Elementary Vocabulary (A2 · 325 lessons)
Elementary vocabulary covers building blocks for everyday conversation, short messages and simple past tenses. Open any lesson below for the explanation, examples and practice points.
borrow (v.)
to take something and give it back later
lend (v.)
to give something for a short time
enjoy (v.)
to get pleasure from something
decide (v.)
to make a choice
explain (v.)
to make something clear
travel (v.)
to go from one place to another
visit (v.)
to go to see a person or place
invite (v.)
to ask someone to come to an event
expensive (adj.)
costing a lot of money
dangerous (adj.)
likely to cause harm
healthy (adj.)
in good physical condition
journey (n.)
an act of travelling from one place to another
weather (n.)
the condition of the air outside
neighbour (n.)
a person living near you
holiday (n.)
a period of rest away from work
ticket (n.)
a paper that lets you enter or travel
appointment (n.)
an arranged meeting
prepare (v.)
to get ready
remember (v.)
to keep in your memory
improve (v.)
to become or make better
probably (adv.)
most likely
usually (adv.)
in most cases
breakfast (n.)
the first meal of the day
neighbourhood (n.)
the area around your home
forget (v.)
to not remember
choose (v.)
to pick from several options
spend (v.)
to use money or time
save (v.)
to keep money or protect from harm
win (v.)
to be first in a competition
lose (v.)
to fail to win or to be unable to find
wait (v.)
to stay until something happens
bring (v.)
to carry something to a place
arrive (v.)
to reach a place
leave (v.)
to go away from a place
tired (adj.)
needing rest
hungry (adj.)
wanting food
angry (adj.)
feeling strong displeasure
careful (adj.)
paying attention to avoid problems
polite (adj.)
showing good manners
clean (adj.)
not dirty
empty (adj.)
having nothing inside
crowded (adj.)
full of people
noisy (adj.)
making a lot of sound
quiet (adj.)
making little sound
luggage (n.)
bags for a journey
passport (n.)
an official travel document
receipt (n.)
a paper proving you paid
discount (n.)
a reduction in price
medicine (n.)
something taken to cure illness
exercise (n.)
physical activity
quickly (adv.)
at high speed
carefully (adv.)
with attention
suddenly (adv.)
quickly and unexpectedly
nearly (adv.)
almost
departure (n.)
the act of leaving
arrival (n.)
the act of reaching a place
platform (n.)
the area where passengers wait for trains
reservation (n.)
a booking
customs (n.)
the place where goods are checked at borders
souvenir (n.)
an item bought to remember a place
sightseeing (n.)
visiting interesting places
currency (n.)
the money of a country
timetable (n.)
a list of departure times
tour (n.)
a trip to see places
pharmacy (n.)
a shop that sells medicine
prescription (n.)
a doctor's written order for medicine
injury (n.)
physical harm
allergy (n.)
a reaction to a substance
symptom (n.)
a sign of illness
bandage (n.)
a strip of cloth for a wound
dentist (n.)
a tooth doctor
ambulance (n.)
a vehicle for taking people to hospital
temperature (n.)
how hot something is
vaccine (n.)
a substance that protects against disease
keyboard (n.)
keys used to type
download (v.)
to copy files from the internet
upload (v.)
to send files to the internet
battery (n.)
a device that stores power
charger (n.)
a device that restores battery power
printer (n.)
a machine that prints on paper
software (n.)
computer programs
network (n.)
a group of connected devices
search engine (n.)
a program that finds information online
message (n.)
a written communication
employee (n.)
a person who works for a company
employer (n.)
a person or company that hires
colleague (n.)
a person you work with
manager (n.)
a person who manages
interview (n.)
a formal job meeting
career (n.)
a long-term profession
experience (n.)
knowledge from doing
customer (n.)
a person who buys
deadline (n.)
the latest time to finish
overtime (n.)
extra working hours
account (n.)
money kept in a bank
loan (n.)
money borrowed
tax (n.)
money paid to the government
budget (n.)
a plan for spending
bill (n.)
a request for payment
change (n.)
money returned after paying
profit (n.)
money gained
debt (n.)
