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
207 words
genesis
C2+
/ˈdʒɛnəsɪs/
the origin or coming into being of something
mage
C2+
/meɪdʒ/
a magician or learned practitioner of magic
onset
C2+
/ˈɑnˌsɛt/
the beginning or start of something, often unpleasant
overview
C2+
/ˈoʊvərˌvju/
a general summary or survey of a subject
zucchini
C2+
/zuˈkini/
a green summer squash, also called a courgette
adieu
C2+
/əˈdju/
goodbye; a farewell
admixture
C2+
/ædˈmɪkstʃɚ/
a mixture, or an additional ingredient mixed into something
alehouse
C2+
/ˈeɪlˌhaʊs/
a tavern or establishment where ale is sold and drunk
antimodel
C2+
/ˌæntiˈmɑdəl/
a negative example showing how something should not be done
atlas
C2+
/ˈætləs/
a bound collection of maps
bah
C2+
/bɑ/
an exclamation expressing contempt or dismissal
bayou
C2+
/ˈbaɪu/
a slow-moving marshy creek or backwater, typical of the southern US
bedlam
C2+
/ˈbɛdləm/
a scene of uproar and confusion
bluejacket
C2+
/ˈbluˌdʒækɪt/
an enlisted sailor in the navy
cad
C2+
/kæd/
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
certitude
C2+
/ˈsɝtɪˌtud/
absolute certainty or conviction
composure
C2+
/kəmˈpoʊʒɚ/
calm self-control, especially under stress
conspectus
C2+
/kənˈspɛktəs/
a general survey or summary of a subject
cosmos
C2+
/ˈkɑzmoʊs/
the universe regarded as an ordered, harmonious whole
denture
C2+
/ˈdɛntʃɚ/
a removable plate or frame holding artificial teeth
disinterest
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntrəst/
lack of concern or interest; impartiality free from bias
flapjack
C2+
/ˈflæpdʒæk/
a pancake, or a British oat-and-syrup bar
grandeur
C2+
/ˈɡrændʒɚ/
splendor and impressiveness; magnificence
gumshoe
C2+
/ˈɡʌmˌʃu/
a detective, especially a private investigator
hodgepodge
C2+
/ˈhɑdʒˌpɑdʒ/
a confused or jumbled mixture of disparate things
memorandum
C2+
/ˌmɛməˈrændəm/
a written note or record, especially in an organization
merch
C2+
/mɜrtʃ/
merchandise, especially branded products sold to fans
milestone
C2+
/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/
a significant stage or event; a roadside marker of distance
miscarriage
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌkɛrɪdʒ/
the loss of a pregnancy; a failure or mismanagement of something
nectarine
C2+
/ˈnɛktərin/
a smooth-skinned variety of peach
setup
C2+
/ˈsɛtˌʌp/
the way something is arranged or organized; an arrangement or scheme
warlock
C2+
/ˈwɔrlɑk/
a man who practices witchcraft; a male sorcerer
whim
C2+
/wɪm/
a sudden, capricious desire or impulse
wreckage
C2+
/ˈrɛkɪdʒ/
the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed
aa
C2+
/ˈɑːɑː/
basaltic lava with a rough, jagged, clinkery surface
accoucheuse
C2+
/ˌækuˈʃɜz/
a female midwife or woman who assists at childbirth
adaptitude
C2+
/əˈdæptɪˌtud/
aptitude or capacity for adapting; adaptability
ague
C2+
/ˈeɪɡju/
a fever marked by recurring chills and shivering, often malarial
alkali
C2+
/ˈælkəˌlaɪ/
a soluble base that neutralizes acids, turning litmus blue
apophthegm
C2+
/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
a terse, pointed saying; a pithy maxim
arrowleaf
C2+
/ˈæroʊˌlif/
any of various plants having arrow-shaped leaves
babushka
C2+
/bəˈbʊʃkə/
a headscarf tied under the chin, or an elderly Russian woman
bakeboard
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌbɔrd/
a board on which dough is kneaded or rolled out
bookstall
C2+
/ˈbʊkstɔl/
a stall or stand where books and periodicals are sold
cacodemon
C2+
/ˌkækoʊˈdimən/
an evil spirit or malevolent demon
carbuncle
C2+
/ˈkɑrˌbʌŋkəl/
