435 English words of level B2
Below is a complete, categorized list of English vocabulary at the B2 level. Learn common verbs, nouns, and adjectives with transcription, articles, and English translations.
What is B2? Upper-Intermediate
B2 means confident, independent use. You interact with native speakers fairly fluently and understand the main ideas of complex texts.
What you can do at B2
- ✓Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers
- ✓Understand the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics
- ✓Produce clear, detailed text and explain a viewpoint on an issue
- ✓Follow complex lines of argument in spoken language and lectures
- ✓Understand news programs, current affairs, and most films in standard dialect
Adjectives
Nouns
/dʒɒb/
job
/ˈtrævəl/
travel
/baɪ/
buy
/geɪm/
game
/kloʊz/
clothes
/dres/
dress
/kəmˈpɑːni/
company
/diːl/
deal
/ˈstʌdi/
study
/lɔː/
law
/steɪt/
state
/ˈmjuːzɪk/
music
/ˈmuːvi/
movie
/heɪ/
hey
/θæŋks/
thanks
/kəˈrɪər/
career
/ˈsæləri/
salary
/ˈɪntərvjuː/
interview
/rɪˈzjuːm/
resume
/ˈkɒliːɡ/
colleague
/bɒs/
boss
/ɪmˈplɔɪiː/
employee
/ɪmˈplɔɪər/
employer
/prəˈmoʊʃən/
promotion
/ˈdɛdlaɪn/
deadline
/ˈoʊvərtaɪm/
overtime
/ˈkɒntrækt/
contract
/rɪˈtaɪərmənt/
retirement
/ˈɪntɜːrn/
intern
/ˈfriːlɑːnsər/
freelancer
/ʃɪft/
shift
/ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
qualification
/ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/
unemployment
/dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
department
/ˈmiːtɪŋ/
meeting
/tæsk/
task
/ˈprɒdʒekt/
project
/ˈwɜːrkʃɒp/
workshop
/weɪdʒ/
wage
/ɪkˈspɪəriəns/
experience
/ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
training
/ˈfaɪərɪŋ/
firing
/ˈtiːmwɜːrk/
teamwork
/ˈstɑːrtʌp/
startup
/ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːr/
entrepreneur
/ˈmænɪdʒər/
manager
/skɪl/
skill
/kəˈmjuːt/
commute
/haɪər/
hire
/flaɪt/
flight
/ˈsuːtkeɪs/
suitcase
/ˈpɑːspɔːrt/
passport
/ˈviːzə/
visa
/ˈbʊkɪŋ/
booking
/ˈtʊərɪst/
tourist
/ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən/
destination
/ˈlʌɡɪdʒ/
luggage
/dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
departure
/əˈraɪvəl/
arrival
/ˈbɔːrdər/
border
/ˈkʌstəmz/
customs
/kruːz/
cruise
/ˈbækpæk/
backpack
/aɪˈtɪnərɛri/
itinerary
/ˌsuːvəˈnɪər/
souvenir
/ədˈvɛntʃər/
adventure
/ˈhɒstəl/
hostel
/ɡaɪd/
guide
/ɪkˈskɜːrʃən/
excursion
/ˈtaɪmteɪbəl/
timetable
/biːtʃ/
beach
/ˈsaɪtsiːɪŋ/
sightseeing
/ˈfɛri/
ferry
/haɪk/
hike
/ˈkæmpsaɪt/
campsite
/dɪˈleɪ/
delay
/ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
boarding
/ˈleɪoʊvər/
layover
/ˈkʌrənsi/
currency
/ˈdʒɜːrni/
journey
/ɪkˈsplɔːr/
explore
/veɪˈkeɪʃən/
vacation
/əˈbrɔːd/
abroad
/ˈhoʊmlænd/
homeland
/praɪs/
price
/ˈdɪskaʊnt/
discount
/rɪˈsiːt/
receipt
/kæʃ/
cash
/ˈwɒlɪt/
wallet
/ˈkrɛdɪt/
credit
/dɛt/
debt
/ˈseɪvɪŋz/
savings
/tæks/
tax
