Basic Vocabulary List for ESL Students [750 Essential Words]

Having a good foundation of basic vocabulary is crucial when learning a new language. This will help you understand everyday conversations and read things without needing a dictionary for every other word (Keller, 1923).

This basic vocabulary list covers 750 essential words and phrases, grouped into 75 categories. It serves as a comprehensive foundation for ESL students, helping them build a solid understanding of everyday English usage.

The vocabulary list covers a wide range of categories as follows:

Greetings, common expressions, numbers, days of the week, months, colors, family, common objects, food, time, weather, basic verbs, common places, transportation, body parts, clothing, adjectives, common actions, common animals, school subjects, feelings and emotions, household items, directions, jobs and occupations, verbs of daily routine, modes of communication, prepositions, conjunctions, time expressions, transportation verbs.

It also covers hobbies and activities, technology, health and wellness, travel and places, weather conditions, shapes, nature, geographical directions, quantities, common adverbs, music and arts, common phrases, money and shopping, jobs and workplaces, expanded transportation, celebrations and events, relationships, adverbs of frequency, at the restaurant, expanded travel and vacation, common health issues, daily activities, in the city, emergency situations, common tools, science and technology, expanded common adjectives.

It also contains directions and commands, expanded feelings and emotions, sports and activities, seasons, nature and environment, expressions of time, expanded feelings and relationships, expanded travel, expanded transportation, education, money and finance, emphasizing words, communication, expanded weather conditions, medical conditions, and human rights and social issues.

This diverse vocabulary will enable ESL students to engage in various conversations and navigate different contexts effectively.

What Is Basic Vocabulary?

Basic vocabulary refers to the most common and essential words in a language. These are words we use every day in simple conversations. When I teach ESL, I focus on helping my students learn this vocabulary first because it forms the foundation of language learning.

For example, words like “cat,” “house,” “food,” “big,” and “small” are basic vocabulary. These are the words you need to describe everyday objects, actions, and feelings. Knowing them helps you communicate effectively, even with limited English skills.

I like to use real-life examples when I teach. If we are learning the word “apple,” I might ask you to describe the color, taste, and use of apples. This helps you connect the word to real things in your life.

Why Is It Necessary for ESL Students?

Basic vocabulary is necessary for ESL students because it allows you to start communicating right from the beginning. When you know common words, you can participate in basic conversations, which helps build your confidence. I’ve noticed that students who focus on these essential words feel more comfortable speaking English sooner.

These words are also practical for real-world situations. For example, if you’re traveling, shopping, or asking for help, knowing words like “bus,” “money,” or “help” will allow you to interact easily. This makes your day-to-day life in an English-speaking environment smoother.

Another key reason is that it supports your listening and reading comprehension. When you watch TV, listen to a conversation, or read simple texts, you’ll come across these basic words frequently. By recognizing them, you can understand the overall message, even if there are a few words you don’t know yet.

Additionally, having a solid base of vocabulary helps you learn more advanced words faster. You can make connections between new words and the basic ones you already know, which strengthens your language skills over time.

In my classes, I always tell my students that learning basic vocabulary is like having the keys to unlock the language. Without it, learning can feel slow and frustrating, but with it, you’ll start seeing progress right away.

Why Is It Helpful for ESL Teachers?

Basic vocabulary is beneficial for ESL teachers because it makes teaching easier and more effective. When I teach a beginner class, I use simple words to introduce grammar and sentence structure in a way my students can easily understand. It helps me build lessons that are clear and useful.

For example, using basic words allows me to create simple activities, like role-playing, dialogues, games, or flashcards. These help them practice real-life situations, making the lessons more practical and engaging.

It also helps me see how my students are improving. If they can use common words correctly, I know they’re ready for more challenging topics. Basic vocabulary works well, especially for beginner levels guiding them to step up to the next level.

In short, teaching basic vocabulary makes my job easier and helps my students start communicating quickly.

So let’s dive right in!

Basic Vocabulary on Greetings

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Hello	həˈloʊ	Hello, how are you?
Hi	haɪ	Hi, nice to see you.
Good morning	ɡʊd ˈmɔrnɪŋ	Good morning, have a great day.
Good afternoon	ɡʊd ˌæftɝˈnun	Good afternoon, how can I help you?
Good evening	ɡʊd ˈivnɪŋ	Good evening, it’s nice to see you.
How are you?	haʊ ɑr ju	How are you?
What’s up?	wʌts ˈʌp	What’s up?
Nice to meet you	naɪs tʊ mit jʊ	Nice to meet you, I’m glad we met.
Howdy	ˈhaʊ.di	Howdy, partner!
Hiya	ˈhaɪ.jə	Hiya, how’s it going?
Goodbye	ɡʊdˈbaɪ	Goodbye, see you later.

Also read: Basic Vocabulary List for Greetings: Essential Phrases

Basic Vocabulary on Common Expressions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Please	pliz	Could you pass the salt, please?
Thank you	θæŋk ju	Thank you for your help.
Excuse me	ɪkˈskjuz mi	Excuse me, may I have your attention?
I’m sorry	ˈaɪm ˈsɑri	I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.
Yes	jɛs	Yes, I would like some water.
No	noʊ	No, I can’t make it tonight.
Maybe	ˈmeɪ.bi	Maybe we could go to the movies.
Ok	ˈoʊˈkeɪ	Ok, let’s meet at 7.
Why not?	waɪ ˈnɑt	Why not try the new restaurant?
I don’t know	aɪ dəʊnt noʊ	I don’t know the answer to that.

Read more to explore the 100 Most Common Expressions in English for Everyday Conversation.

Basic Vocabulary on Numbers:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
One	wʌn	I’ll have just one cookie.
Two	tuː	Can you give me two pencils?
Three	θriː	She has three cats.
Four	fɔːr	There are four seasons in a year.
Five	faɪv	I have five fingers on my hand.
Six	sɪks	The bus will arrive at six.
Seven	ˈsɛv.ən	There are seven days in a week.
Eight	eɪt	The octopus has eight arms.
Nine	naɪn	There are nine planets in our solar system.
Ten	tɛn	I have ten dollars in my pocket.

Basic Vocabulary on Days of the Week:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Monday	ˈmʌn.deɪ	I have a meeting on Monday.
Tuesday	ˈtjuːz.deɪ	We’re going out for dinner on Tuesday.
Wednesday	ˈwɛnz.deɪ	She has a dentist appointment Wednesday morning.
Thursday	ˈθɜrs.deɪ	Thursday is my busiest day at work.
Friday	ˈfraɪ.deɪ	Let’s celebrate Friday with a party.
Saturday	ˈsæt̬.ər.deɪ	We’re going hiking on Saturday.
Sunday	ˈsʌn.deɪ	Sunday mornings are for relaxation.

Basic Vocabulary on Months:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
January	ˈdʒæn.juˌɛri	My birthday is in January.
February	ˈfɛb.ruˌɛri	February is the shortest month.
March	mɑrtʃ	March comes after February.
April	ˈeɪ.prəl	April showers bring May flowers.
May	meɪ	May is the month of spring.
June	dʒun	The wedding is in June.
July	dʒuˈlaɪ	We have a barbecue in July.
August	ɔːˈɡʌst	August is usually very hot.
September	sɛpˈtɛmbər	September marks the start of school.
October	ɑkˈtoʊbər	October is known for Halloween.
November	noʊˈvɛmbər	November is my favorite month.
December	dɪˈsɛmbər	December brings the holiday season.

