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.
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All 27,237 words
746 words
intercession
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈsɛʃən/
the act of intervening on another person's behalf, especially to plead for help, mercy, or agreement
hieroglyphic
C2
/ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/
written in or relating to a system that uses pictorial symbols, especially ancient Egyptian writing
coda
C2+
/ˈkoʊ.də/
The optional final sound of a syllable or word, occurring after its nucleus and usually composed of one or more consonants.
drawl
C1
/dɹɔl/
to speak slowly, prolonging vowel sounds
Quechua
C2
/ˈkɛtʃwə/
a family of closely related Indigenous languages spoken across the Andes, especially in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile
articulation
C2
/ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The act of expressing thoughts or feelings clearly in words.
arraign
C2
/əˈɹeɪn/
to accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy
misrepresentation
C1
/ˌmɪsˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃən/
the act or an instance of giving a false, inaccurate, or misleading account of someone or something
voiceless
C1
/ˈvɔɪsləs/
unable to speak or produce a normal vocal sound
communicative
B2
/kəˈmjuː.nə.keɪ.t̬ɪv/
Willing to talk and share information with others.
hearken
C2
/ˈhɑɹkən/
to listen attentively or give serious heed, especially in literary or archaic use
colloquial
C2
/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/
Used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing.
inquirer
C1
/ɪnˈkwaɪr.ɚ/
formal: a person who asks a question or seeks information
allegorical
C2
/ˌæl.ɪˈɡɔɹ.ɪ.kəl/
Using a story or symbols to express a deeper, hidden meaning.
restate
B1
/ˌriːˈsteɪt/
to state something again, often in clearer or different words
stylistic
C1
/staɪˈlɪstɪk/
Relating to style, especially in writing, art, or language.
good-day
C1
/ˌɡʊdˈdeɪ/
dated or formal: a greeting or farewell equivalent to good day
sere
C2+
/sɪ(ə)ɹ/
Without moisture; dry.
revile
C2
/ɹəˈvaɪl/
To criticize someone harshly using abusive or insulting language.
undertone
C1
/ˈʌndɚtoʊn/
a quiet or subdued tone of voice or sound
schadenfreude
C2
/ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪ.də/
Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.
misinterpretation
B2
/ˌmɪsɪnˌtɝːprəˈteɪʃən/
an incorrect understanding or explanation of something
snippet
C2
/ˈsnɪpɪt/
A small piece or part of something, such as a song, text, or conversation.
epistle
C2
/ɪˈpɪsəl/
a formal or literary letter, especially a long one
tête-à-tête
C2+
/ˌteɪt.əˈteɪt/
a private conversation or meeting between two people
sophistry
C2
/ˈsɑ.fɪ.stɹi/
The actions or arguments of a sophist.
subjunctive
B2
/səbˈd͡ʒʌŋktɪv/
Relating to a verb form used to show wishes, doubts, or things that are not facts.
pronouncement
C2
/prəˈnaʊns.mənt/
a formal or authoritative statement, especially one made publicly
colloquium
C2
/kəˈləʊkwiəm/
An academic meeting or seminar where scholars discuss a topic, often with a guest speaker.
prater
C2
/ˈpɹeɪtɚ/
a person who talks at length in a foolish, trivial, or irritating way
blatter
C2
/ˈblæt.əɹ/
dialectal: to talk rapidly, noisily, or foolishly
explanatory
C1
/ɪkˈsplæn.ə.t(ɔː.)ɹi/
Helping to explain something or make it clearer.
going-over
C1
/ˌɡoʊɪŋˈoʊvɚ/
informal: a severe scolding, reprimand, or beating
snivel
C2
/ˈsnɪv.əl/
to cry or complain in a weak, tearful way while sniffing
unpronounceable
C2
/ˌʌnprəˈnaʊnsəbəl/
very difficult to pronounce correctly
morass
C2
/məˈɹæs/
Anything that entraps or makes progress difficult.
adverb
B1
/ˈæd.vɜɹb/
A word that describes or adds meaning to a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, such as 'quickly' or 'very'.
rostrum
C2
/ˈɹɑstɹəm/
a raised platform for a public speaker, conductor, or other prominent person
nihilism
C2
/ˈnaɪ.əˌlɪz.m̩/
the delusion that things, or everything, including the self, do not exist
patois
C2
/pæˈtwɑ/
a regional dialect of a language
recrimination
C2
/rɪˌkrɪm.əˈneɪ.ʃən/
an angry accusation made in response to another accusation, especially as part of an exchange of blame
haw-haw
C2+
/ˈhɔˌhɔ/
a loud, coarse, or affected laugh
notepaper
C2
/ˈnoʊtˌpeɪ.pɚ/
paper, often in small sheets with matching envelopes, intended for writing letters or notes
transcriber
C2
/trænˈskraɪ.bɚ/
a person who converts speech, handwriting, or recorded material into written or typed text
accusatory
C2
/əˈkjuzəˌtɔri/
expressing, containing, or suggesting an accusation
telephonic
C2
/ˌtɛləˈfɑːnɪk/
of or relating to telephony
inexpressible
C1
/ˌɪn.ɪkˈspres.ə.bəl/
so strong, unusual, or profound that it cannot adequately be put into words
entreaty
C2
/ɛnˈtɹiːti/
earnest or urgent request
addressee
B1
/ˌædɹɛˈsiː/
the person that a letter or message is sent to
interrogative
C2
/ˌɪn.təˈɹɑ.ɡə.tɪv/
Asking a question or expressing inquiry.
