English is a language which is spoken all over the world; becoming proficient in its most widely used vocabulary will greatly enhance your ability to communicate. Knowing these key terms can help you communicate confidently, whether you’re a homemaker, traveller, working professional, or student getting ready for the IELTS exam.
In order to establish a solid vocabulary basis, this guide offers an extensive list of more than 500 everyday English words. Consider these terms to be the fundamental instruments you require for both regular discussions and assessments of your English language skills.
100 Most Common English Words for Daily Use
Starting with the most frequently used words is crucial for beginners. Words like “the,” “is,” “you,” and “we” are fundamental for understanding simple dialogues and for creating simple sentences for everyday conversations. Here are some of the simplest English terms you can use frequently to get you started.
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I | Used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself | I am learning English. |
| you | Used to refer to the person being addressed | You are my best friend. |
| he | Used to refer to a male person | He is very kind. |
| she | Used to refer to a female person | She is a doctor. |
| it | Used to refer to a thing, animal, or idea | It is raining. |
| we | Used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people | We are going to the park. |
| they | Used to refer to two or more people or things | They are playing football. |
| is | Third person singular of ‘be’ | She is happy. |
| am | First person singular of ‘be’ | I am tired. |
| are | Present plural of ‘be’ | They are friends. |
| the | Definite article | The book is on the table. |
| a | Indefinite article | I saw a dog. |
| an | Used before words beginning with a vowel sound | She ate an apple. |
| this | Used to identify a specific thing or person | This is my car. |
| that | Used to identify something farther away | That is her house. |
| here | In this place | Come here now. |
| there | In that place | The keys are over there. |
| come | To move towards someone | Please come in. |
| go | To move from one place to another | I go to school daily. |
| eat | To consume food | I eat breakfast at 8 am. |
| drink | To consume liquid | He drinks water. |
| like | To enjoy or prefer | I like pizza. |
| love | To feel deep affection | She loves her family. |
| want | To desire something | I want a new phone. |
| need | To require something | We need water to live. |
| yes | Affirmative response | “Yes, I will come.” |
| no | Negative response | “No, I don’t like it.” |
| good | Of high quality | He is a good boy. |
| bad | Of low quality | That was a bad idea. |
| big | Of large size | They live in a big house. |
| small | Of little size | This is a small gift. |
| fast | Moving quickly | The car is very fast. |
| slow | Moving at low speed | She is a slow runner. |
| hot | Having a high temperature | The soup is hot. |
| cold | Having a low temperature | It’s very cold today. |
| happy | Feeling pleasure | I am very happy. |
| sad | Feeling sorrow | She looks sad. |
| man | An adult male human | The man is reading. |
| woman | An adult female human | The woman is cooking. |
| boy | A male child | The boy is playing. |
| girl | A female child | The girl is singing. |
| day | A 24-hour period | Today is a sunny day. |
| night | The time of darkness | The stars are out at night. |
| morning | The early part of the day | I wake up early in the morning. |
| evening | The latter part of the day | We walk in the evening. |
| now | At the present time | He is busy now. |
| later | At a time in the future | I will call you later. |
| what | Asking for information | What is your name? |
| who | Asking about a person | Who is at the door? |
| where | Asking about a place | Where do you live? |
| when | Asking about time | When will you arrive? |
| why | Asking for reason | Why are you crying? |
| how | Asking about manner | How are you today? |
| can | Able to | Can you help me? |
| do | Perform an action | I do my homework. |
| did | Past tense of do | I did the task. |
| make | To create | She makes cakes. |
| see | To perceive with eyes | I see a bird. |
| look | To direct eyes in a direction | Look at that dog. |
| say | To speak | She said hello. |
| tell | To inform | Tell me the story. |
| speak | To talk | Can you speak English? |
| read | To look at and understand words | I read a book. |
| write | To form letters or words | Write your name. |
| listen | To pay attention to sound | Listen to music. |
| hear | To perceive sound | I can hear the bell. |
| walk | To move on foot | He walks to school. |
| run | To move fast on foot | They run every morning. |
| jump | To push off the ground | She jumped over the wall. |
| sit | To rest on the bottom | Sit on the chair. |
| stand | To be upright | Please stand in line. |
| open | To make something accessible | Open the window. |
| close | To shut something | Close the door. |
| start | To begin | Let’s start the game. |
| stop | To end an action | Stop shouting. |
| help | To assist | Help your friend. |
| play | To engage in activity | Children play in the park. |
| work | To do a job | I work in a bank. |
| study | To learn | He studies hard. |
| teach | To give knowledge | Teachers teach students. |
