?? ESL "Puns" English Language Class 1105 British Pronunciation
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
free
US / fri: /
•UK / fri /
- adjecitve
- Living, happening without being controlled
- Costing no money
- Not working; not busy
- verb
- To release (e.g. bird) from a cage or prison
this
US / ðɪs /
•UK / ðɪs /
- adjecitve
- Used to indicate something already been discussed
- Used to indicate something happening around now
- adverb
- An indication by a physical motion or gesture
- A specific amount of
- determiner
- Person, thing, or idea near you
- pronoun
- Person, thing that has already been discussed
word
US / wɜ:d /
•UK / wɚd /
- noun
- Unit of language that has a meaning
- Promise
- Short remark or piece of information
- verb
- To express something by choosing particular words
bell
US / bel /
•UK / bɛl /
- noun
- Metal object shaped like a cup that rings when hit
- Electronic device that makes a ringing sound
into
US / 'ɪntə /
•UK / ˈɪntu /
- preposition
- Moving or going inside something
- In the same direction as; in the direction of
- So as to become; taking the state of
foreigner
US / ˈfɒrənə(r) /
•UK / ˈfɔ:rənə(r) /
- noun
- Person who is from a different place or country
one
US / wʌn /
•UK / wʌn /
- pronoun
- You; we; people in general; someone
- The thing or person previously referred to
- adjecitve
- Used to refer to people generally
- Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
- number
- Number 1
bank
US / bæŋk /
•UK / bæŋk /
- noun
- A financial institution that keeps or lends money
- The side of a river
- A row of things in lines (e.g. computers)
- verb
- To put or keep your money in a bank
- To turn a plane when flying; (of a plane) to turn
make
US / meɪk /
•UK / mek /
- noun
- Product made by a particular company; brand
- verb
- To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
- To get to (a place) on time
- To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
- To create something by putting things together
- To earn a certain amount of money at a job
- To cause or force a person to do something
- To cause something to happen or be formed
answer
US / 'ɑ:nsə(r) /
•UK / ˈænsɚ /
- noun
- Reply to a question someone asks
- Solution to a problem or test question
- verb
- To reply to a question someone asks
- To solve a test question or a problem
differently
US / 'dɪfrəntlɪ /
•UK / ˈdɪfərəntlɪ /
- adverb
- In another and different manner
less
US / les /
•UK / lɛs /
- adjecitve
- Smaller in amount or degree
- adverb
- To a smaller degree
- noun
- A smaller amount
- preposition
- With the subtraction of
pun
US / pʌn /
•UK / pʌn /
- noun
- Funny way to use a word to express another meaning
- verb
- To make a joke with a word with a double meaning
big
US / bɪɡ /
•UK / bɪɡ /
- adjecitve
- Popular
- Serious
- Large
let
US / let /
•UK / lɛt /
- verb
- To allow someone to do something
- Introducing a suggestion to do something together
- To rent a house, etc. to others
the
US / ðə /
•UK / ðə /
- article
- Used to refer to something already mentioned
- Used to show there is only one of something
- determiner
- Used to describe all of a family
you
US / jʊ /
•UK / ju /
- pronoun
- Person someone is speaking or writing to
- Person or people in general
funny
US / ˈfʌni /
•UK / ˈfʌni /
- adjecitve
- Causing laughter; amusing
- Being different, odd or strange
either
US / ˈaɪðə(r) /
•UK / ˈiðɚ, ˈaɪðɚ /
- adjecitve
- One of two (used when there is a choice of two)
- adverb
- (After negative statements) likewise, in addition
- conjunction
- Used as the first of two connected things
- determiner
- Used as the first of two connected things
- pronoun
- The one or the other
try
US / traɪ /
•UK / traɪ /
- noun
- Act of putting the ball over the rugby goal line
- verb
- To make an effort, to attempt to do something
- To examine someone or something in a court of law
- To test to see if it is good or you like it
- To make a person go through hardship; test
- To examine something to see if it works
true
US / tru: /
•UK / tru: /
- adjecitve
- Agreeing with the facts; not false; real or actual
obviously
US / ˈɒbviəsli /
•UK / ˈɑːbviəsli /
- adverb
- In a way that is obvious/easy to see or understand
rating
US / ˈreɪtɪŋ /
•UK / ˈretɪŋ /
- noun
- The score derived from an assessment of something
- verb
- To assess something or consider its qualities
silkworm
US / ˈsɪlkwɜ:m /
•UK / ˈsɪlkwɜ:rm /
- noun
- Caterpillar whose cocoon is spun to get silk
race
US / reɪs /
•UK / res /
- noun
- Speed contest between people, animals or vehicles
- People who share physical features or culture
- verb
- To take part in a running or swimming competition
- To move or go at a very fast pace
- To take someone, something to a place very quickly
white
US / waɪt /
•UK / hwaɪt, waɪt /
- adjecitve
- Belonging to a race of people with light skin
- Of the color of fresh snow and milk
- noun
- Person's name
- Lightest color; The color of fresh snow.