Basic Vocabulary on Colors:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Red	rɛd	She painted her room red.
Blue	bluː	The sky is a beautiful shade of blue.
Green	ɡriːn	Grass is typically green.
Yellow	ˈjɛloʊ	Sunflowers are yellow.
Orange	ˈɔrɪndʒ	She wore an orange dress to the party.
Purple	ˈpɜr.pəl	Royalty is often associated with purple.
Black	blæk	His suit is black.
White	waɪt	Snow is white.
Brown	braʊn	The chocolate is brown.
Pink	pɪŋk	She loves pink roses.

Also learn: Teaching Color Words to Adult Beginners: 10 Best Engaging ESL Activities

Basic Vocabulary on Family:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Mother	ˈmʌðər	My mother bakes the best cookies.
Father	ˈfɑːðər	My father taught me how to ride a bike.
Brother	ˈbrʌðər	I have a younger brother.
Sister	ˈsɪstər	My sister is studying medicine.
Grandmother	ˈɡræn(d)ˌmʌðər	My grandmother tells the best stories.
Grandfather	ˈɡræn(d)ˌfɑːðər	Grandfather always has wise advice.
Aunt	ænt	My aunt lives in the countryside.
Uncle	ˈʌŋkəl	Uncle Joe is coming over for dinner.
Cousin	ˈkʌzən	I have a cousin who lives in France.
Spouse	spaʊs	My spouse and I are going on vacation.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Objects:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Table	ˈteɪbəl	We need a bigger table for the dinner party.
Chair	tʃɛr	The chair by the fireplace is my favorite.
Book	bʊk	I love to read a good book before bed.
Pen	pɛn	Do you have a pen I can borrow?
Pencil	ˈpɛnsəl	She draws with a pencil in her sketchbook.
Computer	kəmˈpjuː.tər	My computer crashed, and I lost all my files.
Phone	foʊn	I’ll call you on the phone later.
Car	kɑːr	We’re going on a road trip in the car.
House	haʊs	Their new house has a beautiful garden.
Watch	wɑtʃ	He checked his watch impatiently.

Basic Vocabulary on Food:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Apple	ˈæpəl	She packed an apple in her lunch.
Banana	bəˈnænə	I like to put bananas in my smoothies.
Bread	brɛd	Could you pass me the bread, please?
Rice	raɪs	I usually have rice with my stir-fry.
Chicken	ˈtʃɪkɪn	We’re having roasted chicken for dinner.
Water	ˈwɔtər	Drinking enough water is important for health.
Coffee	ˈkɔfi	I drink coffee every morning to wake up.
Milk	mɪlk	I always add milk to my cereal.
Juice	dʒuːs	Orange juice is my favorite breakfast drink.
Beef	bif	She cooked a delicious beef stew for dinner.

Also read: Best Food Vocabulary List for Your ESL Class [200 words]

Basic Vocabulary on Time:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Clock	klɒk	The clock on the wall shows the wrong time.
Hour	aʊər	It takes about an hour to drive to the city.
Minute	ˈmɪnɪt	The meeting will start in just a few minutes.
Second	ˈsɛkənd	She counted each second as the clock ticked.
Morning	ˈmɔrnɪŋ	I like to go for a run in the morning.
Afternoon	ˌæftəˈnuːn	Let’s meet for coffee in the afternoon.
Evening	ˈiːvnɪŋ	We went for a walk in the evening breeze.
Night	naɪt	The stars shine bright in the night sky.
Dawn	dɔːn	The birds start chirping at dawn.
Dusk	dʌsk	The sky turned orange and pink at dusk.

Basic Vocabulary on Weather:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Sunny	ˈsʌni	It’s a beautiful sunny day for a picnic.
Rainy	ˈreɪni	Don’t forget your umbrella, it’s rainy outside.
Snowy	ˈsnoʊi	The children built a snowman on the snowy hill.
Cloudy	ˈklaʊdi	It looks like it’s going to be a cloudy day.
Windy	ˈwɪndi	Hold onto your hat, it’s very windy today.
Hot	hɒt	It’s too hot to go outside without sunscreen.
Cold	koʊld	Make sure to bundle up, it’s cold outside.
Drought	draʊt	The farmers struggled with the drought.
Foggy	ˈfɒɡi	Drive carefully, it’s foggy on the roads.
Dry	draɪ	The desert is known for its dry climate.

Basic Vocabulary on Basic Verbs:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Eat	iːt	It’s important to eat a balanced diet.
Drink	drɪŋk	I like to drink a glass of water before bed.
Sleep	sliːp	Make sure to get enough sleep each night.
Walk	wɔːk	Let’s take a walk in the park.
Run	rʌn	He likes to run five miles every morning.
Talk	tɔːk	We need to talk about our plans for the weekend.
Listen	ˈlɪsən	Listen carefully to what she’s saying.
Read	riːd	I like to read before going to sleep.
Write	raɪt	She enjoys writing poetry in her free time.
Learn	lɜrn	It’s never too late to learn a new skill.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Places:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
School	skuːl	I walk to school every morning.
Hospital	ˈhɒspɪt(ə)l	He was admitted to the hospital for surgery.
Store	stɔːr	I need to stop by the store to buy some groceries.
Park	pɑːrk	Let’s have a picnic in the park this weekend.
Bank	bæŋk	I need to deposit a check at the bank.
Restaurant	ˈrɛst(ə)rɒnt	We’re going to a restaurant for dinner tonight.
Library	ˈlaɪbrəri	I borrowed some books from the library.
Home	hoʊm	I can’t wait to go home and relax.

Basic Vocabulary on Vehicles:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Car	kɑːr	We drove to the beach in our car.
Bus	bʌs	I take the bus to work every day.
Train	treɪn	The train is running late today.
Bicycle	ˈbaɪsɪkəl	I prefer to ride my bicycle to work.
Taxi	ˈtæksi	We hailed a taxi to take us to the airport.
Plane	pleɪn	We’re flying to Paris on a plane tomorrow.
Boat	boʊt	We rented a boat for a day of fishing on the lake.

Basic Vocabulary on Body Parts:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Head	hɛd	She bumped her head on the low ceiling.
Eyes	aɪz	His eyes sparkled with excitement.
Nose	noʊz	She wrinkled her nose at the smell.
Mouth	maʊθ	Don’t talk with your mouth full.
Ears	ɪrz	She covered her ears to block out the noise.
Hands	hændz	Wash your hands before eating.
Feet	fiːt	His feet were tired after a long day of walking.
Legs	lɛɡz	She stretched her legs after sitting for hours.
Arms	ɑːrmz	He wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

Basic Vocabulary on Clothing:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Shirt	ʃɜrt	He ironed his shirt before the job interview.
Pants	pænts	She wore black pants with her white blouse.
Dress	drɛs	She bought a new dress for the party.
Shoes	ʃuz	He polished his shoes until they shined.
Hat	hæt	She wore a wide-brimmed hat to the beach.
Jacket	ˈdʒækɪt	He zipped up his jacket to stay warm.
Socks	sɑks	His socks had holes in them, so he bought new ones.
Tie	taɪ	He adjusted his tie in the mirror.
Skirt	skɜrt	She twirled in her new skirt.
T-shirt	ˈtiː.ʃɜrt	He wore a plain white T-shirt with jeans.

