5000 most common English words

The 5,000 English words you meet most often, from basic A1 vocabulary to B2. Each word has its British and American transcription, audio in both accents and a short explanation in plain English. Choose your language to see translations and learn the words with flashcards.

Words 1–100 of 4969

1. 1
   abandonverbB2

   UK /əˈbændən/US /əˈbændən/

   to leave something or someone completely

2. 2
   abilitynounA2

   UK /əˈbɪlɪti/US /əˈbɪlɪti/

   capacity to do something

3. 3
   a bitphraseA1

   UK /ə ˈbɪt/US /ə ˈbɪt/

   a small amount or a little

4. 4
   ableadjectiveA2

   UK /ˈeɪbəl/US /ˈeɪbəl/

   having the skill or power to do something

5. 5
   abortionnounC1

   UK /əˈbɔːʃən/US /əˈbɔrʃən/

   the ending of a pregnancy before birth

6. 6
   aboutprepositionA1

   UK /əˈbaʊt/US /əˈbaʊt/

   concerning or around a subject

7. 7
   about sixphraseA1

   UK /əˈbaʊt ˈsɪks/US /əˈbaʊt ˈsɪks/

   approximately six

8. 8
   aboveprepositionA1

   UK /əˈbʌv/US /əˈbʌv/

   at a higher level than something

9. 9
   abroadadverbA2

   UK /əˈbrɔːd/US /əˈbrɔd/

   in or to a foreign country or countries

10. 10
    absencenounC1

    UK /ˈæbsəns/US /ˈæbsəns/

    not being at school, work or an event when you should be

11. 11
    absoluteadjectiveB2

    UK /ˈæbsəluːt/US /ˈæbsəluːt/

    complete and total

12. 12
    absolutelyadverbB1

    UK /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/US /ˌæbsəˈlutli/

    completely; totally

13. 13
    abusenounC1

    UK /əˈbjuːs/US /əˈbjuːs/

    cruel or violent treatment of a person

14. 14
    ACnounC2

    UK /ˌeɪ ˈsiː/US /ˌeɪˈsiː/

    electric current that keeps changing direction, like the power in homes

15. 15
    academicadjectiveB1

    UK /ˌækəˈdemɪk/US /ˌækəˈdemɪk/

    relating to education or scholarly study

16. 16
    accentnounB2

    UK /ˈæksent/US /ˈæksent/

    the way a person pronounces words, showing where they are from

17. 17
    acceptverbA2

    UK /əkˈsept/US /əkˈsept/

    agree to take

18. 18
    acceptableadjectiveB2

    UK /əkˈseptəbəl/US /əkˈseptəbəl/

    good enough or suitable

19. 19
    acceptancenounC1

    UK /əkˈseptəns/US /əkˈseptəns/

    willingness to accept

20. 20
    accessnounB1

    UK /ˈækses/US /ˈækses/

    the right or chance to enter or use something

21. 21
    accessibleadjectiveC1

    UK /əkˈsesɪbəl/US /əkˈsesəbəl/

    easy to reach or use

22. 22
    accessorynounC1

    UK /əkˈsesəri/US /əkˈsesəri/

    extra item for outfit

23. 23
    accidentnounA2

    UK /ˈæksɪdənt/US /ˈæksɪdənt/

    a crash involving a car or other vehicle on the road

24. 24
    accommodationnounB1

    UK /əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃən/US /əˌkɑməˈdeɪʃən/

    place to live temporarily

25. 25
    accompanyverbB2

    UK /əˈkʌmpəni/US /əˈkʌmpəni/

    to go with someone

26. 26
    accomplishmentnounC1

    UK /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/US /əˈkɑmplɪʃmənt/

    something successfully completed

27. 27
    accordnounB2

    UK /əˈkɔːd/US /əˈkɔrd/

    an official agreement

28. 28
    according toprepositionB1

    UK /əˈkɔːdɪŋ tə/US /əˈkɔrdɪŋ tə/

    as stated by; in agreement with

29. 29
    accountnounB1

    UK /əˈkaʊnt/US /əˈkaʊnt/

    user profile

30. 30
    accountabilitynounC1

    UK /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪlɪti/US /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪlɪti/

