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
338 words
cabman
C2
/ˈkæb.mən/
historical: a man who drove a horse-drawn cab for hire
coble
C2
/ˈkoʊ.bəl/
a small flat-bottomed open fishing boat designed for launching from beaches in northeastern England and Scotland
switchback
C2
/ˈswɪtʃˌbæk/
chiefly British, dated: a roller coaster or amusement ride with steep rises and descents
demonstrably
C2
/diˈmɑnstrəbli/
in an obvious and provable manner
laneway
C1
/ˈleɪnˌweɪ/
a narrow road, lane, alley, or passage, often running behind or between buildings
brakeman
C2
/ˈbreɪkmən/
historical: a railway worker responsible for operating a train's brakes and assisting with couplings and switching
merchantman
C2
/ˈmɝtʃəntmən/
a ship used to carry goods in trade rather than for naval warfare
byway
C2
/ˈbaɪweɪ/
a minor, less-traveled road or path branching from a main route
hatchway
C2
/ˈhætʃweɪ/
an opening through a ship's deck, floor, or wall that is fitted with a hatch
spanker
C2
/ˈspæŋ.kɚ/
a fore-and-aft sail set on or behind the mast nearest the stern of a square-rigged ship, or the corresponding aftermost sail of a large schooner
mainmast
C2
/ˈmeɪnˌmæst/
the principal mast of a vessel with two or more masts, usually the tallest and, on many sailing ships, the second from the bow
balloonist
C1
/bəˈluːnɪst/
a person who pilots or travels in a balloon, especially a hot-air or gas balloon
hawser
C2
/hɔzɚ/
a thick, heavy-duty rope or cable used to tow or moor a ship
madrina
C2+
/mɑːˈdriːnə/
in South American pack travel, a steady mare or other animal wearing a bell and leading a troop of mules
furl
C2
/fɝl/
to roll or fold a sail, flag, or similar sheet and secure it
bowsprit
C2
/ˈboʊ.sprɪt/
a spar projecting forward from a sailing vessel's bow, used to support rigging and forward sails
oarsman
C2
/ˈɔɹzmən/
a male rower, especially a member of a boat's racing or working crew
perambulator
C2
/pəˈræmbjəˌleɪtɚ/
a baby carriage; a chiefly British and now dated term for a pram
howdah
C2
/ˈhaʊdə/
a seat or enclosed platform, often canopied and ornamented, carried on the back of an elephant or camel
barouche
C2
/bəˈruːʃ/
historical: a large four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with two facing passenger seats, a folding hood over the rear seat, and a raised driver's seat in front
flatcar
C2
/ˈflæt.kɑːr/
chiefly North American, a railroad freight car with a flat open deck and no permanent sides or roof, used for containers, vehicles, machinery, and other bulky loads
propulsive
C2
/prəˈpʌlsɪv/
tending to or capable of propelling
aircrew
B2
/ˈɛrˌkruː/
The team of people who operate an aircraft during a flight.
highroad
C2
/ˈhaɪˌroʊd/
a main public road or highway; now more often written high road
monoplane
C2
/ˈmɑːnəˌpleɪn/
an airplane with one main pair of wings rather than two or more pairs
footboard
C1
/ˈfʊtˌbɔrd/
a narrow platform or board on a vehicle, carriage, or railway car on which a person may stand or rest the feet
musher
C2
/ˈmʌʃɚ/
a person who drives or travels with a team of sled dogs, especially in a dogsled race
flivver
C2
/ˈflɪv.ɚ/
an automobile or cart, particularly one which is old and inexpensive.
hearer
C2
/ˈhɪɹɚ/
One who hears.
binnacle
C2
/ˈbɪnəkəl/
a fixed housing for a ship's compass, often fitted with a light and correcting magnets
taximeter
C1
/ˈtæk.siˌmiː.t̬ɚ/
a device in a taxi that calculates and displays the fare according to distance traveled and waiting time
cordage
C2
/ˈkɔrdədʒ/
cords and ropes considered collectively, especially the ropes used in a ship's rigging
gunwale
C2
/ˈɡʌnəl/
the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship
pilothouse
C2
/ˈpaɪlətˌhaʊs/
an enclosed compartment on a ship or boat from which the vessel is steered and navigated
spaceworthy
C2+
/ˈspeɪsˌwɝði/
fit, reliable, and safe enough to be launched into or travel through space
aeronaut
C2
/ˈɛr.əˌnɔːt/
a person who travels through the air in a balloon or airship; historically, an aviator
dearness
C2
/ˈdɪə(ɹ)nəs/
The quality of having great value or price.
