ESL Vocabulary by CEFR Level (A1–C2)

Carefully selected English vocabulary words tagged by CEFR level — from absolute beginner (A1) to near-native mastery (C2). Every word includes IPA pronunciation, a plain-English definition, and a real example sentence. Free to print, no login required.

ESL Vocabulary by CEFR Level A1 to C2 — IPA pronunciation, definitions and example sentences
A1
hello
/həˈloʊ/
interjection
A greeting used when meeting someone
Hello! How are you today?
A1
water
/ˈwɔːtər/
noun
A clear liquid that people drink
Can I have a glass of water?
A1
family
/ˈfæm.ɪ.li/
noun
A group of people related to each other
My family lives in Spain.
A1
house
/haʊs/
noun
A building where people live
We live in a small house near the park.
A1
eat
/iːt/
verb
To put food in your mouth and swallow it
I eat breakfast at seven o'clock.
A1
walk
/wɔːk/
verb
To move forward by putting one foot in front of the other
I walk to school every day.
A1
big
/bɪɡ/
adjective
Large in size
That is a very big dog.
A1
happy
/ˈhæp.i/
adjective
Feeling pleased or joyful
She was very happy on her birthday.
A1
book
/bʊk/
noun
A set of printed pages held together with a cover
I am reading an interesting book.
A1
friend
/frend/
noun
A person you like and enjoy spending time with
Maria is my best friend.
A1
school
/skuːl/
noun
A place where children go to learn
The children go to school at eight o'clock.
A1
day
/deɪ/
noun
A period of 24 hours
Monday is the first day of the week.
A1
name
/neɪm/
noun
The word that a person or thing is known by
My name is John.
A1
mother
/ˈmʌð.ər/
noun
A female parent
My mother cooks dinner every evening.
A1
work
/wɜːrk/
verb
To do a job to earn money
She works in a hospital.
A1
good
/ɡʊd/
adjective
Of high quality or standard; satisfactory
That was a good film.
A2
beautiful
/ˈbjuː.tɪ.fəl/
adjective
Very attractive or pleasing to look at
What a beautiful sunset!
A2
journey
/ˈdʒɜː.ni/
noun
A long trip from one place to another
The journey took three hours by train.
A2
nervous
/ˈnɜː.vəs/
adjective
Worried or anxious about something
She was nervous before her exam.
A2
weather
/ˈweð.ər/
noun
The conditions outside, such as rain, sun, or wind
The weather is sunny today.
A2
decide
/dɪˈsaɪd/
verb
To choose something after thinking about it
I decided to study English.
A2
problem
/ˈprɒb.ləm/
noun
A situation that is difficult and needs to be solved
We need to find a solution to this problem.
A2
healthy
/ˈhel.θi/
adjective
In good physical condition; not sick
Eating vegetables helps you stay healthy.
A2
special
/ˈspeʃ.əl/
adjective
Different from what is usual; important
Today is a very special occasion.
A2
practice
/ˈpræk.tɪs/
verb
To do something repeatedly in order to improve
You should practice speaking English every day.
A2
culture
/ˈkʌl.tʃər/
noun
The customs, beliefs, and arts of a society
I am learning about Japanese culture.
A2
future
/ˈfjuː.tʃər/
noun
The time that will come after the present
What do you want to do in the future?
B1
environment
/ɪnˈvaɪ.rən.mənt/
noun
The natural world around us, including air, water, and land
We must protect the environment for future generations.
B1
opportunity
/ˌɒp.əˈtjuː.nɪ.ti/
noun
A chance to do something good or useful
This job is a great opportunity to learn new skills.
B1
achieve
/əˈtʃiːv/
verb
To succeed in doing something after effort
She worked hard to achieve her goals.
B1
negotiate
/nɪˈɡoʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
verb
To discuss something to try to reach an agreement
They negotiated a better salary with their employer.
B1
influence
/ˈɪn.flu.əns/
verb
To have an effect on someone or something
Social media can influence people's opinions.
B1
significant
/sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt/
adjective
Important or large enough to have a noticeable effect
There has been a significant improvement in her grades.
B1
traditional
/trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl/
adjective
Relating to customs or beliefs passed down over time
We had a traditional meal for the holiday.
B1
consequence
/ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwəns/
noun
A result or effect of an action
There are serious consequences for breaking the rules.
B1
assume
/əˈsjuːm/
verb
To believe something is true without proof
Don't assume that everyone agrees with you.
B1
economy
/ɪˈkɒn.ə.mi/
noun
The system by which a country manages its money and trade
The country's economy has been growing steadily.
B2
sustainable
/səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl/
adjective
Able to continue without damaging the environment or depleting resources
We need more sustainable energy sources to fight climate change.
B2
phenomenon
/fɪˈnɒm.ɪ.nɒn/
noun
A fact or event that exists and can be observed
Social media is a fascinating cultural phenomenon.
B2
perspective
/pəˈspek.tɪv/
noun
A particular way of considering something
Try to see the situation from the other person's perspective.
B2
inevitable
/ɪnˈev.ɪ.tə.bəl/
adjective
Certain to happen and impossible to avoid
Change is inevitable in any growing organization.
B2
demonstrate
/ˈdem.ən.streɪt/
verb
To show or prove something clearly
The experiment demonstrates how light bends in water.
B2
controversy
/ˈkɒn.trə.vɜː.si/
noun
Strong public disagreement about something
The new law has caused considerable controversy.
B2
efficiently
/ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt.li/
adverb
In a way that achieves results without wasting time or effort
She managed the project very efficiently.
B2
hypothesis
/haɪˈpɒθ.ɪ.sɪs/
noun
An idea that is suggested as a possible explanation and needs to be tested
Scientists must test their hypothesis with experiments.
B2
implication
/ˌɪm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
noun
A possible result or effect of an action or decision
Have you considered all the implications of this decision?
C1
ubiquitous
/juːˈbɪk.wɪ.təs/
adjective
Seeming to appear or exist everywhere at the same time
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern life.
C1
ambivalent
/æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt/
adjective
Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
She felt ambivalent about leaving her hometown for the new job.
C1
pragmatic
/præɡˈmæt.ɪk/
adjective
Dealing with problems in a practical way rather than following fixed ideas
We need to take a more pragmatic approach to this problem.
C1
eloquent
/ˈel.ə.kwənt/
adjective
Expressing ideas fluently and in a way that is persuasive or moving
Her eloquent speech moved the entire audience.
C1
nuance
/ˈnjuː.ɑːns/
noun
A subtle difference in meaning, expression, or sound
He appreciated the nuances of French cuisine.
C1
scrutinize
/ˈskruː.tɪ.naɪz/
verb
To examine something very carefully and critically
The committee scrutinized every detail of the proposal.
C1
paradigm
/ˈpær.ə.daɪm/
noun
A model or pattern that represents how something works
The internet created a new paradigm for communication.
C1
articulate
/ɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.lət/
adjective
Able to express ideas clearly and effectively
She is a very articulate speaker who explains ideas clearly.
C1
mitigate
/ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
verb
To make something less severe, serious, or painful
We must find ways to mitigate the effects of climate change.
C1
catalyst
/ˈkæt.ə.lɪst/
noun
Something that causes or speeds up a change or event
The financial crisis was a catalyst for major policy reform.
C2
sycophant
/ˈsɪk.ə.fænt/
noun
A person who flatters others excessively to gain advantage
Surrounded by sycophants, the leader never heard honest advice.
C2
ephemeral
/ɪˈfem.ər.əl/
adjective
Lasting for a very short time
Fame can be ephemeral — enjoyed briefly and quickly forgotten.
C2
perspicacious
/ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs/
adjective
Having a ready insight; showing great mental penetration or discernment
A perspicacious observer noticed the flaw in the argument immediately.
C2
propitious
/prəˈpɪʃ.əs/
adjective
Giving a good chance of success; favorable
The clear skies were propitious for the outdoor ceremony.
C2
equivocate
/ɪˈkwɪv.ə.keɪt/
verb
To use ambiguous language to avoid commitment or to mislead
The politician equivocated rather than giving a direct answer.
C2
solipsism
/ˈsɒl.ɪp.sɪ.z(ə)m/
noun
The philosophical idea that only one's own mind is certain to exist
His solipsism made it difficult for him to empathize with others.

