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
  • each (/iːtʃ/)
  • ear (/ɪə(r)/)
  • early (/ˈɜːli/)
  • earn (/ɜːn/)
  • earth (/ɜːθ/)
  • earthquake (/ˈɜːθkweɪk/)
  • easily (/ˈiːzəli/)
  • east (/iːst/)
  • eastern (/ˈiːstən/)
  • easy (/ˈiːzi/)
  • eat (/iːt/)
  • economic (/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk/)
  • economy (/ɪˈkɒnəmi/)
  • edge (/edʒ/)
  • edit (/ˈedɪt/)
  • edition (/ɪˈdɪʃn/)
  • editor (/ˈedɪtə(r)/)
  • educate (/ˈedʒukeɪt/)
  • educated (/ˈedʒukeɪtɪd/)
  • education (/ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃn/)
  • educational (/ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənl/)
  • effect (/ɪˈfekt/)
  • effective (/ɪˈfektɪv/)
  • effectively (/ɪˈfektɪvli/)
  • efficient (/ɪˈfɪʃnt/)
  • effort (/ˈefət/)
  • egg (/eɡ/)
  • eight (/eɪt/)
  • eighteen (/ˌeɪˈtiːn/)
  • eighty (/ˈeɪti/)
  • either (/ˈaɪðə(r)/)
  • elderly (/ˈeldəli/)
  • elect (/ɪˈlekt/)
  • election (/ɪˈlekʃn/)
  • electric (/ɪˈlektrɪk/)
  • electrical (/ɪˈlektrɪkl/)
  • electricity (/ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/)
  • electronic (/ɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪk/)
  • element (/ˈelɪmənt/)
  • elephant (/ˈelɪfənt/)
  • eleven (/ɪˈlevn/)
  • else (/els/)
  • elsewhere (/ˌelsˈweə(r)/)
  • email (/ˈiːmeɪl/)
  • embarrassed (/ɪmˈbærəst/)
  • embarrassing (/ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ/)
  • emerge (/ɪˈmɜːdʒ/)
  • emergency (/ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi/)
  • emotion (/ɪˈməʊʃn/)
  • emotional (/ɪˈməʊʃənl/)
  • emphasis (/ˈemfəsɪs/)
  • emphasize (/ˈemfəsaɪz/)
  • employ (/ɪmˈplɔɪ/)
  • employee (/ɪmˈplɔɪiː/)
  • employer (/ɪmˈplɔɪə(r)/)
  • employment (/ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/)
  • empty (/ˈempti/)
  • enable (/ɪˈneɪbl/)
  • encounter (/ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)/)
  • encourage (/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/)
  • end (/end/)
  • ending (/ˈendɪŋ/)
  • enemy (/ˈenəmi/)
  • energy (/ˈenədʒi/)
  • engage (/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/)
  • engaged (/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/)
  • engine (/ˈendʒɪn/)
  • engineer (/ˌendʒɪˈnɪə(r)/)
  • engineering (/ˌendʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ/)
  • enhance (/ɪnˈhɑːns/)
  • enjoy (/ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/)
  • enormous (/ɪˈnɔːməs/)
  • enough (/ɪˈnʌf/)
  • enquiry (/ɪnˈkwaɪəri/)
  • ensure (/ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/)
  • enter (/ˈentə(r)/)
  • entertain (/ˌentəˈteɪn/)
  • entertainment (/ˌentəˈteɪnmənt/)
  • enthusiasm (/ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/)
  • enthusiastic (/ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk/)
  • entire (/ɪnˈtaɪə(r)/)
  • entirely (/ɪnˈtaɪəli/)
  • entrance (/ˈentrəns/)
  • entry (/ˈentri/)
  • environment (/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/)
  • environmental (/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl/)
  • episode (/ˈepɪsəʊd/)
  • equal (/ˈiːkwəl/)
  • equally (/ˈiːkwəli/)
  • equipment (/ɪˈkwɪpmənt/)
  • error (/ˈerə(r)/)
  • escape (/ɪˈskeɪp/)
  • especially (/ɪˈspeʃəli/)
  • essay (/ˈeseɪ/)
  • essential (/ɪˈsenʃl/)
  • establish (/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/)
  • estate (/ɪˈsteɪt/)
  • estimate (/ˈestɪmeɪt/)
  • ethical (/ˈeθɪkl/)
  • euro (/ˈjʊərəʊ/)
  • evaluate (/ɪˈvæljueɪt/)
  • even (/ˈiːvn/)
  • evening (/ˈiːvnɪŋ/)
  • event (/ɪˈvent/)
  • eventually (/ɪˈventʃuəli/)
  • ever (/ˈevə(r)/)
  • every (/ˈevri/)
  • everybody (/ˈevribɒdi/)
  • everyday (/ˈevrideɪ/)
  • everyone (/ˈevriwʌn/)
  • everything (/ˈevriθɪŋ/)
  • everywhere (/ˈevriweə(r)/)
  • evidence (/ˈevɪdəns/)
  • evil (/ˈiːvl/)
  • exact (/ɪɡˈzækt/)
  • exactly (/ɪɡˈzæktli/)
  • exam (/ɪɡˈzæm/)
  • examination (/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/)
  • examine (/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/)
  • example (/ɪɡˈzɑːmpl/)
  • excellent (/ˈeksələnt/)
  • except (/ɪkˈsept/)
  • exchange (/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/)
  • excited (/ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/)
  • excitement (/ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/)
  • exciting (/ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/)
  • excuse (/ɪkˈskjuːz/)
  • executive (/ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/)
  • exercise (/ˈeksəsaɪz/)
  • exhibition (/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/)
  • exist (/ɪɡˈzɪst/)
  • existence (/ɪɡˈzɪstəns/)
  • expand (/ɪkˈspænd/)
  • expect (/ɪkˈspekt/)
  • expectation (/ˌekspekˈteɪʃn/)
  • expected (/ɪkˈspektɪd/)
  • expedition (/ˌekspəˈdɪʃn/)
  • expense (/ɪkˈspens/)
  • expensive (/ɪkˈspensɪv/)
  • experience (/ɪkˈspɪəriəns/)
  • experienced (/ɪkˈspɪəriənst/)
  • experiment (/ɪkˈsperɪment/)
  • expert (/ˈekspɜːt/)
  • explain (/ɪkˈspleɪn/)
  • explanation (/ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/)
  • explode (/ɪkˈspləʊd/)
  • exploration (/ˌekspləˈreɪʃn/)
  • explore (/ɪkˈsplɔː(r)/)
  • explosion (/ɪkˈspləʊʒn/)
  • export (/ɪkˈspɔːt/)
  • expose (/ɪkˈspəʊz/)
  • express (/ɪkˈspres/)
  • expression (/ɪkˈspreʃn/)
  • extend (/ɪkˈstend/)
  • extent (/ɪkˈstent/)
  • external (/ɪkˈstɜːnl/)
  • extra (/ˈekstrə/)
  • extraordinary (/ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/)
  • extreme (/ɪkˈstriːm/)
  • extremely (/ɪkˈstriːmli/)
  • eye (/aɪ/)
English Audio Level

