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
1623 words
nevertheless
B1
/ˌnɛvɚðəˈlɛs/
In spite of what has just been said; even so.
carnival
B2
/ˈkɑɹnɪvəl/
A public festival with music, parades, dancing, and people in costumes.
barrier
B2
/ˈbæɹi.ɚ/
Something that stops you from making progress or reaching a goal.
supposedly
B1
/səˈpoʊ̯.zɪd.li/
According to what people say or believe, though it may not be true.
thoughtful
B2
/ˈθɔtfəl/
Showing kindness and care for what other people need or feel.
foreman
B2
/ˈfɔː(ɹ).mən/
A person in charge of a group of workers, especially in a factory or on a building site.
exhibition
A2
/ɛksɪˈbɪʃən/
A public show of objects, art, or products.
psychology
B2
/saɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The scientific study of the mind and human behaviour.
keeper
B2
/ˈkiːpɚ/
A person who looks after or guards something or someone.
collector
B2
/kəˈlɛk.tɚ/
A person who gathers and keeps a set of similar things as a hobby.
partnership
B2
/ˈpɑɹtnɚʃɪp/
A working relationship in which people or groups share responsibility for a goal.
handwriting
B1
/ˈhændɹaɪtɪŋ/
The way a particular person writes by hand.
salon
B2
/səˈlɑn/
A place where people go to have their hair or beauty treatments done.
jewel
B1
/d͡ʒul/
A precious stone, especially one set in a ring or necklace.
sensation
B1
/sɛnˈseɪʃən/
A physical feeling that you get through your body, such as touch, heat, or pain.
confirmation
B1
/ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/
A statement or proof that something is true or has happened.
millionaire
B2
/ˌmɪl.jəˈnɛɹ/
A person who has at least a million dollars, pounds, or other currency.
associated
B2
/əˈsoʊʃieɪtɪd/
Connected with or related to a particular thing, person, or idea.
instructor
B1
/ɪnˈstɹʌktɚ/
A person who teaches a skill or subject, especially a practical one.
queer
B2
/kwɪɹ/
Relating to people whose sexuality or gender does not fit traditional norms; used as a positive self-description by many.
injection
B2
/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛk.ʃən/
The act of putting a drug or liquid into the body with a needle, or the dose given this way.
formation
B2
/fɔɹˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/
The act or process of forming or developing something.
bomber
B2
/ˈbɑmɚ/
A military aircraft built to carry and drop bombs.
savior
B2
/ˈseɪvjɚ/
a person who rescues someone from danger, harm, or serious difficulty
mentor
B2
/ˈmɛn.toɹ/
An experienced person who gives advice and guidance to someone less experienced.
parrot
B1
/ˈpæɹət/
A brightly coloured tropical bird with a hooked beak that can copy human speech.
acquaintance
B1
/ʌˈkweɪn.təns/
Someone you know slightly, but who is not a close friend.
assassination
C1
/əˌsæsəˈneɪʃən/
The murder of an important or famous person, usually for political reasons.
elderly
A2
/ˈɛldɚli/
Old; used as a polite way to describe an old person.
norm
B2
/nɔɹm/
What is usual, normal, or expected.
carrier
C1
/ˈkæɹ.i.ɚ/
A person or thing that carries or transports something.
senor
C1
/ˌsiːnˈjɔr/
a Spanish or Spanish-speaking man, especially when addressed or referred to with the title equivalent to Mr. or sir
caller
B1
/ˈkɔlɚ/
A person who makes a telephone call.
competitive
B1
/kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/
Involving people or companies trying to be more successful than one another.
trainer
A2
/ˈtɹeɪnɚ/
A person who trains people or animals; a coach.
ruler
A1
/ˈɹuː.lə/
A flat, straight strip of wood, plastic, or metal marked with units, used for measuring or drawing straight lines.
exile
B2
/ɪɡˈzaɪl/
The state of being forced to live away from your home or country.
disabled
B1
/dɪˈseɪbəld/
Having a physical or mental condition that limits movement, senses, or activities.
skeleton
B1
/ˈskɛlətən/
the frame of bones that supports the body of a person or animal
boxer
B2
/ˈbɑksɚ/
A person who fights with their fists as a sport.
maestro
B2
/ˈmaɪstɹoʊ/
A great composer, conductor, or musician.
gardener
B2
/ˈɡɑɹd.n̩.ɚ/
A person who grows plants and takes care of a garden, as a job or hobby.
nuisance
B2
/ˈnuː.səns/
Something that annoys you or causes trouble.
terrorism
B1
/ˈtɛɹəɹɪzəm/
The use of violence and fear against people to achieve political aims.
automatically
A2
/ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.k(ə.)li/
By itself, without a person controlling it.
specially
B1
/ˈspɛʃəli/
For one particular purpose, person, or occasion.
comedian
B1
/kəˈmiː.di.ən/
A performer whose job is to make people laugh, usually by telling jokes.
wit
B2
/wɪt/
The ability to say clever, funny things quickly.
psychologist
A2
/ˌsaɪˈkɑl.ə.d͡ʒɪst/
A person who studies the mind and human behaviour, or who helps people with mental and emotional problems.
