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
365 words
music
A1
/ˈmju.zɪk/
Sounds arranged in a pleasing way using melody, rhythm, and harmony.
dance
A1
/dɑːns/
To move your body in time to music.
beat
B1
/biːt/
To defeat someone in a game, contest, or fight.
song
A1
/sɔŋ/
A short piece of music with words that you sing.
piece
A1
/piːs/
A part of something larger, or an amount broken or cut off.
picture
A1
/ˈpɘk.t͡ʃɘː/
A drawing, painting, or photograph of something or someone.
club
A1
/klʌb/
A group of people who meet because they share an interest or activity.
art
A1
/ɑɹt/
The making of things like paintings, drawings, or sculptures to be beautiful or express ideas.
singing
A2
/ˈsɪŋɪŋ/
The activity of making music with your voice.
draw
A1
/dɹɑ/
To make a picture or pattern with a pen, pencil, or similar tool.
artist
B1
/ˈɑɹ.tɪst/
A person who creates art, such as paintings or sculptures.
painting
A1
/ˈpeɪn.tɪŋ/
A picture made by applying paint to a surface.
image
A2
/ˈɪm.ɪdʒ/
A picture, photo, or representation of someone or something.
theme
B1
/θiːm/
The main subject or idea of a book, film, talk, or piece of art.
design
A1
/dɪˈzaɪn/
A plan or drawing showing how something will be made or how it will work.
theater
A1
/ˈθi(ə)tɚ/
A building where plays or films are shown.
carol
C1
/ˈkærəl/
a joyful song, especially a traditional religious song sung at Christmas
version
B1
/ˈvɝʒən/
A particular form of something that differs from other forms of the same thing.
concert
A1
/kənˈsɝt/
a public performance of music
drawing
A2
/ˈdɹɑ.ɪŋ/
A picture made with a pen, pencil, or crayon.
jazz
B1
/d͡ʒæz/
A style of music with African American roots, known for improvisation, swing, and strong rhythm.
opera
B2
/ˈɑp.ə.ɹə/
A dramatic play set to music in which the words are sung rather than spoken.
poetry
B1
/ˈpoʊ.ə.tɹi/
Writing arranged in lines, often with rhythm or rhyme, that expresses feelings and ideas.
poem
B1
/ˈpoʊ.əm/
A piece of writing arranged in lines, often with rhythm or rhyme, that expresses feelings or ideas.
visual
B1
/ˈvɪʒuəl/
Relating to seeing or sight.
rhythm
A2
/ˈɹɪð.m̩/
A regular pattern of strong and weak sounds or beats in music or speech.
gallery
A2
/ˈɡæl.ə.ɹi/
A room or building where works of art are displayed.
arrangement
B1
/əˈɹeɪnd͡ʒmənt/
A plan or agreement made so that something can happen.
ballet
B2
/bælˈeɪ/
A graceful, classical form of dance, often performed to tell a story with music.
piper
C2
/ˈpaɪ.pɚ/
a musician who plays a pipe, flute, or especially bagpipes
portrait
A2
/ˈpɔɹtɹət/
A painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, especially the face and shoulders.
melody
B2
/ˈmɛl.ə.di/
A sequence of musical notes that forms a tune.
photography
A2
/fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fi/
The art and activity of taking photographs.
disco
A2
/ˈdɪskoʊ/
A place or event where people dance to recorded pop music.
meter
A2
/ˈmitəɹ/
A unit of length equal to 100 centimetres (US spelling of 'metre').
lyrics
B2
/ˈlɪɹ.ɪks/
The words of a song.
matching
B2
/ˈmæt͡ʃɪŋ/
Having the same design, colour, or appearance as something else.
verse
B2
/ˈvɝs/
A group of lines that form one unit of a song or poem.
recorder
B1
/ɹɪˈkɔɹdɚ/
a simple woodwind instrument played by blowing through a fipple and covering finger holes
masterpiece
B2
/ˈmæstɚˌpis/
A work of art or skill that is outstanding and widely admired.
madonna
C2
/məˈdɑː.nə/
an artistic representation of the Virgin Mary, especially with the infant Jesus
rehearse
B2
/ɹɪˈhɝs/
to practise a play, piece of music, speech, or other performance before presenting it publicly
canvas
C1
/ˈkænvəs/
A strong, rough cloth used for tents, sails, bags, and shoes.
nightclub
B2
/ˈnʌɪtklʌb/
A place that opens late at night where people go to drink, dance, and listen to music.
sculpture
B1
/ˈskʌlpt͡ʃɚ/
A work of art made by shaping material such as stone, wood, clay, or metal into a three-dimensional form.
drummer
A2
/ˈdrʌmər/
a person who plays a drum or a drum kit
critic
B1
/ˈkrɪtɪk/
A person whose job is to give opinions about books, films, music, or art.
symphony
A2
/ˈsɪm.fə.ni/
A long piece of music in several parts, usually written for a full orchestra.
composition
B1
/ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the different parts or people that something is made up of
renaissance
C2+
/ˈɹɛnəˌsɑns/
Any similar artistic or intellectual revival.
