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
664 words
cynical
C1
/ˈsɪnɪkəl/
Believing that people act only out of selfishness and expecting the worst of them.
colorful
A2
/ˈkʌl.əɹ.fl̩/
Having bright or many colours.
grumpy
C1
/ˈɡrʌm.pi/
easily annoyed, bad-tempered, and inclined to complain
sporting
B2
/ˈspɔɹtɪŋ/
Relating to or used in sports.
flaw
B2
/flɔ/
A fault or weakness that makes something less than perfect.
uncertain
A2
/ʌnˈsɜɹ.tən/
Not sure or confident about something.
treacherous
C2
/ˈtɹɛt͡ʃəɹəs/
Dangerous and unpredictable, especially because hidden hazards are hard to see.
goodwill
B2
/ɡʊdˈwɪl/
A kind and friendly attitude towards other people.
dreamer
A2
/ˈdɹimɚ/
a person who is dreaming while asleep
maneuver
C1
/məˈnuvɚ/
A skillful or carefully planned movement.
sparkling
B2
/ˈspɑɹkl̩ɪŋ/
Shining brightly with many small points of light.
deposition
C2+
/ˌdɛp.əˈzɪʃ.ən/
The removal of someone from office.
trustworthy
B1
/ˈtɹʌstˌwɜɹ.ði/
Deserving to be trusted; reliable and honest.
witty
B2
/ˈwɪti/
Clever and amusing in a quick way.
cold-blooded
C1
/ˌkoʊldˈblʌd.ɪd/
deliberately cruel and showing no pity, emotion, or remorse
truthful
B2
/ˈtɹuːθ.f(ə)l/
Honest and telling the truth.
engaging
C1
/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒɪŋ/
Holding your attention and interest; very interesting.
loony
C2
/ˈluːni/
informal and potentially offensive: a person regarded as foolish, eccentric, or mentally unstable
booby
C2
/ˈbuːbi/
a foolish or inept person; dated and insulting
knack
C2
/næk/
A natural or learned skill for doing something well and easily.
gymnastics
B1
/dʒɪmˈnæstɪks/
A sport involving physical exercises that show strength, balance, and flexibility.
uncertainty
B1
/ʌnˈsɝtənti/
The state of not being sure or confident about something.
reassure
C1
/ˌɹi.əˈʃʊɹ/
To say or do something that makes someone feel less worried or more confident.
manipulation
C1
/məˌnɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The act of controlling or influencing someone in a clever and often unfair way.
snob
C2
/snɑb/
a person who looks down on people considered socially inferior or tries to display supposedly superior taste or status
ploy
C1
/plɔɪ/
A clever trick or plan used to gain an advantage.
gaga
C1
/ˈɡɑː.ɡɑː/
informal and sometimes disparaging: mentally confused or physically feeble, especially through old age
resourceful
B2
/rɪˈsɔɹsfəl/
skilled at finding clever and practical ways to overcome difficulties with the means available
hearty
B1
/ˈhɑɹti/
Warm, friendly, and sincere.
earnest
B1
/ˈɝ.nɪst/
Serious and sincere in what you say or do.
informal
A2
/ɪnˈfɔɹ.m(ə)l/
Relaxed and friendly, not following strict rules or ceremony.
apt
C1
/ˈæpt/
Suitable or appropriate for the situation.
talkative
B1
/ˈtɔ.kə.ɾɪv/
Liking to talk a lot.
unkind
B2
/ʌnˈkaɪnd/
Not kind; cruel or unpleasant to others.
trait
B2
/tɹeɪt/
A particular quality or feature of someone's personality or character.
ingenuity
C1
/ˌɪnd͡ʒəˈn(j)uːəti/
The ability to solve problems in clever, original, and inventive ways.
benign
C1
/bɪˈnɑen/
Not harmful or dangerous, especially describing a tumour that is not cancerous.
boldly
B1
/ˈboʊldli/
In a brave and confident way.
meticulous
C2
/mɪˈtɪkjɪlɪs/
Giving very careful and precise attention to every detail.
temperament
C1
/ˈtɛm.pɚ.ə.mənt/
A person's natural character, which shapes how they usually think, feel, and behave.
tangible
C1
/ˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/
capable of being treated as fact
impolite
B2
/ɪmpəˈlaɪt/
Not polite; rude or showing bad manners.
oily
B1
/ˈɔɪli/
Covered with or containing oil.
emissary
C2
/ˈɛmɪˌsɛɹi/
An agent sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else.
swagger
C1
/ˈswæɡɚ/
a conspicuously confident, arrogant, or self-important manner of walking or behaving
deadbeat
C2
/ˈdɛdˌbiːt/
informal, disparaging: a lazy or irresponsible person who avoids work or depends on others for support
epiphany
C2
/ɪˈpɪfəni/
An illuminating realization or discovery, often resulting in a personal feeling of elation, awe, or wonder.
kicker
B2
/ˈkɪkɚ/
a person or animal that kicks
tasteless
B1
/ˈteɪstləs/
Having no flavour.
stroller
C2
/ˈstɹoʊlɚ/
a person taking a leisurely walk
chimpanzee
A2
/tʃɪmˈpænzi/
An intelligent African ape that is one of the closest living relatives of humans.
tubby
B2
/ˈtʌb.i/
informal: short, broad, and plump in build
diligent
B1
/ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/
Working hard and carefully, paying attention to detail.
chipper
B2
/ˈt͡ʃɪpɚ/
cheerful, lively, and in good spirits
weakling
C1
/ˈwiː.klɪŋ/
a physically weak or frail person
blockhead
C2
/ˈblɑkˌhɛd/
a stupid or slow-witted person; an insulting term
hearted
B1
/ˈhɑɹtɪd/
Having a particular kind of heart or character (used in combinations).
tenderly
B2
/ˈtɛn.dɚ.li/
In a gentle, kind, and loving way.
unfriendly
B1
/ʌnˈfɹɛn(d)li/
Not kind or welcoming; behaving in a cold or hostile way.
hospitable
B2
/hɑsˈpɪtəbl̩/
Friendly and generous toward guests and visitors.
show-off
B2
/ˈʃoʊˌɔf/
a person who deliberately displays their abilities or possessions to attract attention or admiration
minx
C2
/mɪŋks/
A flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman.
charlatan
C2
/ˈʃɑːrlətən/
a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill, usually in order to deceive others
skillful
B2
/ˈskɪl.fəl/
able to do something very well, especially with the hands or mind
wiz
B2
/wɪz/
a person who is exceptionally clever, gifted or skilled in a particular area.
incognito
C2
/ˌɪn.kɑːɡˈniː.t̬oʊ/
with one's identity concealed, especially to avoid attention or recognition
taunt
B2
/tɔnt/
To say cruel or mocking things to someone to upset or provoke them.
ninny
C2
/ˈnɪni/
A silly or foolish person.
tenacious
C2
/təˈneɪʃəs/
Determined and refusing to give up.
unforgiving
C1
/ˌʌn.fɚˈɡɪv.ɪŋ/
unwilling to forgive an offense or show mercy
atrocity
C1
/əˈtɹɑsɪti/
An extremely cruel and violent act, especially in war.
shifty
C1
/ˈʃɪfti/
appearing dishonest, evasive, or untrustworthy
patronizing
C2
/ˈpeɪtrəˌnaɪzɪŋ/
Treating someone as if they were less intelligent or important than you.
squeamish
C2
/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/
easily made nauseated, disgusted, or distressed by something unpleasant
impressionable
B1
/ɪmˈprɛʃənəbəl/
easily influenced because one is inexperienced, sensitive, or receptive to new ideas
simpleton
C2
/ˈsɪmpəltən/
a person lacking intelligence or common sense
warmly
B1
/ˈwɔɹmli/
In a friendly, affectionate way.
suave
C1
/swɑːv/
smoothly charming, confident, and courteous, sometimes in a way that seems insincere
ruffian
C2
/ˈɹʌfi.ən/
A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
maniacal
C2
/məˈnaɪ.ə.kəl/
wildly irrational, frenzied, or violently excited
overbearing
C1
/ˌoʊvɚˈberɪŋ/
trying to control other people in an arrogant, forceful, and unpleasant way; domineering
covet
C2
/ˈkʌvɪt/
to wish, long, or crave for something, especially the property of another person
ethereal
C2+
/ɪˈθɪɚ.i.əl/
characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
rudely
B1
/ˈɹuːdli/
In a way that is not polite.
innuendo
C2
/ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/
An indirect remark that hints at something, often something rude or unkind.
tireless
C1
/ˈtaɪrləs/
showing great energy and persistence without appearing to become tired
comer
C1
/ˈkʌmɚ/
a person who is showing promise and is likely to become successful
grouchy
C2
/ˈɡraʊ.tʃi/
easily annoyed, irritable, and inclined to complain
poise
C1
/pɔɪz/
A calm, confident, and graceful manner.
tomboy
B2
/ˈtɑːm.bɔɪ/
a girl who behaves or dresses in ways traditionally associated with boys
haughty
C2
/ˈhɔti/
Acting superior to others; arrogant and full of contempt.
upstart
C1
/ˈʌpˌstɑrt/
a person who has risen suddenly to wealth, power, or importance and is regarded as arrogant or presumptuous
benevolence
B2
/bəˈnɛvələns/
Kindness and a wish to do good for others.
crabby
C2
/ˈkræbi/
irritable, bad-tempered, and inclined to complain
unhinged
C2
/ənˈhɪndʒd/
mentally unstable or severely disturbed
opportunist
C2
/ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nɪst/
a person who exploits circumstances for personal advantage, often without regard for principles or consequences