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
passerby
B2
/ˌpæsɚˈbaɪ/
a person who happens to be walking or traveling past a place
bordello
C2
/bɔɹˈdɛl.oʊ/
a house or establishment where people pay for sexual services; a brothel
toady
C2
/ˈtoʊ.di/
a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
publicize
B2
/ˈpʌblɪˌsaɪz/
To make something widely known to the public.
bulimia
B2
/bjuˈlimi.ə/
An eating disorder in which a person eats large amounts of food and then forces themselves to vomit
milieu
C2
/mɪlˈju/
The social setting or surroundings in which someone lives or works.
self-worth
C1
The sense that you are a good and valuable person.
attuned
C2
/əˈtuːnd/
Aware of and able to respond well to something, such as people's feelings or a situation.
listless
C2
/ˈlɪstlɪs/
lacking zest or vivacity
archetype
C2
/ˈɑɹkɪtaɪp/
A perfect or typical example of a kind of person or thing.
cull
C2
/kʊl/
To select and gather the best items from a larger group.
settler
B1
/ˈsɛt.lɚ/
A person who moves to live in a new area or country, especially one that few people have lived in before.
mandel
C2+
/ˈmændəl/
a surname or given name, especially in Germanic and Jewish usage
idiom
B1
/ˈɪdiəm/
A fixed expression whose meaning can't be guessed from its individual words.
mountaineer
C1
/ˌmaʊn.tɪnˈɪɹ/
A person who climbs mountains for sport or pleasure.
apostrophe
B2
/əˈpɑs.tɹə.fi/
The punctuation mark ('), used to show missing letters or possession.
instigator
C2
/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/
someone who deliberately foments trouble
humanist
B2
/ˈhjuːmənɪst/
A person who believes in human values and reason rather than in religion.
innovator
B1
/ˈɪnəˌveɪtəɹ/
A person who creates or introduces new ideas, methods, or products.
populate
B2
/ˈpɑː.pjə.leɪt/
to live in a place or supply it with inhabitants
Berber
C2
/ˈbɝ.bɚ/
a member of one of the Indigenous peoples of North Africa; many people prefer the self-designation Amazigh, plural Imazighen
schlep
C2
/ʃlɛp/
a Yiddish term for an awkward and stupid person
worldview
B2
The overall way a person or group sees and understands life and the world.
protester
B2
/pɹəˈtɛstəɹ/
A person who publicly shows strong disagreement with something, often as part of a group.
anthropological
C2
/æn.θɹə.pəˈlɑd͡ʒikəl/
Relating to anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures.
figurative
B2
/ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/
Using words in a non-literal way, such as in metaphors and similes.
inhabitant
B1
/ɪnˈhæb.ɪ.tənt/
A person or animal that lives in a particular place.
zoologist
C2
/zoʊˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies animals.
personification
B2
/pɚˌsɑ.nə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
A way of writing that gives human qualities to an object, animal, or idea.
ceaseless
C1
/ˈsiːsləs/
Continuing without ever stopping.
reformer
B2
/rɪˈfɔːrmɚ/
a person who works to improve or change an institution, law, religion, or society
Tasmanian
C1
/tæzˈmeɪniən/
a native or inhabitant of Tasmania, an island state of Australia
freemasonry
C2
/ˈfriˌmeɪsənri/
the organization, beliefs, and ceremonies of the Freemasons
shipmate
C2
/ˈʃɪpˌmeɪt/
a fellow member of a ship's crew or a person traveling on the same ship
derision
C2
/dɝˈɪʒən/
Mocking laughter or scorn; the act of making fun of someone or something.
waif
C2
/weɪf/
especially historical: a homeless, abandoned, or neglected person, especially a child
possessor
C1
/pəˈzɛsɝ/
A person who owns or holds something.
passer
B2
/ˈpæs.ɚ/
a person who passes by a place, especially in the compound passer-by
deliverer
B2
/dɪˈlɪv.ɚ.ɚ/
a person who rescues or frees others from danger, captivity, or oppression
legislator
B2
/ˈlɛd͡ʒɪˌsleɪtɚ/
A person who makes or votes on laws, especially a member of a parliament or congress.
subculture
B2
/ˈsʌbˌkʌltʃɚ/
A group within a society whose customs, tastes, or beliefs differ from the main culture.
denunciation
C2
/dɪˌnənsiːˈeɪʃən/
A strong public statement criticizing someone or something.
enabler
C2
/ɛˈneɪbəlɝ/
A person or thing that makes something possible or helps it happen.
islander
B2
/ˈaɪləndɚ/
A person who lives on an island
disseminate
C2
/dɪˈsemɪˌnæɪt/
To spread information or ideas widely to many people.
archetypal
C2
/ˈɑɹkɪtaɪpəl/
Being a perfect or most typical example of a kind of person or thing.
quarrelsome
B2
/ˈkwɔɹəlsəm/
Tending to argue with people; easily annoyed and ready to fight.
womankind
C2
/ˈwʊm.ənˌkaɪnd/
old-fashioned: women considered collectively, especially in contrast with men
ignominious
C2
/ɪɡ.nəˈmɪ.ni.əs/
Causing or deserving public shame and dishonour.
