Vocabulary word lists by topic

Typical vocabulary used when discussing specific topics or subjects (such as sports, time, weather or computers)

The Vocabulary of Censorship

Internet Vocabulary

Illustrated Vocabulary

Picture Quizzes
Test your vocab against these illustrated quizzes.

Illustrated A3 Vocabulary Posters

High quality printable posters for FREE download

FOOD
Our food vocabulary section covers types of food from fruits and vegetables to fish and dairy foods. It also covers cooking, kitchens and kitchenware and dining and dinnerware. You’ll also learn about eating out in restaurants and learn special vocabulary for British pubs and for ordering and dining in French, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese and Thai restaurants. And don’t miss our section on food and health for tips on living a long and healthy life.

SPORTS
Learn general sports vocab as well as special vocab for football, basketball, baseball, tennis, cricket, rugby, golf and many more sports. You can also do fun vocab and sports knowledge quizzes and learn about the Olympic Games and the football World Cup.

MUSIC
Learn basic music vocab and more specialized vocab while reading about pop music, rock, country, soul, dance and rap or hip hop music. You can also read about early popular music genres like the blues and jazz, watch video clips of famous artists, find lists of recommended albums and see a music vocabulary list with lots of example sentences.

MOVIES

You can learn general vocabulary about movies and you can also learn more advanced vocab while reading about action movies, horror movies, comedies, dramas, sci-fi movies, historical dramas and documentaries. You’ll also find video clips from many famous movies and lists of recommended movies.

TIME
Learn the vocab of time, including how to tell the time, units of time, day and night, days of the week, months of the year and more. You can also listen to some songs about time with subtitles.

A Light-Year is a Measure of Distance, not Time

Superb video demonstration by NASA 🎬

NUMBERS
You can explore the vocabulary of numbers, looking at cardinal and ordinal numbers, decimals and fractions, Roman numerals, and listening to a song about numbers.

Planets Vocabulary
The eight planets of our solar system, facts and figures

Planet Names
How the planets got their names: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune — and the language around them

TV Series Vocabulary
Words we use when discussing TV series

Top 20 Business Words
Useful vocabulary in the business context

Survival English
keywords, phrases, questions and answers for beginners

Colours Vocabulary
red, orange, yellow…

Shapes Vocabulary
square, circle, triangle

Computer Vocabulary
backup, cache, DOS…

Paper Sizes Vocabulary
International ISO sizes; N.American ANSI sizes

Animal Vocabulary
With plural, male/female, young, collective terms
lion, lions, lion, lioness, lion cub, a pride

Hobbies Vocabulary
Words we use to talk about activities we do for fun

Jobs Vocabulary
Words we use to talk about the work we do for money

Criminals Vocabulary
Words we use to talk about the Law, crimes and criminals

More pages with topic vocabulary:

• English for Work
• Business Vocabulary
• Negotiations Vocabulary
• Meetings Vocabulary
• Telephone Vocabulary
• Rooms in a House
• Furniture and Decor
• Appliances
• Human Body
• Medical Vocabulary
• Vocabulary about Pollution
• Vocabulary about Endangered Species
• Useful Phrases in Greetings

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. Rudyard Kipling

This list explains nearly 900 British and American vocab differences, arranged by topic with the most important categories top, and the most useful/ most important examples top of each section. All explanations of meanings and alternative expressions are given British and then American.

British and American food, cooking and restaurant vocabulary

Food words which have different meanings in British and American English

• chips – thick-cut hot fried potato, as in “fish and chips” (“French fries” or “fries” in American English) – thin, crispy snacks eaten cold from a bag, as in “potato chips” and “nacho chips” (“crisps” in British English)
• cider – an alcoholic drink that is similar to beer but made from apples (“hard cider” in American English) – a soft drink made from apples
• entrée – the first course/ starter – the main course
• bill – what you get at the end of your meal in a restaurant that says how much you should pay (“the check” in American English) – paper money, as in “a five dollar bill” (“banknote” or “note” in British English)
• sweets – small sugary snacks (“candy” in American English) – dessert/ sweet things generally, such as cakes
• grill – cook under heat (“broil” in American English) – cook on a hotplate/ barbecue
• pudding – dessert generally, or a hot, heavy dessert similar to Xmas pudding – a kind of custard dessert, similar to crème caramel
• jelly – a wobbly dessert, as in “jelly and ice cream” (“Jell-O” in American English) – a kind of jam without solid lumps of fruit in it (as in “peanut butter and jelly sandwich”)
• sherbet – a powdered sweet which fizzes a little on your tongue – a type of frozen dessert, like ice cream but with less or no milk (“sorbet” in British English)
• wash up – do the dishes – wash your hands (before dinner)
• biscuit – as in “chocolate biscuit” (“cookie” in American English) – a kind of savoury scone (as in “chicken and biscuits”)
• squash – a kind of cordial that needs to be watered down to be drunk – a kind of vegetable similar to a pumpkin (similar to a British “marrow”)
• cooker – stove/ range – cook
• corn(field) – wheat – maize (usually called “sweetcorn” in British English)
• sprouts – Brussels sprouts – alfalfa sprouts
• faggot – a kind of meatball – a non-PC insult for homosexuals
• flapjack – a sweet snack mainly made of oats (“granola bar” in American English) – pancake
• hamper – a large basket for food, as in “picnic hamper” – a laundry basket

Different words for food and drink in British and American English

• crisps – chips
• chips – (French) fries
• maize/ sweetcorn – corn
• green peppers/ red peppers/ yellow peppers – bell peppers
• sweets – candy
• the bill – the check
• take away – take out
• waiter/ waitress – server
• pudding/ sweet/ dessert – dessert
• grill – broil
• fizzy drink – soda/ pop
• wash up/ do the dishes – do the dishes
• wash your hands – wash up
• washing up liquid – dishwashing liquid
• saucepan – pot
• frying pan – fry pan/ skillet
• tin/ can – can
• starter – appetizer
• cooker/ stove – range/ stove
• cook – cooker
• aubergine – eggplant
• courgette – zucchini
• mashed potato – mash potato
• skimmed milk – skim milk
• coriander – cilantro
• mince – chopped beef
• barbecue – grill
• tomato sauce/ tomato ketchup – tomato ketchup
• rocket – arugula
• off license – liquor store
• cutlery – silverware/ flatware
• ice lolly – popsicle/ ice pop
• jelly – Jell-O
• cling film – Saran wrap
• porridge – oatmeal
• jug – pitcher
• crockery — tableware
• spring onion – scallion/ green onion
• kettle – tea kettle
• sorbet – sherbet
• neat (drink) – straight
• single cream – half and half
• French bean – string bean
• (greasy) caff – diner
• (doner) kebab – gyro
• jacket potato – baked potato
• fairy cake – cupcake
• lay the table – set the table
• buffet car – dining car
• banger/ sausage – link/ sausage
• hob – cooktop/ burner
• beetroot – beet
• broad bean – fava bean
• candyfloss – cotton candy
• double cream – heavy cream
• potato peeler – vegetable peeler
• joint – pot roast
• mange tout – snow peas
• swede/ neep – rutabaga
• Swiss roll – jelly roll
• fish fingers – fish sticks
• scone – biscuit
• food processor – Cuisinart
• chewy sweets – taffy
• kipper – smoked herring
• tea towel – dish towel
• ready salted crisps – salted crisps
• corn flour – corn starch
• (peach) stone – (peach) pit
• salt cellar – salt shaker
• liquorice – licorice
• sultana – yellow raisin
• icing sugar – powdered sugar/ confectioner’s sugar
• treacle – molasses
• (baby’s) beaker – sippy cup
• tea cosy – tea cozy
• fig rolls – Fig Newtons
• icing – frosting
• self-raising flour – self-rising flour
• greaseproof paper – wax paper
• boiled sweet – hard candy
• caster sugar – superfine sugar
• liquidiser – blender
• profiterole – cream puff
• glace fruits – candied fruits
• hundreds and thousands – sprinkles

