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