abaft
C2
/əˈbæft/
at, near, or toward the stern of a ship
wherry
C2
/ˈwɛɹi/
a light rowboat formerly used to carry passengers or goods on rivers and in harbors
triplane
C2
/ˈtraɪˌpleɪn/
an airplane that has three pairs of wings, one above the others
bitt
C2
/bɪt/
a strong post or pair of posts on a ship, quay, or wharf around which a mooring line is secured
sculler
C2
/ˈskʌlɚ/
a person who propels a boat with a pair of sculls, especially in competitive rowing
unship
C2
/ˌʌnˈʃɪp/
to remove or unload people, animals, or cargo from a ship
supercargo
C2
/ˈsupəɹˌkɑɹɡoʊ/
an officer or owner's representative aboard a merchant ship who manages the cargo and its commercial sale or purchase
curricle
C2
/ˈkɝː.ɪ.kəl/
a light, open, two-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses side by side, fashionable in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries
boathook
C2
/ˈboʊtˌhʊk/
a long pole with a hook at one end, used aboard a vessel to push off obstacles or catch a line, buoy, boat, or floating object
equipage
C2
/ˈɛ.kwɪ.pɪdʒ/
a vehicle with wheels drawn by one or more horses
caleche
C2
/kəˈlɛʃ/
a light, low-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, typically fitted with a folding top
coastwise
C2
/ˈkoʊstˌwaɪz/
along a coast or by a route following the coast
calash
C2
/kəˈlæʃ/
a light horse-drawn carriage with a folding hood
rowlock
C2
/ˈroʊ.lɑːk/
a U-shaped fitting or socket on the side of a boat that holds an oar and serves as its pivot while rowing
jarvey
C2
/ˈdʒɑːɹ.vi/
British and Irish, historical: the driver of a hackney coach or jaunting car
footway
C2
/ˈfʊtˌweɪ/
a path or passage reserved for people travelling on foot
postilion
C2
/pəˈstɪljən/
historical: a rider mounted on the near horse of a carriage team in order to guide it, especially when there is no coachman
taffrail
C2
/ˈtæfˌreɪl/
the rail running around the stern of a ship
tailboard
C2
/ˈteɪl.bɔːrd/
a hinged board or door at the rear of a vehicle that can be lowered for loading
surcingle
C2
/ˈsɝːsɪŋɡəl/
a broad strap or girth passed around a horse or other pack animal to secure a saddle, blanket, or load
sleighbell
C2+
/ˈsleɪbɛl/
a small hollow bell, typically containing a loose pellet, attached to a sleigh or harness so that it jingles during travel
outport
C2
/ˈaʊtˌpɔːrt/
chiefly British or historical: a port other than a country's main port, especially a British port outside London
unmaneuverable
C2+
/ˌʌn.məˈnuː.vɚ.ə.bəl/
difficult or impossible to steer, turn, position, or control effectively
coachmaker
C2
/ˈkoʊtʃˌmeɪkɚ/
historical: a craftsperson or business that builds horse-drawn coaches and carriages
lighterman
C2
/ˈlaɪtɚmən/
historical: a person who operates, owns, or works on a lighter, a flat-bottomed barge used to transfer cargo
multiplane
C2
/ˈmʌltiˌpleɪn/
an airplane having at least three superposed main planes
flota
C2
/ˈfloʊtə/
historical: a fleet of Spanish ships, especially the convoy that carried goods and treasure between Spain and its American colonies
postboy
C2
/ˈpoʊstˌbɔɪ/
historically, a boy or man who rode a post horse to guide a hired carriage; a postilion
bus station
A2
bus stop
A2
car park
A2
driver's license
A2
fire station
B1
petrol station
A2
police station
A2
steering wheel
B2
traffic jam
B1
traffic light
A2
curb
C2+
/kɜrb/
to restrain or keep in check; a raised edge along a street
aft
C2+
/æft/
at, near, or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
automobile
C2+
/ˈɔtəməˌbil/
a self-propelled passenger road vehicle; a car
bogie
C2+
/ˈboʊɡi/
a swiveling wheeled undercarriage on a railway vehicle
boxcar
C2+
/ˈbɑksˌkɑr/
an enclosed railroad freight car
conveyance
C2+
/kənˈveɪəns/
a means of transport, or the transfer of property
forestay
C2+
/ˈfɔrˌsteɪ/
a rope or stay supporting a ship's foremast from the bow
poop
C2+
/pup/
excrement; or the raised deck at the stern of a ship
streetcar
C2+
/ˈstritˌkɑr/
a passenger vehicle running on rails along city streets; a tram
taxicab
C2+
/ˈtæksiˌkæb/
a car licensed to carry passengers for a fare; a taxi
undecked
C2+
/ʌnˈdɛkt/
not adorned or decorated; of a boat, having no deck
barge
C2+
/bɑrdʒ/
a flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight on rivers and canals
berth
C2+
/bɜrθ/
a place for a ship to dock; a sleeping bunk on a ship or train
eject
C2+
/ɪˈdʒɛkt/
to force out or expel suddenly; to bail out of an aircraft
overpass
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚˌpæs/
a bridge carrying one road or path over another
planar
C2+
/ˈpleɪnɚ/
lying in or relating to a single plane; flat
sleeper
C2+
/ˈslipɚ/
one who sleeps, a sleeping car, or an unexpected success
st
C2+
/sənt/
abbreviation for saint or street
accelerator
C2+
/əkˈsɛləreɪtɚ/
a device or thing that increases speed, especially a car's gas pedal
aerobatics
C2+
/ˌɛrəˈbætɪks/
spectacular flying maneuvers performed by aircraft
airship
C2+
/ˈɛrˌʃɪp/
a powered lighter-than-air aircraft; a dirigible