philology
C2
/fɪˈlɑːlədʒi/
the scholarly study of historical texts through their language, transmission, literary context, and interpretation
pooh-pooh
C2+
/ˌpuːˈpuː/
to dismiss an idea, concern, or suggestion as foolish or unimportant, often contemptuously
stevedore
C2
/ˈstivəˌdɔɹ/
A dockworker involved in loading and unloading cargo, or in supervising such work.
suffix
B1
/ˈsʌfɪks/
A group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.
recapitulate
C2
/ˌriːkəˈpɪtʃəˌleɪt/
summarize briefly
fluency
B2
/ˈfluːənsi/
The ability to speak or write a language smoothly and easily.
polyglot
C2
/ˈpɑlɪˌɡlɑt/
a person who can speak or use several languages
witticism
C1
/ˈwɪt̬.ə.sɪz.əm/
a clever and humorous remark, often with a sharp or ironic edge
gabble
C2
/ˈɡæbəl/
rapid and indistinct speech
stylistically
C1
/staɪˈlɪstɪkli/
In terms of style, especially in writing, art, or language.
prate
C2
/preɪt/
to talk at length in a foolish, trivial, or tiresome way
unacknowledged
C2
/ˌʌn.əkˈnɑː.lɪdʒd/
not admitted, recognized, or accepted as true or existing
viz
C2
/vɪz/
namely; that is to say, used to introduce a clarification or list
glower
C2+
/ˈɡloʊə(ɹ)/
An angry glare or stare.
attribution
C1
/ˌætrəˈbjuːʃən/
the act of regarding something as caused, created, or possessed by a particular person or thing
gibber
C2
/ˈdʒɪb.ɚ/
to speak rapidly and incoherently, especially from fear, excitement, or confusion
elide
C2
/ɪˈlaɪd/
to omit a sound, syllable, word, or other element
colloquially
C2
/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əli/
In informal, everyday language.
introducer
C1
/ˌɪntrəˈduːsɚ/
a person or thing that brings someone, something, or an idea into use, notice, or acquaintance
indent
B2
/ˈɪndɛnt/
To begin a line of text further from the margin than the other lines.
aphorism
C2
/ˈæfərɪzəm/
a concise, memorable statement expressing a general truth or principle
interlocutor
C2
/ˌɪn.təɹˈlɑk.jə.təɹ/
A person who takes part in dialogue or conversation: a locutive partner.
interjection
C1
/ˌɪn.tɚˈd͡ʒɛk.ʃən/
A word or short phrase used to express sudden emotion, such as "wow" or "ouch."
rhetorically
C2
/rəˈtɔrɪkli/
In a way that asks a question without expecting an answer.
stenography
C2
/stəˈnɑːɡrəfi/
the art, system, or practice of recording speech rapidly in shorthand or with a stenotype machine
philologist
C2
/fɪˈlɑːlədʒɪst/
a scholar who studies the historical development, structure, and relationships of languages, especially through written texts
felicitation
C2
/fəˌlɪsəˈteɪʃən/
formal and usually plural: an expression of congratulation, pleasure, or good wishes offered for someone's success or good fortune
telegraphy
C2
/təˈlɛɡɹəfi/
the practice or technology of transmitting coded messages over long distances by electrical, optical, or radio signals
mishear
C1
/ˌmɪsˈhɪr/
to hear words or sounds incorrectly
splutter
C2
/ˈsplʌtɚ/
to speak rapidly or confusedly with spitting sounds, especially from anger or excitement
pule
C2
/pjuːl/
to cry or whine weakly
telegraphic
C1
/ˌteləˈɡræfɪk/
relating to, sent by, or using the telegraph
garble
C2
/ˈɡɑː(ɹ)bəl/
To pick out such parts (of a text) as may serve a purpose not intended by the original author; to mutilate; to pervert.
invective
C2
/ɪnˈvɛktɪv/
Something spoken or written, intended to cast shame, disgrace, censure, or reproach on another.
screed
C2
/skɹid/
A piece of writing (such as an article, letter, or list) or a speech, especially if long.
sidereal
C2
/saɪˈdɪɚ.i.əl/
(of divisions of time) determined by daily motion of the stars
braggadocio
C2
/ˌbræɡəˈdoʊtʃioʊ/
arrogant or exaggerated boasting intended to impress others
elucidation
C2
/ɪˌlusɪˈdeɪʃən/
the act or process of making something clear by explaining it
palter
C2
/ˈpɔl.tɚ/
To talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.
badinage
C2
/ˌbɑdɪˈnɑʒ/
playful, lighthearted teasing or witty conversation
referent
B2
/ˈɹɛf(ə)ɹənt/
The thing in the world that a word or phrase refers to.
chatterer
B1
/ˈtʃætərər/
a person who talks rapidly, continuously, or about unimportant things
inkpot
C2
/ˈɪŋkˌpɑt/
a small pot or container for holding writing ink, especially for use with a dip pen or quill
logorrhea
C2
/ˌlɔ.ɡəˈɹi.ə/
Excessive and often uncontrollable speaking due to a mental disorder.
disputation
C2
/ˌdɪspjəˈteɪʃən/
formal argument or sustained verbal controversy about a question
polemical
C2
/pəˈlɛmɪkəl/
expressing strong criticism or argument about a controversial subject