/ˈɪnkʌm/
income
/ɪkˈspɛns/
expense
/ˈbʌdʒɪt/
budget
/ˈbɑːrɡɪn/
bargain
/ˈkʌstəmər/
customer
/mɔːl/
mall
/dɪˈlɪvəri/
delivery
/ˈɔːrdər/
order
/ˈriːfʌnd/
refund
/ˈwɒrənti/
warranty
/ɪnˈvɛstmənt/
investment
/ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
purchase
/bɪl/
bill
/kɔɪn/
coin
/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/
exchange rate
/ˈtrænsfɜːr/
transfer
/tɪp/
tip
/ˈtʃɛkaʊt/
checkout
/brænd/
brand
/seɪl/
sale
/ˈkuːpɒn/
coupon
/kɑːrt/
cart
/ˈprɒfɪt/
profit
/loʊn/
loan
/ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ/
mortgage
/ˈɪntrəst/
interest
/əˈkaʊnt/
account
/mjuːˈziːəm/
museum
/ˈθɪətər/
theater
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
painting
/ˈskʌlptʃər/
sculpture
/ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃən/
exhibition
/trəˈdɪʃən/
tradition
/ˈkʌstəm/
custom
/ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/
holiday
/ˈmɒnjumənt/
monument
/ˈɑːrkɪtektʃər/
architecture
/ˈlɪtrətʃər/
literature
/fɪˈlɒsəfi/
philosophy
/rɪˈlɪdʒən/
religion
/ˈɒpərə/
opera
/bæˈleɪ/
ballet
/ˈɡæləri/
gallery
/ˈpoʊɪt/
poet
/ˈɑːrtɪst/
artist
/kəmˈpoʊzər/
composer
/ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ/
heritage
/mɪθ/
myth
/ˈlɛdʒənd/
legend
/ˈfɛəri teɪl/
fairy tale
/ˈsɛrɪmoʊni/
ceremony
/ˈfɛstɪvəl/
festival
/ˈdaɪəlɛkt/
dialect
/aɪˈdɛntɪti/
identity
/ˈiːpɒk/
epoch
/ˌsɪvɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
civilization
/ˈfoʊklɔːr/
folklore
/ˈeɪnʃənt/
ancient
/ˌmɛdɪˈiːvəl/
medieval
/ˈrɪtʃuəl/
ritual
/ˈpɒtəri/
pottery
/ˈwiːvɪŋ/
weaving
/kəˈlɪɡrəfi/
calligraphy
/ˈhændikræft/
handicraft
/rɪˈneɪsəns/
Renaissance
/ʃɜːrt/
shirt
/pænts/
pants
/ˈdʒækɪt/
jacket
/koʊt/
coat
/skɜːrt/
skirt
/buːts/
boots
/hæt/
hat
/skɑːrf/
scarf
/bɛlt/
belt
/ˈswɛtər/
sweater
/suːt/
suit
/blaʊz/
blouse
/ˈʌndərwɛər/
underwear
/taɪ/
tie
/ˈswɪmsuːt/
swimsuit
/dʒiːnz/
jeans
/ʃɔːrts/
shorts
/ˈsniːkərz/
sneakers
/ˈsændəlz/
sandals
/ˈreɪnkoʊt/
raincoat
/hʊd/
hood
/sliːv/
sleeve
/ˈzɪpər/
zipper
/ˈbʌtən/
button
/ˈpɒkɪt/
/ˈfæbrɪk/
fabric
/ˈkɒtən/
cotton
/sɪlk/
silk
/ˈlɛðər/
leather
/wʊl/
wool
/ˈfæʃən/
fashion
/saɪz/
size
/ˈlɔːndri/
laundry
/ˈwɔːrdroʊb/
wardrobe
/stɔːrm/
storm
/ˈθʌndər/
thunder
/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
lightning
/fɒɡ/
fog
/frɒst/
frost
/hiːt/
heat
/ˈtɛmpərətʃər/
temperature
/dɪˈɡriː/
degree
/ˈreɪnboʊ/
rainbow
/heɪl/
hail
/ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
sunshine
/ˈfɔːrkæst/
forecast
/ˈklaɪmət/
climate
/sprɪŋ/
spring
/ˈsʌmər/
summer
/ˈɔːtəm/
autumn
/ˈwɪntər/
winter
/draʊt/
drought
/flʌd/
flood
/hjuːˈmɪdɪti/
humidity
/briːz/
breeze
/ˈblɪzərd/
blizzard
/tɔːrˈneɪdoʊ/
tornado
/ˈhʌrɪkeɪn/
hurricane
/djuː/
dew
/ˈsnoʊfleɪk/
snowflake
/θərˈmɒmɪtər/
thermometer
/ˈoʊvərkæst/
overcast
/ˈtʃɪli/
chilly
/ˈɛntərpraɪz/
enterprise
/lɒs/
loss
/ˈrɛvənjuː/
revenue
/stɒk/
stock
