IELTS vocabulary — Foundation (≈ band 4–5)
This page lists the Foundation level words in our collection, roughly matching CEFR A1 to B1 and IELTS band 4 to 5. These are frequent, everyday words such as environment, education, health and company. Many learners already recognise them, but recognition is not the same as accurate use, and accurate use of common words is the base of every good IELTS score.
Why study words you partly know? Because examiners notice small errors in common vocabulary far more than the absence of rare words. Wrong word forms (economic versus economy), wrong collocations (make an exam instead of take an exam) and uncountable nouns used as countable (informations, advices) all lower your Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range scores. Working through this level with flashcards helps you check the meaning, the part of speech and the pronunciation of each word, so that you can use it with confidence.
The words on this page come from all of our topic decks, so they cover the situations that appear most often in IELTS: work, study, health, technology, travel, cities and society. They also include basic words for describing charts, such as increase, fall and average, which you need for Writing Task 1 at any level.
How to use this level: if you are aiming for band 5 or 6, start here and add about twenty new cards per day. The scheduler brings each new word back the next day for an overnight review, then waits longer each time you remember it. Within a few weeks the whole list will feel automatic, and you can move on to the Intermediate level. If you are already aiming for band 7 or higher, a quick pass through this level is still worthwhile: grade familiar words as Easy and they will come back rarely, while any word you hesitate on will get extra practice.
The level labels are our own estimate based on CEFR tags and word frequency. They are a guide for planning your study, not official IELTS bands.
Word list
| Word | Pronunciation | Part of speech | Definition | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abroad | /əˈbrɔːd/ | adv. | in or to a foreign country | A2 |
| accommodation | /əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃən/ | n. | a place to stay, often a hotel | B1 |
| achievement | /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ | n. | something good that you have successfully done | B1 |
| adult | /ˈædʌlt/ | n. | person or animal that is fully grown | A1 |
| adventure | /ədˈventʃə/ | n. | an exciting and often dangerous experience | A2 |
| advertise | /ˈædvətaɪz/ | v. | to show how good a product is, to make people buy | B1 |
| advertisement | /ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt/ | n. | a picture, short film, text, etc., that tells people about a product or service | A2 |
| advertising | /ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ/ | n. | The activity or business of promoting products and services | B1 |
| afford | /əˈfɔːd/ | v. | to have enough money to pay for something | B1 |
| airline | /ˈeəlaɪn/ | n. | company that flies passengers in its planes | A2 |
| airport | /ˈeəpɔːt/ | n. | A place where planes take off, land, and collect passengers | A1 |
| alcohol | /ˈælkəhɒl/ | n. | drinks such as wine, whiskey, beer | B1 |
| apartment | /əˈpɑːtmənt/ | n. | set of rooms to live in on one floor of a building | A2 |
| application | /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | formal request for a job, building permission, etc. | B1 |
| approximately | /əˈprɒksɪmətli/ | adv. | around; nearly; almost; about (a number) | B1 |
| architecture | /ˈɑːkɪtektʃə/ | n. | design and construction of buildings | B1 |
| arrest | /əˈrest/ | v. | to use the law to catch and keep people who committed crimes | B1 |
| art | /ɑːt/ | n. | a creative skill using the imagination (e.g., painting) | A1 |
| article | /ˈɑːtɪkəl/ | n. | piece of writing about a particular subject | A2 |
| artist | /ˈɑːtɪst/ | n. | a person who is skilled and creative in art, such as a painter | A1 |
| aspect | /'æspekt/ | n. | an element, feature, or quality of something | L1 |
| assignment | /əˈsaɪnmənt/ | n. | A duty that you are give to do (especially in the armed forces) | B1 |
| astronaut | /ˈæstrənɔːt/ | n. | a person trained to travel and work in space | B1 |
| athlete | /ˈæθliːt/ | n. | person trained to compete in sports | B1 |
| atlas | /ˈætləs/ | n. | A book containing maps of the world or particular regions | B1 |
| atmosphere | /ˈætməsfɪə/ | n. | The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth; the feeling that a place or situation gives you | B1 |
| attitude | /ˈætɪtjuːd/ | n. | way you act, think, and feel about something | B1 |
| audience | /ˈɔːdiəns/ | n. | group of people listening, watch a play, movie, etc. | B1 |
| average | /ˈævərɪdʒ/ | adj. | typical or normal; usual; ordinary | B1 |
| bank | /bæŋk/ | n. | a financial institution that keeps or lends money | A1 |
| behaviour | /bɪˈheɪvjə/ | n. | The way a person or animal acts | A2 |
| benefit | /ˈbenɪfɪt/ | n. | good result or effect, something advantageous | B1 |
