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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.
2331 words
stigma
C2
/ˈstɪɡmə/
a mark of shame or social disapproval
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paradigm
C1
/ˈpæɹ.ə.daɪm/
the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time
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beehive
B2
/ˈbiːhaɪv/
a structure or container in which a colony of bees lives
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gazebo
C2
/ɡəˈziːboʊ/
a small roofed building affording shade and rest
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skyline
C2
/ˈskaɪlaɪn/
the outline of buildings, mountains, or other objects seen against the sky
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lull
C2
/lʌl/
a period of calm weather
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tush
C2
/tʌʃ/
an exclamation expressing impatience, dismissal, or disbelief
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anklet
B2
/ˈæŋ.klət/
an ornamental band or chain worn around the ankle
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paprika
B2
/pəˈpɹiːkə/
a red powdered spice made from dried sweet peppers or chili peppers
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sharif
C2
/ʃəˈriːf/
a descendant of the prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima, traditionally entitled to a rank of nobility
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sawmill
C2
/ˈsɑːˌmɪl/
a factory or mill where logs are cut into boards and other lumber
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bathhouse
B2
/ˈbæθˌhaʊs/
A building with baths that the public can use to wash or relax.
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cesspool
C2
/ˈsɛsˌpuːl/
an underground pit or sealed chamber used to collect sewage and waste water
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pickings
C1
/ˈpɪkɪŋz/
things available to be taken, chosen, or gained, especially when few or of limited value
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flagpole
B2
/ˈflæɡˌpoʊl/
a tall pole from which a flag is flown
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foothold
B2
/ˈfʊthoʊld/
a secure initial position or basis from which further progress can be made
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cascade
B2
/kæsˈkeɪd/
A small waterfall, or a series of small waterfalls.
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fib
B2
/fɪb/
a small or relatively harmless lie
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myriad
C2
/ˈmɪriːəd/
A very large number of something.
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trachea
C2
/ˈtɹeɪ.ki.ə/
membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi
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entrails
C2
/ˈɛn.tɹeɪlz/
internal organs collectively (especially those in the abdominal cavity)
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debacle
C2
/dɪˈbɑ.kəl/
An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.
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morsel
C2
/ˈmɔɹsəl/
a small quantity of anything
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drizzle
C2
/ˈdrɪz.əl/
very light rain falling in fine drops
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gargoyle
C2
/ˈɡɑrɡɔɪl/
a grotesquely carved waterspout that carries rainwater away from a building
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wicket
C2
/ˈwɪkɪt/
A small door or gate, especially one beside a larger one.
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camaraderie
C2
/ˌkɑm(ə)ˈɹɑdəɹi/
Close friendship in a group of friends or teammates.
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precipice
C2
/ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs/
A very steep cliff.
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caliph
C2
/ˈkeɪlɪf/
a Muslim political and religious ruler claiming succession to the authority of the prophet Muhammad
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whirlpool
C1
/ˈwɝlpuːl/
a powerful circular current of water
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priory
B2
/ˈpɹaɪəɹi/
a monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress, or the buildings occupied by that community
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innuendo
C2
/ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/
An indirect remark that hints at something, often something rude or unkind.
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sluice
C2
/sluːs/
an artificial channel or gate that controls a rapid flow of water
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spoonful
A2
/ˈspuːnfəl/
as much as a spoon will hold
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fresco
C1
/ˈfrɛskoʊ/
the technique of painting with water-based pigment on fresh, damp plaster
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makeshift
C2
/ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/
A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
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wristwatch
B1
/ˈɹɪstˌwɔt͡ʃ/
A watch worn on a strap or band around the wrist.
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roundup
C1
/ˈraʊnˌdəp/
A short summary of the main news or events.
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poise
C1
/pɔɪz/
A calm, confident, and graceful manner.
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duckling
B1
/ˈdʌklɪŋ/
a young duck
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advent
B2
/ˈæd.vɛnt/
The arrival or beginning of something important, especially something new.
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rancho
C2
/ˈɹɑːnt͡ʃoʊ/
a simple rural hut or shelter, especially one used by herders or farm workers in Spanish America
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tch
C2+
/ǀ/
a representation of the dental click used to show disapproval or disgust; tut, tsk
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stopwatch
B2
/ˈstɑːpˌwɑːtʃ/
A watch that can be started and stopped to measure exactly how long something takes.
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clique
C1
/kliːk/
a small, exclusive group whose members associate closely and may use their influence to exclude outsiders
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zephyr
C2
/ˈzɛfɚ/
a slight wind, usually refreshing
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headlight
C2
/ˈhɛdˌlaɪt/
a powerful light with reflector
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peat
C1
/ˈpiːt/
Soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often burned as fuel.
