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.

ALL a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
  • dad (/dæd/)
  • daily (/ˈdeɪli/)
  • damage (/ˈdæmɪdʒ/)
  • dance (/dɑːns/)
  • dancer (/ˈdɑːnsə(r)/)
  • dancing (/ˈdɑːnsɪŋ/)
  • danger (/ˈdeɪndʒə(r)/)
  • dangerous (/ˈdeɪndʒərəs/)
  • dark (/dɑːk/)
  • data (/ˈdeɪtə/)
  • date (/deɪt/)
  • daughter (/ˈdɔːtə(r)/)
  • day (/deɪ/)
  • dead (/ded/)
  • deal (/diːl/)
  • dear (/dɪə(r)/)
  • death (/deθ/)
  • debate (/dɪˈbeɪt/)
  • debt (/det/)
  • decade (/ˈdekeɪd/)
  • december (/dɪˈsembə(r)/)
  • decent (/ˈdiːsnt/)
  • decide (/dɪˈsaɪd/)
  • decision (/dɪˈsɪʒn/)
  • declare (/dɪˈkleə(r)/)
  • decline (/dɪˈklaɪn/)
  • decorate (/ˈdekəreɪt/)
  • decoration (/ˌdekəˈreɪʃn/)
  • decrease (/dɪˈkriːs/)
  • deep (/diːp/)
  • deeply (/ˈdiːpli/)
  • defeat (/dɪˈfiːt/)
  • defence (/dɪˈfens/)
  • defend (/dɪˈfend/)
  • define (/dɪˈfaɪn/)
  • definite (/ˈdefɪnət/)
  • definitely (/ˈdefɪnətli/)
  • definition (/ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn/)
  • degree (/dɪˈɡriː/)
  • delay (/dɪˈleɪ/)
  • deliberate (/dɪˈlɪbərət/)
  • deliberately (/dɪˈlɪbərətli/)
  • delicious (/dɪˈlɪʃəs/)
  • delight (/dɪˈlaɪt/)
  • delighted (/dɪˈlaɪtɪd/)
  • deliver (/dɪˈlɪvə(r)/)
  • delivery (/dɪˈlɪvəri/)
  • demand (/dɪˈmɑːnd/)
  • demonstrate (/ˈdemənstreɪt/)
  • dentist (/ˈdentɪst/)
  • deny (/dɪˈnaɪ/)
  • department (/dɪˈpɑːtmənt/)
  • departure (/dɪˈpɑːtʃə(r)/)
  • depend (/dɪˈpend/)
  • depressed (/dɪˈprest/)
  • depressing (/dɪˈpresɪŋ/)
  • depth (/depθ/)
  • describe (/dɪˈskraɪb/)
  • description (/dɪˈskrɪpʃn/)
  • desert (/dɪˈzɜːt/)
  • deserve (/dɪˈzɜːv/)
  • design (/dɪˈzaɪn/)
  • designer (/dɪˈzaɪnə(r)/)
  • desire (/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/)
  • desk (/desk/)
  • desperate (/ˈdespərət/)
  • despite (/dɪˈspaɪt/)
  • destination (/ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/)
  • destroy (/dɪˈstrɔɪ/)
  • detail (/ˈdiːteɪl/)
  • detailed (/ˈdiːteɪld/)
  • detect (/dɪˈtekt/)
  • detective (/dɪˈtektɪv/)
  • determine (/dɪˈtɜːmɪn/)
  • determined (/dɪˈtɜːmɪnd/)
  • develop (/dɪˈveləp/)
  • development (/dɪˈveləpmənt/)
  • device (/dɪˈvaɪs/)
  • diagram (/ˈdaɪəɡræm/)
  • dialogue (/ˈdaɪəlɒɡ/)
  • diamond (/ˈdaɪmənd/)
  • diary (/ˈdaɪəri/)
  • dictionary (/ˈdɪkʃənri/)
  • die (/daɪ/)
  • diet (/ˈdaɪət/)
  • difference (/ˈdɪfrəns/)
  • different (/ˈdɪfrənt/)
  • differently (/ˈdɪfrəntli/)
  • difficult (/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/)
  • difficulty (/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/)
  • dig (/dɪɡ/)
  • digital (/ˈdɪdʒɪtl/)
  • dinner (/ˈdɪnə(r)/)
  • direct (/dəˈrekt/)
  • direction (/dəˈrekʃn/)
  • directly (/dəˈrektli/)
  • director (/dəˈrektə(r)/)
  • dirt (/dɜːt/)
  • dirty (/ˈdɜːti/)
  • disadvantage (/ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/)
  • disagree (/ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/)
  • disappear (/ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r)/)
  • disappointed (/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/)
  • disappointing (/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/)
  • disaster (/dɪˈzɑːstə(r)/)
  • disc (/dɪsk/)
  • discipline (/ˈdɪsəplɪn/)
  • discount (/ˈdɪskaʊnt/)
  • discover (/dɪˈskʌvə(r)/)
  • discovery (/dɪˈskʌvəri/)
  • discuss (/dɪˈskʌs/)
  • discussion (/dɪˈskʌʃn/)
  • disease (/dɪˈziːz/)
  • dish (/dɪʃ/)
  • dishonest (/dɪsˈɒnɪst/)
  • disk (/dɪsk/)
  • dislike (/dɪsˈlaɪk/)
  • dismiss (/dɪsˈmɪs/)
  • display (/dɪˈspleɪ/)
  • distance (/ˈdɪstəns/)
  • distribute (/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/)
  • distribution (/ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃn/)
  • district (/ˈdɪstrɪkt/)
  • divide (/dɪˈvaɪd/)
  • division (/dɪˈvɪʒn/)
  • divorced (/dɪˈvɔːst/)
  • do (/də/)
  • doctor (/ˈdɒktə(r)/)
  • document (/ˈdɒkjument/)
  • documentary (/ˌdɒkjuˈmentri/)
  • dog (/dɒɡ/)
  • dollar (/ˈdɒlə(r)/)
  • domestic (/dəˈmestɪk/)
  • dominate (/ˈdɒmɪneɪt/)
  • donate (/dəʊˈneɪt/)
  • door (/dɔː(r)/)
  • double (/ˈdʌbl/)
  • doubt (/daʊt/)
  • down (/daʊn/)
  • download (/ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/)
  • downstairs (/ˌdaʊnˈsteəz/)
  • downwards (/ˈdaʊnwədz/)
  • dozen (/ˈdʌzn/)
  • draft (/drɑːft/)
  • drag (/dræɡ/)
  • drama (/ˈdrɑːmə/)
  • dramatic (/drəˈmætɪk/)
  • draw (/drɔː/)
  • drawing (/ˈdrɔːɪŋ/)
  • dream (/driːm/)
  • dress (/dres/)
  • dressed (/drest/)
  • drink (/drɪŋk/)
  • drive (/draɪv/)
  • driver (/ˈdraɪvə(r)/)
  • driving (/ˈdraɪvɪŋ/)
  • drop (/drɒp/)
  • drug (/drʌɡ/)
  • drum (/drʌm/)
  • drunk (/drʌŋk/)
  • dry (/draɪ/)
  • due (/djuː/)
  • during (/ˈdjʊərɪŋ/)
  • dust (/dʌst/)
  • duty (/ˈdjuːti/)
  • dvd (/ˌdiː viː ˈdiː/)
English Audio Level

