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
338 words
aviation
B2
/ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/
the activity, science, or practice of designing and operating aircraft
cycling
A2
/ˈsaɪk(ə)lɪŋ/
The activity of riding a bicycle for transport, exercise, or fun.
propulsion
C1
/prəˈpʌl.ʃən/
the action or process of driving something forward
hearse
B2
/hɝs/
a vehicle used to carry a coffin to a funeral or burial place
wharf
C2
/wɔrf/
a platform built along or out from a shore where ships load, unload, or moor
roadside
B1
/ˈɹoʊdsaɪd/
The strip of land along the edge of a road.
propeller
B2
/prəˈpel.ɚ/
a device with blades that rotates to drive an aircraft or vessel through air or water
liner
B2
/ˈlaɪnɚ/
A large passenger ship that travels a regular route.
hijack
B2
/ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/
To take control of a vehicle, especially a plane, by force in order to rob it or change where it goes.
keel
C1
/kiːl/
the main lengthwise structure along the bottom of a ship or boat, supporting its frame and helping stabilize it
buoy
C2
/ˈbu.i/
to mark with a buoy or other sea-borne marker
firewall
C1
/ˈfaɪ(ə)ɹˌwɔl/
A security system that controls the traffic coming into and out of a computer network
locomotive
C2
/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
The engine of a train that pulls the carriages or wagons.
maritime
C2
/ˈmæ.ɹɪˌtaɪm/
bordering on or living or characteristic of those near the sea
roundabout
A2
/ˈɹaʊndəˌbaʊt/
A circular road junction where traffic moves around a central island.
shipwreck
B2
/ˈʃɪpɹɛk/
The destruction of a ship at sea, when it sinks or runs aground.
autopilot
C2
/ˈɔtoʊˌpaɪlət/
A system that automatically steers a vehicle, plane, or ship without a person controlling it.
flagship
B2
/ˈflæɡʃɪp/
the ship carrying the commander of a naval fleet and flying that commander's flag
nautical
C1
/ˈnɔː.tɪ.kəl/
relating to ships, sailors, navigation, or travel by sea
layman
C2
/ˈleɪmən/
Someone who is not a professional in a given field.
shorthand
C2
/ˈʃɔɹthænd/
written in abbreviated or symbolic form
gangway
C1
/ˈɡæŋweɪ/
a passage for walking between rows of seats, shelves, cabins, or other confined areas
ballast
C2
/ˈbæləst/
to make a ship steady with a ballast
stagecoach
B2
/ˈsteɪdʒˌkoʊtʃ/
a horse-drawn coach that formerly carried passengers and mail on a regular route between towns
dinghy
C1
/ˈdɪŋ.i/
a small open boat propelled by oars or a motor, often carried or towed by a larger vessel
gondola
C1
/ˈɡɑːn.də.lə/
a long, narrow, flat-bottomed Venetian boat propelled and steered with a single oar
muffler
C2
/ˈmʌflɚ/
a device in a vehicle's exhaust system that reduces engine noise; in British English, a silencer
carpool
B2
/ˈkɑːpuːl/
An arrangement where several people travel together in one car to save money and reduce traffic.
boathouse
C2
/ˈboʊtˌhaʊs/
a building beside or over water in which boats and boating equipment are kept
aviator
C1
/ˈeɪ.viˌeɪ.tɚ/
a person who flies or operates an aircraft, especially a military or early aircraft pilot
boatman
B2
/ˈboʊt.mən/
a person who operates or works on a small boat, especially one carrying passengers or goods
headlight
C2
/ˈhɛdˌlaɪt/
a powerful light with reflector
turret
C2
/ˈtɝ.ɪt/
A small tower on a building or castle, often at a corner.
jetty
C1
/ˈd͡ʒɛti/
a structure projecting into water to protect a shore or harbor, influence currents, or provide a landing place
congestion
C1
/kənˈdʒɛstʃən/
a state in which a road, place, or system is overcrowded or blocked, preventing free movement
shunt
C2
/ʃʌnt/
railways: to move a train or carriage onto another track, especially in or near a station
tiller
C1
/ˈtɪlɚ/
a lever used to turn a boat's rudder and control its direction
landau
C2
/ˈlæn.dɔː/
a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with facing passenger seats and a two-part folding roof
aground
C2
/əˈɡraʊnd/
onto or against the bottom of a body of water, so that a vessel can no longer move freely
turnpike
C2
/ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/
an expressway on which tolls are collected
mariner
C2
/ˈmæɹɪnɚ/
A sailor, especially one who works on a ship at sea.
helmsman
C2
/ˈhɛlmzmən/
a person who steers a ship or boat
waterman
C2
/ˈwɔtɝmən/
a person who lives or works on the water, especially a boatman who carries passengers or goods on a river or canal
stateroom
C1
/ˈsteɪtˌruːm/
a private sleeping cabin on a passenger ship or train
steamship
B1
/ˈstiːmˌʃɪp/
a ship propelled by one or more steam engines
boatswain
C2
/ˈboʊ.sən/
a ship's officer responsible for the deck crew, rigging, anchors, and other deck equipment
hackney
C2
/ˈhækni/
a carriage or cab kept for public hire; now chiefly historical except in the term hackney carriage
chaise
C2
/ʃeɪz/
a light horse-drawn carriage, usually for one or two people
blinker
B2
/ˈblɪŋkər/
a flashing light on a vehicle that signals an intended turn
porthole
C2
/ˈpɔː(ɹ)t.həʊl/
a small, usually circular window in the side of a ship, aircraft, or similar vehicle
signpost
B1
/ˈsaɪnˌpoʊst/
A post by a road with a sign giving directions or information.