Basic Vocabulary on Adjectives:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Big	bɪɡ	The elephant was too big to fit through the door.
Small	smɔːl	She found a small gift wrapped under the tree.
Tall	tɔːl	He was tall enough to reach the top shelf.
Short	ʃɔːrt	She wore a short skirt to the party.
Fast	fæst	The cheetah was too fast for the other animals.
Slow	sloʊ	The turtle moved slowly across the road.
Happy	ˈhæpi	She was happy to see her old friends.
Sad	sæd	He felt sad when he heard the news.
Hot	hɑt	The sun made the sand hot to the touch.
Cold	koʊld	She shivered in the cold winter wind.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Actions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Run	rʌn	He likes to run in the park every morning.
Walk	wɔːk	Let’s take a walk along the beach.
Jump	dʒʌmp	The kids love to jump on the trampoline.
Sit	sɪt	Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.
Stand	stænd	He stood in line patiently waiting for his turn.
Eat	iːt	I like to eat fresh fruit for breakfast.
Sleep	sliːp	It’s important to get enough sleep each night.
Talk	tɔːk	They sat around the table and talked for hours.
Listen	ˈlɪsən	She listened intently to the speaker’s words.
Watch	wɑtʃ	We watched the sunset from the beach.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Animals:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Dog	dɔɡ	She adopted a rescue dog from the shelter.
Cat	kæt	The cat curled up on the windowsill and slept.
Bird	bɜːrd	We spotted a colorful bird in the garden.
Fish	fɪʃ	He caught a big fish while fishing at the lake.
Elephant	ˈɛlɪfənt	The elephant trumpeted loudly at the zoo.
Lion	ˈlaɪən	The lion roared fiercely in the jungle.
Tiger	ˈtaɪɡər	We saw a tiger pacing back and forth in its enclosure.
Rabbit	ˈræbɪt	The rabbit nibbled on a carrot in the garden.
Cow	kaʊ	The cow grazed lazily in the pasture.
Horse	hɔːrs	She rode her horse through the fields.

Basic Vocabulary on School Subjects:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Math	mæθ	She excels in math and enjoys solving equations.
Science	ˈsaɪəns	We conducted a science experiment in class.
English	ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ	He’s studying English literature in college.
History	ˈhɪstəri	We learned about ancient history in school.
Geography	dʒiˈɑːɡrəfi	We studied the geography of Europe.
Art	ɑːrt	She painted a beautiful landscape in art class.
Music	ˈmjuːzɪk	He plays the piano and loves music theory.
Physical Education (PE)	ˈfɪzɪkəl ˌɛdʒəˈkeɪʃən	We have PE class every Monday afternoon.
Chemistry	ˈkɛmɪstri	He’s conducting a chemistry experiment in lab.
Biology	baɪˈɒlədʒi	She’s studying biology to become a doctor.

Basic Vocabulary on Feelings and Emotions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Happy	ˈhæpi	She felt happy when she received good news.
Sad	sæd	He felt sad after watching a sad movie.
Angry	ˈæŋɡri	She became angry when her phone battery died.
Excited	ɪkˈsaɪtɪd	He was excited to start his new job.
Tired	taɪərd	She felt tired after a long day at work.
Surprised	səˈpraɪzd	He looked surprised when he received a gift.
Nervous	ˈnɜrvəs	She felt nervous before her presentation.
Bored	bɔrd	He became bored during the lecture.
Calm	kɑːm	She remained calm during the stressful situation.
Worried	ˈwʌrid	He felt worried about his upcoming exam.

Basic Vocabulary on Household Items:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Table	ˈteɪbəl	We sat around the table for dinner.
Chair	tʃɛr	He pulled out a chair and sat down.
Bed	bɛd	She tucked herself into bed and fell asleep.
Lamp	læmp	He turned on the lamp to read his book.
Clock	klɒk	The clock on the wall chimed midnight.
Mirror	ˈmɪrər	She looked at herself in the mirror.
Plate	pleɪt	He washed the dishes and put them on the plate rack.
Cup	kʌp	She poured herself a cup of tea.
Spoon	spun	He stirred his coffee with a spoon.
Fork	fɔrk	She used a fork to eat her salad.

Basic Vocabulary on Directions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Left	lɛft	Turn left at the intersection.
Right	raɪt	Make a right turn at the traffic light.
Straight	streɪt	Continue straight ahead for two blocks.
Up	ʌp	She climbed up the stairs to the second floor.
Down	daʊn	He walked down the hill to the bus stop.
Behind	bɪˈhaɪnd	He hid behind the tree to surprise his friend.
In front of	ɪn frʌnt əv	The cat sat in front of the fireplace to keep warm.
Next to	nɛkst tuː	The store is next to the post office.
Between	bɪˈtwiːn	The park is between the library and the school.
Around	əˈraʊnd	She walked around the block to clear her mind.

Basic Vocabulary on Jobs and Occupations:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Teacher	ˈtiːtʃər	She’s been a teacher for over 20 years.
Doctor	ˈdɒktər	The doctor examined my throat and prescribed medication.
Nurse	nɜrs	The nurse took my blood pressure before the appointment.
Police officer	pəˈliːs ˈɒfɪsər	The police officer directed traffic at the accident scene.
Chef	ʃɛf	The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
Engineer	ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪr	The engineer designed the new bridge.
Artist	ˈɑːtɪst	The artist painted a beautiful mural on the wall.
Driver	ˈdraɪvər	The taxi driver took us to the airport.
Waiter/Waitress	ˈweɪtər/wˈeɪtrəs	The waiter brought us the menu and took our order.
Farmer	ˈfɑːrmər	The farmer harvested the crops from the field.

Basic Vocabulary on Verbs of Daily Routine:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Wake up	weɪk ʌp	She wakes up at 6 AM every morning.
Brush	brʌʃ	He brushed his teeth before bed.
Shower	ˈʃaʊər	She takes a shower every morning.
Dress	drɛs	He dressed quickly and left for work.
Eat breakfast	iːt ˈbrɛkfəst	She eats breakfast before starting her day.
Go to work/school	ɡoʊ tuː wɜrk/skuːl	He goes to work by bus every morning.
Come home	kʌm hoʊm	She comes home exhausted after a long day.
Cook	kʊk	He cooks dinner for his family every evening.
Eat dinner	iːt ˈdɪnər	They eat dinner together as a family.
Sleep	sliːp	She sleeps peacefully after a busy day.

Basic Vocabulary on Modes of Communication:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Speak	spiːk	She can speak three languages fluently.
Talk	tɔːk	They talked for hours about their favorite books.
Listen	ˈlɪsən	He listened carefully to the instructions.
Ask	æsk	She asked him for directions to the nearest café.
Answer	ˈænsər	He answered all the questions on the exam.
Write	raɪt	She wrote a letter to her friend overseas.
Read	riːd	He enjoys reading novels in his free time.
Understand	ˌʌndərˈstænd	It took him a while to understand the concept.
Explain	ɪksˈpleɪn	She explained the process step by step.
Communicate	kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪt	Effective communication is key in any relationship.

Basic Vocabulary on Prepositions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
In	ɪn	The keys are in the drawer.
On	ɒn	The book is on the table.
Under	ˈʌndər	The cat is hiding under the bed.
Over	ˈoʊvər	The airplane flew over the city.
Between	bɪˈtwiːn	She sat between her two friends.
Next to	nɛkst tuː	The lamp is next to the bed.
Behind	bɪˈhaɪnd	The car is parked behind the house.
In front of	ɪn frʌnt əv	He stood in front of the mirror.
Near	nɪr	There’s a park near our house.
Far	fɑːr	The nearest gas station is far from here.

Basic Vocabulary on Conjunctions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
And	ænd	She likes to read books and play tennis.
But	bʌt	He wanted to go out, but it was raining.
Or	ɔːr	Do you want tea or coffee?
So	soʊ	It’s getting late, so we should leave soon.
Because	bɪˈkɒz	He didn’t go to the party because he was sick.
Although	ɔːlˈðoʊ	Although it was raining, they went for a walk.
While	waɪl	She read a book while waiting for the bus.
When	wɛn	When she arrived home, she made dinner.
If	ɪf	If it rains, we’ll stay indoors.
Then	ðɛn	If you finish your homework, then you can go out.