each (determiner, pronoun, adverb)

UK /iːtʃ/
US /iːtʃ/
A1

ear (noun)

UK /ɪə(r)/
US /ɪr/
A1

early (adverb)

UK /ˈɜːli/
US /ˈɜːrli/
A1

earn (verb)

UK /ɜːn/
US /ɜːrn/
A2

earth (noun)

UK /ɜːθ/
US /ɜːrθ/
A2

earthquake (noun)

UK /ˈɜːθkweɪk/
US /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
B1

easily (adverb)

UK /ˈiːzəli/
US /ˈiːzəli/
A2

east (noun)

UK /iːst/
US /iːst/
A1

eastern (adjective)

UK /ˈiːstən/
US /ˈiːstərn/
B1

easy (adjective)

UK /ˈiːzi/
US /ˈiːzi/
A1

eat (verb)

UK /iːt/
US /iːt/
A1

economic (adjective)

UK /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk/
US /ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪk/
B1

economy (noun)

UK /ɪˈkɒnəmi/
US /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/
B1

edge (noun)

UK /edʒ/
US /edʒ/
B1

edit (verb)

UK /ˈedɪt/
US /ˈedɪt/
B2

edition (noun)

UK /ɪˈdɪʃn/
US /ɪˈdɪʃn/
B2

editor (noun)

