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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
518 words
dunghill
C2
/ˈdʌŋˌhɪl/
a heap of animal dung or refuse, especially one kept for use as manure
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macaque
C2
/məˈkæk/
an Old World monkey of the genus Macaca, native mainly to Asia with one wild species in northwestern Africa
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gannet
C2
/ˈɡænət/
a large mostly white seabird of the genus Morus that catches fish by plunging steeply into the sea
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horseflesh
C2
/ˈhɔrsˌflɛʃ/
the flesh of a horse, especially when used as food
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capybara
C2
/ˌkæpiˈbɛɹə/
pig-sized tailless South American amphibious rodent with partly webbed feet
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cassowary
C2
/ˈkæs.ə.wer.i/
a large, powerful flightless bird of the genus Casuarius, native chiefly to New Guinea and northern Australia, with a horny casque on its head
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fantail
C2
/ˈfænˌteɪl/
Any of several birds, of the genus Rhipidura, from Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
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bustard
C2
/ˈbʌs.tɚd/
a large, mainly ground-dwelling bird of open country in the Old World, with long legs and powerful flight
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brindle
C2
/ˈbrɪndəl/
an animal coat pattern of irregular dark streaks or patches on a lighter brown, tawny, or gray background
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catgut
C2
/ˈkætˌɡʌt/
a tough cord made from the cleaned and twisted intestines of animals, usually sheep, formerly used for musical strings, racket strings, and surgical sutures
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waterfowl
C2
/ˈwɔtɝˌfaʊl/
a duck, goose, swan, or other bird that lives or feeds chiefly on or near water; such birds collectively
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hybridization
C2
/ˌhaɪbrədəˈzeɪʃən/
the crossing of genetically different organisms, varieties, or species to produce hybrids
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carapace
C2
/ˈkærəˌpeɪs/
a hard protective shell covering all or part of the back of an animal such as a turtle, crab, or barnacle
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stile
C2
/ˈstaɪl/
A set of one or more steps surmounting a fence or wall, or a narrow gate or contrived passage through a fence or wall, which in either case allows people but not livestock to pass.
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bittern
C2
/ˈbɪtɚn/
a secretive, brown-streaked marsh bird of the heron family, noted for the male's deep booming call
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chirrup
C2
/ˈtʃɪrəp/
a short, repeated high-pitched sound such as the call of a small bird or insect
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ptomaine
C2
/ˈtoʊ.meɪn/
any of several amines, such as putrescine or cadaverine, produced when bacteria decompose animal or plant matter
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grebe
C2
/ɡriːb/
a freshwater diving bird with lobed toes, a pointed bill, and legs set far back on the body
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hoopoe
C2
/ˈhuːˌpuː/
a crested Old World bird of the genus Upupa, with a long downcurved bill and boldly barred black-and-white wings and tail
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eyrie
C2
/ˈɪri/
the nest of an eagle or other bird of prey, usually built in a high place
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devilfish
C2+
/ˈdɛvəlˌfɪʃ/
any of several large or striking marine animals, especially an octopus or manta ray
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madrina
C2+
/mɑːˈdriːnə/
in South American pack travel, a steady mare or other animal wearing a bell and leading a troop of mules
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fetlock
C2
/ˈfetlɑːk/
the joint of a horse's leg between the cannon bone and the pastern, above the hoof
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ichthyologist
C2
/ˌɪkθiˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a scientist or specialist who studies fish
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hornbill
C2
/ˈhɔːrnˌbɪl/
a tropical African or Asian bird with a very large curved bill, often topped by a hollow casque
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budgerigar
C1
/ˈbʌdʒəriˌɡɑr/
a small Australian parakeet, Melopsittacus undulatus, commonly kept as a cage bird and bred in many colors
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brach
C2
/ˈbrætʃ/
Originally, a synonym of scent hound (“a hunting dog that tracks prey using its sense of smell rather than by its vision”); later, any female hound; a bitch hound.
