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
4363 words
donkey
B2
/ˈdɑŋ.ki/
A grey animal with long ears, similar to a small horse, used for carrying loads.
chuckle
B1
/ˈt͡ʃʌkəl/
To laugh quietly or softly.
hack
C1
/hæk/
A writer who produces dull, low-quality work, often just for money.
rarely
B1
/ˈɹɛəɹli/
Not often; almost never.
worm
B2
/wɝm/
A long, thin, soft creature with no legs that lives in soil.
tremendous
B1
/tɹɪˈmɛndəs/
Very large in amount, size, or degree.
ultimately
B2
/ˈʌl.tɪ.mɪt.li/
In the end; finally.
bent
B1
/ˈbɛnt/
No longer straight; curved or twisted out of shape.
jeans
A1
/d͡ʒiːnz/
Trousers made from strong denim cotton, usually blue.
convention
B2
/kənˈvɛnʃən/
A way of behaving or doing things that most people in a group accept as normal.
runway
B1
/ˈɹʌnweɪ/
A long, flat strip of ground where planes take off and land.
shrimp
B1
/ʃɹɪmp/
A small sea creature with a shell and a long tail, often eaten as food.
shocking
B1
/ˈʃɑkɪŋ/
Causing strong feelings of surprise, upset, or disgust.
corps
C1
/kɔɹ/
A large military unit made up of several divisions.
flu
B1
/flʉː/
A common illness like a bad cold, with fever, aches, and tiredness, caused by a virus.
good-looking
A2
/ˈɡʊdˈlʊk.ɪŋ/
Physically attractive.
peanut
B1
/ˈpiˌnʌt/
A small oval nut that grows in a pod underground, often eaten roasted or made into butter.
leap
B1
/ˈliːp/
To jump high or a long way.
creek
B2
/kɹik/
A small natural stream of water, smaller than a river.
unlikely
B1
/ʌnˈlaɪkli/
Not likely to happen or be true.
violet
C1
/ˈvaɪəlɪt/
Of a bluish-purple colour.
gasp
B2
/ɡasp/
To take a sudden, short breath in, usually from shock or surprise.
auto
C1
/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/
A car (short for automobile).
messy
B1
/ˈmɛsi/
Untidy or dirty; not in order.
quest
C1
/kwɛst/
A long or determined search or effort to achieve something.
spectacular
B1
/spɛkˈtæk.jə.lɚ/
Very impressive, exciting, or beautiful to see.
reliable
B1
/ɹɪˈlaɪəbl̩/
Able to be trusted to work well or behave as expected.
indicate
A2
/ˈɪndɪˌkeɪt/
To be a sign of something; to show that something is true or exists.
stamp
A2
/stæmp/
A small piece of paper you stick on a letter or parcel to show the postage has been paid.
crucial
B2
/ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/
Extremely important because it affects how something will turn out.
nickname
B1
/ˈnɪkneɪm/
An informal name for a person, often a short or funny version of their real name.
equally
B1
/ˈiːkwəli/
To the same degree or extent.
fragile
C1
/ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/
Easily broken or damaged; not strong.
sadly
A2
/ˈsædli/
Used to say that something is unfortunate or disappointing.
importantly
A2
/ɪmˈpɔɹ.tənt.li/
Used to point out that what follows matters a lot.
crab
B2
/ˈkræb/
A sea creature with a hard shell, ten legs, and large front claws.
cottage
B1
/ˈkɑt.ɪd͡ʒ/
A small, often old house, usually in the countryside.
telegram
B1
/ˈtɛləˌɡɹæm/
A short message sent quickly over long distances by telegraph, common before phones.
graduation
B1
/ˌɡɹæd͡ʒuˈeɪʃən/
The act of completing your studies and receiving a degree.
T-shirt
A1
/ˈtiːʃɚt/
A light, short-sleeved shirt with no collar or buttons, often made of cotton.
oak
A2
/oʊk/
A large tree with strong wood and seeds called acorns.
olive
B2
/ˈɑ.lɪv/
A small, oval fruit with a stone inside, eaten as food or pressed for its oil; green when unripe, black when ripe.
mainly
A2
/ˈmeɪnli/
For the most part; chiefly.
brand-new
B1
/ˈbrændˌnuː/
Completely new and never used before.
loop
C1
/luːp/
A shape made when a line curves round and crosses itself.
salmon
B1
/ˈsæmən/
A large fish with pink-orange flesh that swims up rivers to lay eggs; it is a popular food.
bizarre
B2
/bɪˈzɑː(ɹ)/
Very strange and unusual in a surprising way.