Basic Vocabulary on Time Expressions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Now	naʊ	I’m busy right now, can I call you back later?
Today	təˈdeɪ	We’re going to the beach today.
Tomorrow	təˈmɒrəʊ	We have a meeting tomorrow morning.
Yesterday	ˈjɛstərdeɪ	I saw him at the store yesterday.
Morning	ˈmɔːrnɪŋ	She goes for a run every morning before breakfast.
Afternoon	ˌæftəˈnuːn	Let’s meet for lunch in the afternoon.
Evening	ˈiːvnɪŋ	We usually watch TV together in the evening.
Night	naɪt	He likes to go for a walk at night.
Week	wiːk	We have a busy week ahead of us.
Month	mʌnθ	Her birthday is next month.

Basic Vocabulary on Transportation Verbs:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Drive	draɪv	She learned to drive when she was sixteen.
Ride	raɪd	He likes to ride his bike to work.
Walk	wɔːk	We prefer to walk to the park on weekends.
Fly	flaɪ	They flew to Paris for their honeymoon.
Sail	seɪl	We’re planning to sail around the Mediterranean.
Take	teɪk	She took the bus to the city center.
Board	bɔːrd	We boarded the plane and found our seats.
Stop	stɒp	The bus stopped at the corner of the street.
Start	stɑːrt	He started the car and drove off.
Arrive	əˈraɪv	We arrived at the airport two hours before our flight.

Basic Vocabulary on Hobbies and Activities:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Play	pleɪ	The children love to play in the park.
Read	riːd	She enjoys reading novels in her spare time.
Write	raɪt	He likes to write poetry in his journal.
Draw	drɔː	She drew a picture of her favorite animal.
Dance	dæns	They danced to the rhythm of the music.
Sing	sɪŋ	He sings in a choir every Sunday.
Swim	swɪm	We went swimming at the beach yesterday.
Cook	kʊk	She cooked a delicious meal for her family.
Hike	haɪk	They hiked to the top of the mountain.
Exercise	ˈɛksərsaɪz	He exercises at the gym three times a week.

Basic Vocabulary on Technology:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Computer	kəmˈpjuːtər	She uses her computer to work from home.
Phone	foʊn	He checked his phone for messages.
Tablet	ˈtæblət	She uses her tablet to read e-books.
Internet	ˈɪntərnɛt	The internet connects people around the world.
Email	ˈiːmeɪl	He sent an email to confirm the meeting time.
App	æp	She downloaded a new app for learning languages.
Social media	ˈsoʊʃəl ˈmidiə	He spends too much time on social media.
Website	ˈwɛbsaɪt	She found the recipe on a cooking website.
Download	daʊnˈloʊd	He downloaded the latest software update.
Upload	ˈʌpˌloʊd	She uploaded the photos to her online portfolio.

Basic Vocabulary on Health and Wellness:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Healthy	ˈhɛlθi	She eats a healthy diet and exercises regularly.
Sick	sɪk	He stayed home from work because he was sick.
Medicine	ˈmɛdəsən	She took some medicine to relieve her headache.
Doctor	ˈdɒktər	He went to see the doctor for his annual check-up.
Hospital	ˈhɒspɪt(ə)l	She was admitted to the hospital for surgery.
Exercise	ˈɛksərsaɪz	He enjoys exercising at the gym in the evenings.
Diet	daɪət	She follows a balanced diet to maintain her health.
Rest	rɛst	He needs to rest and recover after a long day at work.
Stress	strɛs	She feels stressed out from work deadlines.
Sleep	sliːp	Getting enough sleep is important for overall health.

Basic Vocabulary on Travel and Places:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Airport	ˈɛərpɔːrt	They arrived at the airport three hours before their flight.
Train station	treɪn ˈsteɪʃən	They caught the train at the station early in the morning.
Bus stop	bʌs stɒp	The bus stopped at the bus stop to pick up passengers.
Hotel	hoʊˈtɛl	They stayed at a luxury hotel in the city center.
Restaurant	ˈrɛstrɒnt	They had dinner at a fancy restaurant by the river.
Beach	biːtʃ	They spent the day relaxing on the beach.
Mountain	ˈmaʊntən	They went hiking in the mountains last weekend.
City	ˈsɪti	They explored the bustling city streets.
Country	ˈkʌntri	They traveled to a foreign country for vacation.
Tourist	ˈtʊrɪst	They visited all the famous tourist attractions.

Basic Vocabulary on Weather Conditions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Sunny	ˈsʌni	It’s a sunny day, perfect for a picnic.
Cloudy	ˈklaʊdi	The sky is cloudy, so it might rain later.
Rainy	ˈreɪni	It’s a rainy day, don’t forget your umbrella.
Stormy	ˈstɔːrmi	The weather forecast predicts a stormy night.
Snowy	ˈsnoʊi	The ground is covered in snow after the snowy night.
Windy	ˈwɪndi	It’s too windy to go sailing today.
Foggy	ˈfɒɡi	The city was shrouded in fog this morning.
Hot	hɒt	It’s hot outside, remember to stay hydrated.
Cold	koʊld	The cold weather requires extra layers of clothing.
Mild	maɪld	The weather is mild, not too hot or too cold.

Basic Vocabulary on Shapes:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Circle	ˈsɜːrkəl	She drew a perfect circle on the whiteboard.
Square	skwɛər	The tablecloth had a pattern of blue squares.
Triangle	ˈtraɪˌæŋɡəl	The flag was in the shape of a triangle.
Rectangle	ˈrɛktæŋɡəl	The window was framed by a rectangle.
Oval	ˈoʊvl	She found a smooth oval-shaped stone on the beach.
Diamond	ˈdaɪmənd	She wore a diamond necklace to the party.
Heart	hɑːrt	He drew a heart in the sand for his sweetheart.
Star	stɑːr	The sky was filled with twinkling stars.
Sphere	sfɪər	The crystal ball was a perfect sphere.
Cube	kjuːb	He built a castle out of colorful cubes.

Basic Vocabulary on Nature:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Tree	triː	The tree provided shade on a hot summer day.
Flower	ˈflaʊər	She picked a bouquet of colorful flowers from the garden.
River	ˈrɪvər	The river flowed gently through the valley.
Mountain	ˈmaʊntən	They hiked to the top of the mountain for the view.
Sky	skaɪ	The sky was clear and blue on a sunny day.
Sun	sʌn	The sun rose over the horizon, bathing the land in light.
Moon	muːn	They admired the full moon on a clear night.
Star	stɑːr	They gazed at the twinkling stars in the night sky.
Cloud	klaʊd	The cloud drifted lazily across the sky.
Grass	ɡræs	The grass was soft beneath their feet as they walked.

Basic Vocabulary on Directions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
North	nɔːrθ	They traveled north for their vacation.
South	saʊθ	They moved south to escape the cold winters.
East	iːst	The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
West	wɛst	They drove west to watch the sunset over the ocean.
Northeast	ˌnɔːrθˈiːst	The storm was coming from the northeast.
Northwest	ˌnɔːrθˈwɛst	They hiked through the dense forests of the northwest.
Southeast	ˌsaʊθˈiːst	The beach was located in the southeast corner of the island.
Southwest	ˌsaʊθˈwɛst	They enjoyed the warm weather of the southwest.

