The Oxford 3000 words

The Oxford 3000 is a list of the 3,000 core words that every learner of English needs to know. The words have been chosen based on their frequency in the Oxford English Corpus and relevance to learners of English. Every word is aligned to the CEFR, guiding learners on the words they should know at A1-B2 level.

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British English
  • cable /ˈkeɪbl/

  • cafe /ˈkæfeɪ/

  • cake /keɪk/

  • calculate /ˈkælkjuleɪt/

  • call /kɔːl/

  • calm /kɑːm/

  • camera /ˈkæmrə/

  • camp /kæmp/

  • campaign /kæmˈpeɪn/

  • camping /ˈkæmpɪŋ/

  • campus /ˈkæmpəs/

  • can /kən/

  • cancel /ˈkænsl/

  • cancer /ˈkænsə(r)/

  • candidate /ˈkændɪdət/

  • cannot /ˈkænɒt/

  • cap /kæp/

  • capable /ˈkeɪpəbl/

  • capacity /kəˈpæsəti/

  • capital /ˈkæpɪtl/

  • captain /ˈkæptɪn/

  • capture /ˈkæptʃə(r)/

  • car /kɑː(r)/

  • card /kɑːd/

  • care /keə(r)/

  • career /kəˈrɪə(r)/

  • careful /ˈkeəfl/

  • carefully /ˈkeəfəli/

  • careless /ˈkeələs/

  • carpet /ˈkɑːpɪt/

  • carrot /ˈkærət/

  • carry /ˈkæri/

  • cartoon /kɑːˈtuːn/

  • case /keɪs/

  • cash /kæʃ/

  • cast /kɑːst/

  • castle /ˈkɑːsl/

  • cat /kæt/

  • catch /kætʃ/

  • category /ˈkætəɡəri/

  • cause /kɔːz/

  • cd /ˌsiː ˈdiː/

  • ceiling /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

  • celebrate /ˈselɪbreɪt/

  • celebration /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃn/

  • celebrity /səˈlebrəti/

  • cell /sel/

  • cent /sent/

  • central /ˈsentrəl/

  • centre /ˈsentə(r)/

  • century /ˈsentʃəri/

  • ceremony /ˈserəməni/

  • certain /ˈsɜːtn/

  • certainly /ˈsɜːtnli/

  • chain /tʃeɪn/

  • chair /tʃeə(r)/

  • chairman /ˈtʃeəmən/

  • challenge /ˈtʃælɪndʒ/

  • champion /ˈtʃæmpiən/

  • chance /tʃɑːns/

  • change /tʃeɪndʒ/

  • channel /ˈtʃænl/

  • chapter /ˈtʃæptə(r)/

  • character /ˈkærəktə(r)/

  • characteristic /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/

  • charge /tʃɑːdʒ/

  • charity /ˈtʃærəti/

  • chart /tʃɑːt/

  • chat /tʃæt/

  • cheap /tʃiːp/

  • cheat /tʃiːt/

  • check /tʃek/

  • cheerful /ˈtʃɪəfl/

  • cheese /tʃiːz/

  • chef /ʃef/

  • chemical /ˈkemɪkl/

  • chemistry /ˈkemɪstri/

  • chest /tʃest/

  • chicken /ˈtʃɪkɪn/

  • chief /tʃiːf/

  • child /tʃaɪld/

  • childhood /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/

  • chip /tʃɪp/

  • chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/

  • choice /tʃɔɪs/

  • choose /tʃuːz/

  • church /tʃɜːtʃ/

  • cigarette /ˌsɪɡəˈret/

  • cinema /ˈsɪnəmə/

  • circle /ˈsɜːkl/

  • circumstance /ˈsɜːkəmstəns/

  • cite /saɪt/

  • citizen /ˈsɪtɪzn/

  • city /ˈsɪti/

  • civil /ˈsɪvl/

  • claim /kleɪm/

  • class /klɑːs/

  • classic /ˈklæsɪk/

  • classical /ˈklæsɪkl/

  • classroom /ˈklɑːsruːm/

  • clause /klɔːz/

  • clean /kliːn/

  • clear /klɪə(r)/

  • clearly /ˈklɪəli/

  • clever /ˈklevə(r)/

  • click /klɪk/

  • client /ˈklaɪənt/

  • climate /ˈklaɪmət/

  • climb /klaɪm/

  • clock /klɒk/

  • close /kləʊz/

  • closed /kləʊzd/

  • closely /ˈkləʊsli/

  • cloth /klɒθ/

  • clothes /kləʊðz/

