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vocabulary

these are the important new words from each section. while the sections are not specifically meant to be studied in this order, words will appear only once in the section where they’re introduced to avoid duplication.

where possible, words are grouped with other, similar words like “day” and “night” or “good” and “bad”.

introductions & greetings

hi / hello
bye / goodbye
morning / afternoon / evening
day / night
good / bad / great / nice

basic questions & answers

numbers & dates

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten (1-10)
first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth

eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty (11-20)
eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth

twenty-one, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, hundred, hundred-one (21, 30-100, 101)
twenty-first, thirtieth, fortieth, fiftieth, sixtieth, seventieth, eightieth, ninetieth, hundredth, hundred-first

january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, october, november, december (months)

nineteen-fifty (1950), nineteen-eighty-four (1984), two-thousand-five (2005), twenty-seventeen (2017)

monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, sunday (days of the week)

jobs

student, teacher, lecturer, professor, instructor, researcher, biologist, chemist, physicist, astronomer, geologist, engineer, librarian, meteorologist, scientist

businessperson, accountant, architect, programmer, designer, politician

doctor, dentist, nurse, paramedic, optician, pharmacist, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, vet[erinarian], surgeon

actor, model, singer, composer, musician, dancer, artist, painter, author, writer, translator, journalist, makeup-artist, photographer

astronaut, pilot, sailor, captain, driver, trucker, bus-driver, taxi-driver, flight-attendant, guide

baker, barber, hairdresser, beautician, esthetician, bartender, cook, chef, cosmetician, carpenter, construction-worker, woodworker, metalworker, electrician, mechanic, stylist, tailor

cashier, salesperson, cleaner, factory-worker, farmer, gardener, florist, waiter, coach, athlete, real-estate-agent, receptionist, secretary, soldier, travel-agent

[police-]officer, firefighter, detective, lawyer, judge, social-worker

military names for letters

alpha, bravo, charlie, delta, echo, foxtrot, golf, hotel, india, juliet, kilo, lima, mike, november, oscar, papa, quebec, romeo, sierra, tango, uniform, victor, whiskey, xray, yankee, zulu

national adjectives

african, asian, european, north-american, central-american, south-american

afghan, algerian, american, angolan, argentinian, australian, austrian

bangladeshi, belarusian, belgian, bolivian, bosnian, brazilian, british, bulgarian

cambodian, cameroonian, canadian, central-african, chadian, chinese, colombian, congolese, congolese, costa-rican, croatian, cuban, czech

danish, dutch

ecuadorian, egyptian, emirati, english, estonian, ethiopian

finnish, french

german, ghanaian, greek, guatemalan

herzegovinian, honduran, hungarian

icelandic, indian, indonesian, iranian, iraqi, irish, israeli, italian, ivorian

jamaican, japanese, jordanian

kazakh, kenyan, korean

lao, latvian, libyan, lithuanian

malagasy, malaysian, malian, mauritanian, mexican, moroccan

namibian, nicaraguan, nigerian, nigerien, norwegian

omani

pakistani, panamanian, paraguayan, peruvian, philippine, polish, portuguese

qatari

romanian, russian

salvadoran, saudi, scottish, senegalese, serbian, singaporean, slovak, somalian, south-african, spanish, sudanese, swedish, swiss, syrian

thai, tibetan, tunisian, turkish, turkmen

ukranian, uruguayan

vietnamese

welsh

zambian, zimbabwean

please, thanks, like, hate

polite words

please, thanks, thank-you

like, love, hate, more, less, many

get, have, want

animals

alligator, ant, ape
alligators, ants, apes

badger, bat, bear, beaver, bee, beetle, bird, blackbird, butterfly
badgers, bats, bears, beavers, bees, beetles, birds, blackbirds, butterflies

camel, caribou, cat, centipede, chicken, chimpanzee, clam, cockroach, coral, cormorant, cow, coyote, crab, crocodile, crow
camels, caribou, cats, centipedes, chickens, chimpanzees, clams, cockroaches, coral, cormorants, cows, coyotes, crabs, crocodiles, crows

deer, dingo, dog, dolphin, donkey, dove, dragonfly, duck
deer, dingoes, dogs, dolphins, donkeys, doves, dragonflies, ducks

eagle, elephant, elk
eagles, elephants, elk

fish, flamingo, fly, fox, frog
fish, flamingoes, flies, foxes, frogs

giraffe, goat, goose, gorilla, grasshopper
giraffes, goats, geese, gorillas, grasshoppers

hamster, hawk, hedgehog, hippo/hippopotamus, horse
hamsters, hawks, hedgehogs, hippos/hippopotamuses, horses

