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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
2331 words
epoch
C2+
/ˈɛpək/
a notable period in history marked by distinctive events or characteristics
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escapade
C2+
/ˈɛskəˌpeɪd/
a reckless or playful adventure that flouts convention
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esplanade
C2+
/ˈɛspləˌnɑd/
a long open level walk, especially along a seafront
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esthesis
C2+
/ɛsˈθisɪs/
the capacity for sensation or perception
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evensong
C2+
/ˈivənˌsɔŋ/
the Anglican service of evening prayer; vespers
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evolute
C2+
/ˈɛvəˌlut/
in geometry, the locus of the centers of curvature of a curve
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excerpt
C2+
/ˈɛkˌsɚpt/
a short extract taken from a longer written or musical work
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excursus
C2+
/ɛkˈskɜrsəs/
a detailed digression appended to or inserted within a text
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eyeshade
C2+
/ˈaɪˌʃeɪd/
a visor or band worn to shield the eyes from light
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f
C2+
/ɛf/
the sixth letter of the English alphabet
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facet
C2+
/ˈfæsɪt/
one of the flat surfaces of a cut gem, or a distinct aspect of something
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fad
C2+
/fæd/
a short-lived, intensely popular fashion or enthusiasm
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faithbreach
C2+
/ˈfeɪθˌbritʃ/
a breaking of faith or trust; betrayal of a pledge
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fangle
C2+
/ˈfæŋɡəl/
a foolish or showy new fashion or contrivance
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fay
C2+
/feɪ/
a fairy or elf; a supernatural being of folklore
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fiat
C2+
/ˈfiɑt/
an authoritative decree or order issued without consent
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finis
C2+
/ˈfɪnɪs/
the end, especially printed at the close of a book or film
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flapcake
C2+
/ˈflæpˌkeɪk/
a thin flat cake cooked on a griddle; a pancake
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flare
C2+
/flɛr/
a sudden bright burst of flame or light; a signaling fire
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fogbow
C2+
/ˈfɑɡboʊ/
a faint whitish arc like a rainbow formed by fog droplets
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font
C2+
/fɑnt/
a set of type of one design and size; a basin for baptismal water
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footstep
C2+
/ˈfʊtstɛp/
the sound or mark of a foot taking a step
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forechoice
C2+
/ˈfɔrtʃɔɪs/
a choice made beforehand; predetermination
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fount
C2+
/faʊnt/
a spring or source; a fountain
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fountainhead
C2+
/ˈfaʊntnhɛd/
the source of a stream; the original source of something
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frankincense
C2+
/ˈfræŋkɪnsɛns/
an aromatic gum resin burned as incense
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fringe
C2+
/frɪndʒ/
a decorative border of threads; the outer edge or margin
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frit
C2+
/frɪt/
calcined materials fused to make glass or glaze
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gaffe
C2+
/ɡæf/
an embarrassing social blunder or tactless mistake
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gag
C2+
/ɡæɡ/
a joke; a cloth to silence the mouth; to retch or silence
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gage
C2+
/ɡeɪdʒ/
a pledge or token of challenge thrown down; to pledge
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gait
C2+
/ɡeɪt/
a manner of walking or moving on foot
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gamp
C2+
/ɡæmp/
a large, baggy umbrella
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gaud
C2+
/ɡɔd/
a showy ornament or cheap trinket
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gauntlet
C2+
/ˈɡɔntlət/
an armored glove; an ordeal or punishment run between two rows
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geek
C2+
/ɡiːk/
an enthusiast obsessively devoted to a niche interest
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geepound
C2+
/ˈdʒiːpaʊnd/
a unit of mass; the slug, equal to about 32.2 pounds
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genitalia
C2+
/ˌdʒɛnɪˈteɪliə/
the external organs of reproduction
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gestalt
C2+
/ɡəˈʃtɑlt/
an organized whole perceived as more than the sum of its parts
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ghoul
C2+
/ɡul/
an evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses
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glyph
C2+
/ˈɡlɪf/
a carved or inscribed symbol or character
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gnome
C2+
/ˈnoʊm/
a small legendary creature dwelling underground, or a pithy maxim
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gore
C2+
/ˈɡɔr/
blood from a wound, or to pierce with a horn or tusk
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greenhorn
C2+
/ˈɡrinˌhɔrn/
an inexperienced or naive newcomer
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grille
C2+
/ˈɡrɪl/
a grating of bars protecting an opening or window
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grimace
C2+
/ˈɡrɪməs/
a twisted facial expression of pain or disgust
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groundwork
C2+
/ˈɡraʊndˌwɚk/
the preliminary work that forms a foundation
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guerdon
C2+
/ˈɡɝdən/
a reward or recompense for service
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guffaw
C2+
/ɡəˈfɔ/