  • clothing /ˈkləʊðɪŋ/

  • cloud /klaʊd/

  • club /klʌb/

  • clue /kluː/

  • coach /kəʊtʃ/

  • coal /kəʊl/

  • coast /kəʊst/

  • coat /kəʊt/

  • code /kəʊd/

  • coffee /ˈkɒfi/

  • coin /kɔɪn/

  • cold /kəʊld/

  • collapse /kəˈlæps/

  • colleague /ˈkɒliːɡ/

  • collect /kəˈlekt/

  • collection /kəˈlekʃn/

  • college /ˈkɒlɪdʒ/

  • colour /ˈkʌlə(r)/

  • coloured /ˈkʌləd/

  • column /ˈkɒləm/

  • combination /ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃn/

  • combine /kəmˈbaɪn/

  • come /kʌm/

  • comedy /ˈkɒmədi/

  • comfort /ˈkʌmfət/

  • comfortable /ˈkʌmftəbl/

  • command /kəˈmɑːnd/

  • comment /ˈkɒment/

  • commercial /kəˈmɜːʃl/

  • commission /kəˈmɪʃn/

  • commit /kəˈmɪt/

  • commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/

  • committee /kəˈmɪti/

  • common /ˈkɒmən/

  • commonly /ˈkɒmənli/

  • communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/

  • communication /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃn/

  • community /kəˈmjuːnəti/

  • company /ˈkʌmpəni/

  • compare /kəmˈpeə(r)/

  • comparison /kəmˈpærɪsn/

  • compete /kəmˈpiːt/

  • competition /ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃn/

  • competitive /kəmˈpetətɪv/

  • competitor /kəmˈpetɪtə(r)/

  • complain /kəmˈpleɪn/

  • complaint /kəmˈpleɪnt/

  • complete /kəmˈpliːt/

  • completely /kəmˈpliːtli/

  • complex /ˈkɒmpleks/

  • complicated /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/

  • component /kəmˈpəʊnənt/

  • computer /kəmˈpjuːtə(r)/

  • concentrate /ˈkɒnsntreɪt/

  • concentration /ˌkɒnsnˈtreɪʃn/

  • concept /ˈkɒnsept/

  • concern /kənˈsɜːn/

  • concerned /kənˈsɜːnd/

  • concert /ˈkɒnsət/

  • conclude /kənˈkluːd/

  • conclusion /kənˈkluːʒn/

  • condition /kənˈdɪʃn/

  • conduct /kənˈdʌkt/

  • conference /ˈkɒnfərəns/

  • confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/

  • confident /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/

  • confirm /kənˈfɜːm/

  • conflict /kənˈflɪkt/

  • confuse /kənˈfjuːz/

  • confused /kənˈfjuːzd/

  • confusing /kənˈfjuːzɪŋ/

  • connect /kəˈnekt/

  • connected /kəˈnektɪd/

  • connection /kəˈnekʃn/

  • conscious /ˈkɒnʃəs/

  • consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/

  • conservative /kənˈsɜːvətɪv/

  • consider /kənˈsɪdə(r)/

  • consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃn/

  • consist /kənˈsɪst/

  • consistent /kənˈsɪstənt/

  • constant /ˈkɒnstənt/

  • constantly /ˈkɒnstəntli/

  • construct /kənˈstrʌkt/

  • construction /kənˈstrʌkʃn/

  • consume /kənˈsjuːm/

  • consumer /kənˈsjuːmə(r)/

  • contact /ˈkɒntækt/

  • contain /kənˈteɪn/

  • container /kənˈteɪnə(r)/

  • contemporary /kənˈtemprəri/

  • content /ˈkɒntent/

  • contest /kənˈtest/

  • context /ˈkɒntekst/

  • continent /ˈkɒntɪnənt/

  • continue /kənˈtɪnjuː/

  • continuous /kənˈtɪnjuəs/

  • contract /kənˈtrækt/

  • contrast /kənˈtrɑːst/

  • contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/

  • contribution /ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃn/

  • control /kənˈtrəʊl/