money owed
exchange (v.)
to swap one currency for another
wallet (n.)
a small holder for money
forest (n.)
a large area of trees
island (n.)
land surrounded by water
lake (n.)
a large body of fresh water
desert (n.)
a dry sandy area
valley (n.)
low land between hills
storm (n.)
violent weather
rainbow (n.)
colourful arc in the sky
earthquake (n.)
a shaking of the ground
environment (n.)
the natural world
vegetable (n.)
an edible plant
fruit (n.)
sweet food from plants
dessert (n.)
a sweet course after a meal
recipe (n.)
cooking instructions
ingredient (n.)
a food used in a dish
delicious (adj.)
very tasty
spicy (adj.)
having a hot flavour
sweet (adj.)
tasting of sugar
bitter (adj.)
having a sharp unpleasant taste
fresh (adj.)
recently made or picked
menu (n.)
a list of dishes
waiter (n.)
a man who serves food
bake (v.)
to cook in an oven
boil (v.)
to heat until bubbling
sofa (n.)
a long soft seat
fridge (n.)
a cold food cabinet
cupboard (n.)
a storage cabinet
carpet (n.)
a floor covering
curtain (n.)
cloth hung at a window
shelf (n.)
a flat board for items
stairs (n.)
steps between floors
roof (n.)
the top of a building
basement (n.)
a room below ground
furniture (n.)
movable items like chairs
lamp (n.)
a device for light
mirror (n.)
glass that reflects
university (n.)
a place of higher education
degree (n.)
a qualification
subject (n.)
an area of study
history (n.)
study of the past
science (n.)
study of nature
mathematics (n.)
study of numbers
grade (n.)
a mark or school level
library (n.)
a place with books
notebook (n.)
a book for writing
dictionary (n.)
a book of word meanings
graduate (v.)
to complete a degree
excited (adj.)
very enthusiastic
nervous (adj.)
worried or tense
surprised (adj.)
feeling sudden wonder
proud (adj.)
pleased with an achievement
jealous (adj.)
envious
lonely (adj.)
sad without company
shy (adj.)
nervous around others
worried (adj.)
anxious about problems
embarrassed (adj.)
ashamed or awkward
calm (adj.)
peaceful
relative (n.)
a family member
parent (n.)
a mother or father
niece (n.)
a brother's or sister's daughter
nephew (n.)
a brother's or sister's son
twin (n.)
one of two born together
teenager (n.)
a person aged 13–19
adult (n.)
a grown person
stranger (n.)
someone you don't know
guest (n.)
a visitor
couple (n.)
two people together
jacket (n.)
a short coat
scarf (n.)
cloth worn round the neck
uniform (n.)
clothing worn by a group
fashion (n.)
popular style
fit (v.)
to be the right size
try on (v.)
to test clothing
sale (n.)
a period of reduced prices
cashier (n.)
a person who takes payments
trolley (n.)
a cart in a shop
coach (n.)
a sports trainer
stadium (n.)
a large sports arena
champion (n.)
a winner
score (v.)
to earn a point
referee (n.)
the official in a game
match (n.)
a game
cycling (n.)
riding a bicycle
athlete (n.)
a person who does sport
medal (n.)
a prize disc
training (n.)
practice
theatre (n.)
a place for plays
concert (n.)
a live music show
museum (n.)
a place showing objects
gallery (n.)
a place showing art
audience (n.)
people watching
comedy (n.)
a funny play or film
poem (n.)
a piece of verse
novel (n.)
a long fictional book
guitar (n.)
a stringed instrument
photograph (n.)
a picture taken by a camera
government (n.)
the group ruling a country
president (n.)
a head of state
election (n.)
a vote to choose leaders
crime (n.)
an illegal act
prison (n.)
a place for criminals
judge (n.)
a person who decides court cases
citizen (n.)
a member of a country
rule (n.)
an instruction
court (n.)
a place for legal cases
lawyer (n.)
a legal expert
insect (n.)
a small six-legged creature
butterfly (n.)
a colourful flying insect
spider (n.)
an eight-legged creature
snake (n.)
a long legless reptile
tiger (n.)