UK /ˈedɪtə(r)/
US /ˈedɪtər/
B1

educate (verb)

UK /ˈedʒukeɪt/
US /ˈedʒukeɪt/
B1

educated (adjective)

UK /ˈedʒukeɪtɪd/
US /ˈedʒukeɪtɪd/
B1

education (noun)

UK /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃn/
US /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃn/
A2

educational (adjective)

UK /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənl/
US /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənl/
B1

effect (noun)

UK /ɪˈfekt/
US /ɪˈfekt/
A2

effective (adjective)

UK /ɪˈfektɪv/
US /ɪˈfektɪv/
B1

effectively (adverb)

UK /ɪˈfektɪvli/
US /ɪˈfektɪvli/
B1

efficient (adjective)

UK /ɪˈfɪʃnt/
US /ɪˈfɪʃnt/
B2

effort (noun)

UK /ˈefət/
US /ˈefərt/
B1

egg (noun)

UK /eɡ/
US /eɡ/
A1

eight (number)

UK /eɪt/
US /eɪt/
A1

eighteen (number)

UK /ˌeɪˈtiːn/
US /ˌeɪˈtiːn/
A1

eighty (number)

UK /ˈeɪti/
US /ˈeɪti/
A1

either (determiner, pronoun)

UK /ˈaɪðə(r)/
US /ˈiːðər/
A2

elderly (adjective)

UK /ˈeldəli/
US /ˈeldərli/
B2

elect (verb)

UK /ɪˈlekt/
US /ɪˈlekt/
B2

election (noun)

UK /ɪˈlekʃn/
US /ɪˈlekʃn/
B1

electric (adjective)

UK /ɪˈlektrɪk/
US /ɪˈlektrɪk/
A2

electrical (adjective)

UK /ɪˈlektrɪkl/
US /ɪˈlektrɪkl/
A2

electricity (noun)

UK /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/
US /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/
A2

electronic (adjective)

UK /ɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪk/
US /ɪˌlekˈtrɑːnɪk/
A2

element (noun)

UK /ˈelɪmənt/
US /ˈelɪmənt/
B1

elephant (noun)

UK /ˈelɪfənt/
US /ˈelɪfənt/
A1

eleven (number)

UK /ɪˈlevn/
US /ɪˈlevn/
A1

else (adverb)

UK /els/
US /els/
A1

elsewhere (adverb)

UK /ˌelsˈweə(r)/
US /ˌelsˈwer/
B2

email (verb)

UK /ˈiːmeɪl/
US /ˈiːmeɪl/
A1

embarrassed (adjective)

UK /ɪmˈbærəst/
US /ɪmˈbærəst/
B1

embarrassing (adjective)

UK /ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ/
US /ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ/
B1

emerge (verb)

UK /ɪˈmɜːdʒ/
US /ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
B2

emergency (noun)

UK /ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi/
US /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
B1

emotion (noun)

UK /ɪˈməʊʃn/
US /ɪˈməʊʃn/
B1

emotional (adjective)

UK /ɪˈməʊʃənl/
US /ɪˈməʊʃənl/
B2

emphasis (noun)

UK /ˈemfəsɪs/
US /ˈemfəsɪs/
B2

emphasize (verb)

UK /ˈemfəsaɪz/
US /ˈemfəsaɪz/
B2

employ (verb)

UK /ɪmˈplɔɪ/
US /ɪmˈplɔɪ/
A2

employee (noun)

UK /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/
US /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/
A2

employer (noun)

UK /ɪmˈplɔɪə(r)/
US /ɪmˈplɔɪər/
A2

employment (noun)

UK /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/
US /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/
B1

empty (verb)

UK /ˈempti/
US /ˈempti/
B1

enable (verb)

UK /ɪˈneɪbl/
US /ɪˈneɪbl/
B2

encounter (verb)

UK /ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)/
US /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
B2

encourage (verb)

UK /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/
US /ɪnˈkɜːrɪdʒ/
B1

end (verb)

UK /end/
US /end/
A1

ending (noun)

UK /ˈendɪŋ/
US /ˈendɪŋ/
A2

enemy (noun)

UK /ˈenəmi/
US /ˈenəmi/
B1

energy (noun)