British and American transport and travel vocabulary

Transport words with different meanings in British and American English

• gas – natural gas – gasoline
• hood – the top of a convertible car – the cover of the engine (“bonnet” in British English)
• trailer – something that goes behind car or bicycle, usually to carry extra luggage – similar, but also including small places where people can stay (“caravan” in British English)
• trolley – shopping trolley – a kind of train in the street (“tram” in British English)
• rider – a person riding a bicycle, motorbike, horse, etc – a person travelling on a train, bus, etc (“passenger” in British English)
• pavement – the part by the side of the road where people walk (“sidewalk” in American English) – the material that makes a road

Different transport words in British and American English

• the underground/ the Tube – subway
• return (ticket) – round trip
• single (ticket) – one-way (ticket)
• car park – parking lot
• platform 5 – track 5
• coach – highway bus/ Greyhound bus
• (train) timetable – schedule
• economy (class) – coach (class)
• crossroads – intersection
• motorway – highway/ freeway
• hand luggage – carry-on baggage
• lorry – truck
• aeroplane/ plane – airplane/ plane
• petrol station/ garage – gas station/ fuel filling station
• petrol – gas(oline)
• zebra crossing/ pedestrian crossing – crosswalk
• tram – streetcar/ trolley
• season ticket – commuter ticket
• accelerator (pedal) – gas pedal/ the gas
• ticket barrier – turnstile
• tailback/ traffic jam – gridlock/ backup/ traffic jam
• public transport – public transportation/ public transit
• passenger – rider
• bonnet – hood
• gearbox – transmission
• diversion – detour
• hand brake – parking brake
• to reverse – to back up
• indicator – blinker/ turn signal
• roundabout – traffic circle
• boot – trunk
• puncture/ flat tyre – a flat
• (train) carriage – (train) coach
• overtake – pass
• (overland) railway station/ train station – railroad station/ train station
• buffet (car) – dining car
• railway – railroad
• toll road — turnpike
• number plate – license plate
• bumper – fender
• ring road – beltway, freeway/highway loop
• pavement – sidewalk
• windscreen (wipers) – windshield (wipers)
• give someone a lift – give someone a ride
• level crossing –grade crossing
• car journey/ drive – road trip
• four-wheel drive – Jeep
• baby seat – car safety seat
• gear lever – gear shift
• tyre – tire
• motorbike/ motorcycle – motorcycle
• articulated lorry – trailer truck/ semi
• car/ motorcar – car/ automobile
• give way – yield
• Dormobile/ campervan – RV/ recreational vehicle
• demister – defroster
• wing – fender
• hood – convertible top
• slip-road – on-ramp/ off-ramp
• lay-by – truck stop/ rest area
• caravan – trailer
• (train) guards – conductors
• saloon – sedan
• exhaust pipe – tailpipe
• silencer – muffler
• goods train – freight train
• wagon – freight car
• fire engine – fire truck
• juggernaut – 18-wheeler
• flyover – overpass
• road surface – pavement, blacktop
• main line – trunk line
• estate (car) – (station) wagon
• stabilisers – training wheels
• dustcart – garbage truck
• (engine/ train) driver – engineer
• transport café – truck stop
• AA (Automobile Association) – AAA
• dip switch – dimmer switch
• lollipop man/lady – crossing guard
• sleeping policeman/ speed bump – speed bump
• central reservation – median
• points –switch
• sleeper – railroad tie

House and home vocabulary with different meanings in British and American English

• first floor – the first floor above the ground (upstairs from the ground floor, “second floor” in American English) – the floor at ground level (“ground floor” in British English)
• wash up – do the dishes – wash your hands
• cot – a baby’s bed (“crib” in American English) – a foldable extra bed (like a camp bed)
• dormitory – a room for more many people, often with bunk beds, for example in a boarding school – a place where university students live (“halls” or “student halls” in British English)
• cooker – stove in the kitchen for cooking (“range” in American English) – a person who cooks (“cook” in British English)
• semi – semi-detached house (“duplex” in American English) – semi-trailer truck (“articulated lorry” in British English)
• hamper – picnic basket – laundry basket
• homely – cosy – ugly (person)

Different house and home words in British and American English

• flat/ apartment – apartment/ condo/ condominium
• block of flats – apartment building
• wardrobe – closet
• bin – trashcan/ garbage can
• rubbish – garbage/ trash
• socket – (electrical) outlet
• garden – yard
• two storeys – two floors
• tap – faucet
• armchair – easy chair/ armchair
• student halls/ halls – dorm/ dormitory
• curtains – drapes
• washing machine – washer
• accommodation – accommodations
• mortgage – home loan
• cooker/ stove – stove/ range
• toilet/ loo/ the little boys’ room/ lavatory/ lav/ bog – bathroom/ restroom
• electric razor – electric shaver
• aerial – antenna
• chest of drawers – bureau/ dresser
• hoover/ Hoover/ vacuum cleaner – vacuum cleaner
• washing up liquid – dishwashing liquid
• clothes peg – clothes pin
• property – real estate
• terraced house – row house/ townhouse
• semi/ semi-detached house – duplex
• hob – burner/ cooktop
• lay the table – set the table
• duvet – comforter
• kettle – tea kettle
• bleach – Clorox
• tumble dryer – dryer
• bathroom scales – scale
• food processor – Cuisinart
• Brillo Pad – scouring pad
• skip – Dumpster
• cuddly toy – stuffed animal
• kitchen roll – paper towel
• scatter cushion/ throw cushion – scatter pillow/ throw pillow
• reclining chair – La-Z-Boy
• flannel – facecloth/ washcloth
• furnace – boiler
• washing up bowl – dishpan
• bin liner – trash bag
• paraffin – kerosene
• cot – crib
• camp bed – cot
• dummy – pacifier
• pram – baby carriage
• tea towel – dish towel
• garden path – front walk
• earth – ground
• throw cushion – throw pillow
• pushchair – stroller
• laundry basket – hamper
• garage sale – yard sale
• fittings – fixtures
• greaseproof paper – wax paper
• scrubbing brush – scrub brush
• changing mat – changing pad
• homely – homey
• secateurs – pruners/ clippers
• skirting board – baseboard
• underlay – carpet pad