dad (noun)

UK /dæd/
US /dæd/
A1

daily (adverb)

UK /ˈdeɪli/
US /ˈdeɪli/
B1

damage (verb)

UK /ˈdæmɪdʒ/
US /ˈdæmɪdʒ/
B1

dance (verb)

UK /dɑːns/
US /dæns/
A1

dancer (noun)

UK /ˈdɑːnsə(r)/
US /ˈdænsər/
A1

dancing (noun)

UK /ˈdɑːnsɪŋ/
US /ˈdænsɪŋ/
A1

danger (noun)

UK /ˈdeɪndʒə(r)/
US /ˈdeɪndʒər/
A2

dangerous (adjective)

UK /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
US /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
A1

dark (noun)

UK /dɑːk/
US /dɑːrk/
A2

data (noun)

UK /ˈdeɪtə/
US /ˈdeɪtə/
A2

date (verb)

UK /deɪt/
US /deɪt/
B2

daughter (noun)

UK /ˈdɔːtə(r)/
US /ˈdɔːtər/
A1

day (noun)

UK /deɪ/
US /deɪ/
A1

dead (adjective)

UK /ded/
US /ded/
A2

deal (verb)

UK /diːl/
US /diːl/
A2

dear (exclamation)

UK /dɪə(r)/
US /dɪr/
A2

death (noun)

