Verbs are the heartbeat of any conversation — you need them to share a story, ask a question, or just order your favorite coffee. This list rounds up around 1,000 common English verbs that you’ll actually hear and use every day. No dusty textbook filler, just action words that keep your sentences moving. Put these common verbs to work while reading Hansel and Gretel at A2 level.
Inside the interactive table, you’ll get US IPA for clear pronunciation, a plain-English meaning, and a real-world example sentence. There’s also a play button next to every word, so you can listen as you learn — your ears need practice too.
Ready to level up your everyday English without the yawns? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable common english verbs vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable common english verbs flashcards.
Verbs alone won’t make you fluent, though. You need chunks you can actually speak. Our free English lessons teach you practical phrases with audio and speaking practice — start at the intro page or jump straight into Lesson 1: First Greetings.
Quick Quiz
<p>Think you already know a bunch of these? Try the quick quiz below to test yourself, then use the table to plug any gaps.</p>
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Browse the Full List
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ski | /ski/ | To move over snow on skis | I want to learn how to ski. | |
| sleep | /slip/ | to rest with eyes closed | Go to sleep. | |
| Slide | /slaɪd/ | To move smoothly over a surface | The children love to slide on the ice. | |
| Slip | /slɪp/ | To slide without intending to | Be careful not to slip on the wet floor. | |
| Smell | /smɛl/ | To have a particular quality that others can notice with their noses | These flowers smell lovely. | |
| smile | /smaɪl/ | to show happiness with your mouth | Smile for the photo. | |
| Snowing | /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/ | When snow is falling | It is snowing heavily outside. | |
| Solve | /sɑlv/ | To find an answer to a problem | Can you solve this puzzle? | |
| sort | /sɔrt/ | to arrange things into groups | We need to sort these files by date. | |
| sound | /saʊnd/ | seem in a particular way | That idea sounds very helpful. | |
| Speak | /spik/ | To say words | I speak English. | |
| specify | /ˈspɛsəˌfaɪ/ | state something clearly and exactly | Please specify your preferred delivery date. | |
| spell | /spɛl/ | to say the letters of a word | Spell your name. | |
| Spend | /spɛnd/ | To give money as a payment for something | How much did you spend on that dress? | |
| spent | /spɛnt/ | used money or time | We spent the afternoon cleaning the garage. | |
| split | /splɪt/ | to divide into parts or groups | Let’s split the bill after dinner. | |
| sport | /spɔrt/ | to wear or show proudly | He sported a bright red hat. | |
| spread | /sprɛd/ | to move over a larger area | The news spread quickly through the neighborhood. | |
| stand | /stænd/ | to be on your feet | Stand up. | |
| stands | /stændz/ | is in an upright position | The statue stands in the town square. | |
| Start | /stɑrt/ | To begin doing something | The film starts at 8 pm. | |
| started | /ˈstɑrtɪd/ | began something | The movie started at seven o'clock. | |
| starting | /ˈstɑrtɪŋ/ | beginning something | The movie is starting now. | |
| starts | /stɑrts/ | begins | The movie starts at seven o'clock tonight. | |
| station | /ˈsteɪʃən/ | to assign someone to a place | They station guards at every entrance. |
Free Common English Verbs PDF and Flashcards to Download
Grab the purple vocab-list button to download the common english verbs vocabulary list, and use the teal flashcards button for the common english verbs flashcards. Both are 100% free with no signup required.