a striped big cat
dolphin (n.)
an intelligent sea mammal
wolf (n.)
a wild dog-like animal
feather (n.)
part of a bird's covering
wing (n.)
body part for flying
tail (n.)
an animal's rear appendage
finger (n.)
part of the hand
shoulder (n.)
joint between arm and body
knee (n.)
joint in the leg
stomach (n.)
the organ for digesting
neck (n.)
part joining head and body
skin (n.)
the body's outer covering
bone (n.)
a hard body part
brain (n.)
the organ for thinking
lung (n.)
a breathing organ
experiment (n.)
a test to discover something
laboratory (n.)
a place for experiments
planet (n.)
a large body orbiting a star
gravity (n.)
the force pulling objects down
oxygen (n.)
gas we need to breathe
magnet (n.)
an object that attracts iron
scientist (n.)
a person who studies science
microscope (n.)
an instrument to see tiny things
telescope (n.)
an instrument to see far objects
traffic (n.)
vehicles on roads
pavement (n.)
a path for pedestrians
crossing (n.)
a place to cross a road
post office (n.)
a place to send mail
supermarket (n.)
a large food shop
station (n.)
a stop for trains
underground (n.)
a city railway below ground
tunnel (n.)
a passage under ground
square (n.)
an open town space
skyscraper (n.)
a very tall building
early (adj.)
before the usual time
late (adj.)
after the expected time
weekend (n.)
Saturday and Sunday
daily (adj.)
every day
schedule (n.)
a plan of times
calendar (n.)
a chart of days
midnight (n.)
12 at night
century (n.)
100 years
routine (n.)
usual habits
factory (n.)
a place where goods are made
advert (n.)
a public promotion
supplier (n.)
a company that provides goods
export (v.)
to send goods abroad
import (v.)
to bring goods from abroad
sample (n.)
a small example
stock (n.)
goods available
conversation (n.)
a talk between people
argue (v.)
to disagree angrily
whisper (v.)
to speak very softly
shout (v.)
to say loudly
reply (v.)
to answer
mention (v.)
to refer briefly
promise (v.)
to guarantee
agree (v.)
to share an opinion
disagree (v.)
to hold a different opinion
friendly (adj.)
kind and pleasant
honest (adj.)
truthful
selfish (adj.)
caring only for yourself
patient (adj.)
able to wait calmly
rude (adj.)
impolite
creative (adj.)
inventive
ambitious (adj.)
eager to succeed
stubborn (adj.)
refusing to change
mean (adj.)
unkind or not generous
thunder (n.)
noise after lightning
lightning (n.)
a flash in the sky
freezing (adj.)
very cold
humid (adj.)
damp and warm
forecast (n.)
a prediction of weather
shower (n.)
a short rainfall
build (v.)
to construct
carry (v.)
to hold and move
catch (v.)
to grab
climb (v.)
to go up
draw (v.)
to make a picture
fix (v.)
to repair
hide (v.)
to put out of sight
push (v.)
to press away
pull (v.)
to drag toward you
throw (v.)
to send through the air
thousand (n.)
1,000
million (n.)
1,000,000
double (adj.)
twice as much
pair (n.)
two things together
dozen (n.)
twelve
percent (n.)
parts per hundred
zero (n.)
0
hobby (n.)
an activity for pleasure
collect (v.)
to gather items
fishing (n.)
catching fish
knitting (n.)
making clothes from wool
puzzle (n.)
a game of fitting pieces
camping (n.)
sleeping in a tent
painting (n.)
a picture in paint
gardening (n.)
growing plants
steal (v.)
to take without permission
police station (n.)
a police office
alarm (n.)
a warning device
emergency (n.)
a sudden dangerous event
accident (n.)
an unexpected event causing harm
rescue (v.)
to save
festival (n.)
a celebration
wedding (n.)
a marriage ceremony
culture (n.)
customs of a people
custom (n.)
a traditional habit
celebrate (v.)
to mark a happy event
fireworks (n.)
exploding colourful lights
religion (n.)
belief in a deity
Other levels for Vocabulary: Beginner · Intermediate · Upper-Intermediate · Advanced