UK /deθ/
US /deθ/
A2

debate (verb)

UK /dɪˈbeɪt/
US /dɪˈbeɪt/
B2

debt (noun)

UK /det/
US /det/
B2

decade (noun)

UK /ˈdekeɪd/
US /ˈdekeɪd/
B1

december (noun)

UK /dɪˈsembə(r)/
US /dɪˈsembər/
A1

decent (adjective)

UK /ˈdiːsnt/
US /ˈdiːsnt/
B2

decide (verb)

UK /dɪˈsaɪd/
US /dɪˈsaɪd/
A1

decision (noun)

UK /dɪˈsɪʒn/
US /dɪˈsɪʒn/
A2

declare (verb)

UK /dɪˈkleə(r)/
US /dɪˈkler/
B2

decline (verb)

UK /dɪˈklaɪn/
US /dɪˈklaɪn/
B2

decorate (verb)

UK /ˈdekəreɪt/
US /ˈdekəreɪt/
B1

decoration (noun)

UK /ˌdekəˈreɪʃn/
US /ˌdekəˈreɪʃn/
B2

decrease (verb)

UK /dɪˈkriːs/
US /dɪˈkriːs/
B2

deep (adverb)

UK /diːp/
US /diːp/
B1

deeply (adverb)

UK /ˈdiːpli/
US /ˈdiːpli/
B2

defeat (verb)

UK /dɪˈfiːt/
US /dɪˈfiːt/
B2

defence (noun)

UK /dɪˈfens/
US /dɪˈfens/
B2

defend (verb)

UK /dɪˈfend/
US /dɪˈfend/
B2

define (verb)

UK /dɪˈfaɪn/
US /dɪˈfaɪn/
B1

definite (adjective)

UK /ˈdefɪnət/
US /ˈdefɪnət/
B1

definitely (adverb)

UK /ˈdefɪnətli/
US /ˈdefɪnətli/
A2

definition (noun)

UK /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn/
US /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn/
B1

degree (noun)

UK /dɪˈɡriː/
US /dɪˈɡriː/
A2

delay (verb)

UK /dɪˈleɪ/
US /dɪˈleɪ/
B2

deliberate (adjective)

UK /dɪˈlɪbərət/
US /dɪˈlɪbərət/
B2

deliberately (adverb)

UK /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
US /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
B2

delicious (adjective)

UK /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
US /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
A1

delight (verb)

UK /dɪˈlaɪt/
US /dɪˈlaɪt/
B2

delighted (adjective)

UK /dɪˈlaɪtɪd/
US /dɪˈlaɪtɪd/
B2

deliver (verb)

UK /dɪˈlɪvə(r)/
US /dɪˈlɪvər/
B1

delivery (noun)

UK /dɪˈlɪvəri/
US /dɪˈlɪvəri/
B2

demand (verb)

UK /dɪˈmɑːnd/
US /dɪˈmænd/
B2

demonstrate (verb)

UK /ˈdemənstreɪt/
US /ˈdemənstreɪt/
B2

dentist (noun)

UK /ˈdentɪst/
US /ˈdentɪst/
A2

deny (verb)

UK /dɪˈnaɪ/
US /dɪˈnaɪ/
B2

department (noun)

UK /dɪˈpɑːtmənt/
US /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
A2

departure (noun)

UK /dɪˈpɑːtʃə(r)/
US /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
B1

depend (verb)

UK /dɪˈpend/
US /dɪˈpend/
A2

depressed (adjective)

UK /dɪˈprest/
US /dɪˈprest/
B2

depressing (adjective)

UK /dɪˈpresɪŋ/
US /dɪˈpresɪŋ/
B2

depth (noun)

UK /depθ/
US /depθ/
B2

describe (verb)

UK /dɪˈskraɪb/
US /dɪˈskraɪb/
A1

description (noun)

UK /dɪˈskrɪpʃn/
US /dɪˈskrɪpʃn/
A1

desert (verb)

UK /dɪˈzɜːt/
US /dɪˈzɜːrt/
B2

deserve (verb)

UK /dɪˈzɜːv/
US /dɪˈzɜːrv/
B2

design (verb)

UK /dɪˈzaɪn/
US /dɪˈzaɪn/
A1

designer (noun)

UK /dɪˈzaɪnə(r)/
US /dɪˈzaɪnər/
A2

desire (verb)