speedometer
B2
/spɪˈdɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/
an instrument in a vehicle that measures and displays its current speed
viaduct
C1
/ˈvaɪəˌdʌkt/
a long bridge, typically supported by a series of arches or spans, that carries a road or railway across a valley, low ground, or another obstacle
flotsam
C2
/ˈflɑːtsəm/
floating wreckage, cargo, or other debris from a ship
omnibus
C1
/ˈɑm.nə.bəs/
a bus, especially a large horse-drawn public vehicle of the nineteenth century
yaw
C2
/jɑː/
of a ship or aircraft, to turn or swing temporarily away from its intended direction
seaport
B2
/ˈsiːˌpɔːrt/
a coastal town or harbor with facilities where seagoing ships load, unload, or take shelter
whaler
C1
/ˈweɪlɚ/
a person who hunts whales or works in the whaling industry
capsize
B2
/ˈkæp.saɪz/
to overturn in water, or to cause a boat or other vessel to overturn
antiaircraft
B2
/ˌæntaɪˈɛrˌkræft/
Designed to defend against attacks from aircraft.
odometer
C2
/oʊˈdɑːmətɚ/
a meter that shows mileage traversed
coxswain
C2
/ˈkɑːksən/
the sailor in charge of a ship's boat and crew, usually responsible for steering it
prow
C2
/praʊ/
the forward part of a ship or boat, especially when it projects above the water
longboat
C2
/ˈlɔŋˌboʊt/
the largest open boat formerly carried by a sailing ship, used for transport, work, or emergencies
lading
C2
/ˈleɪdɪŋ/
goods or cargo carried by a ship or other vehicle
scow
C2
/skaʊ/
a broad, flat-bottomed boat used chiefly to carry bulk freight
outrigger
C2
/ˈaʊtˌɹɪɡɚ/
a float attached parallel to a canoe or boat by projecting struts to improve stability
refit
B1
/ˈriːˌfɪt/
a thorough repair, renovation, or replacement of equipment, especially on a ship
dockyard
C2
/ˈdɑːˌkjɑːrd/
A place where ships are repaired or outfitted.
rower
B1
/ˈroʊɝ/
a person who propels a boat with oars, whether as work, transport, or sport
aerodrome
C2
/ˈerədroʊm/
chiefly British: an area from which aircraft operate, including its runways and associated buildings; an airfield
smokestack
B2
/ˈsmoʊkˌstæk/
A tall chimney that carries smoke and gases away from a factory, ship, or locomotive.
portage
B1
/ˈpɔːrtɪdʒ/
the activity of carrying a boat and its supplies overland between navigable waterways or around an obstacle
larboard
C2
/ˈlɑɹbɔɹd/
on or toward the left side of a vessel when facing forward; port
signalman
C2
/ˈsɪɡ.nəl.mən/
a railway employee who controls signals and points to regulate the safe movement of trains
cabriolet
C2
/kæbriəˈleɪ/
a car with a roof that folds down or can be removed
shipboard
C2
/ˈʃɪpˌbɔːrd/
a ship considered as a place where people live, meet, or travel, chiefly in the phrase on shipboard
waterline
C2
/ˈwɑːt̬ɚlaɪn/
the level reached by water on the side of a floating vessel, or a line marking that level
phaeton
C2
/ˈfeɪətən/
a light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, usually open and having one or two forward-facing seats
landsman
C2
/ˈlændzmən/
a person who lives or works on land rather than at sea, especially one who lacks a sailor's skills or experience
dray
C2
/dreɪ/
a low, strong cart or wagon, traditionally horse-drawn and used for carrying heavy loads
seamanship
C1
/ˈsiːmənˌʃɪp/
skill and practical knowledge in navigating, handling, operating, and maintaining a ship or boat
speeder
B2
/ˈspiːdɝ/
A driver who goes faster than the legal speed limit.
mizzen
C2
/ˈmɪzən/
the mast immediately behind a ship's mainmast; a mizzenmast
brougham
C2
/ˈbɹuːəm/
a light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with an enclosed passenger body and an open driver's seat
pharos
C2
/ˈfɛɹ.ɑːs/
historical or literary: a lighthouse or beacon, especially an ancient monumental one
biplane
C2
/ˈbaɪpleɪn/
an airplane that has two main wings, one above the other and supported by struts.
navigable
C2
/ˈnævɪɡəbəl/
able to be sailed on or through safely
scupper
C2
/ˈskʌp.ɚ/
an opening in a ship's side, or in a building wall, through which water drains from a deck, floor, or flat roof
shipper
B2
/ˈʃɪp.ɚ/
a person or company that sends or arranges the transport of goods
forecastle
C2
/ˈfoʊk.səl/
the raised forward part of a ship's upper deck or the structure built there
snowshoe
C1
/ˈsnoʊˌʃuː/
a broad, lightweight frame or platform attached to the foot to distribute weight when walking over deep snow
voiture
C2
/vwɑːˈtjʊr/
literary or historical, chiefly in French contexts: a carriage or other vehicle
barque
C2
/bɑrk/
a sailing ship with three or more masts, square-rigged except on the rearmost mast
retread
B2
/ˈriːˌtred/
a worn tire fitted with a new outer tread so that it can be used again
wagoner
C2
/ˈwægənɝ/
a person who drives or transports goods with a wagon