/ˈmɑːrkɪtɪŋ/
marketing
/ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ/
advertising
/ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən/
competition
/ˈstrætədʒi/
strategy
/əˈkaʊntɪŋ/
accounting
/ˈfaʊndər/
founder
/ɪnˈvɛstər/
investor
/nɪˌɡoʊʃiˈeɪʃən/
negotiation
/ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən/
innovation
/ˈmɜːrdʒər/
merger
/ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/
bankruptcy
/ləˈdʒɪstɪks/
logistics
/ˈhoʊlseɪl/
wholesale
/ˈriːteɪl/
retail
/ˈfræntʃaɪz/
franchise
/ˈdɪvɪdɛnd/
dividend
/səˈplaɪ/
supply
/dɪˈmænd/
demand
/ˌsiːiːˈoʊ/
CEO
/ˈʃɛərhoʊldər/
shareholder
/ˈpɑːrtnərʃɪp/
partnership
/ˈmɑːrkɪt/
market
/treɪd/
trade
/ˈɛkspɔːrt/
export
/ˈɪmpɔːrt/
import
/kənˈsʌltənt/
consultant
/ˈklaɪənt/
client
/ˈhɛdkwɔːrtərz/
headquarters
/ˌkɔːrpəˈreɪʃən/
corporation
/ˈɪndəstri/
industry
/rɪˈsɜːrtʃ/
research
/ɪkˈspɛrɪmənt/
experiment
/ˈlæbrətɔːri/
laboratory
/haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/
hypothesis
/ˈθɪəri/
theory
/dɪˈskʌvəri/
discovery
/ɪnˈvɛnʃən/
invention
/ˈfɪzɪks/
physics
/ˈkɛmɪstri/
chemistry
/baɪˈɒlədʒi/
biology
/ˈætəm/
atom
/ˈmɒlɪkjuːl/
molecule
/sɛl/
cell
/dʒiːn/
gene
/ˌiːvəˈluːʃən/
evolution
/ˈɡrævɪti/
gravity
/ˈɛnərdʒi/
energy
/ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/
electricity
/ˈtɛlɪskoʊp/
telescope
/ˈmaɪkrəskoʊp/
microscope
/əˈnæləsɪs/
analysis
/ˈroʊbɒt/
robot
/vækˈsiːn/
vaccine
/bækˈtɪəriə/
bacteria
/ˈvaɪrəs/
virus
/ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/
radiation
/səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/
sustainability
/ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
mathematics
/ˈfɔːrmjʊlə/
formula
/ɪˈkweɪʒən/
equation
/ˈspɛsɪmən/
specimen
/ˈiːkoʊsɪstəm/
ecosystem
/ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/
climate change
/ˌfoʊtoʊˈsɪnθəsɪs/
photosynthesis
/ˌdiːɛnˈeɪ/
DNA
/ˈsætəlaɪt/
satellite
/kɔːrt/
court
/dʒʌdʒ/
judge
/ˈlɔːjər/
lawyer
/dɪˈfɛndənt/
defendant
/ˈwɪtnəs/
witness
/ˈvɜːrdɪkt/
verdict
/ˈpɛnəlti/
penalty
/ˈprɪzən/
prison
/ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃən/
constitution
/ˈpɑːrləmənt/
parliament
/ˈɡʌvərnmənt/
government
/ɪˈlɛkʃən/
election
/dɪˈmɒkrəsi/
democracy
/ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/
citizenship
/kraɪm/
crime
/pəˈliːs/
police
/ˈlɔːsuːt/
lawsuit
/dɪˈfɛns/
defense
/əˈpiːl/
appeal
/ˈsɛnətər/
senator
/ˈɛmbəsi/
embassy
/dɪˈploʊməsi/
diplomacy
/əˈmɛndmənt/
amendment
/ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/
regulation
/ˈdjuːti/
duty
/ˈkɒŋɡrɛs/
congress
/ˌlɛdʒɪˈsleɪʃən/
legislation
/ˈtraɪəl/
trial
/ˈdʒʊri/
jury
/ˈprɒsɪkjuːtər/
prosecutor
/beɪl/
bail
/pəˈroʊl/
parole
/ˈtriːti/
treaty
/ˈsædnəs/
sadness
/ˈæŋɡər/
anger
/sərˈpraɪz/
surprise
/ˈdʒɛləsi/
jealousy
/praɪd/
pride
/ʃeɪm/
shame
/ɡɪlt/
guilt
/ˈhæpinəs/
happiness
/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/
