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
746 words
colloquy
C2+
/ˈkɑləkwi/
a formal conversation or dialogue
curt
C2+
/kɝt/
rudely brief in speech or manner
delineate
C2+
/dɪˈlɪniˌeɪt/
to describe or portray precisely; to mark out boundaries
denotative
C2+
/ˈdinoʊˌteɪtɪv/
relating to the literal meaning of a word rather than its associations
derivation
C2+
/ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/
the origin or source of something, especially a word's formation
diction
C2+
/ˈdɪkʃən/
the choice and use of words, or clarity of speech
encomium
C2+
/ɛnˈkoʊmiəm/
a speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something
felicitate
C2+
/fəˈlɪsɪteɪt/
to congratulate or express good wishes to someone
gloze
C2+
/ɡloʊz/
to explain away or minimize; to use flattering talk
halting
C2+
/ˈhɔltɪŋ/
hesitant or faltering, especially in speech or movement
idiomatical
C2+
/ˌɪdiəˈmætɪkəl/
conforming to the natural idiom of a language; idiomatic
indiscreet
C2+
/ˌɪndɪˈskrit/
lacking discretion; unwisely free in speech or action
interpretive
C2+
/ɪnˈtɜrprɪtɪv/
serving to explain or render the meaning of something
l
C2+
/ɛl/
the twelfth letter of the English alphabet
lection
C2+
/ˈlɛkʃən/
a passage read aloud in worship; a textual variant reading
moonshine
C2+
/ˈmunʃaɪn/
illicitly distilled liquor; foolish or unrealistic talk
orotund
C2+
/ˈɔrətʌnd/
(of the voice) full and resonant; (of speech) pompous or bombastic
salutation
C2+
/ˌsæljəˈteɪʃən/
a greeting in words or gesture, especially at the start of a letter
semivowel
C2+
/ˈsɛmiˌvaʊəl/
a speech sound such as w or y that functions like both vowel and consonant
simile
C2+
/ˈsɪməli/
a figure of speech comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
somedeal
C2+
/ˈsʌmˌdil/
archaic word meaning to some extent; somewhat
sufferance
C2+
/ˈsʌfərəns/
tolerance or tacit permission rather than express consent
unriddle
C2+
/ʌnˈrɪdəl/
to solve or explain a riddle, puzzle, or mystery
verbalize
C2+
/ˈvɝbəlaɪz/
to express something in words
verbiage
C2+
/ˈvɝbiɪdʒ/
excessive or unnecessarily wordy language
accost
C2+
/əˈkɔst/
to approach and speak to someone boldly or aggressively
acerb
C2+
/əˈsɜrb/
sharp and bitter in taste, manner, or speech
admarginate
C2+
/ædˈmɑrdʒɪˌneɪt/
to write notes in the margin of a text
annotate
C2+
/ˈænəˌteɪt/
to add explanatory notes or comments to a text
arraignment
C2+
/əˈreɪnmənt/
the formal court proceeding in which an accused is read the charges and pleads
articulatory
C2+
/ɑrˈtɪkjələˌtɔri/
relating to the physical production of speech sounds
axiomatize
C2+
/ˈæksiəməˌtaɪz/
to express or organize a theory as a system of axioms
banter
C2+
/ˈbæntɚ/
playful, teasing conversation
bewrite
C2+
/bɪˈraɪt/
to write about or describe; to reveal in writing (archaic)
bluntly
C2+
/ˈblʌntli/
in a direct, frank manner without softening the message
bouk
C2+
/buk/
Scots and dialectal word for the body, bulk, or trunk
bower
C2+
/ˈbaʊər/
a leafy shelter or arbor; a poetic word for a lady's private chamber
brickbat
C2+
/ˈbrɪkbæt/
a piece of brick used as a missile; a blunt verbal insult or criticism
brusque
C2+
/brʌsk/
abrupt or curt in manner or speech
cablegram
C2+
/ˈkeɪbəlˌɡræm/
a message sent by submarine telegraph cable
capitalize
C2+
/ˈkæpɪtəˌlaɪz/
to take advantage of; to write in capital letters; to provide capital
catchword
C2+
/ˈkætʃˌwɜrd/
a memorable word or phrase repeated as a slogan
channelize
C2+
/ˈtʃænəˌlaɪz/
to direct or convey through a channel or defined course
chatty
C2+
/ˈtʃæti/
inclined to talk freely and informally
collogue
C2+
/kəˈloʊɡ/
to confer secretly or conspire; to talk confidentially
concordance
C2+
/kənˈkɔrdəns/
agreement; also an alphabetical index of a text's words
conversational
C2+
