Knowing a word isn't just knowing its meaning. It's knowing which words go with it. These lessons focus on the combinations that matter most in English tests and at work.
Most popular
- Common English idioms with meanings and examples
- Phrasal verbs for work
- Collocation flashcards
Vocabulary by topic: A1 to B1
Each set has audio, example sentences, flashcards and a quiz. They're part of the free Complete English Course.
Beginner (A1)
- Personal information: 16 words
- Numbers, money and shopping: 16 words
- Daily routine and time: 16 words
- Family and people: 16 words
- Food and drink: 16 words
- Home and furniture: 16 words
- Town and transport: 16 words
- Clothes and weather: 16 words
- Jobs and work: 16 words
- Body and health: 16 words
Elementary (A2)
- Feelings and emotions: 16 words
- Renting and housing: 16 words
- Banking and money: 16 words
- Seasons, weather and nature: 16 words
- Illness and symptoms: 16 words
- Hobbies and free time: 16 words
- Shopping problems and returns: 16 words
- Eating out and booking: 16 words
- Emergencies and safety: 16 words
- Forms and documents: 16 words
Intermediate (B1)
- Job applications and interviews: 16 words
- Workplace communication: 16 words
- Leave, pay and conditions: 16 words
- Phone, internet and services: 16 words
- Home repairs and maintenance: 16 words
- School and education: 16 words
- Opinions and discussion: 16 words
- Complaints and consumer rights: 16 words
- News and current affairs: 16 words
- Instructions and processes: 16 words
How to learn vocabulary that sticks
- Learn words in chunks, not alone: make a decision, a significant increase, take responsibility for. Examiners in IELTS and PTE reward natural collocations.
- Use spaced repetition. Review new words after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. Our collocation flashcards and IELTS vocabulary flashcards do this for you.
- Write your own example sentence about your life or work. Personal examples are easier to remember.
- Use the new words this week: in a practice essay, a speaking answer or an email.
Vocabulary for English tests
For IELTS Writing and Speaking, Lexical Resource is a quarter of your score. For PTE, vocabulary affects Write Essay, the summaries and the open speaking tasks. Start with academic collocations and linking words, then check your writing with the free IELTS writing checker or PTE essay checker.
Also see our Aussie slang dictionary for the informal words you'll hear every day in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
How many English words do I need?
For everyday conversation, a few thousand common words go a long way. Learn them by topic and in phrases, a little every day.
What's the best way to remember new words?
Hear them, say them, use flashcards with spaced repetition, and write your own example sentence. Our vocabulary sets do the first three for you.
Are the flashcards free?
Yes. Your flashcard progress can be saved on your own device if you choose.
Vocabulary lessons
- Collocation flashcards
- Academic collocations
- Linking words
- Phrasal verbs for work
- English idioms
- Personal information
- Numbers, money and shopping
- Daily routine and time
- Family and people
- Food and drink
- Home and furniture
- Town and transport
- Clothes and weather
- Jobs and work
- Body and health
- Feelings and emotions
- Renting and housing
- Banking and money
- Seasons, weather and nature
- Illness and symptoms
- Hobbies and free time
- Shopping problems and returns
- Eating out and booking
- Emergencies and safety
- Forms and documents
- Job applications and interviews
- Workplace communication
- Leave, pay and conditions
- Phone, internet and services
- Home repairs and maintenance
- School and education
- Opinions and discussion
- Complaints and consumer rights
- News and current affairs
- Instructions and processes