| biology | /baɪˈɒlədʒi/ | n. | the study of living things | A2 |
| brand | /brænd/ | n. | name given to a product or service | B1 |
| building | /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ | n. | a structure with walls and a roof | A1 |
| business | /ˈbɪznəs/ | n. | the making, buying, or selling goods or services for money | A1 |
| campaign | /kæmˈpeɪn/ | n. | to work in an organized and active way toward a goal | B1 |
| campus | /ˈkæmpəs/ | n pl. | the site of an institution, such as a university campus | B1 |
| capital | /ˈkæpɪtəl/ | n. | main, or major | B1 |
| carbon | /ˈkɑːbən/ | n. | a chemical element (C) found in all living things | B1 |
| career | /kəˈrɪə/ | n. | particular occupation in professional life | A2 |
| cattle | /ˈkætl/ | n. | cows or bulls on a farm | B1 |
| celebrity | /səˈlebrəti/ | n. | A person who is widely known by the public | B1 |
| cell | /sel/ | n. | short for 'cellphone' | B1 |
| certificate | /səˈtɪfɪkət/ | n. | An official document proving a fact or qualification | B1 |
| channel | /ˈtʃænəl/ | n. | 1. a narrow, deep body of water used by ships; 2. a system used for sending something from one place or person to another | B1 |
| charity | /ˈtʃærəti/ | n. | organization providing help to the needy, the sick | B1 |
| chemical | /ˈkemɪkəl/ | n. | a basic substance produced by mixing elements | B1 |
| chemistry | /ˈkemɪstri/ | n. | the study of the structure of substances | A2 |
| childhood | /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/ | n. | the time when you are a child | B1 |
| cinema | /ˈsɪnəmə/ | n. | a place for showing movies | A1 |
| citizen | /ˈsɪtɪzən/ | n. | person who belongs to and has rights in a country | B1 |
| city | /ˈsɪti/ | n. | a heavily populated area with many buildings and roads | A1 |
| classroom | /ˈklɑːsruːm/ | n. | room in a school where lessons take place | A1 |
| client | /ˈklaɪənt/ | n. | person paying for professional services | B1 |
| climate | /ˈklaɪmət/ | n. | typical weather conditions in a particular place | B1 |
| clinic | /ˈklɪnɪk/ | n. | local medical center; department of a hospital | B1 |
| colleague | /ˈkɒliːɡ/ | n. | someone who works with you; coworker | A2 |
| communication | /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | talking to people; giving information to people | B1 |
| community | /kəˈmjuːnəti/ | n. | group of people who share a common idea or area | B1 |
| company | /ˈkʌmpəni/ | n. | a business that sells things or provides services | A1 |
| compare | /kəmˈpeə/ | v. | to consider how similar and different things are | A2 |
| comparison | /kəmˈpærɪsən/ | n. | looking for differences and similarities in two or more things | B1 |
| competition | /ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən/ | n. | fighting against others when trying to win something | A2 |
| competitor | /kəmˈpetɪtə/ | n. | someone taking part in a race, business, etc. | B1 |
| computer | /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | n. | a machine for storing information and accessing the internet | A1 |
| concert | /ˈkɒnsət/ | n. | musical entertainment given in public by one or more performers | A2 |
| conclusion | /kənˈkluːʒən/ | n. | judgment or opinion after thinking for a while | B1 |
| consumer | /kənˈsjuːmə/ | n. | person who uses goods or services; individual buyer | B1 |
| contrast | /kən'træst/ | n. | to compare; to show clear, obvious differences | L1 |
| cost | /kɒst/ | n. | price you pay for something | A2 |
| council | /ˈkaʊnsəl/ | n. | group chosen to make decisions about something | B1 |
| court | /kɔːt/ | n. | large, flat area, to play tennis or basketball | B1 |
| coverage | /'kʌvəridʒ/ | n. | way a newspaper, television program, etc., reports an event or subject | L1 |
| creative | /kriˈeɪtɪv/ | adj. | having the ability to make something new | B1 |
| crime | /kraɪm/ | n. | act that is against the law; murder, theft, etc. | B1 |
| criminal | /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/ | adj. | related to illegal activity; (n) a person who has done a crime | B1 |
| crop | /krɒp/ | n. | plants grown on a farm for food (e.g., corn or rice) | B1 |
| crowded | /ˈkraʊdɪd/ | adj. | Containing so many people or things that little space remains | A2 |
| culture | /ˈkʌltʃə/ | n. | beliefs and customs of a particular group | B1 |
| currency | /ˈkʌrənsi/ | n. | a money system that a country uses | B1 |
| custom | /ˈkʌstəm/ | n. | what is usual or normal | B1 |
| customer | /ˈkʌstəmə/ | n. | someone who buys goods or services from a business | A2 |
| decrease | /dɪˈkriːs/ | v. | to reduce the size, amount, or number of something | B1 |
| defend | /dɪˈfend/ | v. | to protect against an attack | B1 |
| degree | /dɪˈɡriː/ | n. | unit for measuring temperature or angles | A2 |
| demand | /dɪˈmɑːnd/ | n. | to strongly request someone to do something; insist | B1 |
| destination | /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃən/ | n. | the place one is traveling to | B1 |
| developing | /dɪˈveləpɪŋ/ | adj. | Becoming more economically advanced, often with improving living standards | B1 |