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howdah
C2
/ˈhaʊdə/
a seat or enclosed platform, often canopied and ornamented, carried on the back of an elephant or camel
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carthorse
C2
/ˈkɑrtˌhɔrs/
a large, strong horse used for pulling carts or other heavy loads
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hackle
C2
/ˈhækəl/
a long, narrow feather from a bird's neck or back, especially one used in an artificial fishing fly
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zebu
C2
/ˈzi.b(j)u/
a domesticated humped form of cattle, Bos taurus indicus, adapted to hot climates and widely kept in South Asia, Africa, and elsewhere
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grazier
C2
/ˈɡreɪziər/
a farmer or landholder who raises grazing livestock, especially cattle or sheep
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katydid
C2
/ˈkeɪtiˌdɪd/
a long-horned, usually green insect of the family Tettigoniidae, the males of many species producing loud calls by rubbing their wings
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stickleback
C2
/ˈstɪkəlˌbæk/
a small freshwater or coastal fish of the family Gasterosteidae, distinguished by separate sharp spines along its back
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imago
C2
/ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/
the final, sexually mature stage of an insect after metamorphosis
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cayuse
C2
/kaɪˈjuːs/
Western US, historical: a small, hardy range horse or pony
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whicker
C2
/ˈ(h)wɪk.ɚ/
a soft, breathy neigh or whinny made by a horse
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wader
C2
/ˈweɪ.dɚ/
a long-legged bird that searches for food in shallow water or wet ground
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sumpter
C2
/ˈsʌmptə/
historical: a horse, mule, or other pack animal used to carry loads
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nightjar
C2
/ˈnaɪtˌdʒɑːr/
a crepuscular or nocturnal insect-eating bird with cryptic mottled plumage, large eyes, and a broad mouth
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peewit
C2
/ˈpiːwɪt/
a northern lapwing, a crested wading bird of open fields and wetlands
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forefoot
C2
/ˈfɔːrˌfʊt/
either of the front feet of a four-legged animal
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burrower
C2
/ˈbɝː.oʊ.ɚ/
an animal that digs a hole or tunnel, especially one that lives in the shelter it makes
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nosebag
C2
/ˈnoʊzˌbæɡ/
a bag containing feed that is fastened over a horse's or similar working animal's muzzle
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byre
C2
/ˈbaɪɚ/
a farm building in which cattle are housed
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fennec
C2
/ˈfɛnɪk/
A small fox of the species Vulpes zerda, found in the Sahara (excluding the coast) and having distinctive oversized ears.
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gastropod
C2
/ˈɡæstrəˌpɑːd/
a mollusk of the class Gastropoda, including snails, slugs, limpets, and related animals, typically moving on a broad muscular foot
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peccary
C2
/ˈpekəri/
a social, piglike hoofed mammal native to the Americas, belonging to the family Tayassuidae
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ruminant
C2
/ˈɹuːmɪnənt/
A hoofed animal, such as a cow, sheep, or deer, that chews the cud and has a stomach with several compartments.
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casque
C2
/kæsk/
a hard helmet-like structure on the head or bill of certain birds and reptiles
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courser
C2
/ˈkɔrsɝ/
historical or literary: a swift, strong horse, especially one ridden in battle
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merganser
C2
/mɚˈɡænsɚ/
any of several fish-eating diving ducks with a narrow bill edged by toothlike serrations
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spoonbill
C2
/ˈspuːnˌbɪl/
a long-legged wading bird related to the ibises, with a broad, flat bill rounded at the tip
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dewlap
C2
/ˈduːˌlæp/
a loose fold of skin hanging beneath the neck of cattle, dogs, goats, and some other animals
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pickerel
C2
/ˈpɪkɝəl/
A freshwater fish of the genus Esox.
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toxodon
C2+
/ˈtɑksəˌdɑn/
a large extinct herbivorous South American mammal of the genus Toxodon, a member of the hoofed-mammal order Notoungulata
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crupper
C2
/ˈkrʌpər/
a strap or loop passing under a horse's tail to prevent a saddle or harness from sliding forward
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plesiosaurus
C2
/ˌpliː.si.oʊˈsɔːr.əs/
a marine reptile of the extinct genus Plesiosaurus, with a small head, long neck, broad body, and four paddle-shaped limbs
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currycomb
C2
/ˈkɝiˌkoʊm/
a comb with rows of short teeth or ridges, used especially for grooming a horse
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chough
C2
/tʃʌf/
either of two glossy black Eurasian birds of the genus Pyrrhocorax, noted for red or yellow bills and legs
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turnspit
C2
/ˈtɝnˌspɪt/
a small type of dog formerly trained to turn a roasting spit by running in a wheel
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cowbird
C2
/ˈkaʊˌbɝd/
a New World blackbird of the genus Molothrus that commonly lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species
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declivity
C2+
/dɪˈklɪvɪti/
An inward curve of the exoskeleton of an insect, such as between body segments; a segment of an insect's body where the exoskeleton curves inward.