iguana
iguanas

jellyfish
jellyfish

kangaroo, koala
kangaroos, koalas

ladybug, leopard, lion, lizard, lobster
ladybugs, leopards, lions, lizards, lobsters

mole, monkey, moose, mosquito, moth, mouse
moles, monkeys, moose, mosquitoes, moths, mice

octopus, ostrich, otter, owl, ox
octopuses, ostriches, otters, owls, oxen

panda, parrot, peacock, pelican, penguin, pig, pigeon
pandas, parrots, peacocks, pelicans, penguins, pigs, pigeons

rabbit, raccoon, rat, raven, reindeer, robin
rabbits, raccoons, rats, ravens, reindeer, robins

sea-anemone, sea-lion, sea-urchin, seagull, seahorse, seal, shark, sheep, shrimp, snake, sparrow, spider, squid, squirrel, starfish, stork, swallow, swan
sea-anemones, sea-lions, sea-urchins, seagulls, seahorses, seal, sharks, sheep, shrimp, snakes, sparrows, spiders, squid, squirrels, starfish, stork, swallows, swans

tiger, toad, turkey, turtle
tigers, toads, turkeys, turtles

walrus, whale, wolf, woodpecker, worm
walruses, whales, wolves, woodpeckers, worms

zebra
zebras

counting & ordering

hundred, thousand, million, billion, trillion
hundredth, thousandth, millionth, billionth, trillionth

zero, point

pronunciation

classroom vocabulary

everyday classroom words

teacher, student, group, partner, team, class, classroom, subject, course, subject
question, answer, right, wrong, try, guess, check, correct, true, false, get
test, quiz, exam, homework, essay, assignment, paper
listen, watch, read, hear, think, wonder, imagine, dream
ask, speak, say, type, write, sing, dance, draw
know, play, practice, feel, click, touch, press
present, search, find, receive, send, submit, share

subjects

art, dance, drama / theater, media, fine-arts
biology / life-science, chemistry, geology / earth-science, physics, science, health
english, lit[erature], [creative-]writing, public-speaking, liberal-arts, journalism
languages (french, chinese, japanese, korean, german, spanish, russian, hebrew, arabic)
history, social-studies, anthropology, sociology, archaeology, geography
math[ematics], philosophy, tech[nology]
music, choir, band, orchestra
shop, woodworking, metalworking, gym

objects in the classroom

board (chalkboard / blackboard / whiteboard), chalk, marker, eraser
paper, notebook / exercise-book / pad, pencil, pen, pencil-case, crayon, colored-pencil
book, text[book], screen, projector, desk, table, chair, binder, clipboard, hole-punch
computer, laptop, tablet, phone, backpack, bag, locker
clock, bulletin-board / notice-board, map, calendar, globe
calculator, compass, protractor, ruler, stencil
glue, scissors, stapler, pin, staple, tape, paperclip, box
highlighter, magnifying-glass, paint, paintbrush
flask, funnel, beaker, test-tube

basic nouns & verbs

time & date

morning, afternoon, evening, night (times of day)
dawn, sunrise, noon, dusk, twilight, sunset, midnight (daily events)
sun, moon, mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, star, comet, asteroid (in space)
spring, summer, fall, winter (seasons)
january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, october, november, december (months)
second, minute, hour, day, week, month, season, year, decade, century, millennium (periods of time)
after, before, during, while, later, late, early, on-time (relative times)
wait, come, go, think, dream, count, expect, arrive, leave, schedule, reschedule, book (time actions)

home

home, house, apartment, building, condominium, hotel, parking-lot, parking-space, street, road
room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living-room, dining-room, guest-room, play-room, porch, hall, office
door, stairs, entrance, exit, closet, dresser, nightstand
bed, desk, chair, lamp, light, lightswitch, floor, carpet, rug
pillow, sheet, blanket, quilt, duvet, pillow-case, mattress
dish, pot, stove, oven, sink, dishwasher, microwave, counter[top], cabinet, shelf, drawer
spoon, fork, knife, chopsticks, ladle, plate, bowl, cutlery
teapot, coffee-pot, kettle, cup, mug, glass
wake, sleep, dress, undress, change, wash, clean
work, study, shower, bathe, brush, comb, cook, put away, do dishes
beside, next to, near, far, on, by, in front of, behind, across from, in, under

clothes

dress, shirt, suit, skirt, tshirt, tank-top, sweater, top, bottom
pants, jeans, leggings, shorts, diaper
swimming-trunks, bikini, bathing-suit
glove, sock, mitten
shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers, slippers
coat, jacket, dressing-gown, robe, scarf, headscarf, shawl
boxer-shorts, underwear, panties, briefs, bra, tights
hat, cap, toque, beanie, umbrella
purse, glasses, sunglasses, watch, wallet
bracelet, necklace, chain, ring, earring, belt
pocket, zipper, strap, fly, seam, hem
hanger, hang, laundry, washing-machine, dryer, basket, fold, put away

