?? Origins of the English Language ESL British Pronunciation
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
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
you
US / jʊ /
•UK / ju /
- pronoun
- Person someone is speaking or writing to
- Person or people in general
year
US / jə: /
•UK / jɪr /
- noun
- Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
- Used to refer to the age of a person
also
US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /
•UK / ˈɔlso /
- adverb
- In addition; too; in a similar way
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
latin
US / ˈlætɪn /
•UK / ˈlætn /
- adjecitve
- Of or typical of a Spanish-speaking culture
- noun
- Ancient Roman language affecting many languages
root
US / ru:t /
•UK / rut, rʊt /
- noun
- Emotional connection with a place, history etc.
- The origin or starting place of something
- A number that is multiplied by itself
- Part of plant growing underground, as to get water
- Part of tooth, hair etc. from which the rest grows
- Base part of a word to which affixes can be added
- verb
- To cause a plant to develop or grow roots
- (Animals) to search for e.g. food in earth
- To stop someone moving, as through fear
perfect
US / 'pɜ:fɪkt /
•UK / ˈpɚfɪkt /
- adjecitve
- So good it cannot be improved
- verb
- To do something so well, it cannot be done better
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
other
US / 'ʌðə(r) /
•UK / ˈʌðər /
- adjecitve
- A thing different from that mentioned
- determiner
- (Something) else; not the first (one)
- pronoun
- Being the one and only thing of that category
invent
US / ɪnˈvent /
•UK / ɪnˈvɛnt /
- verb
- To create something such as a story or excuse
- To create something useful for the first time
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
france
US / ˈfrɑːns /
•UK / fræns /
- noun
- A republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
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
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
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
two
US / tu: /
•UK / tu /
- number
- 2
put
US / pʊt /
•UK / pʊt /
- phrasal verb
- to make a light stop shining by pressing or moving a switch
- verb
- To move or place a thing in a particular position
- To rate something in importance or value
- To write or say something in a certain manner
only
US / ˈəunli /
•UK / ˈonli /
- adverb
- Just one; just that amount or thing; not more than
- Not very important or serious
- Just that type of thing, person
- Short time ago; not before a certain time
- conjunction
- Except; but
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
think
US / θɪŋk /
•UK / θɪŋk /
- verb
- To have an idea about something without certainty
- To have an idea, opinion or belief about something
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
any
US / 'enɪ /
•UK / ˈɛni /
- adjecitve
- One, or some, no matter which
- pronoun
- One (thing) of many; some
most
US / məʊst /
•UK / most /
- adverb
- Very; extremely
- Greatest possible degree
- pronoun
- Nearly all of something
where
US / hwɛə /
•UK / hwɛr, wɛr /
- conjunction
- At or in the place which
- In whatever place
- pronoun
- Word you use to ask the location of something
from
US / frəm /
•UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /
- preposition
- Starting at a particular place, time or level
invade
US / ɪnˈveɪd /
•UK / ɪnˈved /
- verb
- To enter something causing a harmful result
differentiate
US / ˌdɪfə'renʃɪeɪt /
•UK / ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃiˌet /
- verb
- To see or show how things are not the same
soon
US / su:n /
•UK / sun /
- adverb
- At a time not long from now
begin
US / bɪ'ɡɪn /
•UK / ˈbeɡɪn /
- verb
- To do the first part of an action; to start
modern
US / ˈmɔdən /
•UK / ˈmɑdən /
- adjecitve
- Of the present time; up to date; contemporary
french
US / frentʃ /
•UK / frentʃ /
- adjecitve
- Concerning the culture and people of France
- noun
- Person's name
thumb
US / θʌm /
•UK / θʌm /
- noun
- Part of a glove that goes over the thumb
- The short, thick finger on the side of your hand
- verb
- To use your thumb to request a ride in a car
- To casually look through a book, magazine etc.
