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
1536 words
recording
B1
/ɹɪˈkɔː(ɹ)dɪŋ/
Sound, video, or images stored so they can be played back.
someplace
B1
/ˈsʌmˌpleɪs/
In, at, or to a place that is not specified; somewhere.
thick
A2
/θɘk/
Having a large distance between opposite surfaces; not thin.
western
B1
/ˈwɛstɚn/
In or from the west of a place.
replace
A2
/ɹɪˈpleɪs/
To put a new or different person or thing in the place of another.
skip
B2
/skɪp/
to leave out or pass over something instead of dealing with it
booth
B2
/buθ/
A small enclosed space just big enough for one person, used for a particular purpose.
trunk
B2
/tɹʌŋk/
The thick main stem of a tree.
backup
B2
/ˈbækˌʌp/
A copy of computer files kept separately so you can recover them if the originals are lost.
apology
B1
/əˈpɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
A statement saying that you are sorry for something you have done.
gray
A1
/ɡɹeɪ/
Of a colour between black and white, like a cloudy sky.
paradise
B1
/ˈpɛɹ.ə.daɪ̯s/
A very beautiful or perfect place.
activity
A1
/ækˈtɪv.ə.ti/
something you do for interest or enjoyment
belly
A2
/ˈbɛli/
The front part of the body below the chest; the stomach area.
sink
A2
/sɪŋk/
to go down below the surface of water or another liquid
noon
A2
/nun/
Twelve o'clock in the middle of the day; midday.
helicopter
B1
/ˈheliˌkɔptə(ɹ)/
An aircraft with spinning blades on top that let it fly straight up, hover, and land without a runway.
spin
B2
/spɪn/
To turn around quickly and repeatedly on a central point.
minor
B1
/ˈmaɪ.nəɹ/
Small or not very important.
rocket
B2
/ˈɹɑk.ɪt/
A vehicle or device driven through the air or space by burning fuel.
succeed
A2
/səkˈsiːd/
To achieve what you wanted or planned.
destruction
B1
/dɪsˈtɹʌkʃən/
The act of destroying something, or the state of being destroyed.
shell
A2
/ʃel/
The hard outer covering of an animal such as a snail, crab, or turtle.
chamber
C1
/ˈt͡ʃeɪmbɚ/
A large room, often used for a formal or specific purpose.
exhausted
B1
/ɪɡˈzɔstɪd/
Extremely tired.
necklace
B1
/ˈnɛkləs/
A piece of jewellery, such as a chain or string of beads, worn around the neck.
pole
B1
/pɒl/
A long, thin, rounded piece of wood or metal used to hold or support something.
knee
A2
/ni/
The joint in the middle of your leg, where it bends.
internal
B1
/ɪnˈtɜɹ.nəl/
on or relating to the inside of something.
core
B2
/kɔɹ/
The central or most important part of something.
upper
B1
/ˈʌpɚ/
Higher in position than something else.
steak
A2
/steɪk/
A thick, flat piece of meat, especially beef, for grilling or frying.
superior
B1
/sʊˈpɪɹ.i.ɚ/
Better than someone or something else in quality.
pan
A2
/pæn/
A flat, round metal container with a handle, used for cooking.
chin
A2
/t͡ʃɪn/
The part of the face below the mouth.
entry
B1
/ˈɛntɹi/
The act of going into a place.
mount
B1
/ˈmaʊnt/
To get up onto something, especially a horse or bicycle.
halfway
C1
/ˌhæfˈweɪ/
At or to a point that is the middle between two places.
reception
B1
/ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃn̩/
The area near the entrance of a hotel or office where visitors are welcomed.
abandon
B1
/əˈbæn.dən/
to leave a person or place forever, especially someone who needs you
lap
B2
/ˈlæp/
The flat area formed by the top of your thighs when you are sitting down.
rub
B2
/ɹʊb/
To move your hand or an object back and forth over a surface with pressure.
hip
B1
/hɪp/
Either of the two parts of the body on each side, below the waist and above the legs.
satellite
B1
/ˈsætəˌlaɪt/
A machine sent into space to orbit the Earth and send back signals or information.
inner
A2
/ˈɪnə/
Located on the inside or closer to the centre.
radar
B2
/ˈɹeɪˌdɑɹ/
A system that uses radio waves to find the position and speed of distant objects such as ships and planes.
nest
C1
/nɛst/
A structure that a bird or other animal builds to lay eggs and raise its young.
palm
B1
/pɑːm/
The inner surface of the hand, between the wrist and the fingers.