technology

computer, desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, watch
printer, scanner, copier, router
wireless (wifi), internet, signal, connection, cell[ular], sim[-card]
web, browse, search, find, result, page, site, engine, blog
click, drag, swipe, tap, press, type, select
copy, paste, cut, insert, delete, move, push, pull
read, write, speak, listen, talk, interact, experience
text, image, graphic, photo[graph], picture, video, movie
social-media, post, scroll, like, love, [live]stream
comment, reply, share, subscribe, forum, message, chat
[e]mail, compose, reply, archive, delete, forward, sort
minimize, maximize, move, resize
screen, keyboard, trackpad, mouse, cable, charger, plug [in]
battery, charge, low, full, empty
byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terrabyte, storage, memory
headphones, joystick, controller, bluetooth, mic[rophone], speaker
app, game, program, download, upload, install, remove, uninstall
virus, malware, scam, junk, error, turn on, turn off, restart

shapes & math

circle, square, triangle, box, line, rectangle
sphere, cylinder, cube, prism, cone
pentagon, hexagon, octagon
round, oval, ellipse, straight, curve, angle
acute, right, obtuse, sharp, point, flat, thick, thin
edge, side, front, back, top, bottom, inside, outside, middle, center
diameter, circumference, radius, area, volume, size, space, footprint
length, width, height, depth, surface, coordinate, grid, position, axis
add, subtract, multiple, divide, sum, product, difference, fraction, decimal
calculate, function, examine, approximate, guess, round
figure [out], graph, render, sketch, error
fraction, solve, integrate (integral), differentiate (differential), slope, point
maximum, minimum, average, median, mean, mode, expect, normal, surprise

common actions

be, have, do, say, go, get, make, know, think, take
see, come, want, look, use, find, give, tell, work, call
try, ask, need, feel, become, leave, put, mean, keep, let
begin, seem, help, talk, turn, start, show, hear, play, run
move, like, live, believe, hold, bring, happen, write, provide, sit
stand, lose, pay, meet, include, continue, set, learn, change, lead
understand, watch, follow, stop, create, speak, read, allow, add, spend
grow, open, walk, win, offer, remember, love, consider, appear, buy
wait, serve, die, send, expect, build, stay, fall, cut, reach
kill, remain, suggest, raise, pass, sell, require, report, decide, pull

basic adjectives & descriptions

size & direction

big (bigger, biggest), large, huge, giant, gigantic, colossal
small (smaller, smallest), little, tiny, miniature, minuscule, microscopic
long (longer, longest), short (shorter, shortest), tall (taller, tallest)
wide, narrow, deep, shallow, profound
distant, near, close, far
high (higher, highest), low (lower, lowest)
less (least), more (most)
up, down, left, right, forward, back, over, under, above, below
east, west, north, south

judgment

good (better, best), great, fantastic, awesome, exciting
bad (worse, worst), awful, terrible, abysmal, boring
black, white, red, blue, green, yellow, brown, orange, pink, turquoise, indigo, violet
skillful, unskillful, able, unable, disabled
early, late, true, untrue, false, perfect, imperfect, flawed, damaged, broken
same, different, identical, varied, distinct, indistinct, other
normal, unusual, typical, atypical, common, strange, expected, unexpected, surprising, unsurprising
easy, hard, simple, difficult, complex, complicated
clear, unclear, understood, misunderstood, comprehensible, incomprehensible
free, expensive, cheap, pricy
full, empty, half-full, filled, whole, complete, incomplete
major, minor, severe, inconsequential, special, problematic
strong, weak, forceful, gentle, aggressive, passive
important, unimportant, significant, insignificant
human, inhuman, rude, polite, virtuous, evil, ethical, unethical, moral, immoral, vegan, vegetarian
new, old, young, middle-aged, modern, outdated, obsolete, deprecated
political, apolitical, partisan, aligned, unaligned, biased, even-handed
liberal, conservative, socialist, communist, free-market
certain, uncertain, sure, unsure, absolute, vague, distinct, indistinct
possible, impossible, practical, pragmatic, logical, illogical, sensible, senseless
international, national, regional, local, global, universal, ubiquitous
low, high, treble, bass
public, private, visible, invisible, secret, hidden, social
real, unreal, fantastic, imaginary, dreamlike
spiritual, religious, cultural, societal, secular, holy, sinful, forgiven