Basic Vocabulary on Quantities:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Many	ˈmɛni	There were many people at the concert.
Few	fjuː	There were few clouds in the sky.
Some	sʌm	She bought some groceries from the store.
A lot	ə lɒt	They had a lot of fun at the party.
Little	ˈlɪtl	She had little time to finish her homework.
Much	mʌtʃ	There wasn’t much food left in the fridge.
More	mɔːr	He wanted more ice cream after dinner.
Less	lɛs	They spent less money on clothes this month.
Enough	ɪˈnʌf	She had enough money to buy the tickets.
Plenty	ˈplɛnti	There was plenty of food for everyone at the party.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Adverbs:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Quickly	ˈkwɪkli	He finished the race quickly, setting a new record.
Slowly	ˈsloʊli	She walked slowly along the path, enjoying the scenery.
Always	ˈɔːlweɪz	She always arrives early for meetings.
Never	ˈnɛvər	He never eats fast food.
Sometimes	ˈsʌmtaɪmz	They sometimes go hiking on weekends.
Often	ˈɔːfən	He often takes his dog for a walk in the park.
Rarely	ˈrɛərli	She rarely goes out after dark.
Usually	ˈjuːʒuəli	They usually have dinner at home on weekdays.
Well	wɛl	She played the piano well at the recital.
Badly	ˈbædli	He performed badly in the exam.

Basic Vocabulary on Feelings and Emotions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Excited	ɪkˈsaɪtɪd	She was excited about her upcoming vacation.
Bored	bɔrd	He felt bored during the long lecture.
Surprised	səˈpraɪzd	She was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected gift.
Worried	ˈwʌrid	He felt worried about his upcoming job interview.
Confused	kənˈfjuzd	She was confused by the complicated instructions.
Relaxed	rɪˈlækst	He felt relaxed after a long day at the beach.
Anxious	ˈæŋkʃəs	She was anxious about the results of her exam.
Content	kənˈtɛnt	He felt content with his life and work.
Disappointed	ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd	She was disappointed when her favorite team lost.
Satisfied	ˈsætɪsfaɪd	He was satisfied with the outcome of his project.

Basic Vocabulary on Music and Arts:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Music	ˈmjuːzɪk	She enjoys listening to classical music.
Song	sɔːŋ	He wrote a beautiful song for his girlfriend.
Dance	dæns	They danced together under the stars.
Art	ɑːrt	He appreciates all forms of art, from paintings to sculptures.
Painting	ˈpeɪntɪŋ	She displayed her latest painting at the art gallery.
Sculpture	ˈskʌlptʃər	The park is filled with beautiful sculptures.
Theater	ˈθiːətər	They went to the theater to watch a play.
Actor	ˈæktər	He’s a talented actor who has won many awards.
Actress	ˈæktrəs	She’s a versatile actress with a wide range of roles.
Audience	ˈɔːdiəns	The audience clapped enthusiastically at the end of the performance.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Phrases:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
How are you doing?	haʊ ɑː juː ˈduːɪŋ	How are you doing today?
What’s your name?	wɒts jʊər neɪm	What’s your name, please?
Nice to meet you.	naɪs tə miːt juː	Nice to meet you, too.
Can I help you?	kæn aɪ hɛlp juː	Can I help you with anything?
Excuse me, please.	ɪksˈkjuːz miː pliːz	Excuse me, could you please repeat that?
I don’t understand.	aɪ doʊnt ˌʌndərˈstænd	I don’t understand what you’re saying.
What time is it?	wɒt taɪm ɪz ɪt	What time is it now?
Where is the bathroom?	wɛr ɪz ðə ˈbæθrum	Where is the nearest bathroom, please?
I like it.	aɪ laɪk ɪt	I like this painting.
I don’t like it.	aɪ doʊnt laɪk ɪt	I don’t like spicy food.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Expressions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Of course	əv kɔrs	“Can I borrow your pen?” “Of course.”
I don’t know	aɪ doʊnt noʊ	“Where is the nearest ATM?” “I don’t know.”
Maybe	ˈmeɪbi	“Will you come to the party?” “Maybe.”
I’m not sure	aɪm nɒt ˈʃʊr	“Are you going to the concert?” “I’m not sure yet.”
Let me think	lɛt mi θɪŋk	“What should we do next?” “Let me think for a moment.”
I see	aɪ siː	“So, you’re saying we should leave early?” “I see.”
That’s great	ðæts ɡreɪt	“I got a promotion at work.” “That’s great news!”
Congratulations	kənˌɡrætʃuˈleɪʃənz	“I heard you won the competition. Congratulations!”
I’m sorry to hear that	aɪm ˈsɒri tuː hɪər ðæt	“My cat passed away.” “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Never mind	ˈnɛvər maɪnd	“Sorry, I forgot to bring the book.” “Never mind.”

Basic Vocabulary on Money and Shopping:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Money	ˈmʌni	He earned a lot of money from his business.
Buy	baɪ	She went to the store to buy some groceries.
Sell	sɛl	He sells vintage records online.
Cost	kɒst	The cost of living in the city is high.
Price	praɪs	She checked the price of the dress before buying it.
Cash	kæʃ	They paid for the concert tickets with cash.
Credit card	ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːrd	She used her credit card to book the hotel room.
Shopping	ˈʃɒpɪŋ	She enjoys going shopping on weekends.
Sale	seɪl	The store is having a big sale this weekend.
Discount	ˈdɪskaʊnt	They got a 20% discount on their purchase.

Basic Vocabulary on Jobs and Workplaces:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Office	ˈɒfɪs	She works in a modern office building downtown.
Factory	ˈfæktri	The factory produces electronic components.
Boss	bɒs	Her boss praised her for completing the project on time.
Employee	ɪmˈplɔɪiː	The company has over 1000 employees worldwide.
Colleague	ˈkɒliːɡ	She gets along well with her colleagues at work.
Meeting	ˈmiːtɪŋ	They had a productive meeting to discuss the project.
Deadline	ˈdɛdlʌɪn	She worked late to meet the deadline for the report.
Salary	ˈsæləri	He negotiated a higher salary for his new job.
Work	wɜːrk	She has a lot of work to do before the end of the day.
Job	dʒɒb	Finding a job in the current market is challenging.

Also read: 50 Common Business Expressions for Workplace Conversations

Basic Vocabulary on Transportation:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Subway	ˈsʌbweɪ	He takes the subway to work every day.
Tram	træm	She rode the tram to get to the city center.
Motorcycle	ˈmoʊtərsaɪkəl	He enjoys riding his motorcycle on weekends.
Walking	ˈwɔːkɪŋ	She prefers walking to the park rather than driving.
Commute	kəˈmjuːt	His daily commute to work takes about an hour.
Traffic	ˈtræfɪk	There was heavy traffic on the highway this morning.
Driver’s license	ˈdraɪvərz ˈlaɪsns	He got his driver’s license when he turned 18.
Pedestrian	pəˈdɛstrɪən	Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks.
Road	roʊd	They drove down a winding road through the mountains.
Crosswalk	ˈkrɔːswɔːk	They waited for the light to change at the crosswalk.

Also read: 100 Basic Transportation Vocabulary for ESL Students

Basic Vocabulary on Celebrations and Events:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Birthday	ˈbɜːθˌdeɪ	They celebrated her birthday with a cake and presents.
Anniversary	ˌænɪˈvɜːrsəri	They went out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary.
Wedding	ˈwɛdɪŋ	They attended their friend’s wedding last weekend.
Party	ˈpɑːrti	They threw a surprise party for her birthday.
Holiday	ˈhɒlɪdeɪ	They went on vacation for the holiday season.
Festival	ˈfɛstɪvəl	They enjoyed the music and food at the festival.
Ceremony	ˈsɛrəˌmoʊni	They had a small ceremony to mark the occasion.
Graduation	ˌɡrædʒuˈeɪʃən	He attended his sister’s graduation ceremony.
Parade	pəˈreɪd	They watched the parade from the sidewalk.
Fireworks	ˈfaɪrˌwɜːrks	They oohed and aahed at the colorful fireworks display.