UK /dɪˈzaɪə(r)/
US /dɪˈzaɪər/
B2

desk (noun)

UK /desk/
US /desk/
A1

desperate (adjective)

UK /ˈdespərət/
US /ˈdespərət/
B2

despite (preposition)

UK /dɪˈspaɪt/
US /dɪˈspaɪt/
B1

destination (noun)

UK /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/
US /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/
B1

destroy (verb)

UK /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
US /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
A2

detail (verb)

UK /ˈdiːteɪl/
US /ˈdiːteɪl/
B2

detailed (adjective)

UK /ˈdiːteɪld/
US /ˈdiːteɪld/
B2

detect (verb)

UK /dɪˈtekt/
US /dɪˈtekt/
B2

detective (noun)

UK /dɪˈtektɪv/
US /dɪˈtektɪv/
A2

determine (verb)

UK /dɪˈtɜːmɪn/
US /dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/
B1

determined (adjective)

UK /dɪˈtɜːmɪnd/
US /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd/
B1

develop (verb)

UK /dɪˈveləp/
US /dɪˈveləp/
A2

development (noun)

UK /dɪˈveləpmənt/
US /dɪˈveləpmənt/
B1

device (noun)

UK /dɪˈvaɪs/
US /dɪˈvaɪs/
A2

diagram (noun)

UK /ˈdaɪəɡræm/
US /ˈdaɪəɡræm/
B1

dialogue (noun)

UK /ˈdaɪəlɒɡ/
US /ˈdaɪəlɔːɡ/
A1

diamond (noun)

UK /ˈdaɪmənd/
US /ˈdaɪmənd/
B1

diary (noun)

UK /ˈdaɪəri/
US /ˈdaɪəri/
A2

dictionary (noun)

UK /ˈdɪkʃənri/
US /ˈdɪkʃəneri/
A1

die (verb)

UK /daɪ/
US /daɪ/
A1

diet (noun)

UK /ˈdaɪət/
US /ˈdaɪət/
A1

difference (noun)

UK /ˈdɪfrəns/
US /ˈdɪfrəns/
A1

different (adjective)

UK /ˈdɪfrənt/
US /ˈdɪfrənt/
A1

differently (adverb)

UK /ˈdɪfrəntli/
US /ˈdɪfrəntli/
A2

difficult (adjective)

UK /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/
US /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/
A1

difficulty (noun)

UK /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/
US /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/
B1

dig (verb)

UK /dɪɡ/
US /dɪɡ/
B2

digital (adjective)

UK /ˈdɪdʒɪtl/
US /ˈdɪdʒɪtl/
A2

dinner (noun)

UK /ˈdɪnə(r)/
US /ˈdɪnər/
A1

direct (verb)

UK /dəˈrekt/
US /dəˈrekt/
B1

direction (noun)

UK /dəˈrekʃn/
US /dəˈrekʃn/
A2

directly (adverb)

UK /dəˈrektli/
US /dəˈrektli/
B1

director (noun)

UK /dəˈrektə(r)/
US /dəˈrektər/
A2

dirt (noun)

UK /dɜːt/
US /dɜːrt/
B1

dirty (adjective)

UK /ˈdɜːti/
US /ˈdɜːrti/
A1

disadvantage (noun)

UK /ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/
US /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒ/
B1

disagree (verb)

UK /ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/
US /ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/
A2

disappear (verb)

UK /ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r)/
US /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
A2

disappointed (adjective)

UK /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/
US /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/
B1

disappointing (adjective)

UK /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
US /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
B1

disaster (noun)

UK /dɪˈzɑːstə(r)/
US /dɪˈzæstər/
A2

disc (noun)

UK /dɪsk/
US /dɪsk/
B2

discipline (noun)

UK /ˈdɪsəplɪn/
US /ˈdɪsəplɪn/
B2

discount (verb)

UK /ˈdɪskaʊnt/
US /ˈdɪskaʊnt/
B2

discover (verb)

UK /dɪˈskʌvə(r)/
US /dɪˈskʌvər/
A2

discovery (noun)

UK /dɪˈskʌvəri/
US /dɪˈskʌvəri/
A2

discuss (verb)

UK /dɪˈskʌs/
US /dɪˈskʌs/
A1

discussion (noun)

UK /dɪˈskʌʃn/
US /dɪˈskʌʃn/
A2

disease (noun)

UK /dɪˈziːz/
US /dɪˈziːz/
A2

dish (noun)

