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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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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All 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
2331 words
stonework
B2
The parts of a building made of stone.
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drapery
B2
/ˈdɹeɪpəɹi/
Long, heavy cloth hung in folds, especially as a curtain.
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armful
B2
/ˈɑɹmˌfəl/
The amount that you can hold in one or both arms.
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copra
C2
/ˈkɑːprə/
the dried white flesh or kernel of a coconut, from which coconut oil is extracted
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burgh
C2
/ˈbʌɹoʊ/
a borough in Scotland
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keystroke
B2
/ˈkiːˌstroʊk/
A single press of a key on a keyboard.
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naivete
C2
/nɑːˌiːvəˈteɪ/
lack of experience, judgment, or sophistication
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rosebush
C2
/ˈɹoʊzˌbʊʃ/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
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semicolon
B2
/ˈsɛmikoʊlən/
The punctuation mark ( ; ), used to link two related sentences or to separate items in a complex list.
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misbehavior
B2
/ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjɚ/
behavior that is improper, unacceptable, or contrary to rules
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isthmus
C2
/ˈɪsməs/
a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas and bordered by water on both sides
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waterline
C2
/ˈwɑːt̬ɚlaɪn/
the level reached by water on the side of a floating vessel, or a line marking that level
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backpacker
B1
/ˈbækˌpækɝ/
A traveler who carries their belongings in a backpack and often stays in cheap places like hostels.
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yerba
C2
/ˈjɝːbə/
yerba mate: the South American holly Ilex paraguariensis or its dried leaves and twigs, used to make a caffeinated drink
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amine
C2
/əˈmiːn/
a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals
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chassé
C2
/ʃæˈseɪ/
a gliding dance step in which one foot moves to the side and the other closes to it
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proviso
C2
/pɹəˈvaɪzoʊ/
A conditional provision to an agreement.
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martinet
C2
/ˈmæɹtɪnɛt/
A strict disciplinarian.
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parabola
C2
/pəˈræbələ/
a symmetrical open curve whose points are equally distant from a fixed point and a fixed line
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verbena
C2
/vɚˈbinə/
any of numerous tropical or subtropical American plants of the genus Verbena grown for their showy spikes of variously colored flowers
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cantata
C2
/kənˈtɑtə/
a work for one or more singers with instrumental accompaniment, typically arranged in several movements
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diadem
C2
/ˈdaɪəˌdem/
an ornamental headband or crown worn as a sign of royalty
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torchlight
C1
/ˈtɔːrtʃˌlaɪt/
light cast by a burning torch or, especially in British English, a handheld flashlight
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pommel
C1
/ˈpɑməl/
the raised front part of a saddle, used as a handhold
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flagstone
C2
/ˈflæɡˌstoʊn/
a broad, flat slab of stone used for paving paths, floors, or roofs
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slivovitz
C2
/ˈslɪvəˌvɪts/
a strong, usually colorless brandy distilled from fermented plums, traditionally made in the Balkans and Central or Eastern Europe
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dogwood
C2
/ˈdɔɡˌwʊd/
any of various trees or shrubs of the genus Cornus, often bearing showy flowerlike bracts and red or dark fruit
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shuttlecock
B2
/ˈʃʌtəlˌkɑk/
the lightweight, cone-shaped object with a rounded cork or rubber base that players hit in badminton
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miasma
C2
/maɪˈæzmə/
unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources
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speeder
B2
/ˈspiːdɝ/
A driver who goes faster than the legal speed limit.
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amyl
C2
/ˈæ.mɪl/
a hydrocarbon radical that occurs in many organic compounds
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handicraft
B2
/ˈhændɪkɹæft/
The skill of making things by hand, such as pottery or weaving.
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woodpile
B2
/ˈwʊdˌpaɪl/
a stack of cut wood, especially wood kept for fuel
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sago
C2
/ˈseɪɡoʊ/
an edible starch extracted from the pith of certain tropical palms and cycads, used in puddings and as a thickener
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frieze
C2
/ˈfɹiːz/
A banner with a series of pictures.
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archon
C2
/ˈɑɹ.kɑn/
one of the chief magistrates of ancient Athens
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lamplight
C2
/ˈlæmplaɪt/
The light emitted by a lamp.
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tinderbox
C2
/ˈtɪndɚˌbɑːks/
a small box holding tinder and usually a flint and steel, formerly used for starting fires
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frontage
C2
/ˈfɹʌn.tɪd͡ʒ/
the face or front of a building
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grandmamma
C2
/ˌɡrændməˈmɑ/
Grandmother.
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demagogue
C2
/ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices
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positron
C2
/ˈpɑ.zɪ.tɹɑn/
an elementary particle with positive charge
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cashbox
C2
/ˈkæʃ.bɑːks/
a locked or sturdy box used for holding cash, coins, or other valuables
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quadrangle
C1
/ˈkwɑːdˌræŋɡəl/
a plane figure with four straight sides and four angles
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brushwork
C2
/ˈbrʌˌʃwɝːk/
an artist's technique or characteristic manner of applying paint with a brush
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hydrangea
C2
/haɪˈdreɪndʒə/
a shrub of the genus Hydrangea, grown for its large rounded or flat clusters of white, pink, blue, or purple flowers
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maxilla
C2
/mækˈsɪlə/
either of the paired bones forming the upper jaw and supporting the upper teeth in vertebrates
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semicircle
C2
/ˈsem.iˌsɝː.kəl/
one half of a circle, bounded by a diameter and the arc joining its endpoints
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moorland
C2
/ˈmʊrˌlænd/
open, uncultivated land with acidic or peaty soil, typically covered with heather, grasses, or bracken
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colloquium
C2
/kəˈləʊkwiəm/
An academic meeting or seminar where scholars discuss a topic, often with a guest speaker.
