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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet | /wɛt/ | adj. | Covered with water | The grass is wet. | |
| Whale | /weɪl/ | n. | A very large sea animal | The whale is big. | |
| Wide | /waɪd/ | adj. | Broad | The street is wide. | |
| windows | /ˈwɪndoʊz/ | n. | glass openings in a wall | Please open the windows for fresh air. | |
| Wolf | /wʊlf/ | n. | A wild dog | The wolf is grey. | |
| women | /ˈwɪmɪn/ | n. | adult female people | The women are waiting outside. | |
| words | /wɝdz/ | n. | units of language with meaning | She wrote three new words in her notebook. | |
| Work | /wɜrk/ | v. | To do a job | I work in a bank. | |
| working | /ˈwɝkɪŋ/ | adj. | operating correctly | Is this computer still working? | |
| works | /wɝks/ | v. | does its job correctly. | My old phone still works well. | |
| worldwide | /ˌwɝːldˈwaɪd/ | adv. | in all parts of the world | The song became popular worldwide. | |
| Worm | /wɜrm/ | n. | A long thin animal in soil | The worm is pink. | |
| written | /ˈrɪtən/ | adj. | put into words on paper or screen. | The test has a written part. | |
| x | /ɛks/ | n. | the twenty-fourth letter of the alphabet | X is in the word "box". | |
| y | /waɪ/ | letter | the twenty-fifth letter of English | Y is the first letter in yellow. | |
| yahoo | /jəˈhu/ | prop. n. | a well-known internet company | He still uses his Yahoo email account. | |
| years | /jɪrz/ | n. | periods of twelve months | She lived there for two years. | |
| Yes | /jɛs/ | adv. | Used to agree | Yes, that is correct. | |
| Yesterday | /ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ/ | n. | The day before today | I was busy yesterday. | |
| yet | /jet/ | adv. | until now | I have not finished my homework yet. | |
| Yogurt | /ˈjoʊgərt/ | n. | A food made from milk | I eat yogurt. | |
| york | /jɔrk/ | prop. n. | a city name used in English | My friend visited York last summer. | |
| z | /zi/ | n. | the letter Z | Z is the last letter of the alphabet. | |
| Zero | /ˈzɪroʊ/ | num. | The number 0 | The score is zero. | |
| zip | /zɪp/ | n. | a fastener on clothes or bags | Please close the zip on your jacket. |
