English level guide · CEFR C1
Reading Romeo and Juliet as an Advanced (C1) learner
Romeo and Juliet sits at the upper edge of C1 (Advanced): an ambitious but achievable stretch, with tap-to-define support to carry you over the harder vocabulary.
Updated June 2026
How Romeo and Juliet reads at C1
Read it in shorter sittings and lean on the read-along audio: hearing each sentence as you see it keeps you moving when the vocabulary gets dense, and you can tap any unfamiliar word for a definition graded to C1. Watch especially for iambic pentameter and how meaning fits the verse line.
At a glance
Key words at C1
Some of the C1-level words Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare introduces. See the full word list →
- abhor/æˈbhɔr/C1
- find repugnant
- adieu/əˈdu/C1
- a farewell remark
- afflict/əˈflɪkt/C1
- cause great unhappiness for
- afire/əˈfaɪr/C1
- lighted up by or as by fire or flame
- aloof/əˈluf/C1
- remote in manner
- amorous/ˈæmərəs/C1
- inclined toward or displaying love
- antic/ˈæntɪk/C1
- a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
- apace/əˈpeɪs/C1
- with rapid movements
- arbitrate/ˈɑrbəˌtreɪt/C1
- act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
What C1 readers can do
- Understand long, demanding texts and appreciate differences in style.
- Read literary and specialised writing with ease.
- Grasp implicit meaning and fine nuance.