a painful cluster of boils; a red gem, especially a garnet
carrytale
C2+
/ˈkæriˌteɪl/
a gossip or tale-bearer who spreads rumors
cartridge
C2+
/ˈkɑrtrɪdʒ/
a case holding a charge and bullet; a sealed replaceable container
cask
C2+
/kæsk/
a barrel-shaped wooden container for liquids
chattel
C2+
/ˈtʃætəl/
an item of movable personal property
cole
C2+
/koʊl/
any of various brassica plants such as cabbage, kale, or rape
cologne
C2+
/kəˈloʊn/
a lightly scented perfume made of alcohol and aromatic oils
corsair
C2+
/ˈkɔrsɛr/
a pirate or privateer, especially of the Barbary Coast
creatrix
C2+
/kriˈeɪtrɪks/
a female creator or originator
definiendum
C2+
/dɪˌfɪniˈɛndəm/
the term that is being defined in a definition
definiens
C2+
/dɪˈfɪniˌɛnz/
the words or expression that define the definiendum
diaphoresis
C2+
/ˌdaɪəfəˈrisɪs/
profuse perspiration, especially as induced medically
dictatrix
C2+
/dɪkˈteɪtrɪks/
a female dictator or absolute ruler
disequilibrium
C2+
/ˌdɪsikwɪˈlɪbriəm/
a loss or lack of balance or stability
downside
C2+
/ˈdaʊnsaɪd/
the negative aspect or drawback of something
dragon
C2+
/ˈdræɡən/
a mythical fire-breathing reptilian monster
ensign
C2+
/ˈɛnsən/
a flag or standard, or a junior naval officer
flapcake
C2+
/ˈflæpˌkeɪk/
a thin flat cake cooked on a griddle; a pancake
footstall
C2+
/ˈfʊtstɔːl/
the base or pedestal of a pillar; a woman's stirrup
forechoice
C2+
/ˈfɔrtʃɔɪs/
a choice made beforehand; predetermination
fount
C2+
/faʊnt/
a spring or source; a fountain
fountainhead
C2+
/ˈfaʊntnhɛd/
the source of a stream; the original source of something
frankincense
C2+
/ˈfræŋkɪnsɛns/
an aromatic gum resin burned as incense
geek
C2+
/ɡiːk/
an enthusiast obsessively devoted to a niche interest
genitalia
C2+
/ˌdʒɛnɪˈteɪliə/
the external organs of reproduction
ghoul
C2+
/ɡul/
an evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses
greenhorn
C2+
/ˈɡrinˌhɔrn/
an inexperienced or naive newcomer
heck
C2+
/hɛk/
a mild exclamation of surprise, irritation, or emphasis
hellcat
C2+
/ˈhɛlˌkæt/
a spiteful, violent-tempered woman; a fury
hidrosis
C2+
/haɪˈdroʊsɪs/
the secretion of sweat, especially in abnormal amounts
hoodie
C2+
/ˈhʊdi/
a hooded sweatshirt
ineptitude
C2+
/ɪnˈɛptɪtud/
lack of skill or competence; clumsiness
inflood
C2+
/ˈɪnflʌd/
a flowing in; an influx or inundation
inrush
C2+
/ˈɪnˌrʌʃ/
a sudden rushing in or influx
laird
C2+
/lɛrd/
a Scottish landed proprietor or lord of an estate
laughingstock
C2+
/ˈlæfɪŋˌstɑk/
an object of general ridicule
masseuse
C2+
/məˈsus/
a woman who provides massage professionally
nexus
C2+
/ˈnɛksəs/
a connection or link; a central or focal point
nightfall
C2+
/ˈnaɪtˌfɔl/
the onset of darkness; dusk
node
C2+
/noʊd/
a point of connection, intersection, or swelling
palpebra
C2+
/ˈpælpɪbrə/
an eyelid, in anatomical terminology
pandemonium
C2+
/ˌpændəˈmoʊniəm/
wild and noisy disorder or confusion
platitude
C2+
/ˈplætəˌtud/
a trite or overused remark presented as though it were original or profound
quietus
C2+
/kwaɪˈitəs/
something that ends or settles an affair; death or a final discharge
reliquiae
C2+
/rɪˈlɪkwiˌi/
remains or remnants, especially fossil remains or relics
ruckus
C2+
/ˈrʌkəs/
a noisy disturbance or commotion
rumpus
C2+
/ˈrʌmpəs/
a noisy disturbance, uproar, or commotion
sac
C2+
/sæk/
a pouch or bag-like cavity in an organism, often holding fluid
showdown
C2+
/ˈʃoʊdaʊn/
a decisive confrontation meant to settle a dispute
sobriquet
C2+
/ˈsoʊbrɪkeɪ/
a nickname or familiar epithet
sweetie
C2+
/ˈswiti/
a term of endearment, or informally a piece of candy