english vocabulary

English Vocabulary

The Basics

The Alphabet | Animals | Appearances | Colours | Computers
Days and Dates | Families | Greetings
Nationalities and countries | Numbers | Seasons | Shapes | Time
The weather | The UK | (Business English Basics)

Other Themes

Buildings | Clothes | Eating | Education
Elections| Entertainment | Food
Human Body | Jobs and Work | Life and Death | Money
Rooms in a house | Shopping | Sport | Transport

English through pictures

You can see the latest word of the month in the magazine.

blackmail | bolthole | brainstorm
cardboard | carpet | chairman | Christmas tree
copyright | earring
fingerprint | firework | friendship
gunpowder | haircut | headdress | headphones | heartbreak
lipstick | loanshark | loophole
manhandle | pigtail | ponytail | receivership
scarecrow | skyscraper
teamwork | timesheet | timetable | toothpaste
wallpaper | whitewash | workmanship | workout

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To help you build up your vocabulary I have organised these pages using a thematic approach, this should enable learners to understand the relationship between various words. If you are a beginner I advise you to learn the basic words at the beginning and only move on if or when they have fully understood these words, intermediate and advanced learners should also study the build-up words and dialogues at the end of each section.
Whenever possible each group of new words is introduced using pictures. To see the words associated with the picture place your mouse cursor over the picture. Try it now!
Example:-

The words associated with the picture are shown, with their plural form in brackets - (s) on the end of the word means add an 's' to form the plural. Say the word out loud and try to remember it.
Once you are confident with your understanding of the vocabulary check out the games and tests for that section.

Often nouns describe a group of nouns. We call these collective nouns.
Example:-
cutlery=implements used for eating, such as knives, forks and spoons When we introduce nouns that fall into this category there will be a button called "Collective Noun" at the end of such a group, click on the button and a window pops up showing the collective noun for that group of nouns. Say the word out loud and click on OK to close the dialog box. Try it now!
Example:-

You can listen to the pronunciation of each word. Just double click on the text and you can choose to hear the American or British pronunciation. A list of all the words is also included in the useful vocabulary sections on our pronunciation pages, click on the symbol at the bottom of each Useful Vocabulary section.
The main irregular verb for each section is covered in more depth. For example under the 'Eating' theme the main verb is 'eat'. This verb is then shown in all its tenses using a timeline and associated verbs are shown under the verbs about eating section.
When applicable I have included a section on British culture. This section is suitable only for advanced learners and may discuss anything from etiquette to the history of the subject in question.

Themes

Buildings

Useful Vocabulary - Buildings

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To build

British Culture - Buying a House

Famous Songs

Clothes

Useful Vocabulary - Clothes

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To wear

British Culture - Clothes

Famous Songs

Eating

Useful Vocabulary - Eating at Home

Useful Vocabulary - Eating Out

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To eat

British Culture - Formal Eating

Famous Songs

Education

Useful Vocabulary - Education

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To teach

British Culture - The Education System

Famous Songs

Elections

Useful Vocabulary - Elections

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To lead

British Culture - British Elections

Famous Songs

Entertainment

Useful Vocabulary - Entertainment

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To sing

British Culture - Shakespeare

Famous Songs

Food

Useful Vocabulary - Food

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To grow

British Culture - Food

Famous Songs

The Human Body

Useful Vocabulary - The Human Body

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To break

British Culture - Health

Famous Songs

Jobs and Work

Useful Vocabulary - Jobs and Work

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To build

British Culture - Work

Famous Songs

Life and Death

Useful Vocabulary - Life and Death

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To die

British Culture - Marriage and Wedding Ceremonies

Famous Songs

Money

Useful Vocabulary - Money

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To spend

British Culture - Money

Famous Songs

Rooms - Inside a House

Useful Vocabulary - Rooms in a house

Useful Vocabulary - The kitchen

Useful Vocabulary - The bathroom

Useful Vocabulary - The bedroom

Useful Vocabulary - The living room

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Irregular Verb - To make

British Culture - What is a typical British house?

Famous Songs

Shopping

Useful Vocabulary - Shopping

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To buy

British Culture - Shopping

Famous Songs

Sport

Useful Vocabulary - Sport

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To win

British Culture - Cricket

British Culture - Unusual Sports

Famous Songs

Transport

Useful Vocabulary - Transport

Idioms and Sayings

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verb - To drive

British Culture - Transport

Famous Songs

To expand your vocabulary more check out my recommended self study vocabulary books.