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
325 words
tinderbox
C2
/ˈtɪndɚˌbɑːks/
a small box holding tinder and usually a flint and steel, formerly used for starting fires
householder
C1
/ˈhaʊsˌhoʊldɚ/
a person who owns or rents a house and is responsible for it and its expenses
casement
C1
/ˈkeɪs.mənt/
a window sash hinged at the side so that it opens like a door, or a window fitted with such a sash
ecologically
B2
/iːkəˈlɑːdʒɪkli/
In a way that relates to the environment and living things.
sconce
C2
/skɑns/
a decorative wall bracket that holds a candle, lamp, or other light
pergola
C2
/ˈpɝː.ɡə.lə/
an outdoor framework of posts and crossbeams, often supporting climbing plants and providing partial shade
rafter
B2
/ˈɹæftəɹ/
One of the sloping wooden beams that support a roof.
pouf
C2
/puːf/
a low, firm, cushioned seat without a back or arms, also used as a footstool
backstairs
C2
/ˈbækˌstɛrz/
a secondary staircase at the rear of a building, traditionally used by servants or tradespeople
outbuilding
B2
/ˈaʊtˌbɪldɪŋ/
a smaller building, such as a shed, barn, or garage, that is separate from but associated with a main building
bedstead
C2
/ˈbɛdˌstɛd/
the rigid frame that supports a bed, excluding its mattress and bedding
coverlet
C2
/ˈkʌvɚlɪt/
a decorative or light bed covering, often quilted
housetop
C2
/ˈhaʊsˌtɑp/
the roof or uppermost part of a house
trivet
C2
/ˈtrɪv.ɪt/
a small stand or heat-resistant mat placed under a hot dish or pan to protect a table or work surface
hearthrug
C2
/ˈhɑrθˌrʌɡ/
a rug placed on the hearth or in front of a fireplace
imaginatively
C2
/ˌɪˈmædʒənəˌtɪvˌliː/
with imagination
cottager
C1
/ˈkɑːtɪdʒɚ/
a person who lives in or occupies a cottage, sometimes especially a holiday cottage
footrest
B1
/ˈfʊtˌɹɛst/
a support on which to rest the feet.
delf
C2
/delf/
historical and dialectal: Delftware or other glazed earthenware, especially plates, dishes, and tea things
washstand
C2
/ˈwɑʃˌstænd/
a piece of furniture designed to hold a basin, pitcher, and other articles for washing
cruse
C2
/kruːs/
a small earthenware vessel for holding liquids, especially oil or water
snuffer
C2
/ˈsnʌfɚ/
a small cone or bell on a handle used to extinguish a candle flame
impracticable
C2
/ˌɪmˈpræktɪkəbəl/
not capable of being carried out or put into practice
doorpost
C2
/ˈdɔrˌpoʊst/
Either of the upright posts on either side of a door, which together support a lintel; doorjamb.
escritoire
C2
/ˌɛskrɪˈtwɑr/
a writing desk, especially one with a hinged panel that opens to form the writing surface
ewer
C2
/ˈju.ɚ/
a wide-mouthed jug with a handle and spout, traditionally used for holding and pouring water
refurnish
B1
/ˌriːˈfɝːnɪʃ/
to furnish a room, building, or other place again, especially with new or different furniture
wainscot
C2
/ˈweɪnˌskɑt/
paneling, traditionally wooden, covering the lower part of an interior wall
upholster
C1
/ʌpˈhoʊl.stɚ/
to fit or cover furniture, especially a seat, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather
fanlight
C2
/ˈfænˌlaɪt/
a small window above a door or another window, traditionally semicircular with fan-shaped glazing bars
dilapidation
C2
/dəˌlæp.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/
a state of deterioration due to old age or long use
dooryard
C2
/ˈdɔɹˌjɑɹd/
chiefly US or historical: the yard or open ground immediately outside a house door
confluent
C2
/ˈkɑn.flu.ənt/
Converging, merging or flowing together into one.
hearthstone
C2
/ˈhɑɹθˌstoʊn/
a flat stone forming part or all of a hearth
box room
C2
/ˈbɑks ˌɹum/
a small room used for storing boxes, luggage, and other household items, especially in a British home
fireless
C2
/ˈfaɪɚləs/
having no fire burning, or operating without an open flame
counterpane
C2
/ˈkaʊntərpeɪn/
a decorative cover spread over the top of a bed; a bedspread
andiron
C2
/ˈændˌaɪɚn/
one of a pair of metal supports used to hold burning logs above the hearth of a fireplace
bibelot
C2
/ˈbɪb.əˌloʊ/
a small decorative object, curiosity, or trinket, often collected for its beauty
jalousie
C2
/ˈd͡ʒæləsiː/
Upward sloping window slats which form a blind or shutter, allowing light and air in but excluding rain and direct sun.