vandalize
C2
/ˈvændəlaɪz/
To deliberately damage or destroy property, especially public or other people's property.
gentlewoman
C2
/ˈdʒɛntəlˌwʊmən/
a woman of high social standing or good family, or one regarded as cultured and well-mannered; old-fashioned
saunter
C2
/ˈsɔntɚ/
a careless leisurely gait
humanize
B2
/ˈhjuːməˌnaɪz/
To make someone or something seem more human, sympathetic, or easy to relate to.
salesmanship
B2
/ˈseɪlzmənˌʃɪp/
The skill of persuading people to buy products, services, or ideas.
procurer
C2
/prəˈkjʊr.ɚ/
a person who obtains or supplies someone or something for another, often through effort or special arrangements
chauffer
C1
/ˈt͡ʃɔː.fə/
A misspelling of chauffeur, a person employed to drive someone's car.
wordsmith
C2
/ˈwɝdˌsmɪθ/
A person who uses words skilfully, especially a writer.
mien
C2
/miːn/
A person's appearance, manner, or facial expression, especially as a sign of mood or character.
fraternization
C2
/ˌfrætərnəˈzeɪʃən/
friendly or brotherly association with other people
Ainu
C2
/ˈaɪnuː/
a member of the Indigenous people native chiefly to Hokkaido and historically also to Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands
aborigine
B1
/ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ə.ni/
a member of the original people of a country, especially Australia, before others arrived
personalize
C1
/ˈpɝ.sə.nəˌlaɪz/
To adapt something to suit the needs or tastes of a particular person.
utilitarian
C2
/juˌtɪləˈtɛɹi.ən/
Designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive.
viciousness
C1
/ˈvɪʃəsnɪs/
the trait of extreme cruelty
layabout
B2
/ˈleɪəˌbaʊt/
A lazy person who avoids work.
hobnob
C2
/ˈhɑbˌnɑb/
to associate or socialize familiarly, especially with important or high-status people
menfolk
C1
/ˈmɛnˌfoʊk/
the male members of a family, community, or other group, often in traditional or old-fashioned usage
egalitarian
C2
/ɪˌɡæl.ɪˈtɛɹ.i.ən/
Believing in or based on equal rights and opportunities for everyone.
straggler
C1
/ˈstɹæɡlɚ/
a person or animal that falls behind or becomes separated from a group
tranquilize
C2
/ˈtɹeɪ̯ŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/
To make a person or animal calm, often by giving them a sedative drug.
lyricist
C2
/ˈlɪɹ.ɪsɪst/
A person who writes the words for songs.
skateboarder
B2
a person who rides a skateboard
peasantry
C1
/ˈpɛzəntri/
peasants considered collectively as a rural social class
handmaid
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪd/
dated or historical: a female personal servant or attendant
crony
C2
/ˈkɹoʊni/
A close friend or companion, often one who shares in someone's activities.
anarchic
C2
/əˈnɑɹ.kɪk/
Without any law, order, or control; chaotic.
well-wisher
B2
/ˈwɛlˌwɪʃər/
a person who hopes for and expresses support for another person's or cause's success or welfare
film-maker
B1
A person who makes films or movies.
socialization
C1
/ˌsoʊʃəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of learning the behaviour and customs of one's society, especially as a child.
idiosyncratic
C2
/ˌɪd.i.oʊ.sɪŋˈkɹæt.ɪk/
Particular to one individual; distinctive or peculiar to a person.
furor
B2
/ˈfjɔːɹɔː/
A sudden, widespread outburst of anger or excitement among many people.
troglodyte
C2
/ˈtrɑːɡləˌdaɪt/
a person who lives in a cave, especially a supposed or prehistoric cave-dweller
gentility
C2
/dʒɛnˈtɪləti/
refined manners, appearance, or social behavior associated with being genteel
tribesman
C2
/ˈtraɪbzmæn/
a male member of a tribe or tribal community
onlooker
C2
/ˈɒnˌlʊk.ə(ɹ)/
a person who watches an event without taking part
humorist
C2
/ˈhjuː.mə.rɪst/
a person known for creating, writing, or performing humor, especially one who regularly tells amusing stories
spokeswoman
B2
/ˈspoʊkˌswʊmən/
A woman who speaks officially on behalf of a person or group.
accessibility
B2
/əkˌsɛs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
How easy it is to reach, enter, or use something.
doorkeeper
B2
/ˈdôr-ˌkē-pər/
A person who guards an entrance and controls who goes in and out.
souse
C2
/saʊs/
pork trimmings chopped, pickled, and jelled
hotelier
C2
/hoʊˈtɛl.i.əɹ/
A person who owns or manages a hotel.
conciliation
C2
/kənˌsɪliːˈeɪʃən/
The act of ending a conflict and bringing people back to peace.
dramatist
C1
/ˈdɹæmətɪst/
A person who writes plays.
interviewee
B1
/ˌɪn.tɚ.vjuːˈiː/
The person who is being interviewed and answers the questions.
resettle
B2
/ˌɹiːˈsɛt.əl/
to settle or begin living again in a different place
gentlefolk
C2
/ˈdʒɛntəlˌfoʊk/
historical: people considered well-born, genteel, or of high social rank