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
476 words
ring
A2
/ˈɹɪŋɡ/
A circular band of metal or other material worn on the finger.
paper
A1
/ˈpeɪ̯.pəɹ/
A thin, flat material used for writing, drawing, or printing on.
gold
A2
/ˈɡɒld/
A heavy, shiny yellow metal that is very valuable, used for jewellery and coins.
bar
A2
/bɑɹ/
A place where you can buy and drink alcoholic drinks.
ice
A1
/[ʌɪs]/
Water that has frozen into a hard, cold solid.
card
A1
/kɑːd/
A piece of stiff paper, often folded, sent to someone with a message or picture.
glass
A1
/ɡlæs/
A hard, transparent material used for windows and bottles.
gas
A2
/ɡɛəs/
A substance like air that is neither solid nor liquid and spreads to fill any space.
bottle
A1
/ˈbɑ.tl̩/
A container, usually made of glass or plastic with a narrow neck, used for holding liquids.
cake
A1
/keɪk/
A sweet baked food made from flour, sugar, and eggs, often covered with icing.
oil
A2
/ɔl/
A thick liquid from plants or animals used in cooking.
sugar
A1
/ˈʃʊɡ.ɚ/
A sweet white or brown substance used to flavour food and drink.
wet
A2
/wɛt/
Covered with or full of water or another liquid.
silver
A2
/ˈsɪl.vɚ/
A shiny, valuable greyish-white metal used for jewellery, coins, and tableware.
wood
A2
/wʉd/
The hard material that trees are made of, used for building and making things.
iron
B1
/æːn/
A common hard grey metal that rusts and is used to make steel
hook
B2
/hʊk/
A curved piece of metal or plastic used to hang, hold, or catch things.
metal
A2
/ˈmɛ.təl/
A hard, usually shiny material such as iron, gold, or copper that conducts heat and electricity.
hank
C1
/hæŋk/
a coil, loop, or bundle of yarn, rope, hair, or other long flexible material
material
A2
/məˈtɪɹ.i.əl/
A substance that something is made from.
japan
C2
/dʒəˈpæn/
a hard, usually dark lacquer or enamel used to give wood or metal a durable glossy finish
tank
B1
/ˈtæŋk/
A large container for holding liquid or gas.
salt
A2
/sɔlt/
A white substance used to add flavour to food and to preserve it.
plastic
A2
/ˈplæstɪk/
A light artificial material that can be shaped, used to make many everyday objects.
steel
B1
/stiːl/
A strong, hard metal made from iron, used in building and tools.
wrap
B1
/ɹɒp/
To cover something completely by folding paper, cloth, or other material around it.
pipe
B1
/ˈpaɪp/
A tube through which liquid or gas can flow.
fence
A2
/fɛns/
A barrier of wood, wire, or metal that encloses or divides an area of land.
coke
A1
/koʊk/
A glass, bottle, or can of cola, especially Coca-Cola.
soap
A2
/soʊp/
A substance used with water for washing and cleaning the body or things.
freezing
B1
/ˈfriːzɪŋ/
Extremely cold.
statue
A2
/ˈstæt͡ʃ.uː/
A figure of a person or animal carved or cast from stone, metal, or wood.
amber
C2
/ˈæm.bɚ/
a hard, translucent yellow or brown fossil resin, often used in jewelry and sometimes containing preserved organisms
pump
B1
/pʌmp/
A machine that moves liquid or gas from one place to another.
ruby
B2
/ˈɹuː.bi/
a deep red precious stone, a variety of corundum
drown
B1
/dɹaʊn/
To die from being unable to breathe under water.
cotton
B1
/ˈkɑt.n̩/
A soft cloth or thread made from the cotton plant.
beam
B2
/biːm/
A long, thick piece of wood or metal used to support a building or structure.
acid
B2
/ˈæsəd/
A chemical substance, often sour or corrosive, that reacts with bases and can dissolve metals.
scum
C1
/skʌm/
a film of foam, dirt, impurities, or vegetation that forms on the surface of a liquid
liquid
B1
/ˈlɪk.wɪd/
A substance that flows freely, like water, and takes the shape of its container.
rod
C1
/ɹɑd/
A long, thin, straight bar or stick of wood or metal.
reed
B2
/ɹiːd/
A tall, thin plant with a hollow stem that grows in or near water.
drain
B2
/dɹeɪn/
A pipe or channel that carries away waste water or liquid.
bubble
B1
/ˈbʌb.l̩/
A thin ball of liquid filled with air or gas
spill
A2
/spɪl/
To accidentally let liquid or a substance flow out of its container.
brass
B1
/bɹas/
A group of musical instruments made of metal that are played by blowing, such as trumpets and trombones.
float
A2
/floʊt/
To stay on the surface of a liquid instead of sinking.
melt
B1
/mɛlt/
To turn from solid into liquid, usually because of heat.