UK /dɪʃ/
US /dɪʃ/
A1

dishonest (adjective)

UK /dɪsˈɒnɪst/
US /dɪsˈɑːnɪst/
B2

disk (noun)

UK /dɪsk/
US /dɪsk/
B2

dislike (verb)

UK /dɪsˈlaɪk/
US /dɪsˈlaɪk/
B1

dismiss (verb)

UK /dɪsˈmɪs/
US /dɪsˈmɪs/
B2

display (verb)

UK /dɪˈspleɪ/
US /dɪˈspleɪ/
B2

distance (noun)

UK /ˈdɪstəns/
US /ˈdɪstəns/
A2

distribute (verb)

UK /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
US /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
B2

distribution (noun)

UK /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃn/
US /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃn/
B2

district (noun)

UK /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
US /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
B2

divide (verb)

UK /dɪˈvaɪd/
US /dɪˈvaɪd/
B1

division (noun)

UK /dɪˈvɪʒn/
US /dɪˈvɪʒn/
B2

divorced (adjective)

UK /dɪˈvɔːst/
US /dɪˈvɔːrst/
A2

do (auxiliary verb)

UK /də/
US /də/
A1

doctor (noun)

UK /ˈdɒktə(r)/
US /ˈdɑːktər/
A1

document (verb)

UK /ˈdɒkjument/
US /ˈdɑːkjument/
B2

documentary (noun)

UK /ˌdɒkjuˈmentri/
US /ˌdɑːkjuˈmentri/
B1

dog (noun)

UK /dɒɡ/
US /dɔːɡ/
A1

dollar (noun)

UK /ˈdɒlə(r)/
US /ˈdɑːlər/
A1

domestic (adjective)

UK /dəˈmestɪk/
US /dəˈmestɪk/
B2

dominate (verb)

UK /ˈdɒmɪneɪt/
US /ˈdɑːmɪneɪt/
B2

donate (verb)

UK /dəʊˈneɪt/
US /ˈdəʊneɪt/
B1

door (noun)

UK /dɔː(r)/
US /dɔːr/
A1

double (verb)

UK /ˈdʌbl/
US /ˈdʌbl/
A2

doubt (verb)

UK /daʊt/
US /daʊt/
B1

down (preposition)

UK /daʊn/
US /daʊn/
A1

download (verb)

UK /ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/
US /ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/
A2

downstairs (adverb)

UK /ˌdaʊnˈsteəz/
US /ˌdaʊnˈsterz/
A1

downwards (adverb)

UK /ˈdaʊnwədz/
US /ˈdaʊnwərdz/
B2

dozen (noun, determiner)

UK /ˈdʌzn/
US /ˈdʌzn/
B2

draft (verb)

UK /drɑːft/
US /dræft/
B2

drag (verb)

UK /dræɡ/
US /dræɡ/
B2

drama (noun)

UK /ˈdrɑːmə/
US /ˈdrɑːmə/
A2

dramatic (adjective)

UK /drəˈmætɪk/
US /drəˈmætɪk/
B2

draw (verb)

UK /drɔː/
US /drɔː/
A1

drawing (noun)

UK /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
US /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
A2

dream (verb)

UK /driːm/
US /driːm/
A2

dress (verb)

UK /dres/
US /dres/
A1

dressed (adjective)

UK /drest/
US /drest/
B1

drink (verb)

UK /drɪŋk/
US /drɪŋk/
A1

drive (verb)

UK /draɪv/
US /draɪv/
A1

driver (noun)

UK /ˈdraɪvə(r)/
US /ˈdraɪvər/
A1

driving (noun)

UK /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/
US /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/
A2

drop (verb)

UK /drɒp/
US /drɑːp/
A2

drug (noun)

UK /drʌɡ/
US /drʌɡ/
A2

drum (noun)

UK /drʌm/
US /drʌm/
B1

drunk (adjective)

UK /drʌŋk/
US /drʌŋk/
B1

dry (verb)

UK /draɪ/
US /draɪ/
A2

due (adjective)

UK /djuː/
US /duː/
B1

during (preposition)

UK /ˈdjʊərɪŋ/
US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
A1

dust (noun)

UK /dʌst/
US /dʌst/
B1

duty (noun)

UK /ˈdjuːti/
US /ˈduːti/
B1

dvd (noun)

UK /ˌdiː viː ˈdiː/
US /ˌdiː viː ˈdiː/
A1