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ichthyosaurus
C2
/ˌɪkθiəˈsɔːrəs/
an extinct dolphin-shaped marine reptile of the genus Ichthyosaurus, known chiefly from Early Jurassic rocks of Europe
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gorget
C2
/ˈɡɔrdʒɪt/
a distinctively colored patch of feathers or fur on an animal's throat or upper chest
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clasper
C2
/ˈklæspɚ/
a specialized appendage used to hold a mate during reproduction, especially in male fish, insects, or crustaceans
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pasturage
C2
/ˈpæs.tʃɚ.ɪdʒ/
land used or suitable for grazing livestock
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caleche
C2
/kəˈlɛʃ/
a light, low-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, typically fitted with a folding top
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forepaw
C1
/ˈfɔrpɔː/
either of the two front paws of a four-legged animal
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blenny
C2
/ˈblɛni/
a small, usually elongated marine fish of the blenny groups, especially a bottom-dwelling combtooth blenny of the family Blenniidae
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godwit
C2
/ˈɡɑːdwɪt/
a large migratory wading bird of the genus Limosa, with a very long bill and long legs
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redstart
C2
/ˈrɛdstɑːrt/
any of several small Old World insect-eating birds, especially members of the genus Phoenicurus, with conspicuous reddish tails
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babirusa
C2+
/ˌbɑːbiˈruːsə/
a wild pig of the Indonesian genus Babyrousa, whose adult males have long upper canine teeth that curve upward through the snout
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pigweed
C2
/ˈpɪɡˌwiːd/
any of various common weedy plants, especially amaranths or goosefoots, some formerly used as pig fodder or leafy food
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dunnock
C2
/ˈdʌnək/
A small European and Asian passerine bird, Prunella modularis; the hedge sparrow or hedge warbler.
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spiracle
C2
/ˈspɪrəkəl/
zoology: an external respiratory opening in an insect or another air-breathing arthropod, connected to the tracheal system
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arachnologist
C2+
/əˌrækˈnɑːlədʒɪst/
a scientist who specializes in the study of spiders and other arachnids
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titman
C2
/ˈtɪtmən/
dialectal or historical: the smallest or weakest animal in a litter; a runt
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muskmelon
C2
/ˈmʌskˌmɛlən/
a sweet, aromatic melon of the species Cucumis melo, including cantaloupes and related varieties
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coralline
C2
/ˈkɔːr.ə.laɪn/
a branching bryozoan or hydroid that resembles coral, especially in older zoological writing
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echinus
C2
/ɪˈkaɪnəs/
a sea urchin, especially one described by the older zoological name Echinus
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prothorax
C2
/proʊˈθɔræks/
the front of the three segments of an insect's thorax, bearing the first pair of legs but no wings
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sheepcote
C2
/ˈʃiːpˌkoʊt/
chiefly British or historical: a pen or small shelter for sheep
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surcingle
C2
/ˈsɝːsɪŋɡəl/
a broad strap or girth passed around a horse or other pack animal to secure a saddle, blanket, or load
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caruncle
C2
/ˈkærəŋkəl/
a small fleshy outgrowth forming a normal part of an animal, such as a bird's wattle or a growth near the eye
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operculum
C2
/oʊˈpɝ.kjə.ləm/
a hard flap or plate that covers an opening in an animal, such as a fish's gills or a snail's shell
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posthouse
C2+
/ˈpoʊsthaʊs/
historical: an inn or relay station where post horses were exchanged and riders or travelers could lodge
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scutella
C2
/skuːˈtɛlə/
a small horny plate or scale on a bird's foot or toe
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coachmaker
C2
/ˈkoʊtʃˌmeɪkɚ/
historical: a craftsperson or business that builds horse-drawn coaches and carriages
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melanism
C2
/ˈmɛlənɪzəm/
an unusually high amount of dark melanin pigment in an animal or person, making the skin, fur, feathers, or eyes darker than usual
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goatsucker
C2
/ˈɡoʊtˌsʌkɚ/
a dated name for a nightjar, a crepuscular or nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae
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peltry
C2
/ˈpɛltri/
animal pelts or furs collectively, especially raw, undressed skins traded as a commodity
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seafowl
C2
/ˈsiːˌfaʊəl/
a bird that lives or feeds at sea or along the coast; a seabird
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goosander
C2
/ɡuːˈsændər/
the common merganser, Mergus merganser, a large fish-eating diving duck of northern rivers and lakes
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anopheline
C2
/əˈnɑfəˌlaɪn/
a mosquito of the genus Anopheles or a closely related genus, including species that transmit malaria
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stonechat
C2
/ˈstoʊntʃæt/
any of several small Old World insect-eating birds of the genus Saxicola, especially the European stonechat
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