Vocabulary · Audiobook read-along
Vocabulary from Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare introduces these 48 key English words — graded A2–C2, each with a short definition and an example. Learn them before you read, or review them after. In the reader you can tap any word to hear it and see it highlighted in the sentence.
A2 words (10)
- abroad/əˈbrɔd/A2
- in a foreign country“markets abroad”
- abuse/əˈbjuz/A2
- cruel or inhumane treatment“the child showed signs of physical abuse”
- accident/ˈæksədənt/A2
- an unfortunate mishap“winning the lottery was a happy accident”
- acknowledge/ækˈnɑlɪʤ/A2
- declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of“He admitted his errors”
- advise/ədˈvaɪz/A2
- give advice to“The teacher counsels troubled students”
- afford/əˈfɔrd/A2
- be able to spare or give up“I can't afford to spend two hours with this person”
- afraid/əˈfreɪd/A2
- filled with fear or apprehension“afraid even to turn his head”
- alive/əˈlaɪv/A2
- possessing life“the happiest person alive”
- ancient/ˈeɪnʧənt/A2
- a very old person“ancient history”
- angry/ˈæŋgri/A2
- feeling or showing anger“angry at the weather”
B1 words (10)
- aboard/əˈbɔrd/B1
- on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle“Their second homer with Bob Allison aboard”
- adventure/ədˈvɛnʧər/B1
- a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)“When you buy these stocks you are gambling”
- alike/əˈlaɪk/B1
- having the same or similar characteristics“all politicians are alike”
- ally/ˈælaɪ/B1
- a friendly nation“he's a good ally in fight”
- anger/ˈæŋgər/B1
- a strong emotion“The news angered him”
- apology/əˈpɑləˌʤi/B1
- an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone“he wrote a letter of apology to the hostess”
- asleep/əsˈlip/B1
- in a state of sleep“were all asleep when the phone rang”
- assure/əˈʃʊr/B1
- make certain of“This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us”
- awake/əˈweɪk/B1
- stop sleeping“She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock”
- babe/beɪb/B1
- a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk“the baby began to cry again”
B2 words (10)
- accent/ˈækˌsɛnt/B2
- distinctive manner of oral expression“he couldn't suppress his contemptuous accent”
- ache/eɪk/B2
- a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain“Were you hurting after the accident?”
- acquaintance/əkˈweɪntəns/B2
- personal knowledge or information about someone or something“I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances”
- adjacent/əˈʤeɪsənt/B2
- nearest in space or position“had adjacent rooms”
- affection/əˈfɛkʃən/B2
- a positive feeling of liking“he had trouble expressing the affection he felt”
- agile/ˈæʤəl/B2
- moving quickly and lightly“sleek and agile as a gymnast”
- airy/ˈɛri/B2
- open to or abounding in fresh air“airy rooms”
- alas/əˈlæs/B2
- a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism“the alae of the nose”
- alderman/ˈɔldərmən/B2
- a member of a municipal legislative body (as a city council)“aldermen usually represent city wards”
- alliance/əˈlaɪəns/B2
- the state of being allied or confederated“the shifting alliances within a large family”
C1 words (9)
- abhor/æˈbhɔr/C1
- find repugnant“I loathe that man”
- adieu/əˈdu/C1
- a farewell remark“they said their good-byes”
- afflict/əˈflɪkt/C1
- cause great unhappiness for“she was afflicted by the death of her parents”
- afire/əˈfaɪr/C1
- lighted up by or as by fire or flame“forests set ablaze (or afire) by lightning”
- aloof/əˈluf/C1
- remote in manner“stood apart with aloof dignity”
- amorous/ˈæmərəs/C1
- inclined toward or displaying love“feeling amorous”
- antic/ˈæntɪk/C1
- a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement“Hamlet's assumed antic disposition”
- apace/əˈpeɪs/C1
- with rapid movements“he works quickly”
- arbitrate/ˈɑrbəˌtreɪt/C1
- act between parties with a view to reconciling differences“He interceded in the family dispute”
C2 words (9)
- abroachC2
- of a cask or barrel“the cask was set abroach”
- addle/ˈædəl/C2
- mix up or confuse“He muddled the issues”
- adjoin/əˈʤɔɪn/C2
- lie adjacent to another or share a boundary“Canada adjoins the U.S.”
- affrightC2
- an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety“The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me”
- angelicalC2
- of or relating to angels“angelic messenger”
- awearyC2
- physically and mentally fatigued“`aweary' is archaic”
- bedeck/bɪˈdɛk/C2
- decorate“deck the halls with holly”
- beggarlyC2
- marked by poverty befitting a beggar“a beggarly existence in the slums”
- beggaryC2
- a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)“they were reduced to mendicancy”