integrity
C1
/ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
beautifully
B1
/ˈbjuːtɪf(ə)li/
In a way that is lovely or pleasing.
restore
B1
/ɹɪˈstoɹ/
To bring something back to the way it was before.
intact
C1
/ɪnˈtækt/
Complete and not damaged or broken.
identical
B2
/ɪˈdɛntɪkl̩/
Exactly the same; impossible to tell apart.
crow
B1
/kɹoʊ/
A large black bird with a harsh, croaking call.
legitimate
B2
/lɪˈd͡ʒɪt.ɪ.mət/
Allowed by or in accordance with the law.
jade
B1
/d͡ʒeɪd/
A hard green or white stone often used for jewellery and carvings
difficulty
A2
/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/
The state of being hard to do or understand.
endure
B1
/ɪnˈd͡ʒʊə(ɹ)/
To suffer something painful or difficult patiently, without giving up.
possess
B1
/pəˈzɛs/
To own or have something.
cope
B2
/koʊp/
To deal successfully with something difficult.
delightful
B1
/dəˈlaɪt.fl̩/
Very pleasant and enjoyable.
unnecessary
A2
/ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/
Not needed
salvation
C1
/sælˈveɪ.ʃn̩/
The act of saving someone or something from harm or a difficult situation.
modest
B2
/ˈmɑdəst/
Not very large in size or amount.
make-up
A2
/mæɪkˈɐp/
Coloured substances put on the face to improve or change how you look.
whisper
B1
/ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/
To speak very quietly using your breath, so only someone close can hear.
essentially
B2
/ɪˈsɛnʃəli/
In the most basic and important way; really.
ski
A2
/skiː/
to move over snow on skis
canal
B1
/kəˈnɛl/
A long, narrow channel of water made by people for boats or for carrying water to fields.
shade
A2
/ʃeɪd/
An area that is darker and cooler because something blocks the sunlight.
ambitious
B1
/æmˈbɪʃ.əs/
Having a strong desire to be successful, powerful, or rich.
inevitable
B1
/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/
Certain to happen and impossible to avoid.
spark
B2
/spɑɹk/
A tiny burning or flashing piece of fire, often produced by something hot or electrical.
freely
B1
/ˈfɹili/
Without being controlled, limited, or stopped.
fierce
B2
/fɪɹs/
Very strong, violent, or intense.
stunning
B1
/ˈstʌnɪŋ/
Extremely beautiful or attractive.
outstanding
B1
/ˌʌʊtˈstæn.dɪŋ/
Extremely good; much better than others.
pumpkin
B2
/ˈpʌm(p).kɪn/
A large round orange fruit that grows on a vine and is used as food and for decoration.
strain
B1
/stɹeɪn/
Pressure or worry caused by a difficult situation.
heavenly
B1
/ˈhɛvənli/
Extremely pleasant, beautiful, or enjoyable.
adjust
A2
/əˈd͡ʒʌst/
to make a small change to something to make it better or more suitable
pigeon
C1
/ˈpə.dʒən/
A common grey bird with a plump body and short legs, often seen in towns and cities.
respectable
B1
/[ɹɪˈspɛk.tə.bl̩]/
Considered good and proper by society; deserving respect.
violin
A2
/ˌvaɪ.əˈlɪn/
A small wooden stringed instrument with four strings, held under the chin and played with a bow.
stir
B1
/stɝ/
To mix a liquid or soft food by moving a spoon or other object around in it.
inspection
B1
/ɪnˈspɛkʃən/
The act of looking at something closely to check its condition.
choke
B1
/t͡ʃoʊk/
To be unable to breathe because something is blocking your throat.
documentary
B1
/ˌdɑ.kjəˈmɛn.tə.ɹi/
A film or TV programme that gives facts about a real subject or event.
rapidly
B1
/ˈɹæpɪdli/
Very quickly.
lightly
B1
/ˈlaɪtli/
With little weight or force; gently.
swan
B2
/swɑn/
A large water bird with a long neck and usually white feathers.
notebook
B2
/ˈnoʊtˌbʊk/
A book with blank pages for writing notes.
sock
A2
/sɑk/
A soft piece of clothing that covers your foot and ankle, worn inside a shoe.
stain
B2
/steɪn/
A dirty mark that is hard to remove.
syndrome
B1
/ˈsɪndɹoʊm/
A group of symptoms or signs that together point to a particular illness or condition.
hairy
B2
/ˈhɛɹ.i/
Covered with a lot of hair.
childish
B2
/ˈt͡ʃaɪldɪʃ/
Behaving in a silly, immature way that you would not expect from an adult.