correct
US / kə'rekt /
•UK / kəˈrɛkt /
- adjecitve
- Being suitable and appropriate for an occasion
- True or accurate
- verb
- To fix a problem
- To write marks on a piece of work to show mistakes
- To punish in order to improve
well
US / wel /
•UK / wɛl /
- adjecitve
- Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
- Healthy and in good condition
- adverb
- In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
- In a complete, total, or full manner
- A great and considerable degree
- In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
- exclamation
- Used to begin or continue a particular statement
- Used to show you want to start saying something
- Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
- You say this to change the topic of a conversation
- Used to indicate you are making a final remark
- noun
- Long deep hole in the ground to get water
- verb
- To cause your eyes to fill with tears
website
US / ˈwebsaɪt /
•UK / 'websaɪt /
- noun
- Collection of webpages in one location
short
US / ʃɔ:t /
•UK / ʃɔrt /
- adverb
- Less than what is needed
- Suddenly stopping what you are saying or doing
- verb
- (Of electric circuit) to spark because faulty
- adjecitve
- Measuring a small distance
- Happening for a small amount of time
- Unfriendly or rude
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
for
US / fə(r) /
•UK / fɔr,fə /
- preposition
- Used to show the purpose, or need of something
language
US / ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ /
•UK / ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ /
- noun
- Words or signs used to communicate messages
example
US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /
•UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /
- noun
- Thing, person which represents a category
own
US / əʊn /
•UK / on /
- adjecitve
- Belong to oneself
- determiner
- Yours, his, hers, etc.; not belonging to another
- pronoun
- (Something) belong to myself
- verb
- To have something as your property
get
US / ɡet /
•UK / ɡɛt /
- verb
- To become affected by illness or disease
- To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
- To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
- To go somewhere to obtain something
- To (cause to) do a particular thing
- To obtain, receive or be given something
- To currently have
- To prepare for use
- To understand something being said or read
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
hit
US / hɪt /
•UK / hɪt /
- noun
- A planned killing, usually for money
- Song, movie etc. that is successful
- When someone strikes someone or something
- Time when a player makes contact with the ball
- Time when a website is accessed
- verb
- To have a negative impact on a person/place/thing
- To press something, such as a button or switch
- To suddenly realize the importance of something
- To move your hand, a bat, etc. against with force
- To fight, attack or damage something or someone
- To arrive at a specific place, level, or goal
- To make contact with the ball in a game or sport
slowly
US / ˈsləʊli /
•UK / ˈsloʊli /
- adverb
- In an unhurried or not speedy manner
comment
US / 'kɒment /
•UK / ˈkɑmɛnt /
- noun
- Something you say, giving an opinion; remark
- verb
- To say something that gives your opinion
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’
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
people
US / 'pi:pl /
•UK / ˈpipəl /
- noun
- Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
- Men, Women, Children
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
again
US / ə'ɡen /
•UK / əˈɡɛn /
- adverb
- One more time, once more
about
US / ə'baʊt /
•UK / əˈbaʊt /
- adverb
- To be ready to; going to
- Nearly; approximately; roughly
- Near; next to; close to
- In every direction; in the area of
- preposition
- Concerning or of (a topic)
while
US / waɪl /
•UK / hwaɪl, waɪl /
- conjunction
- In spite of the fact that; although
- During the time that; at the same time
- noun
- Short amount of time
probably
US / ˈprɒbəbli /
•UK / ˈprɑbəbli /
- adverb
- That is likely to happen or be true
point
US / pɔɪnt /
•UK / pɔɪnt /
- noun
- An item to be discussed
- Small spot or dot
- Fact or detail
- Feature of something
- The size of the text on a page or screen
- A certain time or stage in a process
- Certain position in time or space
- Idea or fact you try to convince people about
- Measurement of scores in a game, sport
- Sharp end of something, e.g. a pen or pin
- verb
- To face a certain direction, e.g. north
- To indicate something with your finger to others
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
speak
US / spi:k /
•UK / spik /
- verb
- To be able to use a certain language
- To use words to tell information, express thoughts
actually
US / ˈæktʃuəli /
•UK / ˈæktʃuəli /
- adverb
- Used to add new (often different) information
will
US / wɪl /
•UK / wɪl /
- noun
- Desire or choice of someone
- Document saying who gets your money when you die
- Strong desire to do something; determination
- Desire to do something; strong wish to do
- other
- Used with verbs to express the future
- verb
- To leave property to someone after your death
- To use mental effort to make something happen
- Am (is, are) likely to do
- To influence someone to do something
- To make something happen by strongly wanting it
many
US / 'menɪ /
•UK / ˈmɛni /
- determiner
- Used to refer a large number of things
guess
US / ɡes /
•UK / ɡɛs /
- noun
- Answer given when you don't know if it is correct
- verb
- To give an answer without knowing if it is correct
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
meaning
US / ˈmi:nɪŋ /
•UK / ˈminɪŋ /
- noun
- Idea or thing represented by words or sentences
- verb
- To express a particular idea or thought
- To intend to do something in particular
- To have a particular intention or value
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
should
US / ʃʊd /
•UK / ʃʊd /
- other
- Used to indicate what is proper or reasonable
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
mixed
US / mɪkst /
•UK / mɪkst /
- verb
- To combine two or more things to make one
- To meet and get along with others, e.g. at a party
origin
US / ˈɒrɪdʒɪn /
•UK / ˈɔrədʒɪn,ˈɑr- /
- noun
- Point at which something begins or is created
- Country or social group that a person comes from
dominion
US / də'mɪnɪən /
•UK / dəˈmɪnjən /
- noun
- Control over a place (or a person); sovereignty
roman
US / rɔmə /
•UK / roˈmɑŋ /
- adjecitve
- A resident of modern Rome
- other
- A typeface used in ancient Roman inscriptions
- An inhabitant of the ancient Roman Empire
- Characteristic of the modern type that most directly represents the type used in ancient Roman inscr
- Of or relating to or supporting Romanism
- Relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
often
US / ˈɔfən /
•UK / ˈɔfən,ˈɑfən,ˈɔftən,ˈɑf- /
- adverb
- Many times; frequently; on many occasions
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
enjoy
US / ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /
•UK / ɛnˈdʒɔɪ /
- verb
- To take pleasure in something
could
US / kəd /
•UK / kʊd /
- other
- Past form of 'can' to mean have ability
- Used to ask for something politely, or to offer
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)
england
US / 'ɪŋɡlənd /
•UK / ˈɪŋɡlənd /
- proper noun
- A European country that forms the largest and most southern part of Great Britain and of the United
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
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
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
but
US / bət /
•UK / bʌt,bət /
- conjunction
- Used before you say something different, opposite
south
US / saʊθ /
•UK / saʊθ /
- adjecitve
- Direction to your right when facing the rising sun
- Coming from the opposite direction from north
- noun
- The direction to your right of the rising sun
now
US / naʊ /
•UK / naʊ /
- adverb
- At the present time or moment
- Right away or in the next possible moment
- Used to refer to something that just happened
- Time between the present and a moment in the past
- conjunction
- Resulting from or because of something
enter
US / 'entə(r) /
•UK / ˈɛntɚ /
- verb
- To start a career or an education
- To become a competitor in a contest
- To add or type information in a computer
- To go into a room, building etc.
