
The Master Guide to Our English Vocabulary Lists: 1000’s of Words to Learn!
One of the largest English dictionaries has more than 21,000 pages.
Here’s something even more impressive: someone actually attempted to read it from start to finish in one year.
Don’t worry though—you don’t need to do all that to master English.
Master the most common 3,000 words, and you’ll pick up 90% of what you’re hearing and reading.
Bump that up to around 10,000, and you’re considered fluent.
In this post, we’ve put together all of our best English vocabulary lists.
Travel English? Business English? Slang words? We’ve got them all here!
Contents
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Core English Vocabulary
Use English pretty often, and you’ll notice that the same words keep popping up over and over.
In this section, we’ll tackle the core English vocabulary that you need to know, from articles such as a and the to friendly greetings and ordering from restaurants like a local.
This is the practical type of English that’s meant for your day-to-day life—whether you’re chatting with friends, traveling or about to go on a date!
Common English words
33 Greetings in English Beyond “How Are You?” and “Hello” | FluentU English Blog
Are you looking for some new greetings in English that are not “hello” and “how are you?” Here are detailed explanations of 33 English greetings so you can sound more…
It’s Not Rocket Science! 50+ Easy English Words to Learn Now
Learn these easy English words to take your language skills to the next level and start using your English like a native speaker. Read on to learn the basic English nouns,…
Discover the 30 Most Common English Words and How to Use Them
Learn the most common English words to give your communication skills an instant boost! Here’s how to use the top 30 to express almost anything.
6 English Vocabulary Resources to Learn Hundreds of New Words, Fast!
Add hundreds of new words to your English vocabulary. These six online tools make it easy and enjoyable! Find the best word lists, lessons and exercises here.
Blast Off! The Top 6 English Vocabulary Lists to Skyrocket Your English Skills
Take your English vocabulary to the next level with these six English vocabulary list resources. Gain instant access to thousands of the most commonly used words in the…
How to Talk About Your Daily Routine with 65+ English Vocabulary Words
What is your daily routine like? Can you talk about it in English? Learn these 65+ vocabulary words and phrases to describe your daily routine like a native.
Clothes Vocabulary by the Seasons! 12+ English Words for Fashionable Language All Year
T-shirts. Shorts. Cardigans. Raincoats. Here’s how to dress up your English vocabulary with essential words for clothes in summer, spring, fall and winter.
English Feelings: Your Complete Guide to Expressing Your Emotions
Being able to express your emotions is an important part of communication and language fluency. Learning English feelings vocabulary will help you express yourself in your…
How to Learn English Vocabulary from the Internet’s Favorite Memes
Love the internet? Love memes? Memes are repeated images that can help you learn English vocabulary. You’ll learn great vocabulary with these fun online tools!
Important specific words
Improve Your English Vocabulary with 10 Great Alternatives to “Good”
Are you tired of always saying “good”? Improve your English vocabulary with our explanations and examples for 10 vocabulary words that you can use instead.
Thanks a Million! 25 Ways to Say “Thank You” in English
There are so many ways to say “thank you” in English! Here are 25 of the best ways to express your thanks, along with situations where you can use them.
Easily confused words
The 5 Most Commonly Confused Word Pairs in English
Have you ever confused the English words “fun” and “funny”? Here are 5 common feelings mix-ups for English learners so you will never be confused again!
What’s the Difference Between To and Too? Here’s a Detailed Answer [With Examples] | FluentU English Blog
The difference between “to” and “too” in English can be tricky to understand. This simple guide will teach you how to tell these two words apart, how to say them…
The Most Confusing Words in English, and How to Learn Them
English is full of words that look alike, sound alike or are just plain weird. Learn these most confusing words in English to sound more fluent and confident.
English Words That Look and Sound Similar: Can You Tell the Difference?
Amount vs. number. Desert vs. Dessert. English has many words with similar meanings, spellings or pronunciations. Here’s how to tell them apart like a native.
9 English Word Pairs that Confuse Absolutely Everyone
Are you confused by English? So is everyone else! Learn about these tricky, similar-sounding words to improve your English accuracy and fluency today.
Time, day and months vocab
English Days of the Week: Origins, Expressions, Useful Vocabulary and More! | FluentU English Blog
Learn the English days of the week with this ultimate guide, which covers important vocabulary, pronunciations and related idioms! Find out about their fascinating name…
Mark Your Calendars: It’s Time to Learn the Months in English!
Learn the months in English with fun movies! We’ll recommend an English movie for each month of the year and also teach you about that month’s holidays and more. We’ve…
Friends, Family and home
4 Useful Ways of Describing People in English
Describing people is an important skill to have in English. Learn 4 different ways to describe people, along with lots of useful words and phrases!
50+ English House Vocabulary Words: From the Bedroom to the Kitchen and Beyond
Learn to talk about your house in English! Do you want to learn vocabulary to talk about your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and more? We’ll teach you fundamental vocabulary…
Romance and love vocabulary
90+ American Terms of Endearment for Friends, Family and Romantic Partners | FluentU English Blog
Using a term of endearment for people will make your English sound more native! From calling your other half “baby” and “main squeeze” to referring to a friend using…
Learn to Speak Love: 20 British Terms of Endearment
Love makes the world go round! Learn how to express your love and affection with these 20 British terms of endearment.
10 Funny Pick-up Lines to Help You Learn English (and Maybe Find Love)!
Do you know any pick-up lines in English? Here are 10 silly pick-up lines that’ll make you laugh out loud—while learning new words and phrases!
I Love You in English: 180+ Romantic and Platonic Phrases to Express Your Love | FluentU English Blog
Learn how to say “I love you” in English and express your love in to that special someone. Check out over 180 ways to say “I Love you” to your significant other and your…
Travel and survival English
25 Useful English Vocabulary Words for the Airport
Are you an English learner who is traveling soon? Here are 25 useful English vocabulary words for the airport.
English Tourism Vocabulary: The Words You Need to Connect with Travelers from Around the Globe
Here are some useful words and phrases to seek clarification and encourage dialogue to connect with tourists of all English language levels.
Directions in English: How to Find Your Way While Traveling
We’ve all been lost and there’s a chance it’ll happen again on your next trip. Here are some words and phrases to help you give and get directions in English!
Food, drink and eating out
Welcome to the Party: 25 Nuggets Of Vocabulary for Talking About Food in English
Food is everyone’s favorite topic of conversation! These 25 words and phrases will help you talk about food in English like a native.
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/english-restaurant-vocabulary/
29 Vegetable Names in English to Quickly Grow Your Food Vocabulary
Quickly learn 29 vegetable names in English with this hearty list of vocabulary. Vegetable pictures and practice material will help you rapidly master these essential…
Fourth of July Picnic: English Vocabulary for All-American Food
Celebrate the All-American holiday: Fourth of July. Fireworks, barbecue, friends and family—it’s so much fun! Learn this vocab and wear some red, white and blue.
Give Thanks with This List of 10 Popular Foods to Eat on Thanksgiving Day
Do you want to know what people eat on Thanksgiving Day? Here’s a list of 10 popular Thanksgiving foods—and more!
30 Essential Fast Food Vocabulary Words for Eating and Learning on the Go
Fast food is everywhere. Learn the English fast food vocabulary you’ll need to know to order and eat hamburgers, fries, pizza, smoothies, sandwiches and more!
Slow Monday? Here’s How to Order Coffee in English Like a Local
Coffee house vocabulary can sometimes be intimidating. We’ve got 5 easy steps and lots of coffee terms to help you order coffee in English with confidence!
Hobbies
40 Camping Words You Need for Your Outdoor Adventures | FluentU English Blog
Check out these 40 English camping words that’ll boost your vocab, whether you’re an outdoorsman or not! Learn English words for outdoor activities, camping equipment and…
The Essential Guide to Sports Vocabulary
Want to talk about sports in English? Here’s the essential guide to English sports vocabulary!