British and American describing places vocabulary

Vocabulary for describing places with different meanings in British and American English

• surgery – a doctor’s office, like a clinic – an operating theatre
• first floor – the first floor above the ground (“second floor” in American English) – the lowest floor (“ground floor” in British English)
• subway – a pedestrian underpass – underground railway
• bathroom – the place with a bath or shower – the place with a toilet
• underpass – a street underground, often under another street – a tunnel for pedestrians under a street (“subway” in British English)
• campsite – an area for people to camp in (“campground” in American English) – a place for a single tent (“pitch” in British English)
• outside lane – the lane nearest the opposite side of the road, often used by faster cars (“inside lane” in American English) – the lane near the edge of the street, often used by slower vehicles (“inside lane” in British English)
• pylon – electricity pylon (“transmission tower/ mast” in American English) – traffic cone
• rail depot – a place where trains are parked – a rail terminal
• mortuary – a place where dead bodies are stored (“morgue” in American English) – a funeral home
• semi – semi-detached house – a kind of truck
• saloon – part of a pub – a Western-style bar
• Different describing places vocabulary in British and American English
• toilet/ loo/ lavatory/ lav – bathroom/ restroom
• first floor – second floor
• ground floor – first floor
• shop – store
• cinema – (movie) theater
• subway – underpass
• underground (railway)/ the Tube – subway
• (hotel) reception – front desk
• primary school – elementary school
• secondary school – (junior) high school
• lift – elevator
• block of flats – apartment building
• city centre/ town centre – downtown
• chemist’s – pharmacy/ drugstore
• (student) halls/ halls of residence – dorm
• junction – intersection
• platform…, as in “platform two” – track…, as in “track two”
• garden – yard
• petrol station/ garage – gas station
• car park – parking lot
• surgery – doctor’s office
• motorway – highway/ freeway
• high street – main street
• pedestrian crossing/ zebra crossing – crosswalk
• estate agent – realtor
• queue – line
• roundabout – traffic circle/ rotary
• off license – liquor store
• pavement – sidewalk
• ticket barrier – turnstile
• postcode – zip code
• traffic lights – traffic signals/ stoplights
• railway – railroad
• the countryside – the country
• council estate – project
• council house – public housing
• accommodation – accommodations
• town hall – city hall
• till – cash register
• (tele)phone box – phone booth
• newsagent(‘s) – newsstand
• cloakroom – checkroom/ coatroom
• barber’s – barbershop
• laundrette – laundromat
• football pitch – soccer field
• letter box – mail box
• path – trail
• billboard – hoarding
• ring road – beltway/ freeway/ highway loop
• lost property (office) – lost and found
• Tannoy – PA/ public address system
• semi/ semi-detached house – duplex
• terraced house – townhouse
• crèche – day care/ nursery
• toll road – turnpike
• A&E/ accident and emergency/ casualty – ER/ emergency room
• wooden floor – wood floor
• Portakabin – portable building
• charity shop/ secondhand shop – thrift store
• sweet shop – candy store
• DIY shop – home improvement store
• ironmongers – hardware shop
• campsite – campground
• (greasy) caff – diner
• inside lane – outside lane
• outside lane – inside lane
• flyover – overpass
• funfair – carnival
• merry-go-round/ roundabout – carousel
• multi-storey car park – parking garage
• scrapyard – junkyard
• skip – Dumpster
• traffic cone – pylon
• diagonally opposite – cater cornered
• electricity pylon – mast/ transmission tower
• mortuary – morgue
• bumper car – dodgem
• pigsty – pigpen
• (hunting) hide – (duck/ hunting/ deer) blind

British and American clothes and accessories vocabulary

Appearance vocabulary with different meanings in British and American English

• pants – underpants – long pants (“trousers” in British English)
• purse – a small and/ or woman’s wallet – a handbag or shoulder bag
• vest – underwear worn under your shirt (“undershirt” in American English) – part of a three-piece suit, worn under your jacket (“waistcoat” in British English)
• jumper – sweater/ pullover – a kind of knitted dress
• tights – nylons (“pantyhose” in American English) – skin-tight trousers (“leggings” in British English) or one-piece trousers and top (“unitard” in British English)
• suspenders – straps to hold up stockings (“garters” in American English) – straps to hold up trousers (“braces” in British English)
• tank top – sweater without sleeves – sleeveless T shirt
• fancy dress – dressing up in a costume, e.g. for Halloween – formal wear such as a ball gown
• nappy – kind of underpants for babies (“diaper” in British English) – an insulting word about Afro hair
• boob tube – a strapless top (“tube top” in American English) – the television

Different appearance words in British and American English

• trousers – pants
• pants – underpants
• tie – necktie
• jeans – Levi’s
• handbag — purse
• trainers – sneakers
• (sports) kit – uniform
• swimming costume – bathing suit
• vest – undershirt
• tights – pantyhose
• tracksuit – sweats
• zip – zipper
• wallet – billfold/ wallet
• shoelace – shoestring
• mac/ macintosh – raincoat
• Y-fronts/ briefs/ (under)pants – jockey shorts/ jockey briefs/ pants
• blazer – sports jacket/ sports coat
• waistcoat – vest
• wellington boots/ wellingtons/ wellies – galoshes/ rain boots/ rubber boots/ billy boots/ gum boots
• woolly hat – ski hat
• knickers – panties
• bum bag – fanny pack
• plimsolls – gym shoes
• dressing gown/ bathrobe – (bath)robe
• nappy – diaper
• polo neck – turtle neck
• cardigan – cardigan sweater
• trouser suit – pant suit
• suspenders – garters
• braces – suspenders
• brooch – pin
• hair pin – bobby pin
• rubber gloves – latex gloves
• sleeveless top – sleeveless shirt
• baby grow – blanket sleeper/ onesie
• dungarees – overalls
• ladder in your tights – run in your pantyhose
• cagoule/ kagoul – Windbreaker
• bowler hat – derby
• long johns – long underwear
• boob tube – tube top
• turn-ups – cuffs