  • convenient /kənˈviːniənt/

  • conversation /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃn/

  • convert /kənˈvɜːt/

  • convince /kənˈvɪns/

  • convinced /kənˈvɪnst/

  • cook /kʊk/

  • cooker /ˈkʊkə(r)/

  • cooking /ˈkʊkɪŋ/

  • cool /kuːl/

  • copy /ˈkɒpi/

  • core /kɔː(r)/

  • corner /ˈkɔːnə(r)/

  • corporate /ˈkɔːpərət/

  • correct /kəˈrekt/

  • correctly /kəˈrektli/

  • cost /kɒst/

  • costume /ˈkɒstjuːm/

  • cottage /ˈkɒtɪdʒ/

  • cotton /ˈkɒtn/

  • could /kəd/

  • council /ˈkaʊnsl/

  • count /kaʊnt/

  • country /ˈkʌntri/

  • countryside /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/

  • county /ˈkaʊnti/

  • couple /ˈkʌpl/

  • courage /ˈkʌrɪdʒ/

  • course /kɔːs/

  • court /kɔːt/

  • cousin /ˈkʌzn/

  • cover /ˈkʌvə(r)/

  • covered /ˈkʌvəd/

  • cow /kaʊ/

  • crash /kræʃ/

  • crazy /ˈkreɪzi/

  • cream /kriːm/

  • create /kriˈeɪt/

  • creation /kriˈeɪʃn/

  • creative /kriˈeɪtɪv/

  • creature /ˈkriːtʃə(r)/

  • credit /ˈkredɪt/

  • crew /kruː/

  • crime /kraɪm/

  • criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnl/

  • crisis /ˈkraɪsɪs/

  • criterion /kraɪˈtɪəriən/

  • critic /ˈkrɪtɪk/

  • critical /ˈkrɪtɪkl/

  • criticism /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/

  • criticize /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/

  • crop /krɒp/

  • cross /krɒs/

  • crowd /kraʊd/

  • crowded /ˈkraʊdɪd/

  • crucial /ˈkruːʃl/

  • cruel /ˈkruːəl/

  • cry /kraɪ/

  • cultural /ˈkʌltʃərəl/

  • culture /ˈkʌltʃə(r)/

  • cup /kʌp/

  • cupboard /ˈkʌbəd/

  • cure /kjʊə(r)/

  • curly /ˈkɜːli/

  • currency /ˈkʌrənsi/

  • current /ˈkʌrənt/

  • currently /ˈkʌrəntli/

  • curtain /ˈkɜːtn/

  • curve /kɜːv/

  • curved /kɜːvd/

  • custom /ˈkʌstəm/

  • customer /ˈkʌstəmə(r)/

  • cut /kʌt/

  • cycle /ˈsaɪkl/

American English
  • cable /ˈkeɪbl/

  • cafe /kæˈfeɪ/

  • cake /keɪk/

  • calculate /ˈkælkjuleɪt/

  • call /kɔːl/

  • calm /kɑːm/

  • camera /ˈkæmrə/

  • camp /kæmp/

  • campaign /kæmˈpeɪn/

  • camping /ˈkæmpɪŋ/

  • campus /ˈkæmpəs/

  • can /kən/

  • cancel /ˈkænsl/

  • cancer /ˈkænsər/

  • candidate /ˈkændɪdət/

  • cannot /ˈkænɑːt/

  • cap /kæp/

  • capable /ˈkeɪpəbl/

  • capacity /kəˈpæsəti/

  • capital /ˈkæpɪtl/

  • captain /ˈkæptɪn/

  • capture /ˈkæptʃər/

  • car /kɑːr/

  • card /kɑːrd/

  • care /ker/

  • career /kəˈrɪr/

  • careful /ˈkerfl/

  • carefully /ˈkerfəli/

  • careless /ˈkerləs/

  • carpet /ˈkɑːrpɪt/

  • carrot /ˈkærət/

  • carry /ˈkæri/

  • cartoon /kɑːrˈtuːn/

  • case /keɪs/

  • cash /kæʃ/

  • cast /kæst/

  • castle /ˈkæsl/

  • cat /kæt/

  • catch /kætʃ/

  • category /ˈkætəɡɔːri/

  • cause /kɔːz/

  • cd /ˌsiː ˈdiː/

  • ceiling /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

  • celebrate /ˈselɪbreɪt/

  • celebration /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃn/

  • celebrity /səˈlebrəti/

  • cell /sel/

  • cent /sent/

  • central /ˈsentrəl/

  • centre /ˈsentər/

  • century /ˈsentʃəri/

  • ceremony /ˈserəməʊni/

  • certain /ˈsɜːrtn/

  • certainly /ˈsɜːrtnli/

  • chain /tʃeɪn/

  • chair /tʃer/

