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
664 words
dunce
C1
/dʌns/
a person regarded as slow to learn or lacking intelligence, often used as an insult
neighborly
B2
/ˈneɪbɚli/
friendly, helpful, and considerate in the manner expected of a good neighbour
magnanimous
C2
/mægˈnænəməs/
Generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone weaker.
viciously
C1
/ˈvɪʃəsli/
In a violent and cruel way.
gentlemanly
C1
/ˈdʒɛntəlmənli/
courteous, honorable, and considerate in a way traditionally expected of a gentleman
inert
B2
/ɪnˈɝt/
Not moving or not able to move.
fiendish
C1
/ˈfiːndɪʃ/
Extremely cruel or evil.
crone
C2
/kroʊn/
disparaging or literary: an old woman, especially one portrayed as ugly or frightening
girlish
B2
/ˈɡɝ.lɪʃ/
characteristic of or resembling a girl, especially in appearance or manner
offhand
B2
/ˌɔfˈhænd/
Not friendly or polite; treating someone in a careless way.
dolt
C1
/doʊlt/
a stupid or slow-witted person
uncivilized
B1
/ʌnˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
without civilizing influences
portrayal
C1
/ˌpɔɹˈtɹeɪ.əl/
The way someone or something is described or represented.
prim
C2
/prɪm/
excessively proper, formal, or easily shocked by behavior
conceit
B2
/kənˈsiːt/
too much pride in yourself and what you can do
posturing
C2
/ˈpɑːstʃɝɪŋ/
Behaviour or talk meant to impress others rather than to be sincere.
ogle
C2
/ˈoʊɡl̩/
To stare at (someone or something), especially impertinently, amorously, or covetously.
pigheaded
C1
/ˌpɪɡˈhɛdɪd/
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, especially in a foolish way
quirk
C1
/kwɝk/
An unusual habit or feature of someone's personality.
indulgent
B2
/ɪnˈdʌld͡ʒənt/
Willing to allow someone, especially a child, to do or have whatever they want.
rationalize
C2+
/ˈɹæʃənəlaɪz/
remove irrational quantities from
elegantly
B2
/ˈɛlɪgəntˌliː/
In a graceful and stylish way that shows good taste.
effigy
C2
/ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/
a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
lascivious
C2
/ləˈsɪviəs/
feeling or openly expressing strong sexual desire, often in an offensive or indecent way
burly
C2
/bɝli/
large, strongly built, and muscular
go-getter
C2+
/ˈɡoʊˌɡɛt.ɚ/
an energetic, enterprising, and ambitious person who acts decisively to achieve success
assertion
C1
/əˈsɜɹʃən/
A confident statement that something is true.
small-minded
C1
/ˌsmɔlˈmaɪndɪd/
petty, narrow in outlook, or unwilling to consider larger concerns
fawning
C2
/fɔnɪŋ/
attempting to win favor by flattery
windbag
C2
/ˈwɪnd.bæɡ/
a person who talks at excessive length, often pompously, while saying little of value
lanky
C1
/ˈlæŋ.ki/
tall and thin, usually with long limbs and a somewhat awkward appearance
witless
C2
/ˈwɪtləs/
lacking intelligence, understanding, or sound judgment; foolish
synthesize
C2
/ˈsɪnθəsaɪz/
combine so as to form a more complex, product
acutely
C1
/əˈkjuːtli/
To a very great degree; intensely.
dozy
C2
/ˈdoʊzi/
sleepy, sluggish, or not fully alert
raunchy
C1
/ˈɹɔːnt͡ʃi/
Openly sexual in a rude or shocking way.
pert
C1
/pɝt/
boldly disrespectful or impudent in a lively way; saucy
boorish
C2
/ˈbʊr.ɪʃ/
rough, rude, and insensitive in behavior or manners
wheeze
C2
/ʍiːz/
To breathe with difficulty, making a whistling or rasping sound.
unsympathetic
C1
/ˌʌnsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
not showing understanding, concern, or compassion for someone's difficulties
flatterer
B2
/ˈflæt̬.ɚ.ɚ/
a person who gives excessive or insincere praise, usually to gain favor
womenfolk
C2
/ˈwɪm.ɪnˌfoʊk/
Women collectively
spry
C1
/spraɪ/
active, nimble, and energetic, especially despite advanced age
philanthropic
C2
/ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɑ.pɪk/
Generous in giving money and help to good causes.
distrustful
B1
/dɪˈstrʌstfəl/
feeling or showing a lack of trust; suspicious and wary
implacable
C2
/ɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
braggart
C2
/ˈbræɡɚt/
a person who boasts loudly or habitually
megalomaniac
C2
/ˌmɛɡəloʊˈmeɪniæk/
a person obsessed with power or convinced of their own exceptional greatness and importance
personable
B2
/ˈpɜːsn̩əbl/
pleasant, friendly, and easy to like in manner or appearance
crudely
C1
/ˈkɹudli/
In a rough, simple, or poorly made way.