graphic
B1
/ˈɡɹæfɪk/
Very clear and detailed, especially in describing something unpleasant like sex or violence.
anthem
C2
/ˈæn.təm/
a song of praise, loyalty, or shared identity, especially for a nation, institution, or religious body
cupid
C2
/ˈkjuːpɪd/
A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love.
baton
B2
/bəˈtɑːn/
a thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra or choir
pianist
B1
/piˈæn.ɪst/
a person who plays the piano, especially professionally or with considerable skill
refrain
B2
/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/
To stop yourself from doing something.
lullaby
B2
/ˈlʌləˌbaɪ/
a quiet, soothing song sung to help a baby or young child fall asleep
masculine
C1
/ˈmæskjələn/
(music or poetry) ending on an accented beat or syllable
artwork
B2
/ˈɑɹtˌwɝk/
A painting, drawing, sculpture, or other piece of visual art.
tempo
C2
/ˈtɛm.poʊ/
in music, the speed at which a composition is to be played
chime
C2
/ˈtʃaɪm/
a melodious ringing sound, or a set of tuned bells or metal bars that produces it
encore
C1
/ˈɑnkoɹ/
an extra or repeated performance given after the scheduled program, usually in response to applause
bugle
C2
/ˈbjuːɡəl/
a simple brass instrument, usually without valves, used especially for military signals
genre
B2
/ˈ(d)ʒɑnɹə/
A particular type or style of art, literature, music, or film.
orchestral
B2
/ˌɔɹˈkɛstɹəl/
Relating to an orchestra or to music played by one.
carmine
C2
/ˈkɑɹmaɪn/
a vivid purplish-red pigment or dye traditionally made from cochineal insects
canon
B2
/ˈkæn.ən/
A general rule or principle that is widely accepted in a field.
choreography
C2
/ˌkɔɹiˈɑɡɹəfi/
The art of arranging the steps and movements of a dance.
saxophone
B2
/ˈsæksəˌfoʊn/
a usually brass, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical tube and finger-operated keys
sculptor
B2
/ˈskʌlptɚ/
an artist who creates sculpture by carving, modeling, casting, or assembling materials
aesthetic
C1
/ɛsˈθɛ.tɪk/
Relating to beauty or the appreciation of beautiful things.
soprano
C2
/səˈpɹænoʊ/
the highest female voice
jig
C1
/dʒɪɡ/
a lively traditional dance with quick steps and jumps, or the music for it
graphics
B1
/ˈɡɹæfɪks/
The visual images produced or displayed by a computer.
clarinet
C2
/ˌklæɹɪˈnɛt/
A woodwind musical instrument that has a distinctive liquid tone whose characteristics vary among its three registers: chalumeau (low), clarion (medium), and altissimo (high).
mural
B2
/ˈmjʊr.əl/
a large painting or other artwork made directly on a wall
reggae
B2
/ˈɹɛɡeɪ/
A style of popular music from Jamaica with a strong, steady rhythm and a heavy bass.
handiwork
C2
/ˈhændiˌwɝk/
work done by hand, or an object made through manual skill
concerto
C1
/kənˈt͡ʃɛɹtoʊ/
A piece of music written for one or more solo instruments and an orchestra.
piccolo
C2
/ˈpɪk.ə.loʊ/
a small transverse flute pitched an octave above the standard concert flute, with a bright, penetrating sound
presto
C1
/ˈprɛs.toʊ/
used to announce a sudden or seemingly magical result
tapestry
C1
/ˈtæp.ə.stri/
a thick woven textile with a picture or decorative design, especially one hung on a wall
ut
C2
/uːt/
music: the original solfege name for the first note of a major scale, now usually called do
trombone
B2
/trɑmˈboʊn/
a low-pitched brass instrument whose tube is usually lengthened and shortened with a movable slide
palette
C1
/ˈpælɪt/
a thin board or other flat surface on which an artist arranges and mixes paints
serenade
C2
/ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/
a song or musical performance given for someone, traditionally outdoors in the evening as an expression of love
temperance
C2+
/ˈtɛmpəɹəns/
Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence.
calligraphy
C1
/kəˈlɪɡ.rə.fi/
the art or practice of producing beautiful, decorative handwriting
fife
C2
/ˈfaɪf/
a small, high-pitched transverse flute, traditionally played with drums in military music
showbiz
B2
/ˈʃoʊˌbɪz/
The entertainment industry, including film, television, theatre, and music.
bard
C2
/bɑɹd/
a poet and singer in a Celtic tradition, especially one who composed verses celebrating heroes and notable events
vamp
C2
/væmp/
a short, repeated, often improvised musical accompaniment or chord progression
sonata
C2
/səˈnɑːtə/
a substantial musical composition for one instrument or a small group, usually arranged in several contrasting movements
hallmark
C2
/ˈhɔlmɑɹk/
A distinguishing characteristic.
lute
C2
/luːt/
a plucked string instrument with a rounded back, flat front, fretted neck, and usually a bent-back pegbox
embroidery
B2
/ɪmˈbrɔɪdəri/
the art or process of decorating fabric with patterns sewn in thread