The Ultimate English Vocabulary Guide For Football / Soccer & the World Cup
Learning English vocabulary and enjoy football / soccer? Then you don’t want to miss this beautiful and detailed post!
11 Useful English Shopping Vocabulary Words And How to Use Them
Americans love to shop. Do you love to shop too? Even if you don’t, you’ll hear these words and phrases in English conversation all the time!
Spell-binding, Magical, Must-see: How to Really Talk About Movies in English
Want to discuss the latest flick with your friends? We’ll help you do that with this list of vocabulary words and questions in English about movies!
The Complete Guide to Talking About Music in English
Music might make you want to dance, but if you want to talk about it in English you’re going to need the right terms. These words and phrases will help you out!
Nature-related words
33 English Beach Vocabulary Words for Summer Fun
Beach vocabulary is tons of fun to learn. Here are 33+ English vocabulary words that all ESL students will need at the beach. Enjoy the sunshine, go swimming!
Essential Summer Vocabulary Word List for ESL Learners
Want to learn some English vocabulary words for the summer? Then our summer vocabulary word list is exactly what you’re looking for.
Spring into English: 28 Fresh ESL Vocabulary Words for Spring
Spring is in the air! Here are 28 essential vocabulary words for ESL learners to enjoy the season.
34 Essential ESL Vocabulary Words to Survive the Winter
Want to learn ESL winter vocabulary? It’s your lucky day. Hope you enjoy the words, beautiful pictures, and useful examples in this post on winter vocabulary..
Seasons in English: 79+ Essential Seasonal Words and Phrases for Different Times of Year [With Audio] | FluentU English Blog
Talking about the seasons in English will help your vocabulary grow and provide you with a great topic for conversations! So, what’s your favorite time of year? Click here…
How to Talk About the Weather in English with All the Right Vocabulary
There’s no way to avoid the weather or avoid talking about it, either! Here are 33 words and phrases you’ll need to talk about the weather in English!
Advanced English Vocabulary
Already feel confident with basic English but you want to expand your vocabulary? Then you might be ready to move on to more advanced English!
You can delve into widely known but more complicated words like illusion and runners-up. Or maybe you’d want to find out all about common word roots (they’ll boost your comprehension right away!). There’s also the weird but wonderful world of homophones, where two words sound alike but have different meanings.
Deepen your understanding of English with these blog posts:
23 Words That Mean “Unique” In English | FluentU English Learner Blog
Not all words that mean “unique” in English mean the same thing. In this post, you will learn the three types of English words that mean “unique” (the best there is, like…
16 Ways To Say “Happy” in English | FluentU English Blog
Did you know that “happy” in English can be expressed in many different ways? Check out our list of 16 different idioms and vocabulary words for feeling happy. The words…
18 Iconic English Music Videos to Crank Up Your Vocabulary | FluentU English Blog
Watching English music videos is one of the easiest (and most fun) ways to learn vocabulary. Click here to learn 18 English words from famous singers like Michael Jackson,…
25 Pairs of English Homophones You’ll Need in Life | FluentU English Blog
Learning English homophones will help you understand the context and different word meanings when speaking English. From everyday homophones like “to,” “two” and “too” to…
21 English Words with Multiple Meanings | FluentU English Blog
There are many English words with multiple meanings. In fact, some of these words are very common! Learn the different meanings for English words like date, mine, key and…
12 English Words People Say and Use Wrong
There are some English words that even native speakers say wrong. Here are 12 words people use incorrectly all the time!
Difficult English words
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/difficult-english-words/
5 Reasons Why English Words Are So Difficult to Spell
Why are English words so difficult to spell? Is English just a crazy language? Here are 5 tricky things to remember when spelling new English words.
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/english-hard-words/
Business and professional English
Handy English Medical Vocabulary Words You Need to Know
You never know when an medical emergency will happen. Be prepared with these essential English medical vocabulary terms!
