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
841 words
skunk
C2
/skʌŋk/
a small black-and-white American mammal that can spray a powerful-smelling defensive fluid
cockroach
B2
/ˈkɑkˌroʊtʃ/
a fast-running, usually flattened insect of the order Blattodea, several species of which are common household pests
das
B1
/dɑːz/
any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes
ordeal
C1
/ɔɹˈdil/
A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.
alligator
B1
/ˈæl.ɪ.ɡeɪ.tɚ/
a large semiaquatic reptile related to crocodiles, with a broad rounded snout
slime
B2
/slɑem/
cover or stain with slime
antenna
C1
/ænˈtɛn.ə/
one of a pair of mobile appendages on the head of e.g. insects and crustaceans
rust
C2
/ɹʌst/
a plant disease that produces a reddish-brown discoloration of leaves and stems
hive
B1
/ˈhaɪv/
a structure where bees live, especially one made or kept by people
gallows
C2
/ˈɡæloʊz/
A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.
oyster
B2
/ˈɔɪ.stɚ/
a marine bivalve mollusk with a rough, irregular shell
habitat
B1
/ˈhæb.ɪ.tæt/
The natural place where a plant or animal lives.
obnoxious
C2
/əbˈnɑkʃəs/
Unjustly disagreeable, argumentative or objectionable; brazenly rude.
zebra
B2
/ˈzɛbɹə/
A wild African animal like a horse, with black and white stripes.
rye
C1
/ɹaɪ/
A grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder.
envious
B1
/ˈɛnviːəs/
Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging.
nausea
C1
/ˈnɔzi.ə/
A feeling of illness or discomfort in the digestive system, usually characterized by a strong urge to vomit.
raccoon
C2
/ræˈkuːn/
a nocturnal North American mammal with a black facial mask, dexterous forepaws, and a ringed tail
hutch
C2
/hʌtʃ/
a cage or enclosed box in which rabbits or other small animals are kept
bitterness
B2
/ˈbɪtɝnəs/
The quality of feeling bitter; acrimony, resentment; the quality of exhibiting such feelings.
horseback
C2
/ˈhɔɹsˌbæk/
on the back of a horse
uterus
C1
/ˈjuː.tə.ɹəs/
a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females
eel
C2
/iːl/
Any freshwater fish of the order Anguilliformes, which are elongated and resemble snakes.
cheetah
B1
/ˈtʃiːtə/
a slender, long-legged spotted cat of Africa and Iran, noted for its exceptional speed over short distances
bullock
C2
/ˈbʊlək/
a young bull that has been castrated, especially one raised or used as an ox
herring
B2
/ˈhɛɹɪŋ/
a small oily sea fish often eaten as food
reservoir
B1
/ˈɹɛz.ə(ɹ).vwɑɹ/
anything (a person or animal or plant or substance) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies
manure
B2
/məˈnʊɹ/
To cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop by culture.
latch
C2
/læt͡ʃ/
fasten with a latch
python
C2
/ˈpaɪθɑn/
a large nonvenomous constricting snake of the family Pythonidae, native chiefly to Africa, Asia, and Australia
gill
C1
/ɡɪl/
a respiratory organ by which fish and many other aquatic animals extract dissolved oxygen from water
mink
C1
/mɪŋk/
a small, dark-furred semiaquatic carnivorous mammal related to weasels
horseman
C2
/ˈhɔɹsmən/
A soldier on horseback, especially a cavalryman.
stallion
C1
/ˈstæljən/
an adult uncastrated male horse, especially one kept for breeding
frown
C2
/ˈfɹæʊ̯n/
A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration.
snuff
C2
/snɐf/
inhale audibly through the nose
catfish
B2
/ˈkætˌfɪʃ/
a mainly freshwater fish with whiskerlike barbels around its mouth
roach
C2
/roʊtʃ/
a silvery-green European freshwater fish, or any of several related fishes
poodle
B2
/ˈpu.dəl/
a breed of intelligent dog with a dense, curly coat, occurring in standard, miniature, and toy sizes
chestnut
C2
/ˈt͡ʃɛs(t)ˌnʌt/
of a golden brown to reddish brown color
sled
C2
/slɛd/
A small, light vehicle with runners, used recreationally, mostly by children, for sliding down snow-covered hills; no draft animal pulls it.
mammoth
B2
/ˈmæm.əθ/
a large extinct elephant-like mammal of the genus Mammuthus, often with long curved tusks and a hairy coat
harem
C2
/ˈhæɹəm/
The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.
scandalous
B2
/ˈskændələs/
giving offense to moral sensibilities and injurious to reputation
runt
C2
/rʌnt/
the smallest or weakest animal in a litter
quill
C1
/kwɪl/
the stiff hollow shaft of a feather, or a large feather with such a shaft
mackerel
C2
/ˈmækərəl/
a streamlined sea fish with dark wavy markings, commonly caught for food
ostrich
C2
/ˈɔs.tɹɪt͡ʃ/
fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet
mast
C2+
/mæst/
The fruit of forest-trees (beech, oak, chestnut, pecan, etc.), especially if having fallen from the tree, used as fodder for pigs and other animals.
implore
C2
/ɪmˈploɹ/
To beg or plead for (something) earnestly or urgently; to beseech.
grasshopper
B1
/ˈɡɹæsˌhɑpɚ/
a plant-eating insect with powerful hind legs adapted for jumping
muzzle
C2
/ˈmʌzəl/
fit with a muzzle
outcast
B2
/ˈaʊtkæst/
To cast out; to banish.
homicidal
C2
/ˌhɑːməˈsaɪdəl/
characteristic of or capable of or having a tendency toward killing another human being
wolverine
C2
/ˈwʊlvəˌriːn/
a powerful, thickset northern mustelid, Gulo gulo, known for strength, endurance, and scavenging over a large range
medusa
C2
/mɪˈduːsə/
the free-swimming, usually bell-shaped and sexually reproducing stage of a cnidarian, commonly recognized as a jellyfish
nasal
C1
/ˈnæɪ.zəl/
sounding as if the nose were pinched
hoof
C1
/hʊf/
the hard covering at the end of the foot of a horse, deer, sheep, or other ungulate
mammal
C2
/ˈmæməl/
any warm-blooded vertebrate having the skin more or less covered with hair
starling
C1
/ˈstɑɹlɪŋ/
a gregarious songbird, often dark and glossy, belonging to the family Sturnidae
mantis
C2
/ˈmæntɪs/
a predatory insect of the order Mantodea, with a mobile triangular head and powerful grasping forelegs held as if in prayer
rodent
B2
/ˈɹəʊdənt/
relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing
dodo
B2
/ˈdoʊdoʊ/
a large flightless bird formerly native to Mauritius that became extinct in the seventeenth century
newt
C2
/nuːt/
a small semiaquatic salamander whose adults typically have a lizard-like body and flattened tail
gauze
C2
/ɡɔːz/
A similar bleached cotton fabric used as a surgical dressing.
corral
C1
/kəˈɹæl/
to collect or gather
bowler
B2
/ˈboʊ.lɚ/
A bowler hat; a round black hat formerly popular among British businessmen.
jackal
C2+
/ˈd͡ʒækəl/
an Old World nocturnal canine mammal closely related to the dog
creak
C2
/kɹiːk/
a squeaking sound
mavis
C2
/ˈmeɪvɪs/
the song thrush; chiefly literary or Scottish
bison
C2
/ˈbaɪsən/
a large wild bovine of the genus Bison, with a massive head, short horns, and a shaggy forequarter
hornet
C2
/ˈhɔɹnɪt/
a large social wasp, especially one of the genus Vespa, capable of delivering a powerful sting
stork
B2
/stɔɹk/
a large long-legged wading bird with a long straight bill, belonging to the family Ciconiidae
heiress
C1
/ɛəˈɹɛs/
A woman who has a right of inheritance or who stands to inherit.
louse
C1
/laʊs/
a small, wingless parasitic insect that lives on the skin, hair, or feathers of a person or animal
coney
C2
/ˈkoʊni/
archaic or historical: a rabbit, especially the European rabbit, or its fur
pheasant
C2
/ˈfɛzənt/
A bird of family Phasianidae, often hunted for food.
springer
B2
/ˈsprɪŋɝ/
a springer spaniel, a medium-sized gundog bred to flush game
roe
C2
/roʊ/
a small Eurasian deer of the genus Capreolus, now usually called a roe deer
hyena
B2
/haɪˈiː.nə/
a strong-jawed carnivorous mammal of Africa and Asia, known for scavenging and for calls that can resemble laughter
kennel
B2
/ˈkɛ.nəl/
a small shelter or house for a dog
walrus
C2+
/ˈwɑl.ɹəs/
A large Arctic marine mammal related to seals and having long tusks, tough, wrinkled skin, and four flippers, Odobenus rosmarus.
coo
B2
/kuː/
to make the soft, low call characteristic of a dove or pigeon
pug
C2
/pʌɡ/
a small, sturdy dog with a short muzzle, broad wrinkled face, smooth coat, and tightly curled tail
baa
C2
/bæ/
to make the characteristic bleating sound of a sheep or goat
dun
C2+
/dʌn/
of a dull greyish brown to brownish grey color
steamer
B2
/ˈstimɚ/
A dish made by cooking diced meat very slowly in a tightly sealed pot with a minimum of flavourings, allowing it to steam in its own juices; specifically such a dish made with kangaroo meat.
vixen
C2
/ˈvɪksən/
a female fox
mane
B2
/meɪn/
Longer hair growth on back of neck of an animal, especially a horse or lion.
hock
C2
/hɑːk/
the joint in the hind leg of a horse or other hoofed animal between the knee and the fetlock
seine
C2
/sɛn/
fish with a seine
rattlesnake
C2
/ˈɹæt.əlˌsneɪk/
any of several venomous American pit vipers with interlocking horny segments at the tail tip that produce a rattling warning sound
shellfish
B2
/ˈʃɛl.fɪʃ/
an aquatic invertebrate with a shell, especially a mollusk or crustacean
pelican
B2
/ˈpɛlɪkən/
a large waterbird with a long bill and a broad, expandable throat pouch used for catching fish
filly
C2
/ˈfɪli/
a young female horse, especially one below the age at which it is called a mare
ruff
C2
/ɹəf/
common Eurasian sandpiper