| development | /dɪˈveləpmənt/ | n. | act or process of growing bigger or more advanced | B1 |
| device | /dɪˈvaɪs/ | n. | object, machine, or equipment for a specific use | B1 |
| diagram | /ˈdaɪəɡræm/ | n. | a drawing intended to explain how something works | B1 |
| diet | /ˈdaɪət/ | n. | the type of food that a person or animal usually eats | A2 |
| digital | /ˈdɪdʒɪtəl/ | adj. | using electronic signals or computers | A2 |
| diploma | /dɪˈpləʊmə/ | n. | an official document showing successful completion of a course | B1 |
| disaster | /dɪˈzɑːstə/ | n. | something that causes a lot of harm or damage | B1 |
| discovery | /dɪˈskʌvəri/ | n. | learning something for the first time | B1 |
| disease | /dɪˈziːz/ | n. | illness that affects a person, animal, or plant | A2 |
| divorce | /dɪˈvɔːs/ | n. | legal ending of a marriage | B1 |
| documentary | /ˌdɒkjəˈmentəri/ | n. | A film or programme presenting facts about real subjects | B1 |
| double | /ˈdʌbəl/ | adj. | two times the amount or degree; twice | A2 |
| download | /ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/ | v. | to copy data from the internet onto your device | A2 |
| dramatic | /drə'mætik/ | adj. | sudden and extreme | L1 |
| drop | /drɒp/ | v. | to let something fall from your hand | A2 |
| drug | /drʌɡ/ | n. | chemical used as a medicine | B1 |
| earthquake | /ˈɜːθkweɪk/ | n. | Sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement beneath Earth's surface | B1 |
| economic | /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk/ | adj. | having to do with trade, industry, and money | B1 |
| economics | /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/ | n. | The study of how societies produce, distribute, and use resources | B1 |
| economy | /ɪˈkɒnəmi/ | n. | total of all the goods, services, and wages in an area | B1 |
| editor | /ˈedɪtə/ | n. | a person whose job is to correct and make changes to the contents of a book or magazine | B1 |
| education | /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | process of giving or receiving teaching | A2 |
| election | /ɪˈlekʃən/ | n. | process of choosing someone by voting | B1 |
| electronic | /ɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪk/ | adj. | operating by use of electricity; digital | B1 |
| employee | /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/ | n. | person who works for someone else for payment | A2 |
| employer | /ɪmˈplɔɪə/ | n. | person or firm that pays people to work for them | B1 |
| employment | /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ | n. | having a job; work done for money | B1 |
| energy | /ˈenədʒi/ | n. | physical or mental strength | A2 |
| enforcement | /in'fɒ:smənt/ | n. | the act or process of making sure that rules are followed | L1 |
| engineer | /ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ | n. | professional who designs and builds machines, roads, and other complicated structures | A2 |
| engineering | /ˌendʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ/ | n. | using science to design and build machines, structures, or systems | B1 |
| enterprise | /'entəpraiz/ | n. | a business or organization | L1 |
| entertainment | /ˌentəˈteɪnmənt/ | n. | activities that make people have a good time by singing, telling jokes, etc. | B1 |
| environment | /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ | n. | natural world in which plants and animals live | A2 |
| environmental | /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentəl/ | adj. | of the natural world in which plants and animals live | B1 |
| essay | /ˈeseɪ/ | n. | short written work that displays someone's opinions or beliefs regarding a particular subject | A2 |
| ethnic | /'eθnik/ | adj. | connected with people who share a cultural tradition | L1 |
| exam | /ɪɡˈzæm/ | n. | test of your knowledge or ability in something | A1 |
| examination | /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/ | n. | test of your knowledge of, or ability in something | B1 |
| exchange | /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ | v. | to give things of similar value to each other | B1 |
| exercise | /ˈeksəsaɪz/ | n. | to work out to become stronger and healthier | A1 |
| exhibition | /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃən/ | n. | an event at which an object or group of objects is shown to the public | B1 |
| experience | /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ | n. | knowledge gained by living life, doing new things | A2 |
| experiment | /ɪkˈsperɪmənt/ | n. | test performed to assess new ideas or theories | B1 |
| explore | /ɪkˈsplɔː/ | v. | to learn about something by examining in detail or someplace by traveling to it | B1 |
| export | /ɪkˈspɔːt/ | v. | to send goods to be sold in another country | B1 |
| fall | /fɔːl/ | v. | dropping from a standing position to the ground | A1 |
| family | /ˈfæməli/ | n. | a group of people who are related through blood | A1 |
| farm | /fɑːm/ | n. | land used for growing crops or raising animals | A1 |