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What is CEFR?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the international standard for describing language proficiency. It has six levels: A1 (absolute beginner) → A2 (elementary) → B1 (intermediate) → B2 (upper-intermediate) → C1 (advanced) → C2 (mastery). Most ESL learners targeting everyday conversation aim for B2. Academic and professional contexts typically require C1.

How to use this list

Select your CEFR level with the buttons above, then click Print / PDF for a clean printable word list. The 2-column print layout fits neatly on A4 or US letter paper. For self-study, work through one level at a time — 20–30 new words per day with focused review of definitions and example sentences.

Frequently asked questions

Which CEFR level should I study?
Study one level above where you feel comfortable. If you already know most B1 words when reading, focus on B2. Learning slightly above your level builds comprehension faster than reviewing what you already know.
What CEFR level is needed for IELTS or TOEFL?
IELTS Band 6–7 corresponds to B2–C1. IELTS Band 8+ is C1–C2. For TOEFL, a score of 90+ out of 120 typically corresponds to B2–C1. Both exams heavily test B2 and C1 vocabulary — filter to those levels for targeted preparation.
Are these words from the official Oxford or Cambridge word lists?
This list is based on the widely used Oxford 3000/5000 and Cambridge vocabulary lists. The CEFR framework itself does not specify one official word list — it is a proficiency framework. Different publishers produce CEFR-tagged word lists; this one follows the most commonly referenced vocabulary resources.
Can I print this for my class?
Yes — completely free for classroom use. Filter to a CEFR level, click Print / PDF, and choose "Save as PDF" or print directly. The layout is designed for clean classroom handouts. Licensed CC BY 4.0.