UK /ˈenədʒi/
US /ˈenərdʒi/
A2

engage (verb)

UK /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/
US /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/
B2

engaged (adjective)

UK /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/
US /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/
B1

engine (noun)

UK /ˈendʒɪn/
US /ˈendʒɪn/
A2

engineer (noun)

UK /ˌendʒɪˈnɪə(r)/
US /ˌendʒɪˈnɪr/
A2

engineering (noun)

UK /ˌendʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ/
US /ˌendʒɪˈnɪrɪŋ/
B1

enhance (verb)

UK /ɪnˈhɑːns/
US /ɪnˈhæns/
B2

enjoy (verb)

UK /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/
US /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/
A1

enormous (adjective)

UK /ɪˈnɔːməs/
US /ɪˈnɔːrməs/
A2

enough (pronoun)

UK /ɪˈnʌf/
US /ɪˈnʌf/
A1

enquiry (noun)

UK /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/
US /ˈɪnkwəri/
B2

ensure (verb)

UK /ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/
US /ɪnˈʃʊr/
B2

enter (verb)

UK /ˈentə(r)/
US /ˈentər/
A2

entertain (verb)

UK /ˌentəˈteɪn/
US /ˌentərˈteɪn/
B1

entertainment (noun)

UK /ˌentəˈteɪnmənt/
US /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
B1

enthusiasm (noun)

UK /ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/
US /ɪnˈθuːziæzəm/
B2

enthusiastic (adjective)

UK /ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk/
US /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
B2

entire (adjective)

UK /ɪnˈtaɪə(r)/
US /ɪnˈtaɪər/
B2

entirely (adverb)

UK /ɪnˈtaɪəli/
US /ɪnˈtaɪərli/
B2

entrance (noun)

UK /ˈentrəns/
US /ˈentrəns/
B1

entry (noun)

UK /ˈentri/
US /ˈentri/
B1

environment (noun)

UK /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
US /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
A2

environmental (adjective)

UK /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl/
US /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl/
B1

episode (noun)

UK /ˈepɪsəʊd/
US /ˈepɪsəʊd/
B1

equal (verb)

UK /ˈiːkwəl/
US /ˈiːkwəl/
B1

equally (adverb)

UK /ˈiːkwəli/
US /ˈiːkwəli/
B1

equipment (noun)

UK /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/
US /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/
A2

error (noun)

UK /ˈerə(r)/
US /ˈerər/
A2

escape (verb)

UK /ɪˈskeɪp/
US /ɪˈskeɪp/
B1

especially (adverb)

UK /ɪˈspeʃəli/
US /ɪˈspeʃəli/
A2

essay (noun)

UK /ˈeseɪ/
US /ˈeseɪ/
A2

essential (adjective)

UK /ɪˈsenʃl/
US /ɪˈsenʃl/
B1

establish (verb)

UK /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
US /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
B2

estate (noun)

UK /ɪˈsteɪt/
US /ɪˈsteɪt/
B2

estimate (verb)

UK /ˈestɪmeɪt/
US /ˈestɪmeɪt/
B2

ethical (adjective)

UK /ˈeθɪkl/
US /ˈeθɪkl/
B2

euro (noun)

UK /ˈjʊərəʊ/
US /ˈjʊrəʊ/
A1

evaluate (verb)

UK /ɪˈvæljueɪt/
US /ɪˈvæljueɪt/
B2

even (adverb)

UK /ˈiːvn/
US /ˈiːvn/
A1

evening (noun)

UK /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
US /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
A1

event (noun)

UK /ɪˈvent/
US /ɪˈvent/
A1

eventually (adverb)

UK /ɪˈventʃuəli/
US /ɪˈventʃuəli/
B1

ever (adverb)

UK /ˈevə(r)/
US /ˈevər/
A1

every (determiner)

UK /ˈevri/
US /ˈevri/
A1

everybody (pronoun)

UK /ˈevribɒdi/
US /ˈevribɑːdi/
A1

everyday (adjective)

UK /ˈevrideɪ/
US /ˈevrideɪ/
A2

everyone (pronoun)

UK /ˈevriwʌn/
US /ˈevriwʌn/
A1

everything (pronoun)

UK /ˈevriθɪŋ/
US /ˈevriθɪŋ/
A1

everywhere (adverb, pronoun, conjunction)