| learn | To gain knowledge | We learn new things. |
| buy | To purchase | I buy vegetables. |
| sell | To exchange for money | They sell clothes. |
| pay | To give money | Pay the bill. |
| sleep | To rest | I sleep at 10 PM. |
| wake | To stop sleeping | Wake up early. |
| call | To contact | Call me later. |
| phone | A device to call | I lost my phone. |
| watch | To look at | Watch the movie. |
| time | Measurement of duration | What time is it? |
| day | Period of 24 hours | Every day is a gift. |
| year | 12 months | This year is special. |
| home | Place to live | I am going home. |
| house | A building to live in | We have a new house. |
| family | A group of related people | My family is large. |
| friend | Someone you like | She is my friend. |
| school | Place to learn | School starts at 8. |
| teacher | One who teaches | The teacher is kind. |
| student | One who learns | The student is smart. |
120+ Simple English Words for Daily Use (Alphabetical List)
Here is a more comprehensive vocabulary list with meanings and usage examples to expand your word bank.
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
| a | Used before singular countable nouns when the referent is unspecified. | She saw a cat on the fence. |
| ability | Possession of the means or skill to do something. | She has the ability to learn languages quickly. |
| about | On the subject of; concerning; approximately. | We talked about the new movie. The meeting is about to start. |
| accept | To agree to receive something; to consider as true or suitable. | She decided to accept the job offer. I accept your apology. |
| action | The process of doing something; a deed or act. | The committee decided to take action. His actions were commendable. |
| B | ||
| baby | A very young child or animal. | She is holding her baby. |
| back | The rear surface of the body; the reverse side; in a ಹಿಂದಿನ direction or position. | He has a pain in his back. Write on the back of the paper. Go back to your seat. |
| beautiful | Pleasing to the senses or mind. | She is a beautiful person. What a beautiful sunset! |
| because | For the reason that. | She was happy because she won. |
| become | To turn into; to come to be. | The caterpillar will become a butterfly. He wants to become a pilot. |
| C | ||
| call | To shout or speak loudly; to contact by telephone; a brief visit. | She received a phone call from her mother. |
| can | To be able to; a metal container. | I can help you with that. / He opened a can of soup. |
| car | A road vehicle with four wheels. | We drove to the coast in my new car. |
| care | Provision of what is necessary for health/welfare; feel concern. | She took good care of her pet. |
| case | An instance of a particular situation; a container. | This is a difficult case to solve. / He packed his case. |
| D | ||
| data | Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. | We need to analyze the data. |
| day | A period of 24 hours; the period of light between sunrise and sunset. | It was a beautiful day. |
| decide | To come to a resolution; to make a choice. | I need to decide what to do. |
| develop | To grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate. | The company needs to develop new products. |
| different | Not the same as another or each other; separate. | We have different opinions. |
| E | ||
| each | Used to refer to every one of two or more people or things, regarded separately. | Each student received a certificate. |
| early | Happening or done before the usual or expected time. | She woke up early. |
| easy | Achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties. | This task is very easy. |
| education | The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction. | Education is very important. |
| end | The final part of something; a limit or boundary. | This is the end of the road. |
| F | ||
| face | The front part of a person’s head; to confront or deal with. | She has a friendly face. / We must face the challenge. |
| family | A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household. | My family is coming to visit. |
| find | To discover something unexpectedly or in the course of a search; to ascertain. | I need to find my keys. / We find the situation unacceptable. |
| follow | To go after or behind someone or something; to act according to. | Please follow me. / You should follow the rules. |
| food | Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth. | We need to buy some food. |
| G | ||
| game | An activity that one engages in for amusement or recreation. | Let’s play a game. |
| get | To obtain, acquire, or receive; to become. | I need to get some milk. / It’s getting late. |
| give | To present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; to hand over. | Please give me a pen. |
| go | To move from one place to another; to leave. | Let’s go to the park. |
| good | To be desired or approved of; having the required qualities. | She is a good student. / This is a good idea. |
| H | ||
| hand | The end part of a person’s arm, including the fingers and thumb; to give something to someone. | Shake my hand. / Please hand me the book. |
| happy | Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. | She is very happy. |
| have | To possess, own, or hold; used as an auxiliary verb. | I have a car. / I have finished my work. |
