Vocabulary builder

286 carefully chosen words with meanings, example sentences, synonyms, common phrases and audio. Practise with flashcards, quizzes, spelling and words in context — spaced repetition brings each word back just before you’d forget it.

My review

Words that are due, saved or marked difficult, from every category.

Nothing to review yet. Open a category above and study some flashcards — words you practise come back here when they’re due.

How spaced repetition works here

Every word you study goes into a review box. Each time you remember it, it moves up a box and comes back later: after 1 day, then 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days. If you forget it, it goes back to the first box and returns in about ten minutes. Words you mark as difficult come back twice as often. After a few successful reviews a word counts as learned — reviewing it at longer and longer gaps is what moves it into long-term memory.

Tips for learning vocabulary

Learn words in phrases, not alone — “make a decision”, not just “decision”. Each word here comes with common collocations.
Say every new word aloud with the audio, and use it in a sentence of your own.
A few minutes of review every day works better than a long session once a week.
Choose a list that matches your goal: everyday English, business, academic study, or IELTS and TOEFL topics.

Vocabulary: questions

How many English words do I need?

Around 1,000–2,000 common words cover everyday conversation, and roughly 3,000–4,000 word families let you read most general texts comfortably. Academic study and exams need more topic vocabulary on top.

Is my progress saved?

Yes, on this device — no account needed. You can export your progress from My progress to move it to another device.

Which list should I start with?

Beginners should start with Everyday and General English. If you're preparing for an exam, add the IELTS or TOEFL topic lists alongside.