/ˌkɑnvɚˈseɪʃənəl/
relating to or resembling informal spoken conversation
culver
C2+
/ˈkʌlvər/
an archaic or dialectal word for a wood pigeon or dove
declaim
C2+
/dɪˈkleɪm/
to speak or recite formally and rhetorically
demonstrative
C2+
/dɪˈmɑnstrətɪv/
openly expressive of feelings; or a word pointing to a referent
disputably
C2+
/dɪsˈpjutəbli/
in a manner open to question or argument
drivel
C2+
/ˈdrɪvəl/
silly nonsense; foolish talk
e
C2+
/i/
the fifth letter of the English alphabet
eh
C2+
/eɪ/
used to express inquiry, surprise, or to invite agreement
elocution
C2+
/ˌɛləˈkjuʃən/
the skill of clear and expressive speech
enunciate
C2+
/ɪˈnʌnsiˌeɪt/
to pronounce or articulate words clearly, or to state a proposition formally
excursus
C2+
/ɛkˈskɜrsəs/
a detailed digression appended to or inserted within a text
exhortation
C2+
/ˌɛɡzɔrˈteɪʃən/
an address or communication strongly urging someone to act
explanatorily
C2+
/ɪkˈsplænəˌtɔrɪli/
in a way that serves to explain or clarify
explication
C2+
/ˌɛksplɪˈkeɪʃən/
a detailed analysis or explanation of a text or idea
f
C2+
/ɛf/
the sixth letter of the English alphabet
filibuster
C2+
/ˈfɪləˌbʌstɚ/
a prolonged speech used to obstruct a legislative vote
forspeak
C2+
/fɔrˈspiːk/
to bewitch by speech; to speak against or forbid
gab
C2+
/ɡæb/
to talk idly or at length; idle chatter
gloss
C2+
/ˈɡlɔs/
a brief explanation of a word, or a shine on a surface
grandiloquent
C2+
/ɡrænˈdɪləkwənt/
using pompous or extravagantly lofty language
guaranty
C2+
/ˈɡɛrənti/
a formal pledge to answer for another's debt or obligation
ha
C2+
/ˈhɑ/
used to express surprise, triumph, or laughter
handwrite
C2+
/ˈhændˌraɪt/
to write by hand rather than by machine
haw
C2+
/hɔː/
the fruit of the hawthorn; to hesitate in speech with a drawling sound
hesitance
C2+
/ˈhɛzɪtəns/
the state of being slow to act or speak through doubt
ho
C2+
/hoʊ/
an exclamation used to attract attention or express surprise
huh
C2+
/hʌ/
used to express surprise, confusion, or to invite agreement
illegible
C2+
/ɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/
not clear enough to be read
illiteral
C2+
/ɪˈlɪtərəl/
not literal; figurative or contrary to the letter
illiterate
C2+
/ɪˈlɪtərət/
unable to read or write; uneducated
inelastic
C2+
/ˌɪnɪˈlæstɪk/
not flexible, or not changing much in response to change
interlocution
C2+
/ˌɪntɚloʊˈkjuʃən/
dialogue or conversation; an interchange of speech
interpretative
C2+
/ɪnˈtɝprɪˌteɪtɪv/
serving to explain or expound meaning; interpretive
inveigle
C2+
/ɪnˈveɪɡəl/
to persuade by flattery or deceit; to entice
jabber
C2+
/ˈdʒæbər/
to talk rapidly and unintelligibly
jabberwocky
C2+
/ˈdʒæbərˌwɑki/
meaningless or nonsensical language
k
C2+
/keɪ/
the eleventh letter of the English alphabet
lingua
C2+
/ˈlɪŋɡwə/
a tongue or tongue-like part; a language (as in lingua franca)
loquacious
C2+
/loʊˈkweɪʃəs/
tending to talk a great deal; talkative
malign
C2+
/məˈlaɪn/
to speak harmful untruths about; or evil and harmful in nature
mantra
C2+
/ˈmæntrə/
a repeated word or phrase used in meditation or as a guiding principle
mispronounce
C2+
/ˌmɪsprəˈnaʊns/
to pronounce a word incorrectly
missive
C2+
/ˈmɪsɪv/
a written message or letter, especially a formal one
modifier
C2+
/ˈmɑdəˌfaɪər/
a word or element that qualifies or limits the meaning of another
nonvocal
C2+
/nɑnˈvoʊkəl/
not involving the voice; instrumental or silent
orate
C2+
/ˈɔreɪt/
to speak formally and at length, often pompously
oxymoron
C2+
/ˌɑksiˈmɔrɑn/
a figure of speech combining contradictory terms
p
C2+
/ˈpi/
the sixteenth letter of the English alphabet
pard
C2+
/ˈpɑrd/
an archaic word for a leopard or panther
prescriptionist
C2+
/prɪˈskrɪpʃənɪst/
one who advocates strict rules of correct usage, especially in language