Describing people

Words with different meanings in British and American English

• mean – miserly/ the opposite of generous – unkind/ nasty
• mad – crazy – angry
• roommate – someone sharing the same bedroom – someone sharing the same house/ apartment (“housemate” or “flatmate” in British English)
• athlete – someone who does track and field events – a sportsman
• cooker – stove in the kitchen, used for cooking – someone who cooks (“cook” in British English)
• nervy – nervous/ jumpy – cheeky
• pissed – drunk – annoyed (“pissed off” in British English)
• Yankee – someone from the United States (usually shortened to “Yank”) – someone from New England or the North-eastern United States more generally
• fag – cigarette – a very non-PC insult for a homosexual
• faggot – a kind of meatball – bad insult for a homosexual
• bum – bottom/ rear end/ buttocks – homeless person/ tramp
• (British) Asian/ Asian (American) – someone whose family comes from South Asia – someone whose family comes from East Asia
• fanny – vagina/ vulva – buttocks (as in “fanny pack”)
• hooker – a position in rugby – slang for a prostitute
• tosser – idiot/ wanker – someone who likes to throw things away, the opposite of “hoarder”
• jock – slang for a Scotsman – slang for an athlete
• cracker – Xmas cracker – yokel
• DC – detective constable – District of Columbia
• trooper – private in the army – state police officer
• go potty – go crazy – go to toilet (for a baby)
• homely – cosy (place) – plain or ugly

Different words for describing people in British and American English

• cook – cooker
• shop assistant – (sales) clerk
• fresher/ first year student – freshman
• waiter/ waitress – server
• receptionist – desk clerk
• mum – mom
• housemate/ flatmate – roommate
• solicitor/ barrister – attorney
• chemist/ pharmacist – druggist/ pharmacist
• estate agent – real estate agent/ realtor
• sportsman – athlete
• police constable/ PC/ bobby – patrolman
• postman – mailman
• shopkeeper – storekeeper
• lorry driver – teamster/ truckdriver
• OAP/ pensioner/ senior citizen – senior
• landlord/ landlady/ barman – bar tender
• newsreader – news anchor
• mate – buddy
• parting – part
• fringe – bangs
• caretaker – janitor
• bloke/ chap – guy
• arse – ass
• lodger – roomer
• hard man – tough guy
• bum – butt
• Father Christmas – Santa/ Santa Claus
• girl guide – girl scout
• docker/ dockworker – longshoreman
• undertaker – mortician
• whingeing – whining
• pet hate – pet peeve
• bird – chick/ broad
• dustbin man – garbage collector
• supply teacher – substitute teacher
• gooseberry – third wheel
• prison governor – prison warden
• green fingers – green thumbs
• chav – white trash
• mason/ stonemason – stoneworker
• dogsbody – gofer
• bogey – booger
• anorak/ trainspotter – geek/ nerd/ dweeb
• knackered – beat
• yob – hood
• Joe Bloggs – John Blow
• tout – scalper

British and American education vocabulary

Education vocabulary with different meanings in British and American English

• public school – an old and usually high status private school (historically, the first schools which were open to the paying public) – a school funded by the (local and/ or national) government (“state school” in British English)
• state school – a school funded by the government (“public school” in American English) – a school funded by the state (rather than the national government or a more local area)
• professor – the very top members of the academic staff of a university – all lecturers at a university
• tuition – teaching, especially by a (private) tutor – money paid to study (“tuition fees” in British English)
• semester – half an academic year – between a quarter and a half of an academic year, depending on how the academic year is split (“term” in British English)
• to graduate – successfully finish a university first degree/ bachelor’s degree – successfully finish any academic level, e.g. “graduate from high school” (“finish” in British English)
• faculty – the largest organisation of a university, often consisting of several departments – professors and similar staff (“academic staff” in British English)
• prep school – a private school that prepares students to secondary school – a private school that prepares students for university

Different education words in British and American English

• homework – assignment
• revise/ revision – review
• primary school – elementary school
• secondary school – (junior) high school
• sixth form (college) – (senior) high school
• (student) halls – dorms
• tick – check
• state school – public school
• postgraduate studies – grad school
• postgrad/ postgraduate student – grad student
• humanities – liberal arts
• tutor – homeroom teacher
• uni – school/ college
• A levels – high school leaving certificate
• class/ form – grade
• fresher/ first year student – freshman
• second year student – sophomore
• third year student – junior
• final year student – senior
• head teacher – principal
• take an exam/ sit an exam
• marking – grading
• marks – grades
• blackboard – chalkboard
• maths – math
• academic staff – faculty
• tuition fees – tuition
• enrol on a course – enroll in a course
• sports day – field day
• supply teacher – sub/ substitute teacher
• reader – associate professor
• crèche – day care/ day nursery
• staff room – teacher’s lounge
• mark a test – check a test
• caretaker – janitor
• break time/ playtime – recess
• Oxbridge – Ivy League
• open day/ open evening – open house
• school dinner – hot lunch
• skive – play hooky

British and American English legal English list

Note that because the legal systems are different, many of the synonyms below are only approximate.

Legal expressions with different meanings in British and American English

• casualty – someone who has been injured (as in “casualty department”) – someone who has been killed (as in “casualty figures”)
• solicitor – lawyer (who traditionally gives advice to clients, with a “barrister” representing them in court) – chief law officer in a town or government department
• (legal) brief – documents given to a barrister about what to do in court – documents given to a court to show the arguments of one side
• DC – Detective Constable (as in “DC Smith”) – District of Columbia (as in “Washington DC”)
• first degree – first degree burn – first degree murder
• constable – police officer – official who serves summonses (“bailiff” or “sheriff’s officer” in British English)
• mortuary – place where dead bodies are stored (“morgue” in American English) – funeral home/ funeral parlour
• (police) commissioner – professional head of the police (“chief of police” in American English) – person in charge of supervising the police force
• appropriation – misappropriating money – dispensing money

Different legal words in British and American English

• murder – homicide
• theft – larceny
• PC/ bobby – patrolman
• manslaughter/ culpable homicide – second degree murder
• solicitor – (corporate/ transactional) attorney
• barrister – attorney/ litigator
• driving license – driver’s license
• police car/ panda car – patrol car/ police cruiser
• serious crime – felony
• magistrates’ courts/ county courts – district court/ circuit court/ state courts
• court of appeal – court of appeal/ appellate court
• public prosecutor – DA/ district attorney
• CPS/ Crown Prosecution Service – DA’s office
• minor crime – misdemeanor
• claimant/ pursuer – plaintiff
• company law – corporate law
• employment law – labor law
• competition law – antitrust law
• crown court – district court
• defence – defense
• traffic warden – parking enforcement officer
• traffic cop – highway patrolman
• drink driving – drunk driving
• prison warden – prison governor
• truncheon – nightstick/ billy club
• the Crown – the State (versus…)
• gaol/ the nick/ the slammer/ jail – the can/ the cooler/ the joint/ the pen/ penitentiary/ pokey/ jail
• mortuary – morgue
• witness box – witness stand
• GBH/ grievous bodily harm – aggravated battery/ felony assault
• tribunal – arbitration
• grass – stool pigeon/ snitch
• allow a lower court’s decision – affirm a lower court’s decision
• dismiss a lower court’s decision – reverse a lower court’s decision
• police commissioner – chief of police
• paddy wagon – Black Maria
• tout – scalp
• right of access – visiting rights
• called to the bar – admitted to the bar
• articles of association – bylaws
• flick knife – switchblade
• clerk to the court – clerk of the court/ clerk of court