| head | The upper part of the human body, or the front part of the body of an animal; the leader or chief. | He nodded his head. / She is the head of the department. |
| help | To make it easier or possible for someone to do something by offering them one’s services or resources; the action of helping. | Can you help me? / Thank you for your help. |
| I | ||
| idea | A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action; a concept or impression. | I have a great idea! |
| if | Introducing a conditional clause; whether. | If it rains, we will stay inside. / I wonder if he will come. |
| important | Of great significance or value; crucial. | This is an important meeting. |
| include | To comprise or contain as part of a whole. | The price includes breakfast. |
| information | Facts provided or learned about something or someone. | I need more information. |
| J | ||
| job | A paid position of regular employment. | He got a new job. |
| join | To link; to become a member of. | Join the two pieces together. / She joined the club. |
| just | Exactly; only; a short time ago. | That’s just what I wanted. / I need just five minutes. / He just left. |
| K | ||
| keep | To have or retain possession of; to continue in a specified condition or position. | You can keep the change. / Keep calm and carry on. |
| key | A small piece of shaped metal used to open a lock; essential or crucial. | I lost my key. / This is a key factor. |
| kid | A child or young person. | The kids are playing outside. |
| kind | A group of people or things having similar characteristics; caring or friendly. | What kind of music do you like? / She is a very kind person. |
| know | To be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information. | I know the answer. |
| L | ||
| language | The method of human communication, either spoken or written. | English is a widely spoken language. |
| large | Of considerable size or extent. | They live in a large house. |
| learn | To gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught. | I want to learn Spanish. |
| leave | To go away from; to depart. | They decided to leave early. |
| life | The existence of an individual human being or animal; the period between birth and death. | Life is beautiful. / He lived a long life. |
| M | ||
| make | To form something by putting parts together or combining substances; to cause to exist or happen. | Can you make a cake? / He will make a decision. |
| man | An adult male human being. | A tall man walked into the room. |
| many | A large number of. | There are many books on the shelf. |
| meet | To come into the presence or company of someone by chance or arrangement; to satisfy or fulfill. | Let’s meet for coffee. / The product must meet safety standards. |
| money | A current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes. | I need to withdraw some money. |
| N | ||
| name | A word or term used to identify someone or something. | What is your name? |
| nation | A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory. | The United Nations is an organization of nations. |
| need | Require (something) because it is essential or very important. | I need your help. |
| never | At no time in the past or future. | I have never been to Japan. |
| new | Not existing before; recently made, built, or discovered. | They bought a new car. |
| O | ||
| office | A room, set of rooms, or building used as a place for commercial, professional, or bureaucratic work. | I work in an office in the city. |
| often | Frequently; many times. | I often go for a walk in the park. |
| old | Having lived for a long time; of a specified age; no longer new. | My grandfather is very old. / This is an old building. |
| on | Physically in contact with and supported by; indicating position on a road or area. | The book is on the table. / They live on Elm Street. |
| only | And no one or nothing more besides; solely or exclusively. | I only have five dollars. / He is the only child. |
| P | ||
| paper | Material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances. | I need a piece of paper. |
| part | A piece or segment of something; a role in a play or movie. | This is a part of the plan. / He played the main part in the play. |
| people | Human beings in general or considered collectively. | A lot of people were at the event. |
| place | A particular position, point, or area in space; a location. | This is my favorite place. |
| play | Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation; a dramatic work. | Children love to play. / We watched a play at the theater. |
| Q | ||
| quality | The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something. | The quality of the product is very good. |
| question | A sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information; a doubt about the truth or validity of something. | Can I ask a question? / There is no question about it. |
| quick | Moving fast or doing something in a short time. | Please make it quick. |
| quickly | At a fast speed; rapidly. | He walked quickly. |
| quiet | Making little or no noise. | Let’s have a quiet dinner tonight. |
| R | ||
| read | To look at a series of written symbols and get meaning from them. | I like to read books. |
| real | Actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed. | This is a real problem. |
| reason | A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event. | What is the reason for this? |