How to Talk About Money in English: Vocabulary, Phrases and Idioms
It’s time to talk about your money, in English! Let us help you make sense of those words for dollars and cents with these important terms and phrases.
8 Tools for Anyone to Start Talking About School in English
Talking about school in English is an important skill for all English learners (and their parents) to work on. Here are 8 perfect resources to get started!
Word Parts and Components
40 Suffixes in English You’ll Be Glad You Learned
Learning suffixes in English is perhaps the best way to learn the language faster. In this blog post, we list 40 common suffixes in English as well as examples, tips for…
40 Common Prefixes in English: The Smartest Way to Improve Your Vocabulary Quickly
Prefixes in English are a smart way to instantly improve your English vocabulary. If you learn a few English prefixes, you’ll really be learning hundreds of new vocabulary…
The Fascinating Origins of 16 Common English Words
Learn English word origins and you can learn double or even triple the amount of English vocabulary! Word origins will help you remember and understand better.
English Roots: 30 Word Roots From Latin and Greek To Boost Your English Vocabulary | FluentU English Blog
English roots are essential shortcuts to help you learn and understand many English words! From Latin roots such as “fort” (strong) to Greek roots like “auto” (self), this…
45 Common English Words That Came from Other Languages
Did you know many English words come from other languages? Here are 45 interesting words that come from French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese and other languages!…
English Slang
Once you’ve got the foundations of English down, one way to sound even more natural is to learn slang. If you read through any English-language social media website—Twitter, Youtube, Facebook or Reddit, for example—you’ll see lots of slang:
Don’t be such a couch potato.
TBH, I haven’t seen that meme yet.
This summer, I’m going to YOLO.
Slang tends to pop up in informal or casual conversations as well as online. Different English countries can also have different slang!
Cheesy, Corny, Tacky: 10 Silly Slang Words and Phrases That Are Common in English
Some of the most common and useful English slang words are also the funniest. Here are 10 slang words and phrases that are so silly you’ll never forget them!
30 English Internet Slang Terms for Online Noobs | FluentU English Blog
These English internet slang terms appear everywhere—not only in websites, but also in social media apps and even casual texting! If you want to navigate the internet…
Hey, Bae! 10 Teen Slang Phrases You’ve Got to Know for Internet Survival
Teenagers have their own version of English. You’ll need to know teen slang to survive on the Internet!
26 Fitness Vocabulary Words in English | FluentU English Learner Blog
Fitness vocabulary can be confusing. If you’re learning English and want to know more fitness terms, click here! These 26 slang words will help you feel more confident…
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/useful-english-slang-words-esl/
Learn English Slang with Hilarious BuzzFeed Articles: 21 Slang Words You’ve Got to Know
How much English slang do you know? You need modern English slang to sound like a fluent native speaker and to understand English conversation partners. Word.
Regional English Slang
American English
The 59 Most Useful American Slang Words You’ll Hear and Use Every Day | FluentU English Blog
American slang words are a big part of the language. If you can understand American slang, you will be much more proficient in the language. Check out our list of 59…
Australian English
Australian Slang: 101 Words and Phrases to Help You Sound More Local Down Under | FluentU English Blog
Australian slang words are ridiculously fun and creative. This post covers 101 of the coolest Australian slang words, so you’ll sound more like an authentic Aussie. Grab a…
British English
UK English Slang: 18 Essential Slang Words for English Learners
Learning English UK slang isn’t just fun, it can help you have conversations with British people. Here are 18 must-know British slang words you can start using today.…
New Zealand English
36 Choice (Excellent) New Zealand Slang Words to Sound Like a Native | FluentU English Blog
Learn to sound like a native New Zealander with these 36 slang words and phrases. After your arvo smoko (afternoon break), don’t forget your togs (swimsuit) or your chilly…
More Fun English Vocabulary
When it comes to English vocabulary, you’ll keep finding fascinating words.
For one, there are words for special occasions. Some of the most prominent English-speaking holidays are Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they each have their own unique vocabulary.