| farmer | /ˈfɑːmə/ | n. | someone who owns or looks after farm, a place for growing crops and keeping animals | A1 |
| farming | /ˈfɑːmɪŋ/ | n. | Growing crops or raising animals for food and other products | B1 |
| fast | /fɑːst/ | adj. | moving or able to move quickly | A1 |
| fat | /fæt/ | n. | oily part of meat | A2 |
| federal | /'fedərəl/ | adj. | system of government | L1 |
| festival | /ˈfestɪvəl/ | n. | cultural event with a program of events | A2 |
| figure | /ˈfɪɡə/ | n. | to understand after thinking; work out | B1 |
| film | /fɪlm/ | n. | movie | A1 |
| financial | /faɪˈnænʃəl/ | adj. | involving money | B1 |
| fine | /faɪn/ | adj. | good, acceptable or satisfactory | A1 |
| fitness | /ˈfɪtnəs/ | n. | The condition of being physically healthy and strong | B1 |
| flight | /flaɪt/ | n. | act of flying | A2 |
| flood | /flʌd/ | n. | a large amount of water covering land that is usually dry | B1 |
| food | /fuːd/ | n. | what people and animals eat to live | A1 |
| foreign | /ˈfɒrən/ | adj. | being of a different place or country | A2 |
| forest | /ˈfɒrɪst/ | n. | large area with many trees | A2 |
| fuel | /ˈfjuːəl/ | n. | material used to produce heat or power when burned | B1 |
| gallery | /ˈɡæləri/ | n. | place to look at various types of art | A2 |
| generation | /ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃən/ | n. | people born and living at about the same time | B1 |
| global | /ˈɡləʊbəl/ | adj. | concerning, affecting, or involving the entire world | B1 |
| government | /ˈɡʌvənmənt/ | n. | group of people and system which rule a nation | A2 |
| grade | /ɡreɪd/ | n. | level of study that is completed by a student | B1 |
| gradually | /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ | adv. | occurring in a slow manner over a period of time | B1 |
| graduate | /ˈɡrædʒuət/ | n. | (v) to receive a degree from a college or university; (n) a person who has received a degree | B1 |
| grain | /ɡreɪn/ | n. | seeds of plants used for food | B1 |
| grow | /ɡrəʊ/ | v. | to develop and become bigger or taller over time | A1 |
| growth | /ɡrəʊθ/ | n. | act of growing | B1 |
| guide | /ɡaɪd/ | n. | to lead people visiting a new or unknown place | A2 |
| guilty | /ˈɡɪlti/ | adj. | having done something bad or illegal | B1 |
| headline | /ˈhedlaɪn/ | n. | the title of a news report | B1 |
| health | /helθ/ | n. | being in a good condition; being well | A2 |
| highway | /ˈhaɪweɪ/ | n. | a main public road connecting towns or cities | B1 |
| hobby | /ˈhɒbi/ | n. | An activity you regularly do for pleasure in your free time | A1 |
| holiday | /ˈhɒlədeɪ/ | n. | day when people don't go to work or school | A1 |
| homework | /ˈhəʊmwɜːk/ | n. | work that a student is given to do at home | A1 |
| hospital | /ˈhɒspɪtl/ | n. | building for sick people, with doctors and nurses | A1 |
| hotel | /həʊˈtel/ | n. | place where people can stay when traveling | A1 |
| housing | /'hausiŋ/ | n. | structures collectively in which people are housed; a protective cover designed to contain or support a mechanical component | L1 |
| hunger | /ˈhʌŋɡə/ | n. | feeling of needing to eat food | B1 |
| identity | /aɪˈdentəti/ | n. | who someone is; the collection of qualities that makes a person | B1 |
| illegal | /ɪˈliːɡəl/ | adj. | not allowed by the laws or rules | B1 |
| illness | /ˈɪlnəs/ | n. | unhealthy condition of the mind or body | A2 |
| imagination | /ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən/ | n. | the ability to think of new ideas or things that are not real | B1 |
| immigrant | /'imigrənt/ | n. | person moving to another country to live there | L1 |
| income | /ˈɪnkʌm/ | n. | earned money from work, investments, or business | B1 |
| increase | /ɪnˈkriːs/ | v. | to make or become something larger in size or amount | A2 |
| individual | /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl/ | adj. | single person, looked at separately from others | B1 |
| industry | /ˈɪndəstri/ | n. | factories or businesses that make certain products | B1 |
| influence | /ˈɪnfluəns/ | n. | to affect what happens; change something (indirectly) | B1 |
| information | /ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən/ | n. | collection of facts and details about something | A1 |
| ingredient | /ɪnˈɡriːdiənt/ | n. | one of the foods used to prepare a dish | B1 |
| injection | /ɪnˈdʒekʃən/ | n. | a way to put (inject) a drug or another substance into your body | B1 |
| injury | /ˈɪndʒəri/ | n. | physical or emotional harm or damage that a person experiences | B1 |
| insect | /ˈɪnsekt/ | n. | a small animal with 6 legs, such as a bee or ant | A2 |
| insurance | /ɪnˈʃʊərəns/ | n. | payments to cover potential loss/damage/injury/death | B1 |
| interest | /ˈɪntrəst/ | n. | to make someone want to know about something | A2 |
| intermediate | /ˌɪntəˈmiːdiət/ | adj. | between | B1 |
| international | /ˌɪntəˈnæʃənəl/ | adj. | done or relating to several countries, not just your own | A2 |
| internet | /ˈɪntənet/ | n. | The worldwide network connecting computers and other devices | A1 |
| interview | /ˈɪntəvjuː/ | n. | to formally ask questions about a given topic | A2 |