Basic Vocabulary on Relationships:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Friend	frɛnd	She has known her best friend since kindergarten.
Family	ˈfæməli	Family gatherings are important to her.
Love	lʌv	They fell in love at first sight.
Relationship	rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp	They have a strong relationship built on trust.
Marriage	ˈmærɪdʒ	They celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.
Divorce	dɪˈvɔːrs	She went through a difficult divorce last year.
Single	ˈsɪŋɡəl	She enjoys being single and independent.
Couple	ˈkʌpl	They make a cute couple.
Parent	ˈpɛrənt	Being a parent is a rewarding but challenging experience.
Child	tʃaɪld	They have two children, a boy and a girl.

Basic Vocabulary on Adverbs of Frequency:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Always	ˈɔːlweɪz	She always brushes her teeth before bed.
Usually	ˈjuːʒuəli	They usually go for a walk in the evening.
Often	ˈɔfən	He often visits his parents on weekends.
Sometimes	ˈsʌmtaɪmz	Sometimes she likes to stay in and watch movies.
Rarely	ˈrɛərli	He rarely eats fast food.
Never	ˈnɛvər	She never misses her morning coffee.
Daily	ˈdeɪli	He goes for a run daily to stay fit.
Weekly	ˈwiːkli	They have a weekly family dinner every Sunday.
Monthly	ˈmʌnθli	She pays her bills monthly.
Yearly	ˈjɪrli	They take a yearly vacation to relax.

Basic Vocabulary on At the Restaurant:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Menu	ˈmɛnjuː	She glanced through the menu to decide what to order.
Waiter/Waitress	ˈweɪtər/ˈweɪtrɪs	The waiter brought over the drinks.
Order	ˈɔːdər	They placed their order for appetizers.
Dish	dɪʃ	They ordered a seafood dish for the main course.
Cuisine	kwɪˈziːn	They specialize in Italian cuisine.
Appetizer	ˈæpɪˌtaɪzər	They shared a plate of calamari as an appetizer.
Main course	meɪn kɔːrs	He ordered steak as his main course.
Dessert	dɪˈzɜːrt	She couldn’t resist ordering chocolate cake for dessert.
Bill	bɪl	They asked for the bill after finishing their meal.
Tip	tɪp	They left a generous tip for the excellent service.

Basic Vocabulary on Travel and Vacation:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Tour	tʊər	They went on a guided tour of the city.
Sightseeing	ˈsaɪtˌsiːɪŋ	They enjoyed sightseeing in Paris.
Passport	ˈpæspɔːrt	She forgot her passport at home.
Ticket	ˈtɪkɪt	They bought tickets for the concert online.
Reservation	ˌrɛzərˈveɪʃən	They made a reservation at the restaurant for dinner.
Hotel	hoʊˈtɛl	They stayed at a luxurious hotel by the beach.
Beach	biːtʃ	They spent the day relaxing on the beach.
Adventure	ədˈvɛntʃər	They went on an exciting adventure in the mountains.
Explore	ɪkˈsplɔːr	They love to explore new places when they travel.
Map	mæp	She consulted the map to find her way around the city.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Health Issues:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Headache	ˈhɛdˌeɪk	She took some painkillers for her headache.
Fever	ˈfiːvər	He had a high fever and chills.
Cough	kɒf	She developed a persistent cough after the cold.
Sore throat	sɔːr θroʊt	He drank hot tea to soothe his sore throat.
Allergy	ˈælərdʒi	She took antihistamines for her pollen allergy.
Injury	ˈɪnʤəri	He sustained a minor injury while playing soccer.
Medicine	ˈmɛdɪsən	She took some medicine to relieve her symptoms.
Prescription	prɪˈskrɪpʃən	She filled her prescription at the pharmacy.
Doctor’s appointment	ˈdɒktərz əˈpɔɪntmənt	She scheduled a doctor’s appointment for next week.
Hospitalization	ˌhɒspɪtl̩aɪˈzeɪʃən	He required hospitalization for his severe injury.

Basic Vocabulary on Daily Activities:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Wake up	weɪk ʌp	She wakes up at 6 a.m. every morning.
Brush teeth	brʌʃ tiːθ	He brushes his teeth before going to bed.
Take a shower	teɪk ə ˈʃaʊər	She takes a shower every morning to wake up.
Get dressed	ɡɛt drɛst	He gets dressed in his uniform for work.
Have breakfast	hæv ˈbrɛkfəst	She likes to have eggs and toast for breakfast.
Go to work/school	ɡoʊ tuː wɜːrk/skuːl	They go to school together every morning.
Come home	kʌm hoʊm	They come home tired after a long day at work.
Cook dinner	kʊk ˈdɪnər	She enjoys cooking dinner for her family.
Watch TV	wɒtʃ ˈtiːviː	They watch TV together in the evenings.
Go to bed	ɡoʊ tuː bɛd	He goes to bed early to get enough sleep.

Basic Vocabulary on In the City:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Downtown	ˈdaʊntaʊn	They went shopping downtown on the weekend.
Suburb	ˈsʌbɜːrb	They live in a quiet suburb outside the city.
Street	striːt	They walked down the street to get to the park.
Traffic light	ˈtræfɪk laɪt	They stopped at the traffic light before crossing.
Pedestrian crossing	pəˈdɛstriən ˈkrɒsɪŋ	They waited for the green light at the pedestrian crossing.
Intersection	ˌɪntərˈsɛkʃən	They approached the intersection cautiously.
Park	pɑːrk	They had a picnic in the park on a sunny day.
Library	ˈlaɪbrəri	They borrowed books from the library.
Museum	mjuːˈziːəm	They visited the museum to see the new exhibit.
Theater	ˈθɪətər	They went to the theater to watch a play.

Basic Vocabulary on Emergency Situations:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Help	hɛlp	He called for help when he couldn’t lift the heavy box.
Emergency	ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi	They called 911 during the emergency.
Police	pəˈliːs	The police arrived quickly at the scene of the crime.
Fire	faɪər	They called the fire department when they saw smoke.
Ambulance	ˈæmbjʊləns	They called an ambulance for the injured cyclist.
Accident	ˈæksɪdənt	They witnessed a car accident on the highway.
Injury	ˈɪnʤəri	He sustained minor injuries in the fall.
Danger	ˈdeɪndʒə	They warned their friends about the danger ahead.
Evacuate	ɪˈvækjueɪt	They were ordered to evacuate their homes due to the flood.
Call 911	kɔːl naɪn wʌn wʌn	She called 911 after witnessing the accident.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Tools:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Hammer	ˈhæmər	He used a hammer to nail the picture frame to the wall.
Screwdriver	ˈskruːˌdraɪvər	He tightened the screws with a screwdriver.
Wrench	rɛntʃ	He used a wrench to tighten the bolts.
Pliers	ˈplaɪərz	She used pliers to bend the wire into shape.
Tape measure	teɪp ˈmɛʒər	He used a tape measure to measure the length of the board.
Drill	drɪl	He drilled holes in the wall to hang the shelves.
Saw	sɔː	He used a saw to cut the wood into smaller pieces.
Nails	neɪlz	He hammered the nails into the wooden plank.
Screws	skruːz	He tightened the screws with a screwdriver.
Glue	ɡluː	She used glue to attach the pieces of the broken vase.

