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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All 27,237 words
489 words
herpes
C2
/ˈhɝːpiːz/
a common lifelong viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2, sometimes producing recurring sores around the mouth or genitals
mortuary
C1
/ˈmɔɹtʃuˌɛɹi/
a room or building where dead bodies are kept before burial, cremation, or examination
insomnia
C1
/ɪnˈsɑːm.ni.ə/
persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or obtaining restorative sleep
vial
C1
/ˈvaɪəl/
a small glass or plastic container, especially one used for medicine, perfume, or a laboratory sample
leukemia
C1
/luːˈkiː.mi.ə/
any of a group of cancers of blood-forming tissues that produce abnormal blood cells, often abnormal white cells
smallpox
B2
/ˈsmɔlpɑks/
a formerly widespread, often fatal infectious disease caused by variola virus and marked by fever and a pustular rash
cholera
C2
/ˈkɑːlərə/
an acute intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae, usually spread through contaminated food or water and capable of causing severe watery diarrhea and dehydration
floss
B2
/flɔs/
a thin, soft thread used to clean between the teeth
pox
C2
/pɑks/
dated, especially in the pox or great pox: syphilis
penicillin
B2
/ˌpɛn.ɪˈsɪl.ɪn/
An antibiotic medicine made from mould, used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
transfusion
B2
/tɹænzˈfjuʒən/
The process of putting blood from one person into the body of another, usually during medical treatment.
indigestion
B2
/ˌɪn.dɪˈdʒes.tʃən/
pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, often after eating and sometimes accompanied by bloating, nausea, belching, or heartburn
deathbed
B2
/ˈdɛθˌbɛd/
the bed in which a person is dying or has died
pathology
B2
/pəˈθɑːləd͡ʒi/
the branch of medicine that studies the causes, development, and effects of disease
chemotherapy
B2
/ˌkiːməʊˈθɛɹəpi/
The treatment of cancer using strong chemicals or drugs.
measles
C2
/ˈmizəlz/
a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, cough, inflamed eyes, and a spreading red rash
complication
C1
/ˌkɑm.pləˈkeɪ.ʃən/
A problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with.
hemorrhage
C1
/ˈhɛm.ɚ.ɪdʒ/
a heavy or uncontrolled loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel
elixir
C1
/ɪˈlɪksɚ/
a mythical or magical liquid believed to cure disease, preserve youth, or prolong life
suture
C2
/ˈsuːtʃər/
an immovable fibrous joint, especially the seam between bones of the skull
digestive
B2
/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/
relating to the process or organs by which food is broken down and absorbed
tuberculosis
B2
/tuˌbɚkjʊˈloʊsɪs/
A serious infectious disease that mainly attacks the lungs, causing coughing, fever, and weight loss.
psychosis
C2
/saɪˈkoʊsɪs/
a severe mental state involving impaired contact with reality, often including delusions or hallucinations
septic
C1
/ˈsɛp.tɪk/
infected with harmful microorganisms, or relating to sepsis
pathological
C1
/ˌpæθ.əˈlɑd͡ʒ.ɪ.kəl/
related to disease or to the study of disease
prevention
B2
/pɹɪˈvɛnʃən/
The act of stopping something bad from happening.
sinus
B1
/ˈsaɪnəs/
one of the air-filled cavities in the bones around the nose and eyes that connect with the nasal passages
tic
C2
/tɪk/
a sudden, rapid, repeated movement or vocal sound that is difficult to control
irritable
C2
/ˈɪɹɪtəbl̩/
Easily exasperated or excited.
epilepsy
C2
/ˈepəlepsi/
a neurological disorder characterized by an enduring tendency to have recurrent unprovoked seizures
balm
C2
/bɑm/
a soothing or medicinal ointment applied to the skin
chloroform
C2
/ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/
to anesthetize with chloroform
polio
B2
/ˈpoʊlioʊ/
A serious infectious disease, mainly affecting children, that can damage the nerves and cause paralysis.
inflammation
B2
/ɪnfləˈmeɪ̯ʃən/
A red, hot, painful, and swollen part of the body, caused by injury or infection.
hunchback
C2
/ˈhʌntʃ.bæk/
a dated and potentially offensive term for a person with a markedly hunched back or kyphosis
fetal
C1
/ˈfitl̩/
relating to a fetus or its development before birth
tetanus
C1
/ˈtɛtənəs/
a serious infection caused by Clostridium tetani, marked by painful muscle stiffness and spasms
meningitis
C1
/ˌmɛnənˈdʒaɪtəs/
infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection
sanatorium
C2
/ˌsænəˈtɔriəm/
an institution providing medical treatment, rest, and supervised recovery, especially for chronic illnesses such as tuberculosis; chiefly historical
succumb
C2
/səˈkʌm/
To give in to something you cannot resist, such as pressure, temptation, or desire.
scab
C2
/skæb/
a dry crust of blood and tissue that forms over a wound while it heals
diagnose
C1
/ˈdaɪ.əɡˌnoʊs/
To identify a disease or medical condition from its signs and symptoms.
aphrodisiac
C2
/ˌæfroʊˈdiziæk/
a food, drug, or other substance believed to increase sexual desire or arousal
deficiency
B1
/dɪˈfɪʃənsi/
A lack of something needed, especially something essential to good health.
veterinary
C1
/ˈvɛtərɪˌnɛri/
relating to the medical and surgical treatment of animals
pimple
B1
/ˈpɪm.pəl/
a small inflamed raised spot on the skin, often containing pus
longevity
C1
/lɑnˈdʒevəti/
a long life, or the length of time that a person or organism lives
catheter
C1
/ˈkæθɪtɚ/
a thin flexible tube inserted into the body to permit introduction or withdrawal of fluids or to keep the passageway open
bile
C2
/baɪl/
a bitter digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder
sprain
C2
/spɹeɪn/
to injure a joint by suddenly twisting or stretching its ligaments without dislocating it
cleanliness
C2
/ˈklɛn.li.nɛs/
diligence in keeping clean
asphyxiation
C1
/æsˌfɪksiˈeɪʃən/
the condition of being deprived of enough oxygen to breathe or remain conscious
pacemaker
C2
/ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkər/
a small implanted electronic device that regulates an abnormal heartbeat
leprosy
C2
/ˈlɛprəsi/
a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves; Hansen's disease
rheumatism
C2
/ˈɹuːmətɪzəm/
an older, nonspecific term for painful or stiff conditions affecting joints, muscles, or connective tissue
scrotum
C2
/ˈskroʊtəm/
the external pouch of skin and muscle that contains the testes in most male terrestrial mammals
appendicitis
C1
/əˌpɛn.dəˈsaɪ.t̬əs/
inflammation of the appendix, typically causing severe pain in the lower right abdomen
frostbite
B2
/ˈfrɑːstbaɪt/
injury and possible destruction of body tissue caused by exposure to severe cold
nosebleed
B2
/ˈnoʊz.bliːd/
an occasion when blood flows from the nose
toothpick
B1
/ˈtuːθpɪk/
a small thin pointed stick used to remove food from between the teeth
epileptic
C1
/ˌɛpɪˈlɛptɪk/
relating to epilepsy or involving seizures caused by epilepsy
comatose
C2
/ˈkoʊməˌtoʊs/
in a coma or a state of deep, prolonged unconsciousness
mucus
C2
/ˈmjuːkəs/
a slippery secretion produced by mucous membranes and some other biological surfaces for protection or lubrication
thyroid
C2
/ˈθaɪrɔɪd/
an endocrine gland in the neck that produces hormones regulating metabolism, growth, and development
amputate
C1
/ˈæmpjʊteɪt/
to remove all or part of a limb or other body part by surgery
anemia
C1
/əˈniː.mi.ə/
a condition in which the blood has too few red cells or too little hemoglobin to carry oxygen normally
gangrene
C2
/ˈɡæŋˌɡɹiːn/
the death and decay of body tissue, usually caused by loss of blood supply and sometimes complicated by infection
forceps
C2
/ˈfɔɹ.sɛps/
a medical or surgical instrument with two blades or pincers, used for grasping, holding, or extracting something
stethoscope
C2
/ˈstɛθəsˌkoʊp/
a medical instrument used to listen to sounds made by the heart, lungs, and other internal organs
typhus
C2
/ˈtaɪfəs/
any of a group of acute bacterial diseases caused by Rickettsia and spread by lice, fleas, or mites, typically producing high fever and a rash
mumps
C1
/mʌmps/
a contagious viral illness, especially of children, that causes fever and painful swelling of the salivary glands
loathsome
C2
/ˈloʊð.səm/
causing or able to cause nausea
tartar
C2
/ˈtɑːrtɚ/
a hard deposit of mineralized dental plaque that forms on teeth; dental calculus
sunburn
B1
/ˈsʌnˌbɝn/
red, sore, or damaged skin caused by too much exposure to sunlight
amputation
C2
/ˌæm.pjəˈteɪ.ʃən/
the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or other body part
scurvy
C2
/ˈskɜɹvi/
Of a person or thing: disgustingly mean; contemptible, despicable, low.
dysentery
C2
/ˈdɪsənˌtɛri/
an intestinal infection causing severe diarrhea, often with blood or mucus, abdominal pain, and fever
grouse
C2
/ɡræɔs/
To complain or grumble.
disinfectant
B2
/ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfɛk.tənt/
a chemical or other agent used on surfaces or objects to destroy or inactivate harmful microorganisms
hoarse
C2+
/hɔɹs/
rough and harsh in voice or sound
infusion
C1
/ɪnˈfjuːʒən/
the introduction of a new element, quality, or resource that changes or strengthens something
placebo
C2
/pləˈsi.boʊ/
A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment.
castrate
C1
/ˈkæs.tɹeɪt/
to remove or disable the testicles of a person or animal; a clinical and potentially sensitive term
steroid
C2
/ˈstɛɹɔɪd/
any of a class of organic compounds built around a characteristic structure of four fused carbon rings
constipation
C2
/ˌkɒnstɪˈpeɪʃən/
a condition in which bowel movements are infrequent or difficult
radium
B2
/ˈɹeɪ.di.əm/
A radioactive metal element (symbol Ra) that glows and was once used in medicine.
contusion
C1
/kənˈtuʒən/
an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
hashish
C2
/hæʃˈiːʃ/
a concentrated cannabis preparation made from the plant's compressed or purified resin
sterilize
C1
/ˈstɛɹ.ɪ.laɪz/
to destroy or remove microorganisms from an object, substance, or place
antiseptic
C1
/ˌæn.tiˈsep.tɪk/
a substance applied to living tissue to prevent or slow the growth of harmful microorganisms
tapeworm
C2
/ˈteɪpˌwɝm/
a long, flat parasitic worm that lives as an adult in the intestine of a human or other vertebrate
vaccination
C1
/ˌvæksəˈneɪʃən/
the process of administering a vaccine to stimulate protection against a disease
anemic
C1
/əˈniːmɪk/
affected by or relating to anemia, a deficiency of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin
ventricle
C2
/ˈvɛntrɪkəl/
either of the two lower chambers of the heart, which receive blood from an atrium and pump it into an artery
light-headed
B2
/ˌlaɪtˈhɛdɪd/
dizzy, faint, or mentally unsteady
synergy
C2
/ˈsɪnəɹd͡ʒi/
The cooperation of two or more nerves, muscles, organs, etc.