| research | The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions; to investigate systematically. | They are doing research on cancer. / She is researching the topic. |
| right | Morally good, justified, or acceptable; on the side of the body to the east when one is facing north; something to which a person is legally or morally entitled. | That was the right decision. / Turn right at the corner. / Everyone has the right to education. |
| S | ||
| same | Identical; not different; used to refer to a person or thing previously mentioned. | We ordered the same dish. / I feel the same way. |
| say | To utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, or a feeling. | What did he say? |
| school | An institution for educating children; a department of a university. | My children go to school. / He is studying in the law school. |
| see | To perceive with the eyes; to understand. | Can you see that bird? / I see what you mean. |
| seem | To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality; appear. | She seems tired. |
| T | ||
| take | To lay hold of something with one’s hands; to pick up or lift; to carry or bring. | Please take your umbrella. / Take me to the train station. |
| teach | To show or explain to someone how to do something; to give lessons to. | She teaches English. |
| tell | To communicate information, facts, or news to someone. | Please tell me the truth. |
| than | Introducing the second element in a comparison. | He is taller than me. |
| that | Used to identify a specific person or thing observed or mentioned; used to introduce a subordinate clause. | Look at that bird. / I know that he is coming. |
| U | ||
| under | Situated directly below (something); beneath. | The cat is under the table. |
| understand | To perceive the intended meaning of someone or something. | Do you understand? |
| until | Up to the point in time that. | I will wait until you arrive. |
| up | Toward a higher place; in or into a higher position. | Go up the stairs. |
| use | To take, hold, or deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result; the act of using. | Can I use your pen? / The use of this tool is prohibited. |
| V | ||
| value | The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something; to consider someone or something to be important. | The value of the house increased. / I value your friendship. |
| various | Of different kinds; diverse. | There are various options available. |
| very | In a high degree; extremely. | She is very kind. |
| visit | To go to see and spend time with someone or somewhere; an act of visiting. | We plan to visit our grandparents. / They paid a brief visit. |
| voice | The sound produced in a person’s larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song. | She has a beautiful singing voice. |
| W | ||
| wait | To stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until someone or something comes. | Please wait here. |
| walk | To move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once; an act of walking. | Let’s go for a walk. / He walked to the store. |
| want | To have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for. | I want a cup of coffee. |
| watch | To look at attentively for a period of time; a small timepiece worn on the wrist. | Let’s watch a movie. / My watch is broken. |
| water | A colorless, transparent, odorless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms. | Please give me some water. |
| Y | ||
| yard | A unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet; a piece of ground adjoining a house or other building. | The fabric is three yards long. / The children played in the yard. |
| year | The period of 365 or 366 days divided into 12 months. | It was a good year. |
| yes | Used to give an affirmative response. | “Yes, I will be there.” |
| yet | Up until the present or a specified or implied time; nevertheless; in addition. | He hasn’t finished yet. / It was cold, yet sunny. / There is one more thing yet to consider. |
| you | Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. | You are a good student. |
| Z | ||
| Zero | No quantity or number; nought; the figure 0. | The temperature outside is below zero. |
| Zone | An area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use. | This is a no-parking zone. |
| Zoo | An establishment which maintains a collection of wild animals for study or display. | We took the children to the zoo on Sunday. |
Daily Use Vocabulary Words with Meaning and Sentence: Category-wise
Learning words grouped by a common theme can help your brain form connections and remember them more easily.
Most Common English Words: Greetings & Conversations
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | A common greeting used when meeting someone or starting a conversation. | Hello, it’s nice to meet you. |
| How are you? | A polite phrase used to ask about someone’s well-being. | Hi John, how are you? I haven’t seen you in a while. |
| Please | A word used to make a request more polite or to ask for something. | Could you please pass the salt? |
| Thank you | An expression of gratitude used to show appreciation for something. | Thank you for helping me with my homework. |
| Sorry | An expression of regret or apology for a mistake or unfortunate event. | I’m sorry for being late to the meeting. |
Get a Free IELTS Vocabulary Cheatsheet
With 350+ words you should know for a 7+ IELTS band score.