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
understand
US / ˌʌndə'stænd /
•UK / ˌʌndɚˈstænd /
- verb
- To know the meaning of language, what someone says
really
US / ˈri:əli /
•UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /
- adverb
- Used to stress something that is said; definitely
- In a true or accurate manner
- Very
north
US / nɔ:θ /
•UK / nɔ:rθ /
- adjecitve
- Coming from the opposite direction to the south
- noun
- Direction to your left when facing the rising sun
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
our
US / 'aʊə(r) /
•UK / aʊr /
- determiner
- Belonging to us
mother
US / ˈmʌðə(r) /
•UK / ˈmʌðɚ /
- noun
- Female who has a child or children; female parent
- verb
- To take care of someone as if they were your child
not
US / nɒt /
•UK / nɑt /
- adverb
- Word indicating the negative
- (Used to form the negative of verbs)
subscribe
US / səb'skraɪb /
•UK / səbˈskraɪb /
- verb
- To regularly pay to receive a service
become
US / bɪ'kʌm /
•UK / bɪˈkʌm /
- verb
- To begin to be; grow to be; develop into
- To be suitable for a particular job or role
take
US / teɪk /
•UK / tek /
- noun
- Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
- verb
- To accept something that is offered
- To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
- To use a camera to make (a photo)
- To pick up something and go away with it
- To study a subject in school
- To attempt to pass (an exam)
- To require a certain amount of time, money, space
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
yes
US / jes /
•UK / jɛs /
- adverb
- Way to say you agree or will do something
ago
US / əˈgəʊ /
•UK / əˈgoʊ /
- adverb
- At a specified length of time in the past
who
US / hu: /
•UK / hu /
- pronoun
- Which person
- Used to introduce information about people
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
all
US / ɔ:l /
•UK / ɔl /
- adverb
- Completely; totally
- determiner
- Being every one of something
- pronoun
- 100% of something; the complete amount
bit
US / bɪt /
•UK / bɪt /
- noun
- Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
- Small piece of something
- verb
- (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught
noble
US / 'nəʊbl /
•UK / 'noʊbl /
- adjecitve
- Being admirable and honorable in character
- Concerning or being a member a high social class
- Being large, beautiful or impressive in appearance
- noun
- Titled peer of the realm e.g. a lord, duke
account
US / ə'kaʊnt /
•UK / əˈkaʊnt /
- noun
- An advantage
- Arrangement with a bank to keep your money for you
- An invoice for things bought
- Arrangement whereby you can use online services
- A description, often written, of events; report
tongue
US / tʌŋ /
•UK / tʌŋ /
- noun
- Long, thin part of (e.g. shoe under the laces)
- Meat from the mouth of an animal, cooked as food
- A language
- Movable fleshy thing in your mouth, for tasting
- Act of scolding someone
- A specific manner of speaking
- verb
- To using your mouth to produce musical notes
- To use your mouth to touch something
post
US / pəʊst /
•UK / post /
- noun
- Message delivered or shared in an online group
- Piece of wood, metal in the ground for support
- Job or position within an organization or company
- Place where a soldier, etc. is ordered to go
- verb
- To send a letter or package using stamps
- To share a message on an internet discussion group
- To send a soldier somewhere to do a job
- To put a message in public for everyone to see
very
US / 'verɪ /
•UK / ˈvɛri /
- adjecitve
- Concerning a large degree or amount
- adverb
- A lot; much; many
- Used to stress or emphasize a noun
they
US / ðeɪ /
•UK / ðe /
- pronoun
- Two or more people, animals, or things
between
US / bɪˈtwi:n /
•UK / bɪˈtwin /
- preposition
- From one person, thing, or place, to another
- In the space that separates two objects
- Among two or more people who share something