    responsibility for results

31. 31
    account balancenounA2

    UK /əˈkaʊnt ˌbæləns/US /əˈkaʊnt ˈbæləns/

    the amount of money in a bank account

32. 32
    accountingnounB1

    UK /əˈkaʊntɪŋ/US /əˈkaʊntɪŋ/

    keeping records of all the money a company earns and spends

33. 33
    accuracynounB2

    UK /ˈækjʊrəsi/US /ˈækjərəsi/

    the quality of being correct and exact

34. 34
    accurateadjectiveB2

    UK /ˈækjʊrət/US /ˈækjərət/

    correct and exact

35. 35
    accuratelyadverbB2

    UK /ˈækjʊrətli/US /ˈækjərətli/

    in a correct and exact way

36. 36
    accusationnounC1

    UK /ˌækjʊˈzeɪʃən/US /ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/

    formal charge

37. 37
    accuseverbB2

    UK /əˈkjuːz/US /əˈkjuz/

    to say that someone has done something wrong or illegal

38. 38
    achieveverbA2

    UK /əˈtʃiːv/US /əˈtʃiv/

    reach a goal

39. 39
    achievementnounB1

    UK /əˈtʃiːvmənt/US /əˈtʃivmənt/

    successful result

40. 40
    acknowledgeverbB2

    UK /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/US /əkˈnɑlɪdʒ/

    to accept that something is true or exists

41. 41
    acquaintancenounB1

    UK /əˈkweɪntəns/US /əˈkweɪntəns/

    person you know slightly

42. 42
    acquireverbB2

    UK /əˈkwaɪə/US /əˈkwaɪr/

    get new skills

43. 43
    acquisitionnounC1

    UK /ˌækwɪˈzɪʃən/US /ˌækwəˈzɪʃən/

    the act of getting or obtaining something

44. 44
    acrossprepositionA1

    UK /əˈkrɒs/US /əˈkrɔs/

    from one side to the other side

45. 45
    actverbA2

    UK /ækt/US /ækt/

    to do something; to take action

46. 46
    actionnounA1

    UK /ˈækʃən/US /ˈækʃən/

    something that someone does

47. 47
    activeadjectiveA2

    UK /ˈæktɪv/US /ˈæktɪv/

    physically or mentally engaged

48. 48
    activelyadverbB2

    UK /ˈæktɪvli/US /ˈæktɪvli/

    in a way that involves taking part and acting, not just watching

49. 49
    activistnounC1

    UK /ˈæktɪvɪst/US /ˈæktɪvɪst/

    a person who works to bring political or social change

50. 50
    activitynounA1

    UK /ækˈtɪvəti/US /ækˈtɪvəti/

    something you do, often for a particular purpose

51. 51
    actornounA1

    UK /ˈæktə/US /ˈæktɚ/

    a person whose job is acting in plays or films

52. 52
    actressnounA1

    UK /ˈæktrəs/US /ˈæktrəs/

    a woman who acts in films or plays

53. 53
    actualadjectiveB2

    UK /ˈæktʃuəl/US /ˈæktʃuəl/

    real and exact, not imagined or guessed

54. 54
    actuallyadverbA2

    UK /ˈæktʃuəli/US /ˈæktʃuəli/

    in fact; used to emphasize truth

55. 55
    adnounB1

    UK /æd/US /æd/

    a notice that tries to sell something

56. 56
    adaptverbB2

    UK /əˈdæpt/US /əˈdæpt/

    adjust to change

57. 57
    addverbA1

    UK /æd/US /æd/

    to put something together with something else

58. 58
    additionnounB1

    UK /əˈdɪʃn/US /əˈdɪʃən/

    the act of adding something

59. 59
    additionaladjectiveB2

    UK /əˈdɪʃənəl/US /əˈdɪʃənəl/

    extra; added to what already exists

60. 60
    addressnounA1

    UK /ˈædres/US /ˈædres/

    details of where someone lives or where something is

61. 61
    add to basket / add to cartphraseA2

    UK /ˌæd tə ˈbɑːskɪt/US /ˌæd tə ˈkɑrt/

    to put an item in your order on a shopping website before paying

62. 62
    adequateadjectiveB2

    UK /ˈædɪkwət/US /ˈædɪkwət/

    good enough for the need, though not excellent

63. 63
    adjustverbB2

    UK /əˈdʒʌst/US /əˈdʒʌst/

    to change something slightly to make it fit or work better

64. 64
    adjustmentnounC1

    UK /əˈdʒʌstmənt/US /əˈdʒʌstmənt/

    a small change made to improve or fit something

65. 65
    administrationnounB2

    UK /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/US /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/