Most Common English Words: Food & Shopping
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | A round fruit with firm, white flesh and a green or red skin. | An apple a day keeps the doctor away. |
| Bread | A staple food made from a dough of flour or meal, water, and yeast, which is then baked. | We bought a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery this morning. |
| Rice | The edible starchy seeds of a cereal grass that are cooked and used as a staple food in many parts of the world. | In many Asian cultures, rice is served with almost every meal. |
| Price | The amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something. | Due to high demand, the price of the concert tickets was very high. |
| Discount | A deduction from the usual cost of something; a reduction in price. | The store is offering a 20% discount on all its products for the festival. |
Daily Use Vocabulary Words with Meaning: Travel & Directions
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | A large motor vehicle that carries passengers along a fixed route or for a particular purpose. | I take the bus to work every morning. |
| Train | A series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by self-propelled motors. | We are planning to travel to Delhi by train next month. |
| Airport | A complex of runways and buildings for the take-off, landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers. | My flight departs from Terminal 2 of the international airport. |
| Turn left/right | An instruction to change direction to the left or to the right side. | At the next intersection, turn left to get to the library. |
| Near | At or to a short distance away; close by. | The grocery store is near my house, so I can walk there easily. |
Most Common English Words: Household Objects
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | A seat for one person that has a back and usually four legs. | Please pull up a chair and join us at the table. |
| Table | A piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface for various activities. | We gathered around the dining table for dinner. |
| Fan | A device with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation. | It was so hot that I had to turn on the ceiling fan. |
| Light | The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; a source of illumination. | Could you please switch on the light? It’s getting dark in here. |
| Door | A hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle. | Remember to lock the front door when you leave the house. |
Most Common English Words: Work & School
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher | A person who teaches, especially in a school. | The math teacher explained the concept of fractions clearly to the class. |
| Student | A person who is studying at a school, college, or university. | Every student was asked to submit their essay by the end of the week. |
| Office | A room, set of rooms, or building used as a place for commercial, professional, or bureaucratic work. | My father leaves for the office every morning at 8 AM. |
| File | 1. A folder or box for holding loose papers that are typically arranged in a particular order. 2. A collection of data stored as a unit on a computer. | 1. Please put this signed document back in the client’s file. 2. Don’t forget to save the file before you close the program. |
| Homework | Schoolwork that a student is required to do at home. | I have to finish my science homework before I can watch television. |
70+ Advanced Most Common English Words
While basic words are fine for daily conversations, advanced vocabulary can open up new opportunities. It is crucial for understanding lectures, writing precise academic papers, and having more meaningful interactions.
| Word | Meaning | Usage in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Aberration | A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one. | The single B- on his report card was an aberration for the straight-A student. |
| Abjure | To solemnly renounce a belief, cause, or claim. | In order to become a citizen, he had to abjure his allegiance to his former country. |
| Acrimonious | (Typically of a speech or debate) angry and bitter. | The divorce proceedings were acrimonious, with both parties making harsh accusations. |
| Alacrity | Brisk and cheerful readiness. | She accepted the new project with alacrity, eager to prove her skills. |
| Ameliorate | To make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better. | The new manager’s changes did much to ameliorate the tense atmosphere in the office. |
| Anachronistic | Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; out of date. | His belief that women shouldn’t work was anachronistic in today’s society. |
| Anathema | Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes; a formal curse. | For a devout environmentalist, the idea of a new oil pipeline was anathema. |
| Arcane | Understood by few; mysterious or secret. | He was the only person who understood the arcane rules of the ancient card game. |
| Assiduous | Showing great care and perseverance. | The detective was assiduous in his search for clues, leaving no stone unturned. |
| Banal | So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring. | The plot of the movie was so banal that I knew exactly how it would end. |
| Bellicose | Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight. | The general’s bellicose rhetoric made the neighboring countries nervous. |
| Cacophony | A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. | The cacophony of car horns and shouting filled the city streets during rush hour. |
| Capricious | Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. | The weather was capricious, changing from sunny to stormy in a matter of minutes. |
| Castigate | To reprimand (someone) severely. | The principal castigated the students for their repeated disruptive behavior. |
| Chicanery | The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. | The politician was accused of all sorts of financial chicanery to win the election. |