Basic Vocabulary on Science and Technology:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Experiment	ɪkˈspɛrɪmənt	They conducted an experiment to test their hypothesis.
Research	rɪˈsɜːrtʃ	She spent months conducting research for her thesis.
Scientist	ˈsaɪəntɪst	He is a renowned scientist in the field of biology.
Laboratory	ləˈbɒrəˌtɔːri	They conducted their experiments in the laboratory.
Invention	ɪnˈvɛnʃən	The invention of the light bulb revolutionized society.
Discovery	dɪˈskʌvəri	The discovery of penicillin changed the course of medicine.
Technology	tɛkˈnɒlədʒi	The rapid advancement of technology has transformed lives.
Computer science	kəmˈpjuːtər ˈsaɪəns	He studied computer science in college.
Innovation	ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən	The company prides itself on its culture of innovation.
Data	ˈdeɪtə	They analyzed the data to draw conclusions.

Basic Vocabulary on Common Adjectives:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Beautiful	ˈbjuːtɪfəl	She admired the beautiful sunset.
Ugly	ˈʌɡli	He thought the painting was ugly.
Clean	kliːn	She cleaned the house from top to bottom.
Dirty	ˈdɜːrti	They wore dirty clothes after playing in the mud.
Tasty	ˈteɪsti	She cooked a tasty meal for dinner.
Spicy	ˈspaɪsi	The curry was too spicy for her taste.
Noisy	ˈnɔɪzi	They moved to the countryside to escape the noisy city.
Quiet	ˈkwaɪət	They enjoyed the quiet serenity of the forest.
Bright	braɪt	The sun cast a bright light across the room.
Dark	dɑːrk	They couldn’t see in the dark room without a flashlight.

Basic Vocabulary on Directions and Commands:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Go	ɡoʊ	They decided to go for a walk in the park.
Stop	stɑːp	She stopped at the red light.
Turn	tɜːrn	He turned left at the intersection.
Walk	wɔːk	They enjoyed a leisurely walk along the beach.
Run	rʌn	She ran to catch the bus before it left.
Wait	weɪt	They waited patiently for their turn in line.
Listen	ˈlɪsən	They listened intently to the music.
Speak	spiːk	She spoke fluent French after years of practice.
Read	riːd	He read the book from cover to cover in one sitting.
Write	raɪt	She wrote a heartfelt letter to her friend.

Basic Vocabulary on Feelings and Emotions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Frustrated	ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd	She felt frustrated after hours of waiting in line.
Proud	praʊd	He was proud of his daughter’s achievements.
Curious	ˈkjʊəriəs	She was curious about the contents of the box.
Grateful	ˈɡreɪtfəl	They were grateful for the support they received.
Enthusiastic	ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk	She was enthusiastic about the new project.
Disgusted	dɪsˈɡʌstɪd	He was disgusted by the sight of the rotting food.
Pleased	pliːzd	They were pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
Annoyed	əˈnɔɪd	She was annoyed by the constant noise outside.
Amused	əˈmjuːzd	They were amused by the antics of their pets.
Confident	ˈkɒnfɪdənt	She felt confident about her ability to succeed.

Basic Vocabulary on Sports and Activities:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Soccer	ˈsɒkər	They played soccer every weekend with their friends.
Basketball	ˈbɑːskɪtbɔːl	He practiced shooting hoops at the basketball court.
Tennis	ˈtɛnɪs	She enjoyed playing tennis with her colleagues.
Swimming	ˈswɪmɪŋ	They went swimming at the community pool.
Cycling	ˈsaɪklɪŋ	He loved cycling through the countryside on weekends.
Hiking	ˈhaɪkɪŋ	They went hiking in the mountains during the summer.
Jogging	ˈdʒɒɡɪŋ	She went jogging in the park every morning.
Yoga	ˈjoʊɡə	She practiced yoga to relax her mind and body.
Gymnastics	dʒɪmˈnæstɪks	He trained in gymnastics from a young age.
Dancing	ˈdænsɪŋ	They danced the night away at the club.

Basic Vocabulary on Seasons:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Spring	sprɪŋ	They enjoyed picnics in the park during spring.
Summer	ˈsʌmər	They went swimming at the beach every summer.
Autumn/Fall	ˈɔːtəm/ fɔːl	They admired the colorful leaves in autumn.
Winter	ˈwɪntər	They built a snowman in the yard during winter.
Sunny	ˈsʌni	They spent the sunny day at the lake.
Rainy	ˈreɪni	They stayed indoors during the rainy weather.
Snowy	ˈsnoʊi	They went sledding on the snowy hill.
Windy	ˈwɪndi	They flew kites in the windy park.
Chilly	ˈtʃɪli	They bundled up in warm clothes on the chilly morning.
Hot	hɒt	They cooled off with ice cream on the hot day.

Basic Vocabulary on Nature and Environment:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Forest	ˈfɒrɪst	They went for a hike in the dense forest.
Lake	leɪk	They enjoyed a picnic by the tranquil lake.
Ocean	ˈoʊʃən	They went surfing in the vast ocean.
Mountain	ˈmaʊntɪn	They hiked to the summit of the mountain.
Valley	ˈvæli	They camped in the picturesque valley.
Desert	ˈdezət	They explored the vast desert landscape.
Skyline	ˈskaɪlaɪn	They admired the city skyline from the rooftop.
Climate	ˈklaɪmət	They studied the effects of climate change.
Pollution	pəˈluːʃən	They worked to reduce pollution in their community.
Wildlife	ˈwaɪldlaɪf	They spotted various wildlife on their safari.

Basic Vocabulary on Expressions of Time:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Present	ˈprɛzənt	They exchanged presents on their anniversary.
Past	pæst	They reminisced about the past during the reunion.
Future	ˈfjuːtʃə	They planned for their future together.
Yesterday	ˈjɛstərdeɪ	They went for a walk in the park yesterday.
Today	təˈdeɪ	They visited the museum today.
Tomorrow	təˈmɒrəʊ	They have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
Soon	suːn	They will leave for vacation soon.
Later	ˈleɪtə	They will discuss the details later.
Next	nɛkst	They planned their next vacation destination.
Last	lɑːst	They reminisced about their last vacation.

Basic Vocabulary on Feelings and Relationships:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Friendship	ˈfrɛndʃɪp	They shared a deep bond of friendship.
Trust	trʌst	They built trust through open communication.
Betrayal	bɪˈtreɪəl	He felt betrayed when his friend broke their promise.
Loyalty	ˈlɔɪəlti	She admired his unwavering loyalty to his friends.
Romance	ˈroʊmæns	They celebrated their romance with a candlelit dinner.
Affection	əˈfɛkʃən	They showed affection through small gestures.
Breakup	ˈbreɪkʌp	They went through a difficult breakup but remained friends.
Reconciliation	ˌrɛkənˌsɪliˈeɪʃən	They sought reconciliation after their disagreement.
Bond	bɒnd	They shared a strong bond forged through shared experiences.
Connection	kəˈnɛkʃən	They felt a deep connection from the moment they met.

Basic Vocabulary on Travel:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Explore	ɪkˈsplɔːr	They loved to explore new places during their travels.
Adventure	ədˈvɛntʃə	They sought adventure in the remote wilderness.
Destination	ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən	They planned their dream destination for their honeymoon.
Journey	ˈdʒɜːrni	They embarked on a spiritual journey to find themselves.
Backpacking	ˈbækˌpækɪŋ	They went backpacking through Europe after graduation.
Itinerary	aɪˈtɪnərəri	They mapped out their itinerary for the road trip.
Tourist attractions	ˈtʊərɪst əˈtrækʃənz	They visited all the tourist attractions in the city.
Local cuisine	ˈləʊkəl kwɪˈziːn	They enjoyed sampling the local cuisine in Thailand.
Souvenir	suːvəˈnɪər	They bought a traditional souvenir to remember their trip.
Landmark	ˈlændmɑːrk	They admired the historic landmarks in the city center.

