Stepping up from the absolute basics? This A1 vocabulary list is packed with around 900 words that you’ll actually use — in shops, at work, with friends. No fluff, no obscure dictionary words nobody says. Each entry shows you the word, how to say it in US IPA, a straightforward meaning, and a real example sentence you might hear in everyday life. There’s even a play button so you can hear the word out loud.
At A1, you’re a beginner who can handle simple conversations — asking for a coffee, introducing yourself, talking about your family. That’s exactly the kind of vocabulary we’ve gathered here. It’s not just a random dump; these words are chosen to match what you need at this stage.
Use the table to listen and repeat until the words feel natural. When you’re away from your screen, grab the PDF download — the button’s right there below the table. Take it to the park, scroll through it on the bus, or scribble notes in the margins.
Of course, words are only half the battle. Our free English lessons teach you to put those words into real phrases you can actually say. Browse the lesson library or dive straight into Lesson 1: First Greetings — it’s where most people start.
- English Vocabulary hub
- Learn English guide
- Pre-A1 English Vocabulary List
- A2 English Vocabulary List
- B1 English Vocabulary List
- CEFR levels overview (Council of Europe)
- British Council — English learning resources
A1 Vocabulary Quiz
Think you’ve nailed these A1 words? Hit the quiz below and see how many you really know — it’s a quick, no-pressure check.
Essential A1 English Vocabulary
| Grammar Word | IPA | Type | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | /kʌt/ | v. | To use a knife to divide something | Cut the bread. | |
| Cycling | /ˈsaɪklɪŋ/ | n. | Riding a bicycle | Cycling is fun. | |
| d | /diː/ | n. | the fourth letter of the alphabet | D is in the word "dog". | |
| Dance | /dæns/ | v. | To move to music | They like to dance. | |
| Dangerous | /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/ | adj. | Not safe | The road is dangerous. | |
| Dark | /dɑrk/ | adj. | With little or no light | It is dark outside. | |
| Date | /deɪt/ | n. | A specific day of the month | What is the date today? | |
| Daughter | /ˈdɔtər/ | n. | A female child | She is my daughter. | |
| david | /ˈdeɪvɪd/ | n. | a man's name | David sits next to me in class. | |
| days | /deɪz/ | n. | periods of twenty-four hours | I work five days a week. | |
| dc | /ˌdiː ˈsiː/ | prop. n. | short form of Washington, D.C. | My cousin works in DC. | |
| de | /deɪ/ | prep. | from; used in some names | The name is Maria de Souza. | |
| deals | /dilz/ | n. | special prices or agreements | This store has good deals today. | |
| Dear | /dɪr/ | adj. | Used at the start of a letter | Dear Sarah, | |
| death | /dɛθ/ | n. | the end of life | The story is about life and death. | |
| dec | /dɛk/ | n. | short form of December | My birthday is in Dec. | |
| December | /dɪˈsɛmbər/ | n. | The twelfth month of the year | Christmas is in December. | |
| Decide | /dɪˈsaɪd/ | v. | To make a choice | I can't decide what to wear. | |
| Deep | /dip/ | adj. | Going far down | The water is deep. | |
| Deer | /dɪr/ | n. | A fast animal with horns | The deer is shy. | |
| Dentist | /ˈdɛntɪst/ | n. | A doctor for teeth | I go to the dentist. | |
| designed | /dɪˈzaɪnd/ | v. | planned how something should look or work | She designed a simple poster for class. | |
| details | /dɪˈteɪlz/ | n. | small pieces of information | Please check the travel details. | |
| developed | /dɪˈvɛləpt/ | v. | grew or became more advanced | The town developed very quickly. | |
| did | /dɪd/ | v. | past form of "do" | They did their homework last night. |