prom
B2
/pɹɑm/
A formal dance held for students, usually near the end of the school year.
contrary
B1
/ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/
Completely different from or opposed to something in nature or purpose.
crossing
B1
/ˈkɹɔsɪŋ/
A place where you can safely cross a road, railway, or river.
daisy
B1
/ˈdeɪzi/
A small wild flower with white petals and a yellow center.
zoo
A1
/zuː/
A place where wild animals are kept so that people can see them.
diary
A2
/ˈdaɪ.ə.ɹi/
A book in which you write down what happens to you each day and your private thoughts.
burst
B1
/bɝst/
To break open suddenly because of pressure from inside.
packing
B1
/ˈpækɪŋ/
The act of putting things into bags or boxes, especially for travel or sending.
swallow
A2
/ˈswɒl.ə/
To make food or drink pass from your mouth down into your stomach.
reverse
B2
/ɹɪˈvɝs/
To change something to the opposite of what it was.
ash
B2
/ˈæʃ/
The grey powder left after something has burned.
grounds
C1
/ɡɹaʊndz/
A good reason or basis for doing or believing something.
closely
B1
/ˈkləʊsliː/
In a careful, attentive way.
pearl
B2
/pɝl/
A small, round, shiny white gem that forms inside an oyster, often used in jewellery.
boot
B1
/but/
A strong shoe that covers the foot and part of the leg.
turtle
B1
/ˈtɝtl̩/
A reptile with a hard protective shell, living on land or in water.
candidate
B1
/ˈkæn.dɪ.deɪt/
A person who is trying to be elected or chosen for a job or position.
immediate
B1
/ɪˈmi.di.ɪt/
Happening right away, with no delay.
alliance
B2
/əˈlaɪ.əns/
An agreement between countries or groups to work together, often for military or political reasons.
lean
B1
/ˈliːn/
To bend or move your body into a sloping position.
coffin
B1
/ˈkɔfɪn/
A long box in which a dead person is buried or cremated.
infected
B2
/ˌɪnˈfɛktɪd/
Having a disease or harmful organisms inside or on it.
elsewhere
A2
/ˈɛlsˌʍɛɹ/
In, at, or to another place.
lamp
A2
/ˈlæ̝mp/
A device that gives light, especially one you can move around a room.
suite
C1
/swiːt/
A set of connected rooms, especially in a hotel.
arrow
B1
/ˈæɹoʊ/
A thin, pointed stick that is shot from a bow.
located
B1
/ˈloʊkeɪtɪd/
Placed or situated in a particular position.
eastern
B1
/ˈi.stɚn/
Situated in or facing the east.
remaining
B2
/ɹɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/
Still left after the rest has been used, removed, or dealt with.
lip
A2
/ˈlɪp/
Either of the two soft edges around the opening of the mouth.
breast
B1
/bɹɛst/
Either of the two soft parts on a woman's chest that can produce milk.
cemetery
B2
/ˈsɛm.ɪˌtɛɹ.i/
A place where dead people are buried.
rear
B2
/ɹɪɹ/
The back part of something.
gum
B2
/ɡʌm/
A sweet, soft substance that you chew but do not swallow.
corporal
B2
/ˈkoɹ.pɚ.əl/
A low-ranking officer in the army, above a private and below a sergeant.
oven
A2
/ˈʌvən/
A kitchen appliance with an enclosed space used for baking, roasting, or heating food.
climbing
A2
/ˈklaɪ̯mɪŋ/
The sport or activity of going up walls, rocks, or mountains.
ladder
B1
/ˈlæd.ɚ/
A frame with steps used for climbing up or down, made of two long pieces joined by rungs.
alternative
B1
/ɔːlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/
One of two or more things you can choose between.
teenage
A2
/ˈtiːˌneɪdʒ/
Aged between 13 and 19 years old.
rumor
A2
/ˈɹumɚ/
A piece of information that people pass around even though no one knows if it is true.
frog
A2
/fɹɑɡ/
A small, smooth-skinned animal with long back legs that lives in or near water and jumps.
whale
B1
/weɪl/
A very large mammal that lives in the sea and breathes air through a hole on top of its head.
filling
B1
/ˈfɪlɪŋ/
The food put inside a sandwich, pie, or pastry.
pacific
A2
/pəˈsɪfɪk/
Calm and peaceful; tending to avoid conflict.
rank
B1
/ˈɹæŋk/
A person's position or level within a group or organization.
locate
B1
/ˈloʊˌkeɪt/
To find the exact position of something.
candle
B1
/ˈkændəl/
A stick of wax with a string through the middle that gives light when it burns.