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
humbug
B2
/ˈhəmˌbəɡ/
Dishonest talk or behaviour meant to trick people; nonsense.
recluse
C2
/ɹɪˈkluːs/
A person who chooses to live alone and avoid other people.
quotation
B1
/kwoʊˈteɪʃn̩/
A group of words taken from a book, speech, or person and repeated by someone else.
screenwriter
C1
/ˈskriːnˌraɪtɝ/
A person who writes the scripts for films or television programmes.
individuality
C1
/ˌɪndɪvɪd͡ʒuˈælɪti/
the qualities that make a person or thing different from everyone or everything else
gook
B2
/ɡuːk/
An offensive slur for an Asian person.
cannibalism
C2
/ˈkænəbəlɪzəm/
the practice of a human eating human flesh
impersonate
C1
/ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt/
To pretend to be another person, especially to deceive others.
enthusiast
B1
/ənˈθuziˌɪst/
A person who is very interested in and excited about a particular activity or subject.
sentient
C1
/ˈsɛn.ʃi.ənt/
Able to feel, sense, or experience things.
iceman
B2
/ˈaɪsmæn/
A person who delivers or sells blocks of ice, especially before fridges were common.
embodiment
C2
/ɛmˈbɑːdiːmənt/
A person or thing that is a perfect example of an idea or quality.
bathhouse
B2
/ˈbæθˌhaʊs/
A building with baths that the public can use to wash or relax.
arbor
C1
/ˈɑɹbɚ/
a framework that supports climbing plants
sponsorship
C1
/ˈspɑːnsɝˌʃɪp/
Financial or other support given by a sponsor to a person, event, or organization.
esquire
C2
/ˈɛskwaɪɚ/
in the United States, a lawyer, especially when Esquire or Esq. is placed after the person's name
villager
B2
/ˈvɪlɪd͡ʒɚ/
A person who lives in a village.
gentleness
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩nəs/
acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered
cyclist
B2
/ˈsaɪkəlɪst/
A person who rides a bicycle.
adept
C2
/əˈdɛpt/
Highly skilled and capable at something.
culturally
B2
/ˈkʌltʃɝəˌliː/
In a way that relates to the culture of a society or group.
motionless
B1
/ˈmoʊʃənlɛs/
Not moving at all; completely still.
womanhood
C1
/ˈwʊmənˌhʊd/
the state or period of being an adult woman
deterrent
C2
/dɪˈtɝənt/
Something that discourages people from doing something.
vandal
C2
/ˈvændəl/
A person who deliberately destroys or damages property, especially other people's.
blogger
B1
/ˈblɔ.ɡəɹ/
A person who writes and regularly updates a blog.
clique
C1
/kliːk/
a small, exclusive group whose members associate closely and may use their influence to exclude outsiders
practitioner
C2
/pɹækˈtɪʃənəɹ/
A person who works in a profession or skilled field, especially medicine or law.
landowner
B2
/ˈlændˌoʊ.nɚ/
a person or organization that owns land
stimuli
C1
/ˈstɪm.jʊˌlaɪ̯/
Things that cause a reaction or response in people, animals, or things (plural of stimulus)
shopper
B1
/ˈʃɔp.ə/
A person who is buying things or looking at things to buy in shops.
regulator
C1
/ˈɹɛɡ.ju.leɪ.tɚ/
An official person or body that sets and enforces the rules of an industry or activity.
cinematographer
C2
/ˌsɪnɪməˈtɑːgrəfɝ/
The person in charge of the camera work and lighting when making a film.
pessimist
B2
/ˈpɛsɪmɪst/
A person who always expects bad things to happen.
ingrate
C2
/ˈɪnɡɹeɪt/
A person who shows no gratitude for what they have been given.
impersonation
C1
/ˌɪmpɝsəˈneɪʃən/
The act of pretending to be another person.
magnate
C2
/ˈmæɡneɪt/
A very rich and powerful person in business or industry.
norms
C1
/ˈnɔrmz/
Accepted standards or ways of behaving that are usual in a society or group.
overseer
C1
/ˈəʊvəˌsiːə(ɹ)/
A person who watches over and directs the work of others.
educator
B2
/ˈɛd͡ʒəkeɪtɚ/
A person whose job is to teach or educate others.
gravestone
B2
/ˈɡɹeɪvstoʊn/
A stone placed on a grave that shows the name of the dead person.
debutante
C2
/ˈdɛb.jə.tɑːnt/
a young woman formally introduced into fashionable society, traditionally at a ball or reception
tactful
C1
/ˈtæktfəl/
Careful not to say or do anything that might upset or offend other people.
nightlife
B1
/ˈnaɪtˌlaɪf/
The entertainment and social activities available at night, such as clubs, bars, and theaters.
namesake
B2
/ˈneɪmseɪk/
a person or thing that has the same name as another
impersonator
C1
/ˌɪmˈpɝːsəneɪtɝ/
An entertainer who copies the voice and manner of famous people.
malay
C1
/məˈleɪ/
a member of a Southeast Asian people native especially to the Malay Peninsula and parts of the Malay Archipelago
certification
B2
/ˌsɝ.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
An official qualification proving that a person is able to do something.