Basic Vocabulary on Transport:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Bicycle	ˈbaɪsɪkəl	They rode their bicycles to the park.
Motorcycle	ˈmoʊtərsaɪkəl	He enjoyed cruising on his motorcycle on weekends.
Scooter	ˈskutər	They rented scooters to explore the island.
Carriage	ˈkærɪdʒ	They took a romantic carriage ride through the city.
Skateboard	ˈskeɪtbɔːrd	They practiced tricks on their skateboards at the park.
Rollerblades	ˈroʊlərbleɪdz	They rollerbladed along the boardwalk by the beach.
Segway	ˈsɛɡweɪ	They went on a guided tour of the city on a Segway.
Cable car	ˈkeɪbəl kɑːr	They rode the cable car to the top of the mountain.
Helicopter	ˈhɛlɪˌkɒptər	They took a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.
Hang glider	ˈhæŋ ˌɡlaɪdər	He experienced the thrill of hang gliding over the ocean.

Basic Vocabulary on Education:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
School	skuːl	They walked to school together every morning.
University	ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti	He studied engineering at the university.
Classroom	ˈklæsruːm	They sat quietly in the classroom during the lesson.
Teacher	ˈtiːtʃər	They respected their teacher’s authority in the classroom.
Student	ˈstjuːdənt	They were diligent students who always did their homework.
Homework	ˈhəʊmwɜːrk	They stayed up late to finish their homework assignments.
Exam	ɪɡˈzæm	They studied hard for their final exams.
Degree	dɪˈɡriː	She earned a degree in economics from the university.
Graduation	ˌɡrædʒuˈeɪʃən	They celebrated their graduation with their families.
Study	ˈstʌdi	They spent hours in the library to study for the exam.

Basic Vocabulary on Money and Finance:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Savings	ˈseɪvɪŋz	They saved a portion of their income for retirement.
Investment	ɪnˈvɛstmənt	They diversified their investment portfolio for growth.
Budget	ˈbʌdʒɪt	They stuck to their budget to avoid overspending.
Debt	dɛt	They struggled to pay off their mounting debt.
Loan	loʊn	They applied for a loan to buy a new car.
Mortgage	ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ	They took out a mortgage to buy their first home.
Interest	ˈɪntrəst	They paid high interest rates on their credit card debt.
Income	ˈɪnkʌm	They relied on their rental income for additional cash flow.
Expenses	ɪkˈspɛnsɪz	They tracked their expenses carefully to save money.
Account	əˈkaʊnt	They opened a savings account at the bank.

Basic Vocabulary on Emphasizing Words:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Definitely	ˈdɛfɪnɪtli	They were definitely going to attend the party.
Absolutely	ˈæbsəlutli	They absolutely loved the new restaurant.
Certainly	ˈsɜːrtənli	They would certainly finish the project on time.
Surely	ˈʃʊrli	They would surely succeed with hard work and dedication.
Indeed	ɪnˈdiːd	The food was indeed delicious as they had heard.
Clearly	ˈklɪrli	She could see clearly through the foggy window.
Obviously	ˈɒbvɪəsli	It was obviously the right decision to make.
Naturally	ˈnætʃrəli	They naturally gravitated towards each other.
Undoubtedly	ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli	They were undoubtedly the best team in the competition.

Basic Vocabulary on Communication:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Conversation	/ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃən/	We had a stimulating conversation about the latest research.
Dialogue	/ˈdaɪəlɔg/	The play featured a witty dialogue between the characters.
Discussion	/dɪˈskʌʃən/	The meeting involved a lively discussion about possible solutions.
Debate	/dɪˈbeit/	The candidates engaged in a heated debate on economic policy.
Argument	/ˈɑːrgjʊmənt/	They presented strong arguments to support their position.
Expression	/ɪkˈspɹeʃən/	Her facial expression revealed her disappointment.
Pronunciation	/prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/	He mastered the correct pronunciation of the French word.
Accent	/ˈæksent/	Her accent hinted at her Southern roots.
Gesture	/ˈdʒɛstʃər/	He used a hand gesture to emphasize his point.
Tone	/toʊn/	The speaker’s tone was sincere and empathetic.

Basic Vocabulary on Weather Conditions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Breeze	/briːz/	I felt a cool breeze blowing through the window.
Humidity	/hjuːˈmɪdəti/	The high humidity made the air feel thick and heavy.
Drought	/draʊt/	The region has been experiencing a severe drought for months.
Thunderstorm	/ˈθʌndəˌstɔːrm/	The sudden thunderstorm caused a power outage in the area.
Drizzle	/ˈdrɪzəl/	A light drizzle fell throughout the morning.
Hail	/heɪl/	The storm produced large hailstones that damaged some cars.
Blizzard	/ˈblɪzərd/	The blizzard caused whiteout conditions and travel advisories.
Fog	/fɒg/	The thick fog made it difficult to see even a few feet ahead.
Frost	/frɒst/	A thin layer of frost covered the grass overnight.
Sleet	/sliːt/	The wintry mix consisted of rain, sleet, and some snow flakes.

Basic Vocabulary on Medical Conditions:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Allergy	/ˈælərdʒi/	She suffers from a severe allergy to peanuts.
Flu	/fluː/	Many people were affected by the seasonal influenza this year.
Cold	/koʊld/	I caught a cold after being out in the rain without an umbrella.
Fever	/ˈfiːvər/	He had a high fever and chills, indicating a possible infection.
Headache	/ˈhedˌeɪk/	The constant loud noise gave me a splitting headache.
Sore throat	/sɔːr ˈθroʊt/	I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a scratchy voice.
Fatigue	/fəˈtiːg/	The long work hours left him feeling fatigued and drained.
Rash	/ræʃ/	The medication caused her to develop an itchy red rash on her skin.
Sprain	/spreɪn/	He twisted his ankle badly, resulting in a sprain.
Bruise	/bruːz/	The fall left a large bruise on her arm.

Basic Vocabulary on Human Rights and Social Issues:

Word	Pronunciation	Example Sentence
Equality	/ɪˈkwɒləti/	Everyone deserves equal opportunities regardless of background.
Justice	/ˈdʒʌstɪs/	The justice system aims to deliver fair and impartial outcomes.
Discrimination	/dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/	Discrimination based on race, gender, or religion is unacceptable.
Freedom	/ˈfriːdəm/	Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in a democracy.
Democracy	/dɪˈmɒkrəsɪ/	A democratic government is one where the people hold power.
Oppression	/əˈpreʃən/	The regime imposed harsh oppression on its citizens.
Activism	/ˈækṭɪvɪzəm/	She is a vocal activist for environmental protection.
Empowerment	/ɪmˈpaʊərmənt/	Education and access to resources empower individuals.
Diversity	/daɪˈvɜːrsəti/	A diverse workforce brings a wider range of perspectives.
Inclusion	/ɪnˈkluːʒən/	Creating an inclusive society requires valuing everyone’s contributions.

Teaching Basic Vocabulary to Adults

Teaching vocabulary to adults needs a special plan to make sure they learn well. Adults learn best when they see how the words are used in everyday situations, hear them repeated often, and do activities that involve seeing, hearing, and doing.

The words you teach should be ones they’ll actually use in their daily lives and for their goals. By making the learning environment friendly and using methods that help them remember what they already know and practice using the new words in a meaningful way, you can help them build a strong vocabulary.

I’ve also written a complete guide to teaching vocabulary to adult learners for ESL teachers. This guide will help you make your ESL vocabulary activities fun and engaging.

Conclusion

Remember, regular practice, exposure to English materials, and incorporating these words into daily communication are key to enhancing the language proficiency of your ESL students.

References

Keller, M. (1923). THE NECESSITY OF TEACHING A BASIC VOCABULARY IN MODERN LANGUAGE WORK. The Modern Language Journal, 8, 35-40. https://doi.org/10.2307/313549