flock
B1
/flɑk/
A group of birds or sheep that stay together.
dislike
A2
/dɪsˈlaɪk/
To not like someone or something.
recruit
B2
/ɹɪˈkɹut/
To find and take on new members, workers, or soldiers.
creator
B1
/kɹiːˈæ̝ɪ̯təː/
A person who makes, invents, or brings something into existence.
dynamic
B2
/dɑɪˈnæm.ɪk/
Full of energy and new ideas; lively and forceful.
distribution
B1
/ˌdɪstɹəˈbjuːʃən/
The way something is spread out or arranged over an area or group.
foreigner
C1
/ˈfɔɹ.ɪ.nɚ/
A person from another country.
juvenile
C1
/ˈd͡ʒuːvənaɪl/
Relating to young people or children.
fisherman
A2
/ˈfɪʃ.ɚ.mən/
A person who catches fish, either for a living or for sport.
translator
B2
/ˈtɹænzleɪtɚ/
A person whose job is to change written text from one language into another.
brotherhood
B1
/ˈbɹʌð.ɚˌhʊd/
A feeling of friendship and loyalty between people, as if they were brothers
publicly
B1
/ˈpʌblɪkli/
In a way that is open and seen by everyone.
unpredictable
B1
/ˌənprɪˈdɪktəbəl/
Impossible to know in advance; changing in ways you cannot expect
category
B1
/ˈkæ.tɪˌɡɔ.ɹi/
A group of people or things that share the same features or qualities.
belongings
B2
/bɪˈlɔŋɪŋz/
The things that a person owns, especially items they can carry.
liberal
B2
/ˈlɪˌbɝːəl/
Willing to respect and accept ideas, behaviour, or opinions different from your own.
motto
B1
/ˈmɑ.toʊ/
A short phrase that expresses a person's or group's guiding belief or rule.
reader
A1
/ˈɹidɚ/
A person who reads, or who reads a particular publication.
publisher
B1
/ˈpʌblɪʃɚ/
A company that prepares and sells books, magazines, or newspapers.
burglar
B1
/ˈbɝɡlɚ/
A person who breaks into a building in order to steal.
karaoke
B2
/ˌkæ.ɹiˈoʊ.ki/
A form of entertainment in which people sing popular songs along with recorded music while reading the words on a screen.
isolation
B1
/ˌɑesəˈlæɪʃən/
The state of being alone or separated from other people
gem
C1
/d͡ʒɛm/
A precious or semiprecious stone that has been cut and polished, especially for jewellery.
well-known
A2
/ˌwɛlˈnoʊn/
Known by many people; famous.
moreover
B1
/moɹˈoʊ.vɚ/
In addition to what has already been said; besides.
privately
B2
/ˈpɹaɪvɪtli/
In a way that is secret or only between the people directly involved.
gender
A2
/ˈd͡ʒɛndɚ/
The state of being male, female, or another identity, especially regarding social and cultural roles.
aggression
C1
/əˈɡɹɛʃən/
Angry or violent behaviour or feelings towards another person.
sidewalk
B1
/ˈsaɪdwɔk/
A paved path beside a road for people to walk on.
dense
B2
/ˈdɛns/
Containing a lot of things or people packed closely together.
membership
B1
/ˈmɛmbɝˌʃɪp/
The state of belonging to a group or organization.
hypocrite
C1
/ˈhɪ.pə.kɹɪt/
A person who pretends to have beliefs or standards that their own actions do not match.
advocate
C1
/ˈæd.və.kət/
To publicly support or recommend a particular idea or course of action.
apprentice
C1
/əˈpɹɛntɪs/
A young person learning a skilled trade by working with an expert.
sympathetic
B2
/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/
Showing that you understand and care about someone's feelings or problems.
demo
C1
/ˈdɛm.oʊ/
A practical display showing how something works or what it can do.
queue
B1
/kju/
A line of people or vehicles waiting their turn for something.
founder
B2
/ˈfæʊ̯n.də/
A person who starts or establishes a company, organization, or institution.
tame
B2
/teɪm/
(Of an animal) used to people and not wild or dangerous.
tenant
C1
/ˈtɛ.nənt/
A person who pays rent to use land or a building owned by someone else.
outsider
B2
/ˌaʊtˈsaɪdəɹ/
Someone who does not belong to a particular group, community, or organization.
scrooge
B2
/skɹuːd͡ʒ/
A person who hates spending money; a miser.
quarry
C1
/ˈk(w)ɔɹ.i/
A large open pit where stone, slate, or sand is dug out of the ground.
socialist
C1
/ˈsoʊ.ʃə.lɪst/
A person who supports socialism, a system in which the community or government controls how wealth and resources are shared.
scold
B1
/ˈskoʊ̯ld/
To tell someone angrily that they have done something wrong.
epidemic
C1
/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/
The fast spread of an infectious disease through a population.
privileged
C1
/ˈpɹɪv(ɪ)lɪd͡ʒd/
Having special advantages, rights, or opportunities that most people do not have.