Essential English Vocabulary: Words and Context

Essential English Vocabulary and Usage

• Library: She studied quietly in the library for her final exams.
• Bookshop: I found a rare poetry collection in a tiny bookshop.
• Gang: The gang painted graffiti all over the alley walls.
• Bargain: He loves shopping at flea markets for bargains.
• Camp: The kids roasted marshmallows at the camp last night.
• Field: We walked through a field full of wildflowers.
• Bigot: No one wanted to listen to the bigot’s hateful speech.
• Moustache: He shaved his moustache off for a new look.
• Vase: The vase fell and shattered into tiny pieces.
• Glass: She poured orange juice into the tall glass.
• Grocery: He works part-time at the local grocery store.
• Rudeness: Her rudeness to the waiter embarrassed everyone.
• Journey: Their journey through the desert was full of challenges.
• Workday: I barely had time for lunch during my workday.
• Bomber: The museum had a display about World War II bombers.
• Firefighter: A firefighter gave a talk at our school today.
• Bizarre: He told a bizarre story about aliens and time travel.
• Brave: It was brave of him to admit his mistake.
• Choke: She began to choke on a piece of candy.
• Crash: The crash caused a huge traffic jam downtown.
• Cafeteria: The cafeteria served spaghetti and salad today.
• Cafe: I love working from that quiet cafe on Main Street.
• Spade: He grabbed a spade to plant the flowers.
• Sword: The museum displays an ancient Roman sword.
• Crude: His crude humor wasn’t appropriate for the occasion.
• Raw: Sushi is made with raw fish and rice.
• Lenses: Her lenses fogged up when she stepped outside.
• Lentils: Lentils are a great source of protein for vegetarians.
• Deceptive: Appearances can be deceptive, so don’t judge too quickly.
• Disappointed: He looked disappointed after reading the test results.
• Retirement (por “jubilación”): They threw a party to celebrate her retirement.
• Agitate: Loud noises tend to agitate the baby.
• Shake: Give the bottle a good shake before using it.
• Grape: She packed grapes in her lunchbox every day.
• Staple: Don’t forget to staple your essay before handing it in.
• Envy: He couldn’t hide his envy of her success.
• Send: I’ll send you the details later tonight.
• Large: They ordered a large pizza for the whole group.
• Long: That was a long movie, but really good.
• Gracious: The host was gracious and made us feel at home.
• Funny: That comedian is funny—I laughed the whole time!
• Salty: The fries were too salty for my taste.
• Savoury: I always choose savoury pastries over sweet ones.
• Signature: His signature is hard to read—just a scribble!
• Subject: History is the subject I find most interesting.
• Tramp: The old tramp wandered the streets in worn-out shoes.
• Trap: The hunter set a trap for the wild boar.