The English language also has tons of interesting niches you can look into. Broaden your tech speak in English with words like “download” and “screenshot,” or get trendy with some of the newest words in the language!
Make your English more colorful with these guides:
Holidays in English
20 Lovely Valentine’s Day Vocab Words for English Learners
Are you madly in love with someone? Are you also learning English? Then make them swoon this Valentines Day with this vocabulary list of romantic English words.
50 English Words That Capture the Romance of Valentine’s Day
Do you know the best Valentines Day words in English? Learn how to talk about love, romance, relationships and breakups with this 50-word guide.
Hey, Peeps! 31 English Words for an Easter Vocabulary Feast
Want to learn all about Easter in the English-speaking world? This list of 31 vocabulary words will guide you in talking about and celebrating the holiday!
25+ Thanksgiving Words and Phrases You’ll Be Thankful For | FluentU English Blog
These 25+ Thanksgiving Words and Phrases will make you thankful this Thanksgiving holiday! Americans love to celebrate Thanksgiving, so if you are going to have…
35 Jolly English Vocabulary Words for a Truly Rockin’ Christmas
Want to celebrate Christmas in English? Here are 35 festive vocabulary words you’ll absolutely need to know for the holiday season!
Spread Good Cheer with These Sparkling English Christmas Greetings
Season’s greetings! These 13+ English Christmas greetings are perfect for your holiday cards, letters and conversations.
Essential Halloween Vocabulary: 31 Spooky Words for October 31
Halloween is a fun holiday on October 31. Learn about the scary creatures and cool traditions through these 31 words!
15 New Year’s Vocabulary Words and Phrases to Ring In 2023 in Style
Learn these 15 important English New Year’s vocabulary words and phrases so you can get closer to your New Year’s resolution to become fluent in English! We’ll also teach…
Miscellaneous fun English vocabulary
Fill in the Gaps: 15+ Common English Filler Words You Should Know
Filler words will make you sound like a native when you speak! Here are 15+ common filler words you should know in English.
The 142 Most Beautiful English Words | FluentU English Blog
These 142 beautiful English words are sure to diversify your vocabulary and highlight the beauty of this international language. Read to find out what words like…
Hee-haw! 17 Fun Animal Sounds in English
Did you know that animals make different sounds in different languages? Here’s your fun beginner’s guide to 17 animal sounds in English!
ESL Vocabulary: The Language of Luck
Are you an ESL learner looking for good luck? Check out these luck-related English vocabulary words, phrases, and idioms!
The 15 Longest Words in the English Language (Plus 107 Other Shockingly Long Words) | FluentU English Blog
Do you know what the longest words in English are? Get ready to challenge yourself, because in this post we’ll cover the absolute longest word plus lots of other super…
15 Cool New English Words That Were Added to Our Dictionaries in 2015
English is a pretty cool language. Some of our favorite words from the Internet and cultural movements have been added to dictionaries in 2015. Hooray!
25 Trendy New Words in English That Native Speakers Use All the Time
I’m hangry. Want to get a froyo? Just don’t ghost me! Learn 25 of the most common new English words that native speakers use in conversations all the time.
Technical Terms Matter Too: 25 Essential English Computer Vocabulary Words
Cookies. Clouds. Bugs. No, we’re not at a picnic. Learn the important (sometimes strange!) English computer terms every modern language student needs.
16 Unique English Words To Expand Your Vocabulary | FluentU English Blog
Unique English words have interesting meanings, pronunciations and spellings. The 16 terms on this list will make you sound smarter in your everyday conversations and may…
15 Weird English Words You Won’t Believe Exist!
English vocabulary has its fair share of weird and strange words. Weird English words can be very useful, plus they’re fun to learn! This post will give you 15 common…
Constantly learning vocabulary is a key part of becoming fluent.
It’s fascinating to see how communicating in English becomes easier as you pick up more and more words!
With this master sheet of resources, you can grow your vocabulary—from building a foundation with the most basic words to expressing yourself like a native.