measurable
C2
/ˈmeʒəɹəbəl/
of distinguished importance
meddlesome
C2
/ˈmɛdəlsəm/
inclined to interfere intrusively in other people's affairs
dippy
C2
/ˈdɪp.i/
informal: foolish, eccentric, or lacking common sense
self-confident
B2
/ˌsɛlfˈkɑːnfədənt/
sure of your own abilities and worth
candidly
C1
/ˈkændɪdli/
In an honest, open way; frankly.
discernible
C2
/dɪˈsɝnɪbl̩/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
egoist
C1
/ˈiːɡoʊɪst/
a person who is chiefly concerned with their own interests and gives little regard to others
wickedly
C1
/ˈwɪkɪdli/
In an evil or cruel way.
friendliness
B1
/ˈfɹɛndlinəs/
The quality of being friendly and kind to others.
hyperbole
B2
/haɪˈpɝbəli/
Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally.
deft
C2
/ˈdɛft/
Quick and neat in action; skillful.
prig
C2
/prɪɡ/
a smug, self-righteous person who is excessively proper or disapproving
ignoble
C2
/ɪɡˈnoʊbəl/
completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
codger
C2
/ˈkɑd͡ʒəɹ/
An amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man.
self-reliant
C1
/ˌsɛlf rɪˈlaɪənt/
depending on one's own abilities, judgment, or resources rather than on other people
solder
C2+
/ˈsɑd.ɚ/
an alloy, usually of lead and tin, used when melted to join two metal surfaces
skinflint
C2
/ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/
a person who is excessively unwilling to spend or give money
truthfulness
B2
/ˈtɹuθfəlnəs/
The quality of being honest and telling the truth.
portly
B1
/ˈpɔɹt.li/
having a rather stout or heavy body, especially in a dignified-looking way
artifice
C2
/ˈɑː(ɹ)tɪfɪs/
Clever but dishonest behaviour used to trick or deceive someone.
regale
C2+
/ɹɪˈɡeɪl/
To please or entertain (someone), especially with stories, tales or jokes.
belie
C2
/bɪˈlaɪ/
to represent falsely
quip
C1
/kwɪp/
A clever, witty remark.
cussed
C2
/ˈkʌsɪd/
chiefly US, informal or dialectal: annoying, ill-tempered, or stubbornly difficult
coquette
C2
/koʊˈkɛt/
dated: a woman who deliberately flirts without intending a serious relationship
nubile
C2
/ˈnuː.baɪl/
dated, chiefly of a young woman: considered old enough or eligible to marry
perversity
C2
/pə(ɹ)ˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪti/
A deliberate tendency to behave in an unreasonable or contrary way.
coquettish
C2
/koʊˈket.ɪʃ/
playfully flirtatious in a way intended to attract attention without showing serious romantic intent
muggins
C2
/ˈmʌɡɪnz/
chiefly British, informal and insulting: a foolish or easily deceived person
pragmatist
C2
/ˈpræɡmətɪst/
a person who deals with problems practically and judges actions mainly by workable results
soliloquy
B2
/səˈlɪləkwi/
A speech in a play in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, alone on stage.
shiftless
C2
/ˈʃɪftləs/
lacking ambition or initiative and habitually unwilling to work steadily
wretchedness
C2
/ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪdnəs/
the quality of being poor and inferior and sorry
natured
C1
/ˈneɪtʃɝd/
having a specified temperament or disposition, used chiefly in compounds such as good-natured and ill-natured
shelve
C2
/ˈʃɛlv/
place on a shelf
galoot
C2
/ɡəˈluːt/
slang, mildly insulting or humorous: a fellow, especially one who is awkward, foolish, or uncouth
tenderfoot
C2
/ˈtɛndɚˌfʊt/
an inexperienced newcomer, especially one unaccustomed to frontier, outdoor, or mining life
quick-witted
C1
/ˌkwɪkˈwɪtɪd/
able to think, understand, and reply rapidly and intelligently
disciplinarian
C2
/ˌdɪsəplɪˈnɛriən/
a person who enforces strict rules and expects obedience, often through punishment
winsome
C2
/ˈwɪn.səm/
sweetly or innocently charming in appearance, manner, or expression
croaker
C2
/ˈkɹoʊkɚ/
dated: a habitual complainer or a person who gloomily predicts trouble
amorphous
C2
/əˈmɔ(ɹ)fəs/
Having no clear shape or form.
naivete
C2
/nɑːˌiːvəˈteɪ/
lack of experience, judgment, or sophistication
valorous
C2
/ˈvælərəs/
having or showing great courage, especially in the face of danger
exploitative
C2+
/ɪkˈsplɔɪtətɪv/
In the nature of exploitation; acting to exploit someone or something
sentimentalist
C2
/ˌsɛn.təˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/
a person who is excessively influenced by tender, nostalgic, or idealized feelings