disappointment
/ˈbɔːrdəm/
boredom
/ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/
enthusiasm
/ˈlɒŋɪŋ/
longing
/kəmˈpæʃən/
compassion
/trʌst/
trust
/ˈloʊnlinəs/
loneliness
/ˈɡrætɪtjuːd/
gratitude
/ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/
nervousness
/ˈkɑːmnəs/
calmness
/dɪˈspɛər/
despair
/rɪˈliːf/
relief
/ˌkjʊəriˈɒsɪti/
curiosity
/ˌædmɪˈreɪʃən/
admiration
/ˈheɪtrɪd/
hatred
/əˈfɛkʃən/
affection
/ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
excitement
/ˈɛmpəθi/
empathy
/frʌˈstreɪʃən/
frustration
/nɒˈstældʒiə/
nostalgia
/æŋˈzaɪəti/
anxiety
/kənˈtɛntmənt/
contentment
/ˈfjʊəri/
fury
/rɪˈmɔːrs/
remorse
/ˈtɛndərnəs/
tenderness
/dɪsˈɡʌst/
disgust
/ɔː/
awe
/ˈkɒnsərt/
concert
/ˈsɪnəmə/
cinema
/ˈsɪəriːz/
series
/ˈpɒdkɑːst/
podcast
/dɑːns/
dance
/ˈkɒmɪdi/
comedy
/ˈdrɑːmə/
drama
/ˈθrɪlər/
thriller
/ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntəri/
documentary
/sɒŋ/
song
/ɡɪˈtɑːr/
guitar
/piˈænoʊ/
piano
/dɪˈrɛktər/
director
/ˈæktər/
actor
/steɪdʒ/
stage
/ˈvɪdioʊ ɡeɪm/
video game
/ˈhɒbi/
hobby
/fəˈtɒɡrəfi/
photography
/ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
drawing
/bɔːrd ɡeɪm/
board game
/ˈstriːmɪŋ/
streaming
/ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
musical
/ˈskriːnpleɪ/
screenplay
/prɪˈmɪər/
premiere
/ˈbɛstˌsɛlər/
bestseller
/ˈsɪŋər/
singer
/ˈsɜːrkəs/
circus
/kɑːrˈtuːn/
cartoon
/ˌænɪˈmeɪʃən/
animation
/ˌkæriˈoʊki/
karaoke
/ˈstændʌp/
standup
/ˈɔːsəm/
awesome
/duːd/
dude
/ˈbʌdi/
buddy
/tʃɪl/
to chill
/ˈsɛlfi/
selfie
/vaɪb/
vibe
/ˈɡoʊstɪŋ/
ghosting
/sʌs/
suspicious
/sleɪ/
slay (succeed)
/lɪt/
lit (exciting)
/flɛks/
flex (show off)
/krɪndʒ/
cringe
/ˈbeɪsɪk/
basic (boring)
/brʌ/
bruh
/ˈsævɪdʒ/
savage
/vaɪb tʃɛk/
vibe check
/stæn/
stan (superfan)
/sɪmp/
simp
/ʃeɪd/
shade (insult)
/ɡoʊt/
GOAT (greatest)
/drɪp/
drip (style)
/bɛt/
bet (okay)
/kæp/
cap (lie)
/klaʊt/
clout (fame)
/ˈɛkstrə/
extra (dramatic)
/woʊk/
woke (aware)
/broʊ/
bro
Other Words
How to learn B2 vocabulary
- 1.Focus on nuance: synonyms, register and connotation.
- 2.Consume native content (news, podcasts, shows) without simplification.
- 3.Actively use new vocabulary in writing and speaking, not just recognition.
- 4.Engage in longer discussions and force yourself to explain abstract ideas in detail.
Frequently asked questions
How many words at B2?+
Around 4,000 words give you the range needed for confident B2 communication.
Is B2 enough for university?+
Yes — B2 is the common entry requirement for study and skilled work in many countries.
How long from B1 to B2?+
Typically several hundred hours of study plus regular real-language exposure.
What is the key difference between B1 and B2?+
B1 is about expressing personal views on familiar topics; B2 is about discussing complex issues and understanding abstract discussions.