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monograph
C1
/ˈmɑnəˌɡræf/
a detailed scholarly work devoted to one subject or a closely related group of subjects
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oligarch
C2
/ˈɑləɡɑɹk/
A very wealthy business owner who wields political power.
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wheelwright
C2
/ˈwiːlˌraɪt/
a craftsperson who builds and repairs wheels, especially traditional wooden spoked wheels
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aplomb
C2
/əˈplʌm/
Self-confidence; poise; composure.
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nard
C2
/nɑɹd/
an aromatic ointment used in antiquity
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hedgerow
C2
/ˈhɛdʒroʊ/
a line of closely planted shrubs or small trees forming a boundary between fields, gardens, or roads
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saiga
C2
/ˈsaɪɡə/
a migratory antelope of the Eurasian steppe with a distinctive enlarged, flexible nose
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noontime
C2
/ˈnuːnˌtaɪm/
the time around noon or midday
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redoubt
C2
/rɪˈdaʊt/
a small enclosed defensive fortification, often temporary or supplementary
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earthenware
B2
/ˈɝːθənˌwɛr/
a relatively porous ceramic made from clay fired at a lower temperature than stoneware or porcelain
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blotch
C1
/blɑtʃ/
an irregular patch or spot of color, staining, or discoloration
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dross
C2
/dɹɔs/
Worthless or trivial matter.
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predictor
B2
/pɹɪˈdɪk.tɚ/
Something that helps you know or guess what is likely to happen.
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sconce
C2
/skɑns/
a decorative wall bracket that holds a candle, lamp, or other light
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trilobite
C2
/ˈtraɪloʊˌbaɪt/
an extinct Paleozoic marine arthropod with a segmented exoskeleton divided lengthwise into three lobes
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xenophobia
C2
/ˌziː.nəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/
a fear of foreigners or strangers
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souse
C2
/saʊs/
pork trimmings chopped, pickled, and jelled
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allosaurus
C2
/ˌæloʊˈsɔrəs/
a large two-legged carnivorous dinosaur of the genus Allosaurus that lived during the Late Jurassic period
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popgun
C2
/ˈpɑpˌɡʌn/
a toy gun that shoots a cork or similar object and makes a popping sound
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snuffbox
C2
/ˈsnʌfˌbɑːks/
a small, often ornamental box used for carrying powdered tobacco taken through the nose
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pergola
C2
/ˈpɝː.ɡə.lə/
an outdoor framework of posts and crossbeams, often supporting climbing plants and providing partial shade
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waxwork
C2
/ˈwæks.wɝːk/
a lifelike figure or effigy modeled in wax
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privet
C2
/ˈprɪvɪt/
an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub with small leaves and white flowers, often planted as a hedge
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rafter
B2
/ˈɹæftəɹ/
One of the sloping wooden beams that support a roof.
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dewdrop
C2
/ˈduːˌdrɑːp/
a small drop of water formed as dew on a cool surface
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flinders
C2
/ˈflɪndɚz/
small broken pieces, splinters, or fragments, especially after something has been smashed
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skein
C2
/skeɪn/
a length of yarn or thread wound into a loose, elongated coil
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jowl
C2
/dʒaʊl/
the loose flesh of the lower cheek or jaw, especially when it hangs with age
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jackdaw
C2
/ˈdʒækˌdɔː/
a small black-and-gray Eurasian corvid related to crows and often nesting in buildings, cliffs, or trees
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snowshoe
C1
/ˈsnoʊˌʃuː/
a broad, lightweight frame or platform attached to the foot to distribute weight when walking over deep snow
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quatrain
C2
/ˈkwɑˌtreɪn/
a stanza or complete poem consisting of four lines
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whish
C2
/wɪʃ/
a soft rushing or hissing sound made by rapid movement through air or water
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polygon
C2
/ˈpɑːliɡɑːn/
a closed plane figure bounded by three or more straight sides
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foxfire
C2
/ˈfɑksˌfaɪər/
the faint glow produced by bioluminescent fungi growing on decaying wood
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foretaste
C2
/ˈfɔɹteɪst/
an early sample or indication of an experience that will occur more fully later
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throstle
C2
/ˈθɹɒsəl/
Northern English: a song thrush
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gorse
C2
/ɡɔrs/
a dense evergreen shrub with spiny leaves and bright yellow flowers, common on open land in western Europe
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tritium
C2
/ˈtɹɪt.i.əm/
a radioactive isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus contains one proton and two neutrons; symbol 3H or T
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anticlimax
C1
/ˈæn.tiˌklaɪ.mæks/
a disappointing or unimportant ending after a buildup that created expectations of something exciting or impressive
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waterspout
C2
/ˈwɔ.təɹ spaʊt/
a rotating column of air and spray formed over water; figuratively, any violently whirling or surging mass
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pouf
C2
/puːf/
a low, firm, cushioned seat without a back or arms, also used as a footstool
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pleistocene
C2
/ˈplaɪ.stə.siːn/
the geological epoch from about 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago, preceding the Holocene
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protoplasm
C2
/ˈproʊtəˌplæzəm/
the living contents of a cell, including its cytoplasm and nucleus
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bevel
C2
/ˈbɛvəl/
a sloping edge or surface cut at an angle other than a right angle
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scintilla
C2
/sɪnˈtɪlə/
A small spark or flash.
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loggia
C2
/ˈloʊdʒə/
a roofed gallery or corridor that is open to the air on one or more sides, often along an upper story of a building
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