British and American English medical vocabulary

Different meanings of medical words in British and American English

• surgery – doctor’s office – operating theatre
• casualty – someone who has been injured (as in “casualty department”) – someone who has been killed (as in “casualty figures”)
• mortuary – place for dead bodies (“morgue” in the US) – funeral home/ funeral parlour
• medic – doctor/ internist – EMT/ paramedic/ military corpsman

Different medical words in British and American English

Ones which only vary by spelling are bottom

• surgery – doctor’s office
• chemist’s – pharmacy
• (sticky) plaster/ Elastoplast – Band Aid
• paracetamol – acetaminophen/ Tylenol
• jab – shot
• tablets – pills
• A&E/ accident and emergency/ casualty (department) – ER/ emergency room
• GP/ general practitioner – primary care practitioner
• operation – surgery
• cotton buds – Q tips
• cotton wool – cotton balls
• mouth to mouth (resuscitation) – rescue breathing
• operating theatre – operating room/ OR
• in theatre – in the OR
• plaster cast – cast
• nappy – diaper
• speciality – specialty
• antenatal – prenatal
• Mr… for surgeons – Dr… for surgeons
• sister – charge nurse
• mortuary – morgue
• anaesthetist – anesthesiologist
• anaesthetics – anesthesiology.
• (ophthalmic) optician – optometrist
• emergency trolley – crash cart
• foundation year – internship
• appendectomy – appendicectomy
• oesophagus – esophagus
• CTG – fetal non-stress test
• observations – vitals
• ECG/ EEG – EKG/ EEG
• BM test – blood sugar test
• Zimmer frame – walker
• hb – hbg
• anaemia – anemia
• caesarean – cesarean
• diarrhoea – diarrhea
• gynaecology – gynecology
• haemoglobin – hemoglobin
• haemorrhage – hemorrhage
• leukaemia – leukemia
• orthopaedic – orthopedic
• oestrogen – estrogen
• paediatric – pediatric
• intervertebral disc – intervertebral disk
• oedema – edema
• oesophagus – esophagus

British and American engineering vocabulary list

See also the transport and telephone sections.

Engineering words with different meanings in British and American English

• gas – natural gas – gasoline (“petrol” in British English)
• pavement – the part you walk on next to the road (“sidewalk” in US) – the road surface
• white spirit – a kind of alcohol used for cleaning, as a paint thinner, etc (“turpentine” in American English) – a kind of illegally distilled alcohol for drinking

Different engineering words in British and American English

• (electrical) socket – (electrical) outlet
• spanner – wrench
• petrol – gas/ gasoline
• aerial – antenna
• bin – trashcan/ garbage can
• (safety) goggles – safety glasses
• hard hat – bump cap
• rubbish – garbage/ trash
• lift – elevator
• (service) engineer – (service) technician
• anti-clockwise – counter-clockwise
• earth – ground
• maths – math
• nought/ oh (as in “nought point oh five”) – zero (as in “zero point zero five”)
• aluminium – aluminum
• rubber gloves – latex gloves
• tap – faucet
• (electric) torch – flashlight
• paraffin – kerosene
• ironmonger – hardware store
• dustcart – garbage truck
• set square – triangle
• JCB – excavator
• hoover – vacuum cleaner
• skip – Dumpster
• fire engine – fire truck
• fire brigade – fire department
• loudhailer – bullhorn
• Stanley knife – utility knife
• polythene – polyethylene
• sulphur – sulfur
• Perspex – plexiglass
• (electricity) pylon – transmission tower/ mast
• tarmac – asphalt/ blacktop
• Portakabin – portable building
• white spirit – paint thinner/ turpentine
• trapezium – trapezoid
• trapezoid – trapezium
• snowplough – snowplow
• Heath Robinson contraption – Rube Goldberg machine

British and American business, finance and money vocabulary

Business vocabulary with different meanings in British and American English

• penny – a hundredth of a pound – a cent

Different business words in British and American English

• CV/ curriculum vitae – résumé
• shareholder – stockholder
• Ltd/ PLC – Inc./ Corp.
• company – corporation
• cash machine/ cashpoint – ATM
• mortgage – home loan
• AGM/ annual general meeting – shareholders meeting
• (trade) union – (labor) union
• diary – appointment book
• fill in a form – fill out a form
• (pound) note – (dollar) bill
• discount – concession
• bank holiday – national holiday/ public holiday
• summer holiday – summer vacation
• from Monday to Friday – Monday through Friday
• turnover – revenue/ gross sales
• building society – savings and loan (association)
• current account – checking account
• property – real estate
• expiry date – expiration date
• national insurance number/ NI number – social security number
• estate agent – real estate agent
• travellers’ cheque – traveler’s check
• (five) quid – (five) bucks
• base rate – prime rate
• cheque book – check book
• The City – Wall Street
• to table – to put something forward for discussion – to leave to discuss until later
• hire purchase – installment plan
• the till – cash register
• third-party insurance – liability insurance
• repossession – foreclosure
• rates – municipal property taxes
• rota – roster
• ordinary share/ equity share – common stock
• articles of association – bylaws
• memorandum of association – certificate of incorporation/ articles of incorporation
• bridging loan – bridge loan
• barometer stock – bellwether stock
• flog – hock

British and American sports and games vocabulary

Sports and games vocabulary with different meanings in British and American English

• football – footie/ soccer – American football
• athletics – running, jumping and throwing sports such as sprinting (“track and field” in American English) – sports generally
• athlete – someone doing track and field sports – sportsmen generally
• hockey – field hockey, played on grass – ice hockey
• strike – hit the ball – miss (in baseball)
• gym – gymnasium, the place where sports are done, including in school – gym class (“PE class” in British English)
• silverware – trophies won by sports teams – things you eat with (“cutlery” in British English)

Different sports and games words in British and American English

• football/ footie/ soccer – soccer
• American football – football
• (sports) kit – (sports) uniform
• (football) pitch – (soccer) field
• trainers – sneakers
• plimsolls – gym shoes
• tracksuit – sweats
• swimming costume – bathing suit
• PE/ physical education – physical ed/ physical education
• athletics – track and field
• sportsman – athlete
• ice hockey – hockey
• hockey – field hockey
• nil – zero
• pack of cards – deck of cards
• horse riding – horseback riding
• draughts – checkers
• abseil/ abseiling – rappel
• touchline – sideline
• noughts and crosses – tick-tac-toe
• anti-clockwise – counter-clockwise
• tout – scalper
• potholing – caving/ spelunking
• patience – solitaire
• Scalextric – slot cars
• box – protective cup
• catapult – slingshot
• snakes and ladders – chutes and ladders
• duck (meaning zero, especially in cricket) – goose egg