UK /ˈevriweə(r)/
US /ˈevriwer/
A2

evidence (noun)

UK /ˈevɪdəns/
US /ˈevɪdəns/
A2

evil (noun)

UK /ˈiːvl/
US /ˈiːvl/
B2

exact (adjective)

UK /ɪɡˈzækt/
US /ɪɡˈzækt/
A2

exactly (adverb)

UK /ɪɡˈzæktli/
US /ɪɡˈzæktli/
A2

exam (noun)

UK /ɪɡˈzæm/
US /ɪɡˈzæm/
A1

examination (noun)

UK /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/
US /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/
B2

examine (verb)

UK /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
US /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
B1

example (noun)

UK /ɪɡˈzɑːmpl/
US /ɪɡˈzæmpl/
A1

excellent (adjective)

UK /ˈeksələnt/
US /ˈeksələnt/
A2

except (preposition)

UK /ɪkˈsept/
US /ɪkˈsept/
A2

exchange (verb)

UK /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/
US /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/
B1

excited (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
US /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
A1

excitement (noun)

UK /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
US /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
B1

exciting (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
US /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
A1

excuse (verb)

UK /ɪkˈskjuːz/
US /ɪkˈskjuːz/
B2

executive (noun)

UK /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/
US /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/
B2

exercise (verb)

UK /ˈeksəsaɪz/
US /ˈeksərsaɪz/
A1

exhibition (noun)

UK /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/
US /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/
B1

exist (verb)

UK /ɪɡˈzɪst/
US /ɪɡˈzɪst/
A2

existence (noun)

UK /ɪɡˈzɪstəns/
US /ɪɡˈzɪstəns/
B2

expand (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspænd/
US /ɪkˈspænd/
B1

expect (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspekt/
US /ɪkˈspekt/
A2

expectation (noun)

UK /ˌekspekˈteɪʃn/
US /ˌekspekˈteɪʃn/
B2

expected (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈspektɪd/
US /ɪkˈspektɪd/
B1

expedition (noun)

UK /ˌekspəˈdɪʃn/
US /ˌekspəˈdɪʃn/
B1

expense (noun)

UK /ɪkˈspens/
US /ɪkˈspens/
B2

expensive (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈspensɪv/
US /ɪkˈspensɪv/
A1

experience (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/
US /ɪkˈspɪriəns/
B1

experienced (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈspɪəriənst/
US /ɪkˈspɪriənst/
B1

experiment (verb)

UK /ɪkˈsperɪment/
US /ɪkˈsperɪment/
B1

expert (noun)

UK /ˈekspɜːt/
US /ˈekspɜːrt/
A2

explain (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspleɪn/
US /ɪkˈspleɪn/
A1

explanation (noun)

UK /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/
US /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/
A2

explode (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspləʊd/
US /ɪkˈspləʊd/
B1

exploration (noun)

UK /ˌekspləˈreɪʃn/
US /ˌekspləˈreɪʃn/
B2

explore (verb)

UK /ɪkˈsplɔː(r)/
US /ɪkˈsplɔːr/
B1

explosion (noun)

UK /ɪkˈspləʊʒn/
US /ɪkˈspləʊʒn/
B1

export (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspɔːt/
US /ɪkˈspɔːrt/
B1

expose (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspəʊz/
US /ɪkˈspəʊz/
B2

express (verb)

UK /ɪkˈspres/
US /ɪkˈspres/
A2

expression (noun)

UK /ɪkˈspreʃn/
US /ɪkˈspreʃn/
A2

extend (verb)

UK /ɪkˈstend/
US /ɪkˈstend/
B2

extent (noun)

UK /ɪkˈstent/
US /ɪkˈstent/
B2

external (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈstɜːnl/
US /ɪkˈstɜːrnl/
B2

extra (noun)

UK /ˈekstrə/
US /ˈekstrə/
B1

extraordinary (adjective)

UK /ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/
US /ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/
B2

extreme (noun)

UK /ɪkˈstriːm/
US /ɪkˈstriːm/
B2

extremely (adverb)

UK /ɪkˈstriːmli/
US /ɪkˈstriːmli/
A2

eye (noun)

UK /aɪ/
US /aɪ/
A1