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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel | /hoʊˈtɛl/ | n. | A place to stay | We are at the hotel. | |
| hotels | /hoʊˈtɛlz/ | n. | places where travelers sleep | There are many hotels near the beach. | |
| hours | /ˈaʊɚz/ | n. | periods of sixty minutes | The trip took two hours. | |
| hp | /ˌeɪtʃˈpi/ | prop. n. | a computer company name | My school uses HP laptops. | |
| html | /ˌeɪtʃ ti ɛm ˈɛl/ | prop. n. | a language for making web pages | We learned basic HTML in computer class. | |
| Hundred | /ˈhʌndrəd/ | num. | The number 100 | I have a hundred books. | |
| Ice | /aɪs/ | n. | Frozen water | The ice is cold. | |
| id | /ˌaɪˈdiː/ | n. | a card showing who you are | Please show your ID at the door. | |
| Idea | /aɪˈdiə/ | n. | A thought or plan | I have an idea. | |
| ideas | /aɪˈdiəz/ | n. | thoughts or plans | She has good ideas for the project. | |
| ii | /tu/ | numeral | the Roman numeral for two | World War II ended many years ago. | |
| images | /ˈɪmɪdʒɪz/ | n. | pictures | The website has beautiful images of flowers. | |
| Important | /ɪmˈpɔrtənt/ | adj. | Having great value | This is an important meeting. | |
| inc | /ɪŋk/ | abbreviation | used in company names to mean incorporated | The store name ends with Inc. | |
| included | /ɪnˈkludɪd/ | adj. | part of something at no extra cost | Breakfast is included with the room. | |
| includes | /ɪnˈkludz/ | v. | has something as part of it | The price includes breakfast and coffee. | |
| index | /ˈɪndɛks/ | n. | list that helps find information | I used the index to find the page. | |
| india | /ˈɪndiə/ | prop. n. | a country in Asia | India is a very large country. | |
| industrial | /ɪnˈdʌstriəl/ | adj. | related to factories and manufacturing | This is an industrial area of the city. | |
| info | /ˈɪnfoʊ/ | n. | information | I need more info about the class. | |
| inn | /ɪn/ | n. | a small hotel | We stayed at a quiet inn. | |
| Insect | /ˈɪnsɛkt/ | n. | A small animal with six legs | I see an insect. | |
| insurance | /ɪnˈʃʊrəns/ | n. | payment plan for help after loss | Car insurance can be expensive. | |
| introduction | /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/ | n. | the act of telling people who someone is | Her introduction to the class was friendly. | |
| ip | /ˌaɪˈpiː/ | abbreviation | a number for a device on the internet | Each computer has its own IP address. |