British and American phrasal verbs and idioms

Phrasal verbs and idioms with different meanings in British and American English

• tick someone off – tell someone off – irritate someone
• knock up – get pregnant – wake someone up by knocking on their door
• blow off – fart – blow someone off (similar to “stand someone up” in British English)

Different phrasal verbs in British and American English

• take away – take out (food)
• put someone through – connect someone/ transfer someone’s call
• wash up/ do the dishes – do the dishes
• queue up – line up/ wait in line
• get on (well) with someone – get along with someone
• fill in a form – fill out a form
• pass away (meaning die) – pass
• clear your desk/ put your books away – clear off your desk
• pissed off – pissed (meaning annoyed)
• give over – give me a break
• come round – come over
• cock up – screw up
• knocked up – pregnant – woken up by banging on the door
• pull – pick up
• get off with – make out
• take the piss – screw around
• clued up – clued in
• rained off – rained out

Different idioms in British and American English

• take something with a pinch of salt – take something with a grain of salt
• a new lease of life – a new lease on life
• blow your own trumpet – blow your own horn
• sweep something under the carpet – sweep something under the rug
• touch wood – knock on wood
• flogging a dead horse – beating a dead horse
• you can’t see the wood for the trees – you can’t see the forest for the trees
• a drop in the ocean – a drop in the bucket
• I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole – I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole

Brand names in British and American English

Different brand names in British and American English

Ones without capital letters are not brand names, and so are often used in both British and American English

• Sellotape – Scotch Tape
• Biro – ballpoint pen
• jeans – Levi’s
• to photocopy – to Xerox
• tissue – Kleenex
• (sticky) plaster/ Elastoplast – Band Aid
• Hoover/ vacuum cleaner – vacuum cleaner
• coach – Greyhound bus/ highway bus
• ice lolly – Popsicle
• four wheel drive – Jeep
• permanent marker – Sharpie/ Magic Marker
• clingfilm – Saran Wrap
• Tippex – White Out/ Liquid Paper
• cotton buds – Q Tips
• laundrette – Laundromat
• jelly – Jell-O
• estate agent – real estate agent/ Realtor
• briefs – Jockey Shorts
• paracetamol – Tylenol
• bleach – Clorox
• food processor – Cuisinart
• Tannoy – PA/ public address system
• Dormobile/ campervan – RV/ recreational vehicle
• JCB – excavator
• Perspex – plexiglass
• Portakabin – portable building
• Brillo Pad – scouring pad
• skip – Dumpster
• cagoule/ kagoul – Windbreaker
• Stanley knife – utility knife
• Scalextric – slot cars
• Zimmer frame – walker
• fig rolls – Fig Newtons
• reclining chair – La-Z-Boy
• Airfix – (plastic) scale models

British and American telephoning vocabulary

Ones near the bottom are for dictating on the phone rather than actual telephone vocabulary.

• mobile (phone) (number) – cell(phone) (number)
• text – SMS
• engaged (tone) – busy (signal)
• put someone through – connect someone/ transfer someone’s call
• give some a ring/ give some a call – give someone a call
• reverse the charges – a collect call
• phone box – phone booth (= public phone)
• hash (key) – pound (key)
• freephone (number) – toll-free (number)
• directory enquiries – directory assistance
• oh – zero
• nine nine nine – nine one one (= emergency phone number)
• oh eight nine eight number – nine hundred number or one-nine hundred number (= premium rate phone number)
• zed – zee (= Z)
• postcode – zip code
• full stop – period
• brackets/ round brackets – parentheses
• square brackets – brackets

British and American office and stationery vocabulary

Office and stationery vocabulary with different meanings in British and American English

• a rubber – an eraser – a condom

Different office and stationery vocabulary in British and American English

• Sellotape – Scotch tape
• rubber/ eraser – eraser
• photocopier – copy machine
• to photocopy – to Xerox
• Biro – ballpoint pen
• noticeboard – bulletin board
• Tippex – Whiteout/ Liquid Paper
• diary – appointment book/ datebook
• automatic pencil – mechanical pencil
• whiteboard pen – dry erase marker
• permanent marker – Sharpie/ Magic Marker
• drawing pin – thumbtack
• set square – triangle

British and American arts and media vocabulary with different meanings

• pantomime – a kind of play/ musical, that is often based on fairy tales and played at Xmas (often shortened to “panto”) – a performance without speech (“mime” in British English)
• The Times – The Times (often called “The London Times” or “The Times of London” in the US) – The New York Times
• prom – music performance, as in “The Proms” – dance/ ball, especially at schools

Different British and American arts and media vocabulary

• film – movie
• (television) series – serial
• series two – season two
• indie (music) – alternative
• chat show – talk show
• 18 (certificate) – R (rated)
• news cuttings – news clippings
• telly/ TV – boob tube/ TV
• discount – concession
• interval – intermission
• music hall – vaudeville

British and American nature vocabulary list

See food and drink above for fruit and vegetables

Nature words with different meanings in British and American English

• robin – a small bird with a red breast – a medium-sized bird with a red breast
• buzzard – a medium-sized hawk – a kind of vulture

Different nature words in British and American English

• guide dog – seeing eye dog
• Alsatian – German shepherd
• ladybird – ladybug
• cock – rooster
• zebra (with an “e” sound, as in “pet”) – zebra (with a “ee” sound, as in “bee”)
• garden – yard
• tit – chickadee/ titmouse
• pigsty – pigpen

British and American political vocabulary list

• by-law – ordinance
• The Commonwealth – an association of mainly ex-British colonies/ the period after between the death of King Charles I in 1649 to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 – a way of referring to American states and territories such as Puerto Rico

Miscellaneous British and American vocabulary

Other different words in British and American English

• tissue – Kleenex
• carrier bag/ plastic bag – shopping bag
• to post something – to mail something
• jump the queue – cut the line
• pushchair/ buggy – buggy/ stroller
• dummy – pacifier
• jumble sale – rummage sale
• pram – baby carriage
• tall story – tall tale
• swear word – curse (word)
• sanitary towel – sanitary napkin
• snigger – snicker
• snog – neck
• raspberry – Bronx cheer
• shag – screw
• lucky dip – grab bag