feel
US / fi:l /
•UK / fil /
- verb
- To be aware of or experience an emotion, sensation
- To sense through direct contact; touch
use
US / ju:s /
•UK / ju:s /
- noun
- Ability to employ something
- Need to enable it to work
- Permission to do something with something
- Act of spending money
- Operation of a machine for its function
- verb
- To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
- To need to operate or work
- To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
- To treat a person badly
- To do something with, for a task or purpose
write
US / raɪt /
•UK / raɪt /
- verb
- To compose letters and words on paper or a screen
- To invent or create a computer program
- To create a song or piece of music
many
US / 'menɪ /
•UK / ˈmɛni /
- determiner
- Used to refer a large number of things
another
US / əˈnʌðə(r) /
•UK / əˈnʌðɚ /
- adjecitve
- One more, but not this
- determiner
- One more added
- pronoun
- One more (thing)
girl
US / gɜ:l /
•UK / gɜ:rl /
- noun
- A female child; a young woman
most
US / məʊst /
•UK / most /
- adverb
- Very; extremely
- Greatest possible degree
- pronoun
- Nearly all of something
normally
US / ˈnɔ:məli /
•UK / ˈnɔːrməli /
- adverb
- In the manner that is usual or ordinary
two
US / tu: /
•UK / tu /
- number
- 2
sentence
US / 'sentəns /
•UK / ˈsɛntəns /
- noun
- Official punishment given by a court of law
- Set of words that make a whole statement
- verb
- (Of a judge) to decide the punishment of
from
US / frəm /
•UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /
- preposition
- Starting at a particular place, time or level
form
US / fɔ:m /
•UK / fɔrm /
- noun
- Sports team or person's current winning record
- Document you complete when making an application
- Visible shape or style; type; kind
- verb
- To organize something such as a club or group
- To develop; to come into a shape or substance
- To make something into a particular shape
over
US / 'əʊvə(r) /
•UK / ˈovɚ /
- adverb
- Finished; no longer happening
- Towards the ground/away from a standing position
- noun
- A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
- other
- Finished
- preposition
- Showing the relation when a thing is above another
- On or covering something
- Above or across something
- More than you need
- From one side to the other
- In the direction of; toward
arrive
US / əˈraɪv /
•UK / əˈraɪv /
- verb
- To reach the place you are traveling to
channel
US / 'tʃænl /
•UK / ˈtʃænəl /
- noun
- Long hole dug in the ground, e.g. to move water
- TV or radio station or its programs
- Method or way of sending or receiving information
- Narrow passage through which water travels
- Method or route used for sending or getting things
- verb
- To dig a long hole for carrying water
- To send (e.g. money) to a certain place or person
- To direct water or liquid through a passage
- To direct energy or feelings into something
and
US / ənd /
•UK / ənd, ən,ænd /
- conjunction
- Used to refer to two or more things
- Plus; in addition; on top of that
- Used to introduce an action that follows another
lot
US / lɒt /
•UK / lɑt /
- noun
- What happens to a person in life from chance; fate
- A group of people seen together
- Item for sale at an auction
- Small area of land used for a purpose e.g. parking
investigate
US / ɪn'vestɪɡeɪt /
•UK / ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡet /
- verb
- To try to find out facts; to carry out research
knock
US / nɒk /
•UK / nɑk /
- noun
- Bad experience that reduces a person's confidence
- Action of something solid hitting something hard
- verb
- To criticize someone in an unreasonable way
- To hit something to get people's attention
- To strike something hard, causing damage
not
US / nɒt /
•UK / nɑt /
- adverb
- Word indicating the negative
- (Used to form the negative of verbs)
maybe
US / ˈmeɪbi /
•UK / ˈmebi /
- adverb
- Possibly but not certainly; perhaps
can
US / kæn /
•UK / kən,kæn /
- noun
- A metal container for storing food
- other
- Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
- verb
- To have permission to
- To be possible to do
- To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container
but
US / bət /
•UK / bʌt,bət /
- conjunction
- Used before you say something different, opposite
finish
US / ˈfɪnɪʃ /
•UK / ˈfɪnɪʃ /
- noun
- End of something; completion
- Final coat (of paint) applied to a surface
- verb
- To use or consume all of something
- To reach the end; to complete something
- To put a final surface (e.g. paint) on something
give
US / ɡɪv /
•UK / ɡɪv /
- noun
- Degree of flexibility in something, a material
- verb
- To hand over or present something to someone
- To cause someone to have or experience something
english
