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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glove | /glʌv/ | n. | Clothing for the hand | I wear a glove. | |
| going | /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/ | v. | moving from one place to another | I am going to the store now. | |
| Goodbye | /gʊdˈbaɪ/ | Exclamation | Used when leaving | Goodbye, see you later! | |
| /ˈɡuɡəl/ | prop. n. | a company and search website | I used Google to find the address. | ||
| got | /ɡɑt/ | v. | received or obtained | I got a nice gift from my friend. | |
| Group | /grup/ | n. | A number of people together | A group of students. | |
| groups | /ɡruːps/ | n. | sets of people or things | The teacher divided the class into groups. | |
| Guitar | /gɪˈtɑr/ | n. | A musical instrument | He plays the guitar. | |
| Gymnastics | /dʒɪmˈnæstɪks/ | n. | Exercises for the body | She does gymnastics. | |
| h | /eɪtʃ/ | letter | the eighth letter of English | H is the first letter in house. | |
| had | /hæd/ | v. | past form of "have" | We had lunch at noon. | |
| has | /hæz/ | v. | owns or holds something | He has a new bike. | |
| having | /ˈhævɪŋ/ | v. | owning or experiencing something | We are having lunch in the kitchen. | |
| Healthy | /ˈhɛlθi/ | adj. | Good for your body | Fruit is healthy. | |
| Hear | /hɪr/ | v. | To use your ears | I hear a noise. | |
| held | /held/ | v. | kept in the hand | She held the baby gently. | |
| Hello | /hɛˈloʊ/ | Exclamation | A greeting | Hello, how are you? | |
| Here | /hɪr/ | adv. | In this place | Come here. | |
| hi | /haɪ/ | interj. | hello | Hi, how are you today? | |
| higher | /ˈhaɪɚ/ | adj. | more up or greater in amount | This shelf is higher than that one. | |
| Hill | /hɪl/ | n. | A small mountain | We walk up the hill. | |
| homes | /hoʊmz/ | n. | places where people live | The street has many small homes. | |
| Horse | /hɔrs/ | n. | A large animal for riding | He rides a horse. | |
| Hospital | /ˈhɑspɪtəl/ | n. | A place for sick people | The hospital is big. | |
| hosting | /ˈhoʊstɪŋ/ | n. | providing space for a website online. | The company offers website hosting. |
