˈlɪɡəmənt/
a strong band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or supports an organ in the body
sedition
C2
/səˈdɪʃən/
Organized incitement of rebellion or civil disorder against authority or the state, usually by speech or writing.
headlong
C2
/ˈhɛd.lɔŋ/
with the head foremost
gullet
C2
/ˈɡʌl.ət/
the throat or esophagus, especially considered as the passage through which food is swallowed
horizontally
C2
/ˌhɔrɪˈzɑːntəli/
in a horizontal direction
teat
C2
/tiːt/
the projecting part of a mammary gland through which milk is drawn by a young mammal
eardrum
C2
/ˈiɚˌdɹʌm/
the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound
freckle
C2
/ˈfrekəl/
a small, flat, pale-brown or reddish spot of pigment on the skin, often made darker by sunlight
estuary
C2
/ˈɛst͡ʃuˌɛɹi/
A coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge, resulting in a brackish water zone.
adrenal
C2
/əˈdriːnəl/
relating to the adrenal glands or the hormones they secrete
friendless
C2
/ˈfrɛndləs/
Without friends (without a friend).
ocular
C2
/ˈɑkjəlɚ/
relating to the eye or eyesight
phallus
C2
/ˈfæl.əs/
formal, anatomical, or anthropological: the penis, especially when erect
ovary
C2
/ˈoʊvəɹi/
(vertebrates) one of usually two organs that produce ova and secrete estrogen and progesterone
hippocampus
C2
/ˌhɪpoʊˈkæmpəs/
a curved structure deep in each temporal lobe of the brain that is central to memory, learning, and spatial navigation
plumage
C2
/ˈpljuːmɪd͡ʒ/
The feathers covering a bird's body.
waterway
C2
/ˈwɔtɝˌweɪ/
A body of water, such as a river, channel or canal, that is navigable.
slobber
C2
/ˈslɑː.bɚ/
to let saliva or partly chewed food run out of the mouth
gristle
C2
/ˈɡrɪsəl/
tough, flexible cartilage, especially when encountered in meat
scruff
C2
/skɹʌf/
the back of the neck, especially the loose skin or fur there on an animal
dismember
C2
/ˌdɪsˈmɛmbə(ɹ)/
separate the limbs from the body
tarsus
C2
/ˈtɑɹsəs/
anatomy: the ankle region of a vertebrate foot between the leg and metatarsus, including its small bones
plexus
C2
/ˈplɛk.səs/
a network of intersecting blood vessels or intersecting nerves or intersecting lymph vessels
scapula
C2
/ˈskæpjələ/
either of the two large, flat, roughly triangular bones at the back of the shoulder; a shoulder blade
cerebellum
C2
/ˌsɛrəˈbɛləm/
the part of the vertebrate hindbrain that coordinates movement, balance, posture, and motor learning
forefinger
C2
/ˈfɔɹˌfɪŋ.ɡɚ/
the finger next to the thumb; the index finger
centrifugal
C2
/sɛnˈtɹɪf.(j)ə.ɡl̩/
tending to move away from a center
pericardium
C2
/ˌperɪˈkɑːrdiəm/
the double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart and contains lubricating fluid
spittle
C2
/ˈspɪtəl/
saliva, especially when expelled from the mouth or appearing as froth or drool
epidermis
C2
/ˌepəˈdɝmɪs/
the outer layer of the skin in vertebrate animals, lying above the dermis
musculature
C2
/ˈmʌs.kjə.lə.tʃɚ/
the muscles of a body or body part considered together, especially their arrangement and development
disembowel
C2
/ˌdɪsɪmˈbaʊəl/
to remove the internal organs or contents from a person, animal, or object
pectoral
C2
/ˈpektɔːrəl/
of or relating to the chest, breast, or corresponding front region of an animal's body
zygomatic
C2
/ˌzaɪ.ɡəˈmæt.ɪk/
Of, relating to, or located in the area of the zygomatic bone or zygomatic arch.
perspire
C2
/pɚˈspaɪr/
to produce sweat through the pores of the skin; a formal word for sweat
dermal
C2
/ˈdɝːməl/
relating to or existing on or affecting the skin
physiologically
C2
/ˌfɪziːəˈlɑːdʒɪkli/
In a way that relates to how the body normally functions.
duodenum
C2
/ˌduːəˈdiːnəm/
the first and shortest section of the small intestine, between the stomach and the jejunum
sinew
C2
/ˈsɪny/
a tough cord or tendon connecting muscle to bone
cuticle
C2
/ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
the thin layer of dead skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail
retch
C2
/rɛtʃ/
to make involuntary movements and sounds as if vomiting, often without bringing anything up
fascia
C2
/ˈfæʃə/
a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue that surrounds, separates, or binds muscles and organs
talus
C2
/ˈteɪləs/
anatomy: the ankle bone that articulates with the tibia and fibula above and the calcaneus below
excrete
C2
/ɪkˈskriːt/
to discharge waste matter or another substance from a body, organ, cell, or biological system
astringent
C2
/əˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/
Causing a dry, puckering feeling in the mouth, as some unripe fruits do.
haunch
C2
/hɑntʃ/
the hip, buttock, and upper thigh on one side of a person or animal
malar
C2
/ˈmeɪlə/
Pertaining to the cheek.