US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /
•UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /
- adjecitve
- Concerning the culture and people of England
- noun
- Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
- Person's name
generally
US / /
•UK / /
- adverb
- Usually; as a rule; by, to or for most people
phrase
US / freɪz /
•UK / frez /
- noun
- Common expression or saying
- Section of musical notes in a piece of music
- A set of words used together
- verb
- To choose words to say what you mean clearly
intelligently
US / ɪn'telɪdʒəntlɪ /
•UK / ɪn'telɪdʒəntlɪ /
- adverb
- In an intelligent manner
same
US / seɪm /
•UK / sem /
- adjecitve
- Being equal in quality and amount
- Identical; not different
- Not changing; constant
subscribe
US / səb'skraɪb /
•UK / səbˈskraɪb /
- verb
- To regularly pay to receive a service
poem
US / ˈpəʊɪm /
•UK / ˈpoʊəm /
- noun
- A written composition in verse, not prose
equal
US / 'i:kwəl /
•UK / ˈikwəl /
- adjecitve
- Same in shape, size, or number
- verb
- To add up or be the same as
please
US / pli:z /
•UK / pliz /
- adverb
- Used when you politely ask people for things
- verb
- To entertain someone, by dancing, singing etc.
- To make someone happy by doing something
video
US / 'vɪdɪəʊ /
•UK / ˈvɪdiˌo /
- adjecitve
- Of a moving film, with sound
- noun
- Recording capturing action with sound
- verb
- To make a moving film of, with sound
work
US / wɜ:k /
•UK / wɚk /
- adjecitve
- Activity completed in order to make money
- noun
- The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
- Everything created by an author, artist, musician
- Activity you do in order to make money
- Place of employment
- Final product or result of a some labor or effort
- verb
- To bring into a specific state of success
- To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
- To do your job in your company or workplace
- To make an effort to do something
- To operate a machine or device
both
US / bəuθ /
•UK / boθ /
- determiner
- Used to refer to two things at the same time
- pronoun
- Used to refer to two things at the same time
change
US / tʃeɪndʒ /
•UK / tʃendʒ /
- noun
- Exchange of one set of clothes for another
- Money in the form of coins instead of paper
- Money returned after giving too much
- Act of making or becoming something else
- verb
- To exchange one set of clothes for another
- To exchange one kind of money for another
- To replace something with another thing
- To make or become something else
- To go from one train, bus, etc. and go to another
police
US / pəˈli:s /
•UK / pəˈlis /
- adjecitve
- Concerning the police and its business
- noun
- People, often in uniforms, who solve crimes
- verb
- To control an area, or group with a police force
newspaper
US / ˈnju:zpeɪpə(r) /
•UK / ˈnuzˌpepɚ, ˈnjuz- /
- noun
- Sheets of paper (or online) containing the news
tie
US / taɪ /
•UK / taɪ /
- noun
- Item, such as string or wire, used to join things
- Strong connection between people, countries
- When both sides in a game, vote get same score
- One match or game that is part of a bigger contest
- Something that lessens a person's freedom
- Thin piece of cloth worn round neck of shirt
- Piece of wood/metal used to stop something moving
- verb
- To attach things (together) with a string or rope
- To end a game, contest or vote with the same score
- To require someone to be in a specific place
they
US / ðeɪ /
•UK / ðe /
- pronoun
- Two or more people, animals, or things
very
US / 'verɪ /
•UK / ˈvɛri /
- adjecitve
- Concerning a large degree or amount
- adverb
- A lot; much; many
- Used to stress or emphasize a noun
all
US / ɔ:l /
•UK / ɔl /
- adverb
- Completely; totally
- determiner
- Being every one of something
- pronoun
- 100% of something; the complete amount
common
US / 'kɒmən /
•UK / ˈkɑmən /
- adjecitve
- Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
- Typical, normal; not unusual
- noun
- Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
- Field near a village owned by the local community
who
US / hu: /
•UK / hu /
- pronoun
- Which person
- Used to introduce information about people
way
US / weɪ /
•UK / we /
- adverb
- Used to emphasize the amount of something
- noun
- Particular aspect of something being thought about
- One of various choices that could be made
- Particular existing condition or state
- (Often long) distance or length of time
- How something is done
- Route to go to a place
- Small street
- Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone
look
US / lʊk /
•UK / lʊk /
- noun
- Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
- Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
- The way someone, something appears to be
- Act of searching for or examining something
