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.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
365 words
mosaic
B2
/moʊˈzeɪ.ɪk/
a picture or pattern made by arranging small pieces of colored stone, glass, tile, or another material
tambourine
B2
/ˌtæmbəˈriːn/
a handheld frame drum, usually with small metal disks in its rim that jingle when shaken or struck
baroque
C2
/bəˈɹoʊk/
In the highly decorated, dramatic style of European art and music of about 1600 to 1750.
dynamo
C2
/ˈdaɪnəmoʊ/
An electricity generator; a dynamo-electric machine.
crayon
A2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ɑn/
a small stick or pencil of colored wax, chalk, charcoal, or similar material used for drawing
debacle
C2
/dɪˈbɑ.kəl/
An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.
cadence
C1
/ˈkeɪdəns/
the rhythmic flow or pattern of sounds in speech, writing, or movement
figuratively
C2
/fɪgˈjʊrətɪvli/
In a way that is meant as an image or comparison, not literally.
fresco
C1
/ˈfrɛskoʊ/
the technique of painting with water-based pigment on fresh, damp plaster
ode
C2
/oʊd/
a formal lyric poem, often addressed to and celebrating or reflecting on a person, event, object, or idea
coercion
C2
/koʊˈɝʒən/
Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.
artistry
B2
/ˈɑː(ɹ)tɪstɹi/
Great skill and creativity in art or another activity.
minstrel
C2
/ˈmɪnstrəl/
historical: a travelling musician, singer, poet, or storyteller, especially in medieval Europe
complacent
C2
/kəmˈpleɪsənt/
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
tarnish
C2
/ˈtɑɹnɪʃ/
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
falsetto
C1
/fɔlˈsɛt.oʊ/
a male singing voice with artificially high tones in an upper register
treble
C2+
/ˈtɹɛbəl/
three times as great or many
oboe
C2
/ˈoʊ.boʊ/
a high-pitched woodwind instrument with a narrow conical bore and a double reed, used especially in orchestras and chamber music
choral
C2
/ˈkɔrəl/
relating to, written for, or performed by a choir or chorus
requiem
C2
/ˈrɛkwiəm/
a Christian Mass or other service for the repose of the dead
ragtime
C2
/ˈɹæɡˌtaɪm/
a style of music, especially for piano, with a strongly syncopated melody over a steady rhythm
pungent
C2
/ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/
strong and sharp
bijou
C2
/ˈbiːʒuː/
a small jewel, ornament, or finely made decorative object
drumstick
B1
/ˈdrʌmˌstɪk/
a stick used for striking a drum or similar percussion instrument
baritone
B2
/ˈbɛrəˌtoʊn/
the adult male singing voice between tenor and bass in range
soloist
B2
/ˈsoʊˌloʊəst/
a musician who performs a solo
figurine
C2
/fɪɡ(j)əˈɹin/
a small sculpted or moulded representation of a person, animal, or imaginary figure, often made as an ornament or collectible
repaint
B2
/ɹiːˈpeɪnt/
To paint something again, especially something painted before.
holistic
C2
/hoʊˈlɪs.tɪk/
Relating to a study of the whole instead of a separation into parts.
unearth
C2+
/ʌnˈɜː(ɹ)θ/
bring to light
ditty
C2
/ˈdɪti/
a short, simple song or verse, especially one that is light or easy to remember
fanciful
C1
/ˈfænsɪfl̩/
Imagined rather than based on facts; unrealistic.
crescendo
C2
/kɹɪˈʃɛn.doʊ/
a gradual increase in loudness, in music
organist
C2
/ˈɔrgənəst/
a person who plays an organ
fantasia
C2
/fænˈteɪ.zi.ə/
a free-form instrumental composition, often weaving together several themes
mandolin
C1
/ˈmæn.dəˌlɪn/
a small plucked string instrument of the lute family, usually with four paired courses tuned like a violin
rhapsody
C2
/ˈræpsədi/
an intensely enthusiastic or emotional expression in speech or writing
placate
C2
/ˈpleɪkeɪt/
To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate.
romanticism
C1
/roʊˈmæn.tə.sɪ.zəm/
the late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century movement in European art, literature, and music that emphasized imagination, emotion, individual experience, and nature
pursuant
C2+
/pɚˈsu.ənt/
That pursues.
harpsichord
C2
/ˈhɑːrp.sɪ.kɔːrd/
a keyboard instrument in which pressing a key plucks a string, producing a bright, crisp tone
troubadour
C2
/ˈtrubəˌdɔr/
a medieval lyric poet and musician, especially one composing in Occitan and singing of courtly love
smartly
C1
/ˈsmɑː(ɹ)tli/
in a stylish manner
cathartic
C2
/kəˈθɑɹtɪk/
Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis.
patchwork
C1
/ˈpætʃˌwɝk/
the craft or method of sewing differently shaped pieces of fabric together into a larger design
posthumous
C2
/ˈpɑs.t͡ʃə.məs/
occurring or coming into existence after a person's death
bagpipe
C2
/ˈbæɡpaɪp/
a wind instrument whose pipes are sounded from air stored in a bag, usually referred to in the plural as bagpipes
artistically
C1
/ɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪstɪkli/
In a skilful or creative way that shows artistic taste.
trill
C2
/trɪl/
a rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes
tableau
C2
/tæˈbloʊ/
a striking, vivid, or dramatic scene
orchestrate
C2
/ˈɔɹ.kəstˌɹeɪt/
to plan, coordinate, and direct the parts of a complex event or operation so they produce a desired result
tuner
B2
/ˈtuːnɚ/
a person who adjusts a piano or other instrument to the correct pitch
monogram
C1
/ˈmɑː.nəˌɡræm/
a design made by combining or interweaving a person's or organization's initials as an identifying mark
couplet
C1
/ˈkʌplət/
two successive lines of verse that form a unit, often sharing a meter and rhyme
cymbal
B2
/ˈsɪmbəl/
a round, slightly hollow metal percussion instrument that is struck with a stick or against another cymbal
statuette
C2
/ˌstætjuˈɛt/
a small statue or sculpted figure, especially one made as an ornament, study, or collectible
minuet
C2
/ˌmɪn.juˈɛt/
a slow, formal dance in triple time that was fashionable in European courts during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
diorama
C1
/ˌdaɪəˈrɑmə/
a three-dimensional model or display of a scene, often with figures arranged before a painted background
pirouette
C2
/ˌpɪrəˈwɛt/
a rapid complete turn of the body on one foot or on the toes, especially in ballet
needlework
B2
/ˈnidəlˌwɝk/
the art or activity of sewing, embroidery, or other work done with a needle, especially by hand
diminutive
C2
/dəˈmən.jə.təv/
very small
harmonium
C2
/hɑːrˈmoʊ.ni.əm/
a small keyboard instrument whose free reeds are sounded by air supplied through bellows
mangle
C2
/ˈmæŋ.ɡ(ə)l/
To damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or twisting it.
croon
C1
/kruːn/
to sing or hum softly in a low, gentle, or sentimental voice
impressionism
B2
/ɪmˈpɹɛʃənɪzəm/
A style of painting that uses visible brushstrokes to capture light and ordinary scenes.
cancan
C2
/ˈkænˌkæn/
a lively French stage dance performed with high kicks, traditionally by a chorus line
bassoon
B2
/bəˈsun/
a large double-reed woodwind instrument with a long folded tube, typically playing in the tenor and bass registers
languish
C2
/ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
become feeble
stencil
C1
/ˈstɛn.səl/
a thin sheet with letters, shapes, or a design cut from it, used to reproduce the pattern on another surface
dilate
C2
/daɪˈleɪt/
become wider
warble
C1
/ˈwɔːr.bəl/
to sing with trills or rapid, smooth variations in pitch, like a bird
dramatize
C1
/ˈdræmətaɪz/
to adapt a story or event for performance as a play, film, radio work, or television program
symphonic
C1
/sɪmˈfɑː.nɪk/
relating to, written as, or characteristic of a symphony or symphony orchestra
etching
C2
/ˈɛt͡ʃ.ɪŋ/
The art of cutting a design into a metal plate with acid so prints can be made from it.
inimitable
C2
/ɪnˈɪmɪtəbl̩/
Beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless.
concertina
C2
/ˌkɑːnsərˈtiːnə/
a small free-reed musical instrument with bellows between two end boards, played by pressing buttons while expanding and compressing it
gamut
C2
/ˈɡæm.ət/
A (normally) complete range.
dichotomy
C2
/daɪˈkɑtəmi/
The division of a class into two disjoint subclasses that are together comprehensive, as the division of human into female and male.
nocturne
C2
/ˈnɑːk.tɝːn/
a gentle, lyrical, or dreamlike musical composition suggestive of night, especially one for solo piano
harmonics
C2
/hɑɹˈmɑnɪks/
the study of musical sounds, harmony, and their acoustic relationships
arabesque
C2
/ˌær.əˈbɛsk/
an intricate decorative design of interlacing lines, scrolling foliage, or geometric forms, especially in Islamic and Renaissance art
perpetrate
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ).pəˌtɹeɪt/
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
exacerbate
C2
/ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/
To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).
idyll
C2
/ˈaɪ.dəl/
a simple poem or prose work portraying pastoral life or a peaceful, contented scene
jejune
C2
/d͡ʒəˈdʒuːn/
lacking in nutritive value
timbre
C1
/ˈtæm.bɚ/
The quality of a sound independent of its pitch and volume.
modulate
C2
/ˈmɑ.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/
change the key of, in music
inlay
C1
/ɪnˈleɪ/
to decorate a surface by setting pieces of another material into it
graphically
B2
/ˈgræfɪkli/
In a very clear and detailed way, often about something unpleasant.
saturate
C2+
/ˈsatjʊɹeɪt/
To cause to become completely permeated with, or soaked (especially with a liquid).
self-styled
C2+
as claimed by and for yourself often without justification
zither
C2
/ˈzɪ.ðɚ/
a stringed instrument with many strings stretched across a flat, usually horizontal soundbox and played by plucking or strumming
futurist
C1
/ˈfjuːtʃɝɪst/
a person who studies current trends in order to forecast possible future developments
virtuosity
C2
/ˌvɜː(ɹ)tjuˈɒsɪti/
Outstanding technical skill, especially in music or art.
poetess
C1
/ˈpoʊ.ɪˌtɛs/
A woman who writes poetry.
lilt
C2
/lɪlt/
a jaunty rhythm in music