a loud, hearty burst of laughter
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guise
C2+
/ˈɡaɪz/
an external appearance or pretence concealing the truth
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gunstock
C2+
/ˈɡʌnˌstɑk/
the wooden support to which a gun's barrel and mechanism are fixed
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ha
C2+
/ˈhɑ/
used to express surprise, triumph, or laughter
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halo
C2+
/ˈheɪloʊ/
a ring of light around the head of a sacred figure or a luminous circle in the sky
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handfast
C2+
/ˈhændˌfæst/
a betrothal or marriage sealed by clasping hands; to pledge thus
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hardtack
C2+
/ˈhɑːrdˌtæk/
a hard biscuit made of flour and water, used as rations at sea or on campaign
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hatbrim
C2+
/ˈhætˌbrɪm/
the projecting edge or rim of a hat
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headstone
C2+
/ˈhɛdˌstoʊn/
a stone marker set at the head of a grave
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heartbeat
C2+
/ˈhɑːrtˌbiːt/
a single pulsation of the heart; a moment or animating force
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heck
C2+
/hɛk/
a mild exclamation of surprise, irritation, or emphasis
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heft
C2+
/hɛft/
weight or heaviness; to lift or test the weight of something
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hidrosis
C2+
/haɪˈdroʊsɪs/
the secretion of sweat, especially in abnormal amounts
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hierarch
C2+
/ˈhaɪəˌrɑːrk/
a chief priest or high-ranking official in a hierarchy
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ho
C2+
/hoʊ/
an exclamation used to attract attention or express surprise
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hoodie
C2+
/ˈhʊdi/
a hooded sweatshirt
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hoot
C2+
/hut/
a cry of an owl or a shout of derision or amusement
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hovel
C2+
/ˈhʌvəl/
a small, squalid, or wretched dwelling
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huff
C2+
/hʌf/
a fit of petty annoyance or to blow with puffs of breath
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huh
C2+
/hʌ/
used to express surprise, confusion, or to invite agreement
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illfare
C2+
/ˈɪlˌfɛr/
misfortune, hardship, or distress; the opposite of welfare
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impasse
C2+
/ˈɪmpæs/
a deadlock or situation from which there is no escape
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impetus
C2+
/ˈɪmpətəs/
a driving force or stimulus that makes something happen
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imprint
C2+
/ˈɪmprɪnt/
a mark made by pressure, or a lasting impression or effect
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ineptitude
C2+
/ɪnˈɛptɪtud/
lack of skill or competence; clumsiness
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inflood
C2+
/ˈɪnflʌd/
a flowing in; an influx or inundation
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inkle
C2+
/ˈɪŋkəl/
a kind of linen tape, or the thread from which it is woven
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inrush
C2+
/ˈɪnˌrʌʃ/
a sudden rushing in or influx
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intermezzo
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈmɛtsoʊ/
a short musical or dramatic piece performed between larger movements or acts
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interregnum
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈrɛɡnəm/
an interval between two reigns or governments; a pause in continuity
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intrigue
C2+
/ɪnˈtriɡ/
secret scheming or plotting; to arouse curiosity or interest
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jape
C2+
/dʒeɪp/
a practical joke or jest
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journalese
C2+
/ˌdʒɜrnəˈliz/
the clichéd, sensational style of writing typical of newspapers
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juju
C2+
/ˈdʒudʒu/
a charm or fetish believed to hold magical power
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jumble
C2+
/ˈdʒʌmbəl/
a confused, disordered mixture of things
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k
C2+
/keɪ/
the eleventh letter of the English alphabet
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kamikaze
C2+
/ˌkɑmɪˈkɑzi/
a reckless suicidal attack or attacker, especially a WWII pilot
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kilocalorie
C2+
/ˈkɪloʊˌkæləri/
a unit of energy equal to one thousand calories
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kink
C2+
/kɪŋk/
a sharp twist or bend in a rope, hair, or line
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kiosk
C2+
/ˈkiˌɑsk/
a small open-fronted booth for selling goods or providing information
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knickknack
C2+
/ˈnɪkˌnæk/
a small worthless ornament or trinket
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knockoff
C2+
/ˈnɑkˌɔf/
a cheap imitation of a popular branded product
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labium
C2+
/ˈleɪbiəm/
a lip or liplike structure in anatomy or botany
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lagniappe
C2+
/ˈlænˌjæp/
a small gift given with a purchase; an unexpected extra
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laird
C2+
/lɛrd/
a Scottish landed proprietor or lord of an estate
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lancet
C2+
/ˈlænsɪt/
a small sharp two-edged surgical knife
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lath
C2+
/læθ/
a thin narrow strip of wood used as a base for plaster or tiles
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laughingstock
C2+
/ˈlæfɪŋˌstɑk/
an object of general ridicule
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