| invention | /ɪnˈvenʃən/ | n. | something new that someone has designed or created | B1 |
| investor | /in'vestə/ | n. | a person who gives money to help a business grow for a profit | L1 |
| job | /dʒɒb/ | n. | regular work of earning money | A1 |
| journalist | /ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst/ | n. | a person who writes news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio | B1 |
| journey | /ˈdʒɜːni/ | n. | traveling from one place to another; trip | A2 |
| judge | /dʒʌdʒ/ | v. | to form an opinion after careful consideration | B1 |
| justice | /'dʒʌstis/ | n. | quality of being fair, equal, or just | L1 |
| knowledge | /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ | n. | information, understanding, or skill | A2 |
| laboratory | /ləˈbɒrətri/ | n. | a place for doing research and experiments | B1 |
| law | /lɔː/ | n. | system or rules made by the government | A2 |
| lawyer | /ˈlɔɪə/ | n. | a professional who is paid to help people with the law | A2 |
| leaf | /li:f/ | n. | the green part of a tree or plant | L1 |
| lecture | /ˈlektʃə/ | n. | talk or speech about a particular subject | B1 |
| legal | /ˈliːɡl/ | adj. | concerning the law; allowed by law | B1 |
| legislation | /.ledʒis'leiʃən/ | n. | act or process of writing and passing laws | L1 |
| leisure | /ˈleʒə/ | n. | time when you have no work to do and can relax | B1 |
| life | /laɪf/ | n. | all the living things (e.g., animals, plants, humans) | A1 |
| lifestyle | /ˈlaɪfstaɪl/ | n. | the type of life that you have | B1 |
| literature | /ˈlɪtrətʃə/ | n. | writings that are valued as works of art, esp. fiction, drama and poetry | B1 |
| living | /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ | adj. | Alive now, rather than dead or without life | B1 |
| loan | /ləʊn/ | n. | something (usually money) that is given to someone for a period of time with a promise that it will be returned | B1 |
| local | /ˈləʊkəl/ | adj. | relating or restricted to a particular area, city, or town | A2 |
| loss | /lɒs/ | n. | experience or state of failing to have or keep | B1 |
| luggage | /ˈlʌɡɪdʒ/ | n. | bags and cases that hold your belongings when travelling | A2 |
| luxury | /ˈlʌkʃəri/ | n. | something expensive or costly that is not needed which is bought for pleasure | B1 |
| machine | /məˈʃiːn/ | n. | piece of equipment used to do work | A1 |
| magazine | /ˌmæɡəˈziːn/ | n. | weekly or monthly publication with pictures and stories | A1 |
| management | /ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ | n. | people who are in control of a business or group | B1 |
| manager | /ˈmænɪdʒə/ | n. | person who controls and runs a business or group | A2 |
| manufacturer | /.mænju'fæktʃərə/ | n. | a person or company that makes a product | L1 |
| market | /ˈmɑːkɪt/ | n. | public event where people sell goods on tables | A1 |
| marriage | /ˈmærɪdʒ/ | n. | formal relationship between a husband and a wife | B1 |
| meal | /miːl/ | n. | food for eating at a particular time (e.g., dinner) | A1 |
| measure | /ˈmeʒə/ | v. | to calculate size, weight or temperature of | B1 |
| medical | /ˈmedɪkəl/ | adj. | of or relating to physical health or medicine | B1 |
| medicine | /ˈmedɪsən/ | n. | liquid or pills used to treat illness or pain; the study of treating illness or pain | A2 |
| mental | /ˈmentəl/ | adj. | concerning the mind | B1 |
| method | /ˈmeθəd/ | n. | organized and planned way of doing something | A2 |
| minority | /mai'nɒriti/ | n. | a part of a group that is less than half of the whole; a small part | L1 |
| monument | /ˈmɒnjʊmənt/ | n. | A structure built to honour a person or important event | B1 |
| murder | /ˈmɜːdə/ | n. | crime of deliberately killing a person | B1 |
| museum | /mjuˈziːəm/ | n. | building to display art, science, or history objects | A1 |
| music | /ˈmjuːzɪk/ | n. | sounds that are sung or played to give pleasure | A1 |
| musician | /mjuˈzɪʃən/ | n. | a person who writes, sings, or plays music, as a job | A2 |
| national | /ˈnæʃənəl/ | adj. | concerning a nation as a whole | B1 |
| natural | /ˈnætʃərəl/ | adj. | not made by humans; without human intervention | A2 |
| neighbourhood | /ˈneɪbəhʊd/ | n. | An area around people's homes within a town or city | A2 |
| network | /ˈnetwɜːk/ | n. | system of connections | B1 |
| news | /njuːz/ | n. | information about recent events | A1 |
| newspaper | /ˈnjuːzpeɪpə/ | n. | sheets of paper (or online) containing news stories | A1 |
| noise | /nɔɪz/ | n. | a loud or unpleasant sound | A2 |
| novel | /ˈnɒvəl/ | n. | written fiction story | B1 |
| nurse | /nɜːs/ | n. | person trained to care for sick or injured people | A2 |
| occupation | /ˌɒkjəˈpeɪʃən/ | n. | a career or regular job | B1 |
| ocean | /ˈəʊʃən/ | n. | large body of salt water that covers most of the surface of the earth | A2 |
| official | /əˈfɪʃəl/ | adj. | of or done by someone in authority; formal | B1 |
| online | /ˌɒnˈlaɪn/ | adj. | connected to the internet | A2 |
| opinion | /əˈpɪnjən/ | n. | a person's thoughts on a topic | A2 |