| Circumlocution | The use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague. | When asked a direct question, the CEO responded with circumlocution, never giving a straight answer. |
| Cogent | (Of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing. | She presented a cogent argument that persuaded the board to approve her proposal. |
| Conundrum | A confusing and difficult problem or question. | How to balance the budget without cutting essential services remains a conundrum for the council. |
| Deleterious | Causing harm or damage. | The chemical spill had a deleterious effect on the local wildlife. |
| Demagogue | A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. | The notorious demagogue preyed on the fears of the public to gain power. |
| Didactic | Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive. | While the film was entertaining, its didactic message about sharing was a bit too obvious. |
| Effrontery | Insolent or impertinent behavior. | He had the effrontery to ask for a raise after being caught sleeping at his desk. |
| Egregious | Outstandingly bad; shocking. | The company was fined for its egregious violation of safety regulations. |
| Ephemeral | Lasting for a very short time. | The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral, lasting only for a week or two. |
| Epitome | A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type. | With his grace and kindness, he was the epitome of a true gentleman. |
| Equivocate | To use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself. | The witness began to equivocate when the lawyer pressed for more details. |
| Erudite | Having or showing great knowledge or learning. | The erudite professor could answer any question on ancient history. |
| Esoteric | Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge. | The medical journal was filled with esoteric terminology that the average person couldn’t understand. |
| Evanescent | Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing. | Her hope was evanescent, disappearing as soon as she saw the rejection letter. |
| Exacerbate | To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse. | His sarcastic comment only served to exacerbate the already tense situation. |
| Exculpate | To show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing. | The new evidence served to exculpate the defendant, and he was released. |
| Exigent | Pressing; demanding. | The exigent circumstances of the financial crisis required immediate government action. |
| Fastidious | Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. | He was fastidious about his appearance, ensuring every hair was perfectly in place. |
| Fatuous | Silly and pointless. | He made a fatuous comment that added nothing to the serious discussion. |
| Garrulous | Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. | My garrulous neighbor can talk for hours about the weather and her cats. |
| Harangue | A lengthy and aggressive speech. | The coach delivered a furious harangue to the team at halftime. |
| Hegemony | Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others. | The company’s goal was to establish market hegemony over its competitors. |
| Iconoclast | A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions. | As a true iconoclast, the artist challenged all traditional notions of beauty in her work. |
| Idiosyncratic | Relating to a mode of behaviour or way of thought peculiar to an individual. | Her idiosyncratic way of organising her books by colour baffled her friends. |
| Ignominious | Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame. | The team suffered an ignominious defeat, losing by over 50 points. |
| Inchoate | Just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary. | She had an inchoate sense of a great idea, but she couldn’t yet articulate it. |
| Inexorable | Impossible to stop or prevent. | The inexorable march of time waits for no one. |
| Insidious | Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. | The disease is insidious, slowly weakening the patient over many years. |
| Intransigent | Unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree on something. | The senator remained intransigent, refusing to compromise on the bill. |
| Irascible | Having or showing a tendency to be easily angered. | The irascible old man yelled at the children for playing on his lawn. |
| Juxtaposition | The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with a contrasting effect. | The juxtaposition of the ancient temple and the modern skyscraper was striking. |
| Laconic | (Of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words. | His laconic reply of “fine” told me he didn’t want to talk about it. |
| Largesse | Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others. | The university relied on the largesse of its wealthy alumni to fund new buildings. |
| Magnanimous | Very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful. | He was magnanimous in victory, praising his opponent’s hard-fought campaign. |
| Mendacious | Not telling the truth; lying. | The politician’s mendacious statements were eventually exposed by the press. |
| Mercurial | (Of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood. | Her mercurial temperament made it difficult to know if she’d be happy or angry. |
| Nefarious | (Typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal. | The supervillain hatched a nefarious plot to take over the world. |
| Obdurate | Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action. | Despite the evidence, the suspect remained obdurate in his denial. |
| Obfuscate | To make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. | The lawyer tried to obfuscate the issue with irrelevant details. |
| Obsequious | Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. | The waiter’s obsequious behavior was meant to secure a large tip. |
| Onerous | (Of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty. | He found the task of organizing the company’s archives to be an onerous one. |