    the group of people who manage a government or organization

66. 66
    admirationnounB1

    UK /ˌædməˈreɪʃən/US /ˌædməˈreɪʃən/

    a feeling of great respect for someone's qualities or actions

67. 67
    admireverbB1

    UK /ədˈmaɪə/US /ədˈmaɪɚ/

    look with pleasure

68. 68
    admirernounB1

    UK /ədˈmaɪərə/US /ədˈmaɪrɚ/

    someone who likes and respects a person very much

69. 69
    admissionnounC1

    UK /ədˈmɪʃən/US /ədˈmɪʃən/

    the right to enter a place, or the money paid for it

70. 70
    adoptverbB2

    UK /əˈdɒpt/US /əˈdɑpt/

    to start using another person's ideas or customs as your own

71. 71
    adoptionnounC1

    UK /əˈdɒpʃən/US /əˈdɑpʃən/

    the act of permanently taking responsibility for a pet by bringing it into one's home

72. 72
    adultnounA1

    UK /ˈædʌlt/US /ˈædʌlt/

    fully grown person

73. 73
    advanceverbB2

    UK /ədˈvɑːns/US /ədˈvæns/

    move to higher level

74. 74
    advancedadjectiveB1

    UK /ədˈvɑːnst/US /ədˈvænst/

    high level

75. 75
    advantagenounA2

    UK /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/US /ədˈvæntɪdʒ/

    a helpful or better position

76. 76
    adventurenounA2

    UK /ədˈventʃə/US /ədˈventʃɚ/

    an interesting or unusual experience that brings excitement

77. 77
    advertiseverbA2

    UK /ˈædvətaɪz/US /ˈædvɚˌtaɪz/

    to tell people about a product or service in order to sell it

78. 78
    advertisingnounA2

    UK /ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ/US /ˈædvɚˌtaɪzɪŋ/

    the business of making and showing advertisements

79. 79
    adviseverbB1

    UK /ədˈvaɪz/US /ədˈvaɪz/

    to tell someone what you think they should do

80. 80
    advisernounB1

    UK /ədˈvaɪzə/US /ədˈvaɪzɚ/

    a person who gives advice in a particular area

81. 81
    advocateverbC1

    UK /ˈædvəkeɪt/US /ˈædvəkeɪt/

    to publicly support or recommend something

82. 82
    affairnounB2

    UK /əˈfeə/US /əˈfer/

    an event or situation, often a private one

83. 83
    affectverbA2

    UK /əˈfekt/US /əˈfekt/

    have an effect on something, e.g. weather affects your mood

84. 84
    affordverbB1

    UK /əˈfɔːd/US /əˈfɔrd/

    to have enough money or time for something

85. 85
    affordableadjectiveB2

    UK /əˈfɔːdəbl/US /əˈfɔrdəbəl/

    not too expensive

86. 86
    afraidadjectiveA1

    UK /əˈfreɪd/US /əˈfreɪd/

    feeling fear or worry

87. 87
    AfricanadjectiveA2

    UK /ˈæfrɪkən/US /ˈæfrɪkən/

    related to Africa

88. 88
    afterprepositionA1

    UK /ˈɑːftə/US /ˈæftɚ/

    later than something

89. 89
    afternoonnounA1

    UK /ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/US /ˌæftɚˈnuːn/

    the part of the day after noon and before evening

90. 90
    after sevenphraseA1

    UK /ˈɑːftə ˈsevən/US /ˈæftɚ ˈsevən/

    later than seven o'clock

91. 91
    afterwards / afterwardadverbB1

    UK /ˈɑːftəwədz/US /ˈæftɚwɚd/

    at a later time; after something has happened

92. 92
    againadverbA1

    UK /əˈɡen/US /əˈɡen/

    one more time

93. 93
    againstprepositionA2

    UK /əˈɡenst/US /əˈɡenst/

    in opposition to

94. 94
    against the wallphraseA2

    UK /əˈɡenst ðə ˈwɔːl/US /əˈɡenst ðə ˈwɔːl/

    touching or leaning on the wall

95. 95
    agenounA1

    UK /eɪdʒ/US /eɪdʒ/

    years lived

96. 96
    agencynounB2

    UK /ˈeɪdʒənsi/US /ˈeɪdʒənsi/

    an organization that provides a service

97. 97
    agendanounB2

    UK /əˈdʒendə/US /əˈdʒendə/

    a list of subjects to be discussed at a meeting

98. 98
    agentnounB1

    UK /ˈeɪdʒənt/US /ˈeɪdʒənt/

    a person who represents another person

99. 99
    agoadverbA1

    UK /əˈɡəʊ/US /əˈɡoʊ/

    before the present time

100. 100
     agreeverbA1

     UK /əˈɡriː/US /əˈɡri/

     to think the same way as another person or believe that their idea is correct