| painting | /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/ | n. | A picture made using paint | A1 |
| parent | /ˈpeərənt/ | n. | person's mother or father | A1 |
| part-time | /ˌpɑːt ˈtaɪm/ | adj. | Involving fewer hours than a full working or studying week | A2 |
| passenger | /ˈpæsɪndʒə/ | n. | A person who is traveling in a vehicle | A2 |
| passport | /ˈpɑːspɔːt/ | n. | an official document identifying you when travelling between countries | A2 |
| patient | /ˈpeɪʃənt/ | n. | not getting annoyed when things take a long time | A2 |
| peace | /piːs/ | n. | time when there is no war or fighting | A2 |
| percentage | /pəˈsentɪdʒ/ | n. | part of a whole divided into hundredths | B1 |
| performance | /pəˈfɔːməns/ | n. | activity done to entertain an audience | B1 |
| phenomenon | /fi'nɒminən/ | n. | a fact that can be observed and studied | L1 |
| physics | /ˈfɪzɪks/ | n pl. | the study of heat, light, and other forms of energy and how they affect objects | A2 |
| planet | /ˈplænɪt/ | n. | one of the bodies that orbit the sun | A2 |
| planning | n. | an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action; the act or process of drawing up plans or layouts for some project or enterprise | L1 | |
| plastic | /ˈplæstɪk/ | n. | a very common, light, strong material that can be formed into many different shapes and is made by a chemical process | A2 |
| platform | /ˈplætfɔːm/ | n. | a raised area for people to stand on | A2 |
| podcast | /ˈpɒdkɑːst/ | n. | An online audio programme available to stream or download | B1 |
| poem | /ˈpəʊɪm/ | n. | a written composition in verse, not prose | B1 |
| poetry | /ˈpəʊətri/ | n. | poetic writing; imaginative verses | B1 |
| police | /pəˈliːs/ | n. | people, often in uniforms, who solve crimes | A1 |
| policy | /ˈpɒləsi/ | n. | course of action proposed by an organization, etc. | B1 |
| political | /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/ | adj. | concerning government or public affairs | B1 |
| politician | /ˌpɒləˈtɪʃən/ | n. | someone who is active in politics | B1 |
| politics | /ˈpɒlətɪks/ | n. | activities influencing the policies of a government | B1 |
| pollution | /pəˈluːʃən/ | n. | dirty or dangerous waste released into an environment | B1 |
| population | /ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃən/ | n. | number of people who live in a country, area, etc. | B1 |
| poverty | /ˈpɒvəti/ | n. | being poor | B1 |
| predict | /prɪˈdɪkt/ | v. | to guess or estimate what will or might happen | B1 |
| prediction | /prɪˈdɪkʃən/ | n. | a statement of what will happen next. | B1 |
| press | /pres/ | v. | to push something against something else | B1 |
| price | /praɪs/ | n. | to determine or set the cost of something | A1 |
| primary | /ˈpraɪməri/ | adj. | most important, most basic or essential | B1 |
| prison | /ˈprɪzən/ | n. | a place where people who have committed serious crimes are held | B1 |
| produce | /prəˈdjuːs/; /ˈprɒdjuːs/ | v. | to manufacture something using machines | B1 |
| product | /ˈprɒdʌkt/ | n. | item that can be bought | A2 |
| profession | /prəˈfeʃən/ | n. | job requiring special education or skills | B1 |
| professional | /prəˈfeʃənəl/ | adj. | about a job such as a doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc. | B1 |
| professor | /prəˈfesə/ | n. | a teacher of high rank in a university or college | A2 |
| profit | /ˈprɒfɪt/ | n. | to earn money from something | B1 |
| program | /ˈprəʊɡræm/ | n. | planned set of actions; a schematic system | A2 |
| programme | /ˈprəʊɡræm/ | n. | an organised set of activities with a particular purpose | A2 |
| promote | /prəˈməʊt/ | v. | to try to encourage the popularity and sales of a product | B1 |
| protect | /prəˈtekt/ | v. | to defend someone or something from harm or danger | A2 |
| public | /ˈpʌblɪk/ | adj. | concerning society in general | A2 |
| publish | /ˈpʌblɪʃ/ | v. | to prepare a book, journal, magazine and make it available | B1 |
| pupil | /ˈpjuːpəl/ | n. | 1. a child or young person who is being taught; a student; 2. the black round part in the center of the eye that lets in light | A2 |
| qualification | /ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | official record proving a certain standard or level | B1 |
| radio | /ˈreɪdiəʊ/ | n. | system for sending and receiving signals through the air | A1 |
| recipe | /ˈresəpi/ | n. | directions for making something | B1 |
| recover | /rɪˈkʌvə/ | v. | to become healthy after an illness or injury; to get better | B1 |
| recycle | /ˌriːˈsaɪkəl/ | v. | to process used materials so they can be used again | B1 |
| recycling | /ˌriːˈsaɪklɪŋ/ | n. | the process of turning waste into materials usable again | B1 |
| reduce | /rɪˈdjuːs/ | v. | to make something smaller or use less of it | B1 |
| religion | /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ | n. | set of beliefs about a god or gods | B1 |
| religious | /ri'lidʒəs/ | adj. | concerning religion or faith | L1 |
| rent | /rent/ | n. | to pay money for the use of something | A2 |
| report | /rɪˈpɔːt/ | n. | account of something which gives the necessary facts and information | A2 |