  • chairman /ˈtʃermən/

  • challenge /ˈtʃælɪndʒ/

  • champion /ˈtʃæmpiən/

  • chance /tʃæns/

  • change /tʃeɪndʒ/

  • channel /ˈtʃænl/

  • chapter /ˈtʃæptər/

  • character /ˈkærəktər/

  • characteristic /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/

  • charge /tʃɑːrdʒ/

  • charity /ˈtʃærəti/

  • chart /tʃɑːrt/

  • chat /tʃæt/

  • cheap /tʃiːp/

  • cheat /tʃiːt/

  • check /tʃek/

  • cheerful /ˈtʃɪrfl/

  • cheese /tʃiːz/

  • chef /ʃef/

  • chemical /ˈkemɪkl/

  • chemistry /ˈkemɪstri/

  • chest /tʃest/

  • chicken /ˈtʃɪkɪn/

  • chief /tʃiːf/

  • child /tʃaɪld/

  • childhood /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/

  • chip /tʃɪp/

  • chocolate /ˈtʃɔːklət/

  • choice /tʃɔɪs/

  • choose /tʃuːz/

  • church /tʃɜːrtʃ/

  • cigarette /ˈsɪɡəret/

  • cinema /ˈsɪnəmə/

  • circle /ˈsɜːrkl/

  • circumstance /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/

  • cite /saɪt/

  • citizen /ˈsɪtɪzn/

  • city /ˈsɪti/

  • civil /ˈsɪvl/

  • claim /kleɪm/

  • class /klæs/

  • classic /ˈklæsɪk/

  • classical /ˈklæsɪkl/

  • classroom /ˈklæsruːm/

  • clause /klɔːz/

  • clean /kliːn/

  • clear /klɪr/

  • clearly /ˈklɪrli/

  • clever /ˈklevər/

  • click /klɪk/

  • client /ˈklaɪənt/

  • climate /ˈklaɪmət/

  • climb /klaɪm/

  • clock /klɑːk/

  • close /kləʊz/

  • closed /kləʊzd/

  • closely /ˈkləʊsli/

  • cloth /klɔːθ/

  • clothes /kləʊðz/

  • clothing /ˈkləʊðɪŋ/

  • cloud /klaʊd/

  • club /klʌb/

  • clue /kluː/

  • coach /kəʊtʃ/

  • coal /kəʊl/

  • coast /kəʊst/

  • coat /kəʊt/

  • code /kəʊd/

  • coffee /ˈkɔːfi/

  • coin /kɔɪn/

  • cold /kəʊld/

  • collapse /kəˈlæps/

  • colleague /ˈkɑːliːɡ/

  • collect /kəˈlekt/

  • collection /kəˈlekʃn/

  • college /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/

  • colour /ˈkʌlər/

  • coloured /ˈkʌlərd/

  • column /ˈkɑːləm/

  • combination /ˌkɑːmbɪˈneɪʃn/

  • combine /kəmˈbaɪn/

  • come /kʌm/

  • comedy /ˈkɑːmədi/

  • comfort /ˈkʌmfərt/

  • comfortable /ˈkʌmftəbl/

  • command /kəˈmænd/

  • comment /ˈkɑːment/

  • commercial /kəˈmɜːrʃl/

  • commission /kəˈmɪʃn/

  • commit /kəˈmɪt/

  • commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/

  • committee /kəˈmɪti/

  • common /ˈkɑːmən/

  • commonly /ˈkɑːmənli/

  • communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/

  • communication /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃn/

  • community /kəˈmjuːnəti/

  • company /ˈkʌmpəni/

  • compare /kəmˈper/

  • comparison /kəmˈpærɪsn/

  • compete /kəmˈpiːt/

  • competition /ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃn/

  • competitive /kəmˈpetətɪv/

  • competitor /kəmˈpetɪtər/

  • complain /kəmˈpleɪn/

  • complaint /kəmˈpleɪnt/

  • complete /kəmˈpliːt/

  • completely /kəmˈpliːtli/

  • complex /ˈkɑːmpleks/

  • complicated /ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪtɪd/

  • component /kəmˈpəʊnənt/

  • computer /kəmˈpjuːtər/

  • concentrate /ˈkɑːnsntreɪt/

  • concentration /ˌkɑːnsnˈtreɪʃn/

  • concept /ˈkɑːnsept/

  • concern /kənˈsɜːrn/

  • concerned /kənˈsɜːrnd/