snuggery
C2
/ˈsnʌɡəri/
chiefly British and dated: a small, private, comfortable room or retreat
rushlight
C2
/ˈrʌʃˌlaɪt/
an inexpensive candle made by dipping the dried pith of a rush in melted fat or grease
tin opener
B1
/ˈtɪn ˌoʊ.pən.ɚ/
a handheld or electric device for cutting open sealed metal food tins
doorless
C2
/ˈdɔrləs/
having no door or doors
tumble-down
C2+
/ˈtʌmbəlˌdaʊn/
dilapidated, ramshackle, or in such poor condition that collapse seems likely
chiffonier
C2
/ˌʃɪfəˈnɪr/
a tall, narrow chest of drawers or cabinet, sometimes fitted with a mirror
napery
C2
/ˈneɪpɚi/
household linen, especially tablecloths and napkins
floorcloth
C2
/ˈflɔrˌklɔθ/
a piece of cloth, oilcloth, or similar material used as a floor covering in place of or beneath a carpet
lodgment
C2
/ˈlɑːdʒ.mənt/
a place of shelter or a secure position gained in a particular place
workbox
C2
/ˈwɝːkˌbɑːks/
a box for holding sewing, needlework, craft, or other work materials and tools
saltcellar
C2
/ˈsɑːltˌsɛlɚ/
a small container or open dish for holding and serving salt at the table
pannikin
C2
/ˈpænɪkɪn/
chiefly British or Australian: a small metal cup or pan, especially one used outdoors
tinware
C2
/ˈtɪnˌwɛr/
household utensils and other articles made from tin or tin-plated metal
mantelshelf
C2
/ˈmæn.təlˌʃelf/
a shelf above a fireplace; a mantel
stairhead
C2
/ˈstɛrˌhɛd/
the top of a flight of stairs or the landing at the top of a staircase
chairback
C2+
/ˈtʃɛrˌbæk/
the upright rear part of a chair that supports the sitter's back
doghole
C2+
/ˈdɔɡˌhoʊl/
derogatory: a mean, cramped, or squalid dwelling or place considered fit only for dogs
girandole
C2+
/ˈdʒɪrənˌdoʊl/
an ornamental branched candlestick or wall light, often mounted against a mirror
washpan
C2+
/ˈwɑːʃˌpæn/
a broad, shallow pan or basin used to hold water for washing
cassone
C2
/kəˈsoʊ.ni/
a large decorated Italian chest, especially a Renaissance marriage or dowry chest
loghouse
C2+
/ˈlɔːɡˌhaʊs/
a house built from horizontally laid logs; a log cabin
latchstring
C2
/ˈlætʃˌstrɪŋ/
a string attached to a door latch and passed through a hole so the latch can be lifted from outside
air conditioning
B1
central heating
B1
chest of drawers
B1
dining room
A1
first floor
B1
first-floor
B1
ground floor
B1
living room
A1
next door
B1
sitting room
A2
table tennis
A2
closet
C2+
/ˈklɑzət/
a small enclosed storage room; to shut away in private
mat
C2+
/mæt/
a piece of coarse fabric for the floor; also to become tangled
bakehouse
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌhaʊs/
a building or room in which bread is baked; a bakery
perennial
C2+
/pəˈrɛniəl/
lasting or recurring through many years; a plant living for years
senate
C2+
/ˈsɛnət/
a legislative or governing assembly, especially an upper house
bedchamber
C2+
/ˈbɛdˌtʃeɪmbɚ/
a private room used for sleeping; a bedroom
bridewell
C2+
/ˈbraɪdwɛl/
(archaic) a prison or house of correction
cathedra
C2+
/kəˈθidrə/
the official chair or throne of a bishop or professor
flooring
C2+
/ˈflɔrɪŋ/
the material used to make the floor of a room
gutter
C2+
/ˈɡʌtɚ/
a channel along a roof or roadside for carrying off rainwater
gymnasium
C2+
/dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a room or building equipped for physical exercise or sports
lounge
C2+
/laʊndʒ/
a room for relaxing; to recline or loll idly
moggy
C2+
/ˈmɑɡi/
a cat, especially a non-pedigree or ordinary house cat
barroom
C2+
/ˈbɑrˌrum/
a room or establishment with a bar serving alcoholic drinks
bedfast
C2+
/ˈbɛdˌfæst/
confined to bed by illness; bedridden
biologically
C2+
/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkli/
in a way relating to biology or living organisms
buttress
C2+
/ˈbʌtrəs/
a support projecting from a wall; to reinforce or strengthen
cabinetmaking
C2+
/ˈkæbɪnətˌmeɪkɪŋ/
the craft of making fine wooden furniture and cabinets
cabinetworker
C2+
/ˈkæbɪnətˌwɜrkɚ/
a skilled craftsman who makes cabinets and fine furniture
ceil
C2+
/sil/
to line or cover the inner roof of a room with plaster or boards
curtilage
C2+
/ˈkɜrtɪlɪdʒ/
the enclosed land immediately surrounding a house
dresser
C2+
/ˈdrɛsər/
a chest of drawers or a kitchen sideboard for dishes
estray
C2+
/ɪˈstreɪ/
a domestic animal found wandering with no apparent owner