- verb
- To appear to be; seem
red
US / red /
•UK / rɛd /
- adjecitve
- Being the color of blood
thank
US / θæŋk /
•UK / θæŋk /
- verb
- To tell someone you are grateful to them
humour
US / ˈhju:mə(r) /
•UK / ˈhjumɚ /
- noun
- Quality that makes something funny
- The quality that makes something funny
- verb
- To pretend to agree, so people don't get upset
possible
US / ˈpɒsəbl /
•UK / ˈpɑsəbəl /
- adjecitve
- Being able or appropriate for a task or purpose
- Having a chance of happening, or being true
for
US / fə(r) /
•UK / fɔr,fə /
- preposition
- Used to show the purpose, or need of something
time
US / taɪm /
•UK / taɪm /
- noun
- Speed at which music is played; tempo
- Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
- Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
- Occasion when something happens
- Period or occasion that something occurred
- Period in history or the past
- Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
- How long an event takes; duration
- verb
- To check speed at which music is performed
- To choose a specific moment to do something
- To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
- To schedule something to occur at a specific moment
pronunciation
US / prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn /
•UK / prəˌnʌnsiˈeʃən /
- noun
- How a word is said; how a word sounds
soon
US / su:n /
•UK / sun /
- adverb
- At a time not long from now
sound
US / saʊnd /
•UK / saʊnd /
- adjecitve
- Sensible, dependable and reliable
- Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
- Firm or solid in structure
- Sane; not mentally ill
- Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
- noun
- Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
- Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
- verb
- To seem or appear to be, from what was said
- To say in a clear deliberate manner
- To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell
black
US / blæk /
•UK / blæk /
- adjecitve
- Color of the sky on a dark night
- noun
- A person with dark skin, often of African origin
- Person's name
- verb
- To fill in something to make it a very dark color
joke
US / dʒəʊk /
•UK / dʒoʊk /
- noun
- A funny or amusing statement
- Something or someone not taken seriously
- verb
- To say or do things that are meant to be funny
enjoy
US / ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /
•UK / ɛnˈdʒɔɪ /
- verb
- To take pleasure in something
hole
US / həʊl /
•UK / hol /
- noun
- An empty space, as in the ground, in a sock etc.
- Fault or weakness in a plan, idea or explanation
- Opening into or through something
- An awkward or difficult situation
- Dirty or unpleasant place with poor facilities
- verb
- (Golf) to get the ball into the hole
know
US / nəʊ /
•UK / noʊ /
- verb
- To be familiar with a person or place, thing
- To feel sure or be convinced about something
- To discover or be aware of something
- To be able to distinguish
- To have knowledge of things
slightly
US / ˈslaɪtli /
•UK / ˈslaɪtli /
- adverb
- Only a little
have
US / həv /
•UK / hæv /
- verb
- To drink, smoke, eat or use something
- To experience the effects of something
- To organize an event, or join in an activity
- To own, possess, or hold something
- To cause to happen or produce a particular effect
last
US / lɑ:st /
•UK / læst /
- adjecitve
- Most recent; the latest
- The one before
- adverb
- Final; with nothing following; after all others
- Most recent; the latest
- determiner
- The one at the end
- verb
- To remain or continue for a certain period of time
end
US / end /
•UK / ɛnd /
- noun
- The point where a process or activity stops
- A point that marks the limit of something; finish
- Goal or desired result
- The tip, edge or limit of something
- verb
- To be the last part of something
problem
US / ˈprɒbləm /
•UK / ˈprɑbləm /
- adjecitve
- Causing trouble
- noun
- Something difficult to deal with or causes trouble
- Question to show understanding of a math concept
verb
US / və:b /
•UK / vɚb /
- noun
- Word that expresses an action or state
with
US / wɪð /
•UK / wɪð, wɪθ /
- preposition
- As an employee of a certain company
- Against something or someone
- By using something as a means
- Due to; because of
- Including
- Possessing as a feature
- Related to
- (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
- Used to express that people or things are together
see
US / si: /
•UK / si /
- verb
- To go on a date with someone
- To predict whether something is, or will be true
- To understand what someone says
- To use your eyes to look at something
- To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
- To visit or meet with someone
- To find out by waiting or looking
- To watch (a game, movie or TV show)