  • concert /ˈkɑːnsərt/

  • conclude /kənˈkluːd/

  • conclusion /kənˈkluːʒn/

  • condition /kənˈdɪʃn/

  • conduct /kənˈdʌkt/

  • conference /ˈkɑːnfərəns/

  • confidence /ˈkɑːnfɪdəns/

  • confident /ˈkɑːnfɪdənt/

  • confirm /kənˈfɜːrm/

  • conflict /kənˈflɪkt/

  • confuse /kənˈfjuːz/

  • confused /kənˈfjuːzd/

  • confusing /kənˈfjuːzɪŋ/

  • connect /kəˈnekt/

  • connected /kəˈnektɪd/

  • connection /kəˈnekʃn/

  • conscious /ˈkɑːnʃəs/

  • consequence /ˈkɑːnsɪkwens/

  • conservative /kənˈsɜːrvətɪv/

  • consider /kənˈsɪdər/

  • consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃn/

  • consist /kənˈsɪst/

  • consistent /kənˈsɪstənt/

  • constant /ˈkɑːnstənt/

  • constantly /ˈkɑːnstəntli/

  • construct /kənˈstrʌkt/

  • construction /kənˈstrʌkʃn/

  • consume /kənˈsuːm/

  • consumer /kənˈsuːmər/

  • contact /ˈkɑːntækt/

  • contain /kənˈteɪn/

  • container /kənˈteɪnər/

  • contemporary /kənˈtempəreri/

  • content /ˈkɑːntent/

  • contest /kənˈtest/

  • context /ˈkɑːntekst/

  • continent /ˈkɑːntɪnənt/

  • continue /kənˈtɪnjuː/

  • continuous /kənˈtɪnjuəs/

  • contract /kənˈtrækt/

  • contrast /kənˈtræst/

  • contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/

  • contribution /ˌkɑːntrɪˈbjuːʃn/

  • control /kənˈtrəʊl/

  • convenient /kənˈviːniənt/

  • conversation /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃn/

  • convert /kənˈvɜːrt/

  • convince /kənˈvɪns/

  • convinced /kənˈvɪnst/

  • cook /kʊk/

  • cooker /ˈkʊkər/

  • cooking /ˈkʊkɪŋ/

  • cool /kuːl/

  • copy /ˈkɑːpi/

  • core /kɔːr/

  • corner /ˈkɔːrnər/

  • corporate /ˈkɔːrpərət/

  • correct /kəˈrekt/

  • correctly /kəˈrektli/

  • cost /kɔːst/

  • costume /ˈkɑːstuːm/

  • cottage /ˈkɑːtɪdʒ/

  • cotton /ˈkɑːtn/

  • could /kəd/

  • council /ˈkaʊnsl/

  • count /kaʊnt/

  • country /ˈkʌntri/

  • countryside /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/

  • county /ˈkaʊnti/

  • couple /ˈkʌpl/

  • courage /ˈkɜːrɪdʒ/

  • course /kɔːrs/

  • court /kɔːrt/

  • cousin /ˈkʌzn/

  • cover /ˈkʌvər/

  • covered /ˈkʌvərd/

  • cow /kaʊ/

  • crash /kræʃ/

  • crazy /ˈkreɪzi/

  • cream /kriːm/

  • create /kriˈeɪt/

  • creation /kriˈeɪʃn/

  • creative /kriˈeɪtɪv/

  • creature /ˈkriːtʃər/

  • credit /ˈkredɪt/

  • crew /kruː/

  • crime /kraɪm/

  • criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnl/

  • crisis /ˈkraɪsɪs/

  • criterion /kraɪˈtɪriən/

  • critic /ˈkrɪtɪk/

  • critical /ˈkrɪtɪkl/

  • criticism /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/

  • criticize /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/

  • crop /krɑːp/

  • cross /krɔːs/

  • crowd /kraʊd/

  • crowded /ˈkraʊdɪd/

  • crucial /ˈkruːʃl/

  • cruel /ˈkruːəl/

  • cry /kraɪ/

  • cultural /ˈkʌltʃərəl/

  • culture /ˈkʌltʃər/

  • cup /kʌp/

  • cupboard /ˈkʌbərd/

  • cure /kjʊr/

  • curly /ˈkɜːrli/

  • currency /ˈkɜːrənsi/

  • current /ˈkɜːrənt/

  • currently /ˈkɜːrəntli/

  • curtain /ˈkɜːrtn/

  • curve /kɜːrv/

  • curved /kɜːrvd/

  • custom /ˈkʌstəm/

  • customer /ˈkʌstəmər/

  • cut /kʌt/

  • cycle /ˈsaɪkl/