| reporter | /rɪˈpɔːtə/ | n. | someone whose job is to write and report news for a newspaper, magazine, television, or radio station | A2 |
| research | /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/ | n. | to carefully study to find and report new knowledge | B1 |
| resource | /rɪˈzɔːs/ | n. | essential supply of something | B1 |
| restaurant | /ˈrestrɒnt/ | n. | place where you can order, buy and eat a meal | A1 |
| retire | /rɪˈtaɪə/ | v. | to stop working because you have reached a certain age | B1 |
| retirement | /ri'taiəmənt/ | n. | time when someone has stopped working because of their age | L1 |
| revenue | /'revinju:/ | n. | money that is made by or paid to a business | L1 |
| rice | /raɪs/ | n. | white or brown grains from a plant used for food | A1 |
| rise | /raɪz/ | v. | to move from a lower position to a higher one | A2 |
| robot | /ˈrəʊbɒt/ | n. | a mechanical creature that acts like a human | A2 |
| roughly | /ˈrʌfli/ | adv. | in an inexact or imprecise manner | B1 |
| salary | /ˈsæləri/ | n. | money an employee is paid each year | A2 |
| saving | /ˈseɪvɪŋ/ | n. | a reduction in the money, time, or resources used | B1 |
| science | /ˈsaɪəns/ | n. | knowledge of the physical world based on facts | A1 |
| scientific | /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/ | adj. | related to science | B1 |
| scientist | /ˈsaɪəntɪst/ | n. | a person who is trained to gain knowledge by making predictions, testing them, and developing theories | A2 |
| screen | /skriːn/ | n. | flat surface on a computer, or tv that shows images | A2 |
| sculpture | /ˈskʌlptʃə/ | n. | an artwork made by carving, shaping, or assembling materials | B1 |
| secondary | /ˈsekəndri/ | adj. | less important than something else | B1 |
| security | /sɪˈkjʊərəti/ | n. | things done to protect people, buildings, a country, etc., from harm | B1 |
| sentence | /ˈsentəns/ | n. | set of spoken or written words that make a whole statement | A1 |
| service | /ˈsɜːvɪs/ | n. | to maintain a piece of machinery so it runs well | A2 |
| sharp | /ʃɑːp/ | adj. | having a thin edge or point that is able to cut | B1 |
| sightseeing | /ˈsaɪtsiːɪŋ/ | n. | the activity of visiting interesting places as a tourist | A2 |
| significantly | adv. | in a way that is important or noticeable | L1 | |
| similarity | /ˌsɪməˈlærəti/ | n. | the degree to which people or things are the same | B1 |
| skill | /skɪl/ | n. | ability to do something well | A2 |
| skyscraper | /ˈskaɪskreɪpə/ | n. | An extremely tall building with many floors | B1 |
| sleep | /sliːp/ | v. | to rest your body in bed, as at night time | A1 |
| slightly | /ˈslaɪtli/ | adv. | concerning a small quantity or degree | B1 |
| smartphone | /ˈsmɑːtfəʊn/ | n. | A mobile phone with internet access and computer-like functions | A2 |
| smoking | /ˈsməʊkɪŋ/ | n. | The activity or habit of breathing in smoke from tobacco | A2 |
| snack | /snæk/ | n. | A small amount of food eaten between main meals | A2 |
| social | /ˈsəʊʃəl/ | adj. | involving activities among people especially free time activities | A2 |
| society | /səˈsaɪəti/ | n. | community of people living together | B1 |
| software | /ˈsɒftweə/ | n. | market for software is expected to expand | A2 |
| soil | /sɔɪl/ | n. | top layer of earth in which plants grow | B1 |
| solar | /ˈsəʊlə/ | adj. | to do with the sun, like sunlight or the heat from the sun | B1 |
| souvenir | /ˌsuːvəˈnɪə/ | n. | An object kept to remember a place, person, or event | B1 |
| space | /speɪs/ | n. | empty area with nothing in it | A2 |
| spending | /'spendiŋ/ | n. | the act of spending or disbursing money | L1 |
| sport | /spɔːt/ | n. | game or physical exercise with rules | A1 |
| staff | /stɑːf/ | n. | employees of a company | B1 |
| standard | /ˈstændəd/ | n. | accepted level of quality; an official measurement | B1 |
| stress | /stres/ | n. | to be in a state of mental tension due to problems | B1 |
| subject | /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ | n. | the person, or thing that is being talked, or written about | A2 |
| suburb | /ˈsʌbɜːb/ | n. | A mainly residential area outside a city's central part | B1 |
| sugar | /ˈʃʊɡə/ | n. | white sweet substance used to make foods sweeter | A1 |
| supermarket | /ˈsuːpəmɑːkɪt/ | n. | a large shop selling food and other everyday goods | A1 |
| supply | /səˈplaɪ/ | v. | to give or sell goods to others for their use | B1 |
| symptom | /ˈsɪmptəm/ | n. | a change in someone or something that shows they have an illness or problem | B1 |
| tax | /tæks/ | n. | money taken by a government from its people | B1 |
| technical | /ˈteknɪkəl/ | adj. | of practical use of machines or science in industry | B1 |
| technology | /tekˈnɒlədʒi/ | n. | use or knowledge of science in industry, engineering, etc. | A2 |
| teenager | /ˈtiːneɪdʒə/ | n. | a person between the ages of 13 and 19 | A2 |
| telescope | /ˈtelɪskəʊp/ | n. | An instrument that makes distant objects appear closer and clearer | B1 |
| television | /ˈtelɪvɪʒən/ | n. | device that broadcasts programs, movies, or show | A1 |