fluid
B2
/ˈfluɪd/
A liquid; a substance that flows.
pad
B2
/pæd/
A thick, soft piece of material used for protection, comfort, or to absorb liquid.
blond
C2
/blɑnd/
being or having light colored skin and hair and usually blue or grey eyes
wax
B1
/wæks/
A soft, solid substance made from oils or fats that melts when warmed, used to make candles and to polish surfaces.
scissors
A2
/ˈsɪzɚz/
A tool for cutting paper, cloth, and other thin materials, made of two blades joined at a pivot.
substance
B1
/ˈsʌbstəns/
A particular type of solid, liquid, or gas with its own properties.
thread
B2
/θɹɛd/
A thin strand of cotton, silk, or other material used for sewing.
fabric
B2
/ˈfæb.ɹɪk/
Cloth or material made by weaving or knitting threads together.
sal
C2
/sæl/
salt, especially in traditional chemical or pharmaceutical names such as sal volatile
concentration
B1
/ˌkɑn.sənˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/
the ability to give all your attention to something
magnetic
C1
/mæɡˈnɛt.ɪk/
Having the properties of a magnet, or able to attract metal such as iron.
pier
C2
/pɪɹ/
A raised platform built from the shore out over water, supported on piles; used to secure, or provide access to shipping; a jetty.
grease
C1
/ɡɹis/
a thick oily or fatty substance, especially one used to lubricate machinery
lens
B2
/lɛnz/
A curved piece of glass or plastic that focuses light, used in cameras, glasses, and microscopes.
jasper
C2
/ˈd͡ʒæs.pɚ/
an opaque, impure variety of chalcedony occurring in red, yellow, brown, green, and other colors and used as a gemstone or ornamental stone
pint
B2
/paɪnt/
A unit for measuring liquid, equal to about half a litre.
mercury
B2
/ˈmɜɹkjəɹi/
a heavy, silvery chemical element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
wool
A2
/wʊl/
The soft, thick hair that grows on sheep.
soaked
B2
/səʊkt/
Completely wet with water or another liquid.
extract
B2
/ˈɛkstɹækt/
To remove or pull something out, often with effort or force.
kite
A1
/kaɪt/
A light frame covered with paper or fabric, flown in the wind on a long string.
shampoo
A2
/ʃæmˈpuː/
A liquid soap used for washing your hair.
salty
B2
/sɔl.ti/
Tasting of salt.
flint
C1
/flɪnt/
a hard gray or black stone that can produce sparks when struck
lace
C2
/ˈleɪs/
draw through eyes or holes
plumbing
C1
/ˈplʌmɪŋ/
The pipes and fixtures that carry water, gas, or sewage in a building.
mineral
B1
/ˈmɪn.ɚ.əl/
A natural solid substance found in the ground, such as gold, salt, or quartz.
tablet
B1
/ˈtæblət/
A small, solid piece of medicine that you swallow; a pill.
dye
B2
/daɪ/
To change the color of something, such as hair or cloth, using a colored liquid.
prospect
B2
/ˈpɹɑspɛkt/
The chance or likelihood that something will happen, often something good.
residue
C2
/ˈɹɛzɪdjuː/
A small amount of something that is left behind after the rest is gone.
clarify
B2
/ˈklɛɹ.ɪ.faɪ/
To make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly.
metallic
B2
/ˈmɛʈælɪk/
made of, containing, or resembling metal
duct
C1
/dʌkt/
a bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance
splinter
C2
/ˈsplɪn.tɚ/
A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or metal.
cardboard
B2
/ˈkɑɹdˌbɔɹd/
A thick, stiff material like heavy paper, used to make boxes.
synthetic
C1
/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/
Made artificially by chemical processes rather than coming from nature.
morocco
C1
/məˈrɑkoʊ/
a soft, durable leather, traditionally goatskin and often pebble-grained, used for fine bookbindings and luxury goods
soaking
B2
/ˈsoʊkɪŋ/
Extremely wet; completely wet through.
weave
B2
/wiːv/
To make cloth or other material by crossing threads over and under each other.
serge
C2
/sɝːdʒ/
a strong twill-weave fabric, traditionally made of wool or worsted and often used for suits and uniforms
muck
C2
/mʌk/
dirt, mud, manure, or other wet and unpleasant matter
pulp
B2
/pʊlp/
a soft, wet, shapeless mass made by crushing or breaking down material
firewood
C2
/ˈfa.ə(ɹ).wʊd/
wood used for fuel
pipeline
C1
/ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/
A long pipe used to carry oil, gas, or water over a distance.
aluminum
B2
/əˈlu.mɪ.nəm/
A light, silvery metal used to make cans, foil, and many other products.
fatigue
C1
/fəˈtiːɡ/
A feeling of being very tired, usually after hard physical or mental effort