depressive
C2
/dɪˈprɛsɪv/
Relating to or showing depression; gloomy and low in spirit.
gatekeeper
B2
/ˈɡeɪt.kiː.pɚ/
a person who guards or controls passage through a gate or entrance
allotment
C2
/əˈlɔt.mɛnt/
An amount of something given to a person or set aside for a purpose.
philistine
C2
/ˈfɪlɪˌstaɪn/
A person who has no interest in or appreciation of art and culture.
telltale
C1
/ˈtɛlteɪl/
Clearly revealing something, often something meant to be hidden.
elitist
C1
/eɪˈliːtɪst/
Believing that a small group of privileged people should have the most power or be treated as the best.
Athenian
C2
/əˈθiːniən/
a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Athens, especially of ancient Athens
countryman
B2
/ˈkʌntɹimən/
A person from your own country.
nipper
C2
/ˈnɪp.ɚ/
informal, chiefly British: a young child
Māori
B2
/ˈmaʊri/
a member of the Indigenous Polynesian people of Aotearoa New Zealand
subscriber
C1
/səbˈskɹaɪbɚ/
A person who pays to regularly receive a publication or service.
mistreat
B2
/mɪsˈtɹiːt/
To treat a person or animal badly or cruelly.
hapless
C2
/ˈhæplɪs/
Unlucky in a way that brings misfortune; ill-fated.
Toda
C2
/ˈtoʊdə/
a member of an Indigenous Dravidian people of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, southern India
marchioness
C2
/ˈmɑɹʃənɪs/
the wife or widow of a marquess
rediscover
C1
/riːdɪˈskʌvɝ/
To find or experience again something you had lost or forgotten.
applicable
C1
/əˈplɪk.ə.bəl/
Relevant to a particular person, thing, or situation; able to be used in a given case.
impressionist
B2
/ˌɪmˈprɛʃənəst/
A painter who works in the Impressionist style.
virtuoso
C2
/ˌvɝ.t͡ʃuˈoʊ.soʊ/
A person who is extremely skilled, especially a brilliant musician.
authoritative
B2
/ɔːˈθɒɹɪtɪv/
Trusted as accurate and reliable because it comes from real knowledge.
fraternal
C2
/fɹəˈtɝnəl/
(of twins) derived from two separate fertilized ova
arcane
C2
/ɑɹˈkeɪn/
Mysterious and understood by only a few people.
gauche
C2
/ɡoʊʃ/
Awkward and lacking social grace; likely to say or do the wrong thing.
colonization
B2
/ˌkɑːlənɪˈzeɪʃən/
the act of colonizing
swinger
B2
/ˈswɪŋ.ɚ/
a person who takes part in consensual partner-swapping or group sexual activity
seamless
C2
/ˈsiːmləs/
perfectly consistent and coherent
dispersal
C2
/dɪˈspɝːsəl/
The act of spreading or scattering things or people over a wide area.
reclusive
C2
/rɪˈkluːsɪv/
Choosing to live alone and avoid contact with other people.
curate
C2
/ˈkjʊɹɪt/
To carefully select and organize items, such as art, content, or products.
breadwinner
C2
/ˈbɹɛdˌwɪnɚ/
The person whose earnings are the main source of income for a household.
shoplifter
B2
/ˈʃɑːˌplɪftɝ/
A person who steals goods from a shop.
motorist
B2
/ˈmoʊtɝɪst/
A person who drives a car.
patriarchal
C2
/ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑɹkl̩/
relating to a social system in which men hold primary power and authority
theorist
B2
/ˈθiːəɹəst/
A person who develops or studies theories, especially in science or the arts.
handmaiden
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪdən/
historical: a female personal attendant or servant
altruism
C1
/ˈæl.tɹu.ɪz.əm/
Unselfish concern for the welfare and happiness of other people.
schoolmate
B1
/ˈskulˌmeɪt/
A person who goes or went to the same school as you.
walkabout
B2
A public walk by a famous person to meet ordinary people informally.
Shakespearean
B2
/ʃeɪkˈspɪɹi.ən/
Relating to William Shakespeare or his plays and poems.
retailer
B2
/ˈɹiteɪlɚ/
A person or business that sells goods directly to customers.
bilingual
B1
/baɪˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/
Able to speak two languages well.
densely
B2
/ˈdɛnsli/
In a way where things or people are packed closely together.
impresario
C2
/ˌɪmpɹɪˈsɑːɹɪəʊ/
A person who organizes and finances concerts, plays, or other entertainment.
orator
B2
/ˈɑɹ.ə.tɚ/
A skilled and persuasive public speaker.
collaborative
C1
/kəˈlæb.ə.ɹə.tɪv/
Involving two or more people working together.
cellist
B2
/ˈt͡ʃɛlɪst/
A person who plays the cello.
yokel
C2
/ˈjoʊ.kəl/
a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
salesperson
B2
/ˈseɪlzˌpɝːsən/
A person whose job is to sell things, often in a shop.