| temperature | /ˈtemprətʃə/ | n. | a measure of how hot or cold something is (e.g., the weather) | A2 |
| theatre | /ˈθɪətə/ | n. | A building where people watch plays and other live performances | A2 |
| total | /ˈtəʊtəl/ | adj. | whole number or amount of something | A2 |
| tour | /tʊə/ | n. | a journey to visit several places for pleasure | A2 |
| tourism | /ˈtʊərɪzəm/ | n. | traveling to new places (e.g., abroad, for vacations) | A2 |
| tourist | /ˈtʊərɪst/ | n. | someone who travels to a place for pleasure | A2 |
| tournament | /ˈtʊənəmənt/ | n. | a competition made up of a series of games between many competitors | B1 |
| town | /taʊn/ | n. | small city | A1 |
| trade | /treɪd/ | n. | to buy, sell and exchange goods in business | B1 |
| tradition | /trəˈdɪʃən/ | n. | way of thinking, and behaving that was used for a long time | B1 |
| traditional | /trəˈdɪʃənəl/ | adj. | involved in a tradition | A2 |
| traffic | /ˈtræfɪk/ | n. | amount of activity over a communication system | A2 |
| translation | /trænzˈleɪʃən/ | n. | changing from one form to another. e.g. changing from one language to another | B1 |
| transport | /ˈtrænspɔːt/ | n. | to carry things from one place to another | A2 |
| transportation | /ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən/ | n. | act, system, or business of moving people or goods from one place to another | B1 |
| travel | /ˈtrævl/ | v. | to go to a place that is far away | A1 |
| treatment | /ˈtriːtmənt/ | n. | way someone acts toward another | B1 |
| trend | /trend/ | n. | general direction of developing, proceeding | B1 |
| trial | /'traiəl/ | n. | concerning or used in a trial | L1 |
| trip | /trɪp/ | n. | journey or visit to a place | A1 |
| tutor | /ˈtjuːtə/ | n. | a teacher | B1 |
| universe | /ˈjuːnɪvɜːs/ | n. | all of space and everything in it | B1 |
| update | /ˌʌpˈdeɪt/ | v. | to change something by adding the most recent information | B1 |
| upload | /ˌʌpˈləʊd/ | v. | to transfer files from a device to an online system | B1 |
| user | /ˈjuːzə/ | n. | person that uses a service or thing (e.g., a website) | A2 |
| vacation | /vəˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | time away from work or study for rest or travel | A2 |
| vegetarian | /ˌvedʒɪˈteəriən/ | n. | A person who does not eat meat or fish | B1 |
| vehicle | /ˈviːəkl/ | n. | machine (such as a car) that is used to carry things | B1 |
| victim | /ˈvɪktɪm/ | n. | person who has suffered from a crime, bad situation, or event | B1 |
| viewer | /'vju:ə/ | n. | an optical device for viewing photographic transparencies | L1 |
| village | /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/ | n. | small town in the country | A1 |
| violence | /'vaiələns/ | n. | use of physical force to harm someone or damage something | L1 |
| virus | /ˈvaɪrəs/ | n. | a very small, basic living thing that causes disease or sickness | B1 |
| visa | /ˈviːzə/ | n. | Official permission to enter or stay in a foreign country | B1 |
| vocabulary | /vəˈkæbjələri/ | n. | the words that a person knows | A2 |
| volunteer | /ˌvɒlənˈtɪə/ | n. | someone who works willingly without pay | B1 |
| vote | /vəʊt/ | v. | to make a choice for or against, as in an election | B1 |
| vowel | /ˈvaʊəl/ | n. | a speech sound; a, e , i, o, u and sometimes y | B1 |
| wage | /weɪdʒ/ | n. | money paid to workers for the hours they worked | B1 |
| war | /wɔː/ | n. | situation where armies fight each other | A2 |
| waste | /weɪst/ | v. | to use valuable things ineffectively | A2 |
| website | /ˈwebsaɪt/ | n. | a set of internet pages that give information about a particular person or organization | A1 |
| wheat | /wiːt/ | n. | a kind of grain that is used to make flour for bread | B1 |
| wildlife | /ˈwaɪldlaɪf/ | n. | Animals and other living things in their natural surroundings | B1 |
| wind | /wɪnd/, /waɪnd/ | n. | natural movement of outside air as part of the weather | A2 |
| witness | /'witnis/ | n. | a person who sees something happen | L1 |
| workplace | /ˈwɜːkpleɪs/ | n. | A place where people do their jobs | B1 |
| youth | /juːθ/ | n. | when you are young; a young person | B1 |
Other topics
- Intermediate (≈ band 5.5–6.5)
- Advanced (≈ band 7+)
- Environment
- Education
- Health
- Technology
- Work & careers
- Business
- Economy & money
- Society & family
- Crime & law
- Government & politics
- Media & news
- Cities & housing
- Travel & tourism
- Science & research
- Food & farming
- Arts, culture & sport
- Graphs & trends (Task 1)
- Academic words
Data sources and credits
- Headwords and English definitions: New General Service List 1.2 & New Academic Word List 1.2 — Browne, C., Culligan, B. & Phillips, J., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Phonetics, CEFR levels, example sentences and Chinese glosses: Word Atlas — Word Atlas contributors — CC BY 4.0. Modified: fields selected, senses shortened, Chinese converted to Traditional characters.
- More phonetics and Chinese translations: ECDICT (MIT)
- Scheduling: ts-fsrs (MIT)
- The topic decks and all page texts are our own.