| Panacea | A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. | Technology is not a panacea for all our educational problems. |
| Paragon | A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality. | She was considered a paragon of virtue in her community. |
| Paucity | The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts. | The paucity of evidence made it impossible to convict the suspect. |
| Pedantic | Excessively concerned with minor details or rules; ostentatiously academic. | His pedantic corrections of my grammar were annoying rather than helpful. |
| Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. | The pernicious influence of social media on mental health is a growing concern. |
| Plethora | A large or excessive amount of something. | The library offers a plethora of resources for researchers. |
| Proclivity | A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition. | He has a proclivity for getting into trouble. |
| Pugnacious | Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight. | The pugnacious politician was known for his aggressive debate style. |
| Quandary | A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation. | I was in a quandary about whether to accept the job offer or stay in school. |
| Quotidian | Of or occurring every day; daily; ordinary. | The artist found beauty in the quotidian tasks of everyday life. |
| Recondite | (Of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse. | He loved to discuss recondite philosophical theories with his colleagues. |
| Salient | Most noticeable or important. | The salient point of his argument was that the plan was too expensive. |
| Sycophant | A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage. | The king was surrounded by sycophants who would never dare to criticize him. |
| Taciturn | (Of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. | The taciturn farmer answered all our questions with a simple nod or shake of his head. |
| Ubiquitous | Present, appearing, or found everywhere. | In today’s world, smartphones are ubiquitous. |
| Vituperate | To blame or insult (someone) in strong or violent language. | The angry customer began to vituperate the helpless cashier. |
Now that you have a strong foundation with these essential words, let’s see how they perform under pressure. For your IELTS Speaking cue card, using this core vocabulary to structure your answer will help you speak fluently and clearly, which is key to a high score.
Smart Tips to Learn and Remember Daily Use English Words
Mastering new words requires effective learning strategies. Here are some proven tips to help you build and retain your vocabulary.
- Use Flashcards with Visuals and Examples: Flashcards are a powerful tool for memorisation. For each word, include its meaning, an image for visual memory, and an example sentence.
- Group Words by Category: Learning words related to specific topics like food or travel helps your brain create connections, making them easier to remember.
- Practice Daily with the 5×5 Rule: Learn 5 new words every day and review them for the next 5 days. This method of spaced repetition strengthens long-term memory.
- Use Words in Speaking and Writing: Actively using new words in daily conversations, journals, or even social media chats reinforces your learning. Try to write one sentence with each new word daily to build both memory and confidence.
- Engage with English Content Regularly: Read, listen to, and watch English content like newspapers, novels, podcasts, and TV shows. Make a habit of noting down 3–5 new words each time you engage with content and review them weekly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Learning the Most Common English Words
Avoiding common pitfalls can make your vocabulary-building journey much more effective.
- Memorising Words Without Context: Simply learning a word’s definition isn’t enough; you need to understand how it’s used in a sentence. Always learn a word with its meaning and an example sentence.
- Ignoring Pronunciation: Focusing only on spelling and meaning can lead to misunderstandings in conversation. Use online tools like the Cambridge Dictionary or Google Translate to hear how native speakers pronounce words.
- Learning Too Many Words at Once: Trying to cram 50-100 words in a day leads to poor retention. It’s better to learn 5–10 words daily and review them regularly.
- Not Reviewing Previously Learned Words: If you don’t revisit words, you will forget them over time. Create a review schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) using notebooks or apps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
Q. How many words do you need to know to become conversational in English?
Ans. To be conversational, you should aim for at least 1,000-1,500 English words. This will allow you to handle basic questions and simple conversations. For fluency, a much larger vocabulary of 3,000 to 10,000 words is needed.
-
Q. How can I remember new words that I learned?
Ans. To remember new words, use them daily with the help of flashcards, create word associations, and practice using them in context. Regularly reading English articles, newspapers, and magazines also helps reinforce your memory.
-
Q. How can I practice speaking English fast at home?
Ans. To improve your speaking speed at home, practice every day. Read books or articles aloud and record yourself to monitor your progress. Watching English movies with subtitles and trying to repeat what native speakers say (shadowing) can also significantly improve your fluency and speed.
-
Q. Can understanding common English words help in passing proficiency exams like IELTS?
Ans. Yes, a strong grasp of common daily use English words is very helpful for passing English proficiency exams. These words appear frequently in reading passages, listening exercises, and exam questions, so knowing them well boosts overall comprehension and performance.
Have Questions? Get Guidance to reach your Dream University
Connect with India's finest counsellors and biggest study abroad community.
Get Guidance