TOEFL Speaking vocabulary
- 158 words
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- Every sound in IPA
Every word, with its transcription
abstract
/æbˈstɹækt/
2 syllables · ab-STRAKT
accelerate
/ækˈsɛlɚˌeɪt/
4 syllables · ak-SE-luh-ayt
adapt
/əˈdæpt/
2 syllables · uh-DAPT
adjust
/əˈdʒʌst/
2 syllables · uh-JUST
advantage
/ædˈvæntɪdʒ/
3 syllables · ad-VAN-tij
advisor
/ædˈvaɪzɚ/
3 syllables · ad-VY-zuh
alternative
/ɔlˈtɝnətɪv/
4 syllables · awl-TUR-nuh-tiv
analysis
/əˈnæləsəs/
4 syllables · uh-NA-luh-suhs
anthropology
/ˌænθɹəˈpɑlədʒi/
5 syllables · an-thruh-PAH-luh-jee
appointment
/əˈpɔɪntmənt/
3 syllables · uh-POYNT-muhnt
appreciate
/əˈpɹiʃiˌeɪt/
4 syllables · uh-PREE-shee-ayt
approach
/əˈpɹoʊtʃ/
2 syllables · uh-PROHCH
archaeology
/ˌɑɹkiˈɑlədʒi/
5 syllables · ahr-kee-AH-luh-jee
argue
/ˈɑɹɡju/
2 syllables · AHRG-yoo
assignment
/əˈsaɪnmənt/
3 syllables · uh-SYN-muhnt
assumption
/əˈsʌmpʃən/
3 syllables · uh-SUMP-shuhn
astronomy
/əˈstɹɑnəmi/
4 syllables · uh-STRAH-nuh-mee
benefit
/ˈbɛnəfɪt/
3 syllables · BE-nuh-fit
biology
/baɪˈɑlədʒi/
4 syllables · by-AH-luh-jee
cafeteria
/ˌkæfəˈtɪɹiə/
5 syllables · ka-fuh-TI-ree-uh
category
/ˈkætəˌɡɔɹi/
4 syllables · KA-tuh-gaw-ree
chemistry
/ˈkɛməstɹi/
3 syllables · KE-muh-stree
citation
/saɪˈteɪʃən/
3 syllables · sy-TAY-shuhn
classify
/ˈklæsəˌfaɪ/
3 syllables · KLA-suh-fy
compare
/kəmˈpɛɹ/
2 syllables · kuhm-PER
conclusion
/kənˈkluʒən/
3 syllables · kuhn-KLOO-zhuhn
conduct
/ˈkɑndəkt/
2 syllables · KAHN-duhkt
consequence
/ˈkɑnsəkwəns/
3 syllables · KAHN-suh-kwuhns
contrast
/ˈkɑntɹæst/
2 syllables · KAHN-trast
convenient
/kənˈvinjənt/
3 syllables · kuhn-VEE-nyuhnt
correlation
/ˌkɔɹəˈleɪʃən/
4 syllables · kaw-ruh-LAY-shuhn
counselor
/ˈkaʊnsəlɚ/
3 syllables · KOWN-suh-luh
data
/ˈdeɪtə/
2 syllables · DAY-tuh
deadline
/ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/
2 syllables · DED-lyn
decline
/dɪˈklaɪn/
2 syllables · di-KLYN
decrease
/dɪˈkɹis/
2 syllables · di-KREES
definition
/ˌdɛfəˈnɪʃən/
4 syllables · de-fuh-NI-shuhn
demonstrate
/ˈdɛmənˌstɹeɪt/
3 syllables · DE-muhn-strayt
deposit
/dəˈpɑzɪt/
3 syllables · duh-PAH-zit
develop
/dɪˈvɛləp/
3 syllables · dih-VEL-uhp
dining
/ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
2 syllables · DY-ning
disadvantage
/ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒ/
4 syllables · di-suhd-VAN-tij
discussion
/dɪˈskʌʃən/
3 syllables · di-SKU-shuhn
document
/ˈdɑkjəmɛnt/
3 syllables · DAH-kyuh-ment
dormitory
/ˈdɔɹməˌtɔɹi/
4 syllables · DAWR-muh-taw-ree
economics
/ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪks/
4 syllables · e-kuh-NAH-miks
efficient
/ɪˈfɪʃənt/
3 syllables · i-FI-shuhnt
eliminate
/ɪˈlɪməˌneɪt/
4 syllables · i-LI-muh-nayt
emergency
/ɪˈmɝdʒənsi/
4 syllables · i-MUR-juhn-see
emphasize
/ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/
3 syