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
524 words
pudding
B2
/ˈpʊd.ɪŋ/
A sweet, soft dessert, often made with milk, eggs, or flour.
starve
B2
/stɑɹv/
To die or suffer badly because of a lack of food.
diner
B1
/ˈdaɪnə(ɹ)/
a small informal restaurant, often with booths, a counter, and simple meals
dash
B2
/dæʃ/
To run or move somewhere very quickly.
cooler
A2
/ˈku.lɚ/
An insulated box used to keep food and drinks cold while traveling or camping.
pasta
A2
/[ˈp(ʰ)astə]/
A food made from flour and water, shaped into forms like spaghetti and usually boiled.
ling
B2
/ˈlɪŋ/
A long, slender saltwater fish related to cod, often eaten as food.
tomato
A1
/təˈmeɪ.toʊ/
A soft, round red fruit eaten raw or cooked, used as a vegetable.
tuna
B1
/ˈtjuː.nə/
A large sea fish that is often eaten as food.
jelly
A2
/ˈd͡ʒɛl.i/
A soft, wobbly dessert made from fruit-flavored gelatine that is set in a mold.
slaughter
B2
/ˈslɔtɚ/
To kill animals for food.
bake
A2
/beɪk/
To cook food using dry heat in an oven.
tray
B2
/tɹeɪ/
A flat object with raised edges used for carrying food, drinks, or other items.
chili
A2
/ˈt͡ʃaɪlaɪ/
A small, hot-tasting pepper used to add spice to food.
curry
A2
/kɝ.i/
A spicy dish of meat, fish, or vegetables cooked in a sauce, common in South Asian cooking.
grill
B1
/ɡɹɪl/
To cook food over or under direct heat.
boil
A2
/bɔj(ᵻ)l/
(of a liquid) To become hot enough to bubble and turn into vapour.
rapid
B1
/ˈræpəd/
Happening or moving very quickly.
peel
B2
/piːl/
To remove the skin or outer covering from a fruit or vegetable.
magnum
C2
/ˈmæɡ.nəm/
a wine or champagne bottle holding 1.5 liters, twice the volume of a standard bottle
refrigerator
A2
/ɹɪˈfɹɪd͡ʒ.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/
A machine that keeps food and drinks cold so they stay fresh.
spicy
B1
/ˈspaɪsi/
Having a strong, hot flavor that creates a burning feeling in the mouth.
vegetable
A1
/ˈvɛt͡ʃ.tə.bəl/
A plant or part of a plant, such as a carrot or potato, that is eaten as food.
spice
B1
/spaɪs/
A strong-tasting or aromatic part of a plant, usually dried, used to flavor food.
mustard
B1
/ˈmʌstəɹd/
A spicy yellow paste or powder made from mustard seeds, used to flavour food.
lemonade
A2
/ˈlɛmənˌeɪd/
A cold drink made from lemon, water, and sugar.
strawberry
B1
/ˈstɹɔˌbɛɹi/
A sweet, soft red fruit with tiny seeds on its surface.
sage
B2
/seɪd͡ʒ/
A herb with grey-green leaves used to add flavor to food.
vegetarian
B1
/vɛ.d͡ʒɪˈtɛ.ɹi.ən/
A person who does not eat meat or fish.
cereal
A2
/ˈsɪɹ.i.əl/
A breakfast food made from grain, usually eaten with milk.
batch
A2
/bæt͡ʃ/
A group of things or people dealt with at the same time.
kettle
B1
/ˈkɛ.təl/
A container with a lid and handle, used for boiling water.
microwave
B2
/ˈmaɪkɹəˌweɪv/
An oven that cooks or heats food quickly using electromagnetic waves.
syrup
B1
/ˈsɪrəp/
a thick, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar or concentrating plant juice, used on or in food and drinks
cabbage
B1
/ˈkɛb.əd͡ʒ/
A round vegetable with thick green or white leaves, eaten cooked or raw.
ripe
B1
/ˈraɪp/
Fully grown and ready to be picked or eaten.
pickle
B2
/ˈpɪkəl/
A cucumber or other vegetable preserved in vinegar or salty water.
bourbon
B2
/ˈbɜː(ɹ).bən/
An American whiskey made mostly from corn and aged in charred oak barrels.
vintage
C2
/ˈvɪntɪdʒ/
wine from a particular grape harvest, especially one identified by its year and region
yogurt
A1
/ˈjoʊ.ɡɚt/
A thick, slightly sour food made from milk, often eaten with fruit.
muffin
B1
/ˈmʌf.ɪn/
especially North American: a small, cup-shaped quick bread, often sweet and containing fruit, nuts, or chocolate
ale
C2
/ˈeɪl/
a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast
hamburger
A1
/ˈhæmˌbɜɹ.ɡɚ/
A round, flat piece of cooked meat served in a bread bun, often with vegetables and sauce.
cocoa
B2
/ˈkoʊ.koʊ/
A hot drink made with milk or water, cocoa powder, and sugar.
tavern
C2
/ˈtævəɹn/
a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks
thigh
B2
/θaɪ/
The part of the leg between the hip and the knee.
pastry
B1
/ˈpeɪstɹi/
a baked food made from dough rich in fat, often filled or topped with sweet or savory ingredients
loaf
B1
/loʊf/
A shaped piece of baked bread that you cut into slices.
cod
B1
/kɑd/
A large sea fish with white flesh, often eaten as food.
cinnamon
B1
/ˈsɪnəmən/
the aromatic brown bark of a tropical Asian tree, used whole or ground as a spice
dairy
B2
/ˈdɛɚ.i/
Food made from milk, such as cheese, butter, and yogurt.
cracker
B2
/ˈkɹæk.ɚ/
a thin, dry, crisp biscuit, often eaten with cheese or a spread
cognac
C2
/ˈkoʊnjæk/
a fine brandy distilled from white wine in the Cognac region of western France
consume
B1
/kənˈsum/
To eat or drink something.
doughnut
A2
/ˈdoʊ(ˌ)nʌt/
a small sweet cake of fried dough, often ring-shaped or filled
salsa
B2
/ˈsɑl.sə/
A spicy sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and chilli peppers, often eaten with Mexican food.
catering
B2
/ˈkeɪt(ə)ɹɪŋ/
The business of providing food and drink for events and occasions.
seafood
A2
/ˈsiːfuːd/
Fish and shellfish from the sea that are eaten as food.
porridge
C2
/ˈpɔɹɪd͡ʒ/
A dish made of grain or legumes, milk or water, heated and stirred until thick and typically eaten for breakfast.
famine
C1
/ˈfæmɪn/
a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death
misty
B1
/ˈmɪsti/
Covered with mist; not clear because of fine water drops in the air.
platter
C2
/ˈplætɚ/
a large, shallow dish or tray used for serving food
munch
C1
/ˈmʌntʃ/
To eat something steadily, often noisily, with the mouth closed.
cucumber
B1
/ˈkjuˌkʌmbɚ/
A long green vegetable with a thin skin and crisp watery flesh, often eaten raw in salads.
risotto
B2
/rɪˈzoʊ.toʊ/
an Italian dish of rice cooked gradually in stock until creamy, often with cheese, vegetables, meat, or seafood
spinach
B1
/spɪˈnætʃ/
A leafy green vegetable with soft, dark leaves, eaten raw or cooked.
burgundy
C1
/ˈbɝɡəndi/
wine produced in the Burgundy region of eastern France, especially its red or white table wine
caramel
B1
/ˈker.ə.məl/
a brown substance made by heating sugar, used to flavor or color food and drinks
oatmeal
A2
/ˈoʊtˌmiːl/
oats that have been ground, cut, or rolled for use as food
crumble
C1
/ˈkɹʌmbəl/
To break or fall apart into small pieces.
broth
B2
/brɑːθ/
a savory liquid made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables in water
bologna
B2
/bəˈloʊni/
a large, finely ground cooked sausage, typically made from a mixture of meats and served in slices
macaroni
A2
/ˌmæk.əˈɹoʊ.ni/
pasta formed into narrow tubes, especially short curved tubes
culinary
C1
/ˈkʌlɪˌnɛri/
relating to cooking, kitchens, or the preparation of food
brownie
C2
/ˈbraʊni/
a small, rich chocolate cake with a dense or chewy texture, usually baked in a flat pan and cut into squares
tidal
C1
/ˈtaɪ.d(ə)l/
of or relating to or caused by tides
nectar
B1
/ˈnɛk.təɹ/
The sweet liquid that flowers produce to attract bees, birds, and other animals.
blueberry
B1
/ˈbluːˌbɛri/
a small, round, blue-black edible berry with a pale waxy bloom
cider
B1
/ˈsaɪdər/
an alcoholic drink made by fermenting apple juice, often with carbonation; called hard cider in North America
almond
B2
/ˈɑːl.mənd/
the edible oval seed of the almond tree, commonly treated as a nut
mutton
B2
/ˈməʈʈən/
The meat of an adult sheep, eaten as food.
intake
C1
/ˈɪntæɪk/
The amount of something, especially food, drink, or air, that is taken into the body.
carton
B1
/ˈkɑɹtn̩/
A light box or container, often made of cardboard or waxed paper, for holding food or drink.
celery
C2
/ˈseləri/
a cultivated plant, Apium graveolens, whose crisp leaf stalks are eaten as a vegetable
custard
B1
/ˈkʌs.tɚd/
a sweet dessert or sauce made from milk or cream, eggs, and usually sugar, thickened by heating
asparagus
B2
/əˈspær.ə.ɡəs/
the tender young shoots of Asparagus officinalis, eaten as a vegetable
malt
C2
/mɔlt/
grain, usually barley, that has been soaked, allowed to germinate, and dried for brewing or food
barley
B2
/ˈbɑɹli/
A grain crop used as food and for making beer and whisky.
refreshments
B1
/rəˈfrɛʃmənts/
Small amounts of food and drink served at a meeting or event.
bubbly
C1
/ˈbʌbli/
Cheerful, lively, and full of energy.
pew
C2
/ˈpjuː/
One of the long benches in a church, seating several persons, usually fixed to the floor and facing the chancel.
cranberry
C1
/ˈkɹæn.bɛr.i/
a small, tart red berry used in sauces, drinks, and baked foods
mead
C1
/miːd/
an alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with added herbs, spices, or fruit
appetizer
B1
/ˈæpəˌtaɪzɝ/
a small dish served before the main part of a meal
dumpling
C2
/ˈdʌmp.lɪŋ/
a small mass of dough cooked by boiling, steaming, frying, or baking, sometimes wrapped around a filling
crumb
C1
/kɹʌm/
A tiny piece that breaks off bread, cake, or similar food.