bicycle
US / ˈbaɪsɪkl /
•UK / ˈbaɪsɪkl /
- noun
- 2-wheeled vehicle ridden by pushing on foot pedals
- verb
- To ride a two-wheeled vehicle with pedals
colour
US / ˈkʌlə(r) /
•UK / ˈkʌlɚ /
- noun
- Quality of things you can see, e.g. red, blue
- Pink or red in your face, e.g. after being ill
- The shade of someone's skin e.g. black, or yellow
- verb
- To change or affect someone's opinion
- To make something colorful using colored pencils
comment
US / 'kɒment /
•UK / ˈkɑmɛnt /
- noun
- Something you say, giving an opinion; remark
- verb
- To say something that gives your opinion
then
US / ðen /
•UK / ðɛn /
- adverb
- A time that is not now
- Following another thing in time or arrangement
- Following on reasonably from what was just stated
- At that time, not now
example
US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /
•UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /
- noun
- Thing, person which represents a category
language
US / ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ /
•UK / ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ /
- noun
- Words or signs used to communicate messages
typical
US / ˈtɪpɪkl /
•UK / ˈtɪpɪkəl /
- adjecitve
- Normal; usual; expected
similarly
US / ˈsɪmələli /
•UK / ˈsɪmələrli /
- adverb
- In a way almost the same as something else
even
US / 'i:vn /
•UK / ˈivən /
- adjecitve
- Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
- Being divided equally or fairly
- (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
- Smooth, level, or regular
- Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
- At a regular, equally steady manner
- Remaining steady and unchanging
- adverb
- (When this is surprising) as well; too
- (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
- verb
- To make something level; to flatten
- To make something equal
different
US / ˈdɪfrənt /
•UK / ˈdɪfrənt /
- adjecitve
- Not of the same kind; unlike other things
like
US / laɪk /
•UK / laɪk /
- adjecitve
- Being equal in status or kind to something else
- Similar; the same
- adverb
- For example
- preposition
- Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
- In a way similar to the way something is done
- Such as; for example
- verb
- To want to
- To find something pleasing; to prefer something
that
US / ðæt /
•UK / ðæt, ðət /
- adjecitve
- The person or thing being talked about
- Used to identify something both the speakers know
- adverb
- Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
- To such a degree
- conjunction
- Used to connect a noun clause
- Used to introduce an adverbial clause
- Used to introduce a noun clause
- determiner
- Used as a noun to refer to something
- pronoun
- Referring an object far away
- Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’
what
US / wɒt /
•UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /
- pronoun
- Thing or things that; the same kind as
- Used to emphasize something you are about to say
- adjecitve
- Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
- Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
- adverb
- To a certain degree
- determiner
- Question words used for asking for information
- exclamation
- Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
- Used to ask people to repeat something they said
obvious
US / ˈɒbviəs /
•UK / ˈɑbviəs /
- adjecitve
- Easily understood and clear; plain to see
witty
US / ˈwɪti /
•UK / ˈwɪti /
- adjecitve
- Making a joke in a clever or intelligent way
clever
US / 'klevə(r) /
•UK / ˈklɛvɚ /
- adjecitve
- Funny in a way that shows intelligence
- Showing intelligence; quick to understand or learn
find
US / faɪnd /
•UK / faɪnd /
- noun
- Object discovered by chance
- Things that have been discovered from searching
- verb
- To become aware of something that is happening
- To discover or meet by chance
- To decide if someone is guilty of a crime, or not
- To learn through study, research, or effort
- To discover something by looking for it
mean
US / mi:n /
•UK / min /
- adjecitve
- Being good at
- Nasty; unkind
- Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
- noun
- Average of a set of numbers
- verb
- To express a particular idea or thought
- To intend to do something in particular
- To have a particular meaning or value
watch
US / wɒtʃ /
•UK / wɑtʃ /
- noun
- Period of time someone is responsible for guarding
- Device you wear on your wrist that shows the time
- Official warning statement, e.g. of bad weather
- verb
- To keep in check, manage, or control something
- To look at something for entertainment, e.g. TV
- To guard a place or people; protect child, etc.
- To look at carefully to work out what is happening
- To protect and care for someone or something