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padlock
B2
/ˈpædˌlɑk/
a removable lock with a curved or sliding shackle that passes through a fastening
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redwood
C2
/ˈrɛdˌwʊd/
a very tall conifer, especially the coast redwood or giant sequoia of western North America
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sprite
C2
/spɹaɪt/
a small supernatural being such as an elf, fairy, or spirit
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cranium
C2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əm/
the part of the skull that encloses the brain
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bunting
B2
/ˈbʌntɪŋ/
coloured flags, cloth, or paper hung as festive decoration
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shale
B2
/ʃeɪl/
a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed by compacted clay, mud, or silt, typically laminated and able to split into thin layers
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sliver
B2
/ˈslɪv.ɚ/
A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something.
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humph
C2+
/hʌmf/
a closed-mouth grunt expressing doubt, annoyance, contempt, or disapproval
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turret
C2
/ˈtɝ.ɪt/
A small tower on a building or castle, often at a corner.
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punt
C2
/pʌnt/
(football) a kick in which the football is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground
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squabble
C1
/ˈskwɑː.bəl/
a noisy, undignified quarrel, usually about something petty or unimportant
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statistic
B1
/stəˈtɪs.tɪk/
A single piece of information shown as a number.
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smithereens
C2
/ˌsmɪðəˈriːnz/
very small fragments produced when something is shattered or destroyed
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stockade
C2
/stɑːˈkeɪd/
a defensive fence or barrier made from a line of stout upright posts
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snipe
C2
/snaɪp/
A fool; a blockhead.
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statesman
B2
/ˈsteɪtsmən/
A respected and experienced political leader.
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rummage
C2
/ˈrʌmɪdʒ/
a thorough search for something, often causing disorder or confusion
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outset
C1
/ˈaʊtsɛt/
The very beginning of something.
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ricochet
C2
/ˈrɪk.əˌʃeɪ/
a glancing rebound from a surface, especially by a bullet or other projectile
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chimera
C2
/kaɪˈmɪɹə/
Anything composed of very disparate parts.
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breech
C2
/britʃ/
the rear part of a firearm barrel, behind the chamber, where ammunition is loaded
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mantel
C2
/ˈmæn.təl/
a shelf above a fireplace
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imp
C1
/ˈɪmp/
A small, mischievous magical creature, like a tiny devil.
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fulcrum
C1
/ˈfʊlkɹəm/
the fixed support or pivot about which a lever turns
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booklet
B2
/ˈbʊk.lət/
A small thin book, usually with a paper cover, that gives information.
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chevron
C2
/ˈʃɛvrən/
a V-shaped or inverted-V-shaped mark, pattern, or structure
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windpipe
C2
/ˈwɪnd.paɪp/
the tube strengthened by rings of cartilage that carries inhaled air from the larynx toward the lungs; the trachea
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steppe
B2
/stɛp/
a vast, largely treeless grassland, especially the dry temperate plains of southeastern Europe and central Asia
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pterodactyl
C2
/ˌtɛɹəˈdæktl̩/
Any pterosaur.
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goblet
C2
/ˈɡɒblət/
A drinking vessel with a foot and stem.
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strychnine
C2
/ˈstrɪk.niːn/
a highly poisonous crystalline alkaloid obtained from plants such as nux vomica and formerly used medicinally and as a pesticide
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falsetto
C1
/fɔlˈsɛt.oʊ/
a male singing voice with artificially high tones in an upper register
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hubris
C2
/ˈhjubɹɪs/
Excessive arrogance or pride, or presumption; originally (Greek mythology) toward the gods.
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nostril
B2
/ˈnɑ.stɹəl/
Either of the two openings at the bottom of the nose, used for breathing and smelling.
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babel
C2
/ˈbeɪbəl/
a confused mixture of voices, languages, or other sounds
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obelisk
C2
/ˈɑbəlɪsk/
a tall, four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a pyramidal point, often erected as a monument
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underside
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌsaɪd/
the lower or underneath surface of something
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eyesore
B2
/ˈaɪsɔɹ/
a thing that is conspicuously ugly or unpleasant to look at
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toenail
B2
/ˈtəʊˌneɪl/
The hard covering at the end of a toe.
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eyelash
B2
/ˈaɪlæʃ/
One of the short curved hairs that grow on the edge of the eyelids.
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nightlife
B1
/ˈnaɪtˌlaɪf/
The entertainment and social activities available at night, such as clubs, bars, and theaters.
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storybook
B1
/ˈstɔːriˌbʊk/
a book containing stories, especially stories written or illustrated for children
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sandstone
B2
/ˈsændˌstoʊn/
A soft rock formed from pressed sand, often used in building.
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shire
C2
/ʃaɪ(ə)ɹ/
a county or traditional administrative district, especially in Britain
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bookshelf
A2
/ˈbʊkˌʃɛlf/
A shelf or set of shelves for keeping books on.
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hubbub
C2
/ˈhʌbəb/
a loud, confused mixture of voices or other sounds; noisy commotion
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echelon
C2
/ˈɛʃ.ə.lɒn/
A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.
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cantaloupe
C2
/ˈkæn.tə.loʊp/
a sweet muskmelon with orange flesh and, especially in North America, a rough netted rind
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