Age  (reality, quite, …, total: 34)  View

Alone  (socialize, social life, …, total: 29)  View

Ambition  (desire, determination, …, total: 32)  View

Animals  (appreciate, stand out, …, total: 32)  View

Art  (convention, tag, …, total: 32)  View

Birds  (keen, fond, …, total: 28)  View

Borrowing  (avid, recommend, …, total: 22)  View

Building  (architect, planner, …, total: 35)  View

Celebrity  (impressed, renowned, …, total: 29)  View

Change  (routine, habit, …, total: 31)  View

Clothing  (fashionable, fashion house, …, total: 29)  View

Coffee  (espresso, beverage, …, total: 13)  View

Company  (innovator, disruptor, …, total: 32)  View

Conversation  (lecturer, impress, …, total: 32)  View

COVID-19  (virus, disease, …, total: 54)  View

Decoration  (redesign, utilitarian, …, total: 34)  View

Dessert  (store, consumption, …, total: 26)  View

Discussion  (talkative, mature, …, total: 22)  View

Education  (qualification, enroll, …, total: 36)  View

Environment  (air pollution, noise pollution, …, total: 55)  View

Farming  (orchard, vineyard, …, total: 32)  View

Films  (action-packed, addictive, …, total: 40)  View

Fish  (essential, lauded, …, total: 37)  View

Friends  (close friend, fair-weather friend, …, total: 34)  View

Gift  (affection, souvenir, …, total: 25)  View

Haircut  (hairdresser, barber, …, total: 23)  View

Handwriting  (traditional, oftentimes, …, total: 32)  View

History  (autobiography, inspirational, …, total: 35)  View

Holiday  (all-in package, package holiday, …, total: 11)  View

Home  (currently, afford, …, total: 30)  View

Hometown  (historical sites, breathtaking, …, total: 44)  View

Hurry  (urgent, rush, …, total: 36)  View

Insect  (adore, hair-raising, …, total: 32)  View

Jeans  (comfy, stylish, …, total: 38)  View

Language  (beneficial, bilingual, …, total: 32)  View

Laughing  (expression, comical, …, total: 37)  View

Leisure  (seldom, day off, …, total: 31)  View

Life  (boring, special, …, total: 33)  View

List  (extra, budget, …, total: 30)  View

Living  (district, affordable, …, total: 38)  View

Math  (calculate, figure, …, total: 26)  View

Museum  (exhibit, gallery, …, total: 33)  View

Music  (music genre, blues, …, total: 24)  View

Networking  (browse, resist, …, total: 17)  View

New Year  (beginning, firecracker, …, total: 32)  View

New Activities  (fresh, bored, …, total: 32)  View

New People  (extrovert, overwhelm, …, total: 31)  View

News  (various, channel, …, total: 33)  View

Newspaper  (publish, publication, …, total: 38)  View

Number  (represent, superstition, …, total: 32)  View

Park  (breathe, aesthetic, …, total: 28)  View

Patience  (virtue, stressed out, …, total: 12)  View

Pencil  (sketch, graphite, …, total: 31)  View

Perfume  (citrus, floral, …, total: 18)  View

Photo  (imagine, invest, …, total: 31)  View

Plan  (schedule, schedule, …, total: 19)  View

Reading  (fiction, mystery, …, total: 40)  View

Recycle  (observe, purpose, …, total: 38)  View

Relatives  (oriented, every now and again, …, total: 15)  View

Running  (admit, enthusiastic, …, total: 35)  View

Scenery  (destination, enthusiast, …, total: 35)  View

School day  (enroll, greeting, …, total: 34)  View

Science  (curriculum, acquire, …, total: 30)  View

Sharing  (long-lasting, impact, …, total: 13)  View

Shopping  (customer service, carrier bag, …, total: 19)  View

Singing  (fond, tune, …, total: 32)  View

Sky  (sunset, magical, …, total: 13)  View

Sleep  (nap, snooze, …, total: 23)  View

Smile  (affable, amicable, …, total: 15)  View

Sports  (lifeguard, boating, …, total: 45)  View

Sunshine  (definitely, sunray, …, total: 23)  View

Technology  (computer age, cutting-edge, …, total: 29)  View

Tidy  (organized, arrange, …, total: 38)  View

Transport  (comfortable, congestion, …, total: 31)  View

Travel  (accommodation, all-inclusive, …, total: 41)  View

Vegetables  (typical, greenish, …, total: 44)  View

Voice  (essential, throaty, …, total: 36)  View

Walking  (purpose, pulse, …, total: 28)  View

Water-sport  (lifeguard, boating, …, total: 27)  View

Weather  (forecast, degrees celsius, …, total: 36)  View

Weekend  (relaxing, rejuvenate, …, total: 31)  View

Work  (position, occupation, …, total: 33)  View

IELTS vocabulary list with examples and sentences to understand better. Vocabulary for all the types of questions of the speaking section. Get all the IELTS vocabulary words with meanings here.

If you are aiming to go abroad for professional reasons or want to pursue higher studies in any English speaking country then you have to give proof of your English efficiency. IELTS aka International English Language Testing System is one of the most popular and widely taken tests for proving English proficiency.

To prove one’s English efficiency, one has to go through four sections of the test such as speaking, reading, writing and listening. One has to prepare and perform well in all the parts of exams to get an overall good band score.

As this is a test for checking the English proficiency level, one has to use good words in his/ her tasks. Vocabulary words for IELTS speaking play an important role in achieving good marks.

Here in this article, you will find a list of topic-related vocabulary and linking words for IELTS speaking. So let’s begin the journey of finding the best words for IELTS speaking.

Topic Related Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking with Meanings

Here is some topic related vocabulary for the IELTS speaking test. By learning and using this vocabulary for IELTS speaking you can secure good marks in your IELTS test.

Also Read: Describe an Activity that You do After School: IELTS Speaking Cue Card with Answers

Travel and Holidays Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

Words	Examples
accommodation	When I am travelling the best place for accommodation are villas.
all holiday	When James lost his job, he went for an all holiday to Paris
all-inclusive	I think hotels and restaurants with all-inclusive service are the most comfortable.
half-board	I liked my half-board service in Brazil.
full-board	I think the full-board accommodation at Pan Pacific, Singapore is the best
self-catering	I think that self-catering travel is a great way of travel because we can learn more things
breathtaking view	I have seen breathtaking views during my travel to Brazil
charter flight	Due to our reasonable budget, we had to travel on a charter flight.
far-off destination	Brazil is a far-off place, which I want to visit during my summer holidays
busman’s holiday	There are many people who spend busman’s holidays nowadays
guided tour	The guided tours are the best tours to learn about historical and monumental places

Friends Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

Words	Examples
close friend	Sarah and Gita are close friends and always hang out together.
enjoy each other’s company	Sarah and Gita enjoy each other’s company
fair-weather friend	In this world, we can barely find friends who are not only fair-weather friends.
to fall out with	He left the part after falling out with his friends
shoulder to cry on	I am so blessed to have a friend like Sarah because it’s good to have a shoulder to cry on.
to be well-matched	James and Sarah are well matched together.
to break up	My friends, Sita and Gita broke up their friendship because they met new friends
to drift apart	As time goes on, classmates and school buddies drift apart
to get on like a house on fire	I like my new classmate and it’s like getting a house on fire because our likes and dislikes are the same.
to get on well with somebody	I am an extroverted person and so I get on well with new people easily.
to get to know someone	I thought that James was a negative person, but when I got to know him, I understood his true character

Technology Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

computer age	We all are living in the computer age and it has its own merits and demerits.
computer buff	My brother is a computer buff and he got A+ in data science.
desktop PC	I have brought a desktop PC of windows yesterday
digital editing	My brother does the digital editing of videos really well.
download (podcasts)	I downloaded some audio files yesterday, and I am going to listen to them during my trip.
gadget	My brother’s room is filled with the latest gadgets.
geek	My brother is a real geek and owns a bunch of gadgets in his room.
large screen	I bought a large screen monitor for my computer system.
light-years ahead	The computers which are used today are light years ahead of the 90s.
operating system	I chose a laptop with Linux operating system.
rocket science	Understanding a gadget is rocket science for me.
social media	Instagram, Facebook and Whatsapp are the big social media giants

Sports Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

active rest	to build muscle
athletics track (running track)	to get into shape
barbell	to set a record
fitness program	to run the marathon
jogging	to train hard
personal trainer (sports coach)	to work out
sports centre (fitness centre)	treadmill
squash/tennis/badminton court	blow the competition away
strong swimmer	brisk walk (brisk walking)
strenuous exercise	football fan
strength-training strategy	keep-fit exercises
swimming pool	sports meeting (athletics meeting)

Also Read: IELTS Vocabulary Words List & Exercise: Here’s the Key to Improve Your Band Score

Food Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking With Meanings

Words	Meanings
dine in	Dinner at home
dine out	Dinner at a restaurant or hotel
fussy eater	A picky eater and has few likes
home-cooked food	Food cooked at home
in a walking distance of	which is close to or nearby
mouth-watering	which looks and tastes delicious
nutritious products	products that are rich in nutrients and calories
processed food	which is not organic
quick snack	a light and quick meal
slap-up meal	cooking the meal very rapidly
take-away	a meal which is brought from a hotel and then eaten at home.

Education Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking With Meanings

Words	Meanings
humanities	studies that include literature, philosophy, history and languages
sciences	study of biology, physics, chemistry and maths
bachelor’s degree	a course after 12th which is for 3 to 5 years
distance learning (e-learning)	education that takes place over gadgets
bookworm	a person who is addicted to books
face-to-face classes	classroom studying
higher education	after high school
intensive course	a course that offers frequent and long lessons
master’s degree	after undergraduate course
public schools	independent schools
tuition fees	the money that the student pays for education

Weather Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking With Meanings

Words	Meanings
boiling hot	very hot weather
mild	temperature is pleasant and warm
freezing cold	very cold
chilly	cold
degrees Celsius	scale to measure temperature
to go below zero	temperature below zero which is in negative
gloomy	sky with dark clouds and dull light
clear	without any clouds overhead
downpour	a huge amount of rainfall
snowstorm	large amounts of snow and wind
wind chill factor	the wind makes the atmosphere feels cooler than the actual temperature

Environment Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking with Meanings

Words	Meanings
air quality	the integrity of the air which we breathe
biodiversity	Nature, plants and animals constitute biodiversity.
endangered species	which are on the verge of extinction
environmentally friendly	which is best for nature and is not harmful
exhaust fumes	gases which are sent out by automobiles as waste
global warming	increase in the temperature of the earth
greenhouse effect	heating of the earth due to CO2 and other gases
natural disaster	disasters which are caused naturally, like an earthquake
paper recycling	using the used paper
to be under threat	The danger in becoming extinct
to get back to nature	life closer to nature

Also Read: What Sort of Vocabulary should be Used for IELTS? Six Techniques to Improve Your IELTS Writing Vocabulary Easily

Linking Words for IELTS Speaking

Below mentioned are some of the linking words for the IELTS speaking test along with their proper usage in sentences.

Best Words for IELTS Speaking for Adding more Information

Linking Words	Usage in Sentence
Also	Besides talking over the phone, he was also packing his bags.
And	The boy was arrested by the police and his family also disowned him.
As well as	He is intelligent as well as sober.
Another reason is	He wanted to stay there and that was another reason behind buying a house there.

Time Phrases for IELTS Speaking Part 1/ 3

IELTS speaking useful vocabulary	Example in sentence
Now	Now, there are hardly any big trees on the side of the road.
At the moment	At the moment, leaving the premises will be the best idea.
At present	At present, he is maintaining the shop.
These days	These days he seems to be lost in his world.
Nowadays	Nowadays we do not go there.
Years ago	Years ago there used to be a couple who were deeply in love.
When I was younger	When I was younger, I had a bad habit of nail-biting.
In the past	In the past, there were only single-screen cinema halls, unlike the present day.
Right now	Our aim right now is to motivate most young people to quit smoking.
Then	Then she decided to move on.

Also Read: Some Best Recommended Websites that can Help Accumulate Ideas and Build Your IELTS Vocabulary

Ideas Expressing Idioms and Phrases for IELTS

Useful phrases for IELTS speaking part 1/2	Example
I guess …	I guess we should wait for half an hour more.
I think …	I think there must be some problem in the meter box.
I suppose …	I suppose you love the work and try to be efficient at it.

Cause and Solutions Words to Use in IELTS Speaking

Good words	Example
I guess it’s because	I guess it’s because of the traffic that they still have not reached.
I think the best way	I think the best way to escape from this trap is to act dead.
Because	We couldn’t go there because of my father’s illness.
It was caused	It was caused due to malnutrition.
The main reason	The main reason behind her death is still not found.
I reckon	I reckon that I will reach the office by noon.
To solve	They are demanding a CBI enquiry to solve the murder mystery.

Example Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

Vocabulary for IELTS speaking	Usage
For instance	We need to be more caring towards nature, for instance, planting more trees.
For example	A few measurements are yet to be taken, for example, the length of the desks, etc.
Such as	There were plenty of colour options available, such as red, blue, violet etc.
Like	They used to go to various places together like the church, library, shopping centre, etc.

Also Read: What are Collocations in IELTS? How Can You Improve Your IELTS Vocabulary?

Being Clear English Words

Topic related vocabulary for IELTS speaking	Example
What I mean	What I mean to say is that it is important to hear what both parties have to say before coming to any conclusion.
As I was saying	As I was saying, the importance of mother nature should be taught to the kids from an early age.
What I want to say is	What I want to say is that we must look after the kid even if the parents have been arrested.

Also Read: Unfamiliar with the New Vocabulary? Memorize Promptly with These Tips

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article will help you learn good words that you can use while speaking. By using these words properly you can definitely get a good band score in your IELTS exam.

Do share your tips on learning new words, by commenting in the box below.

Also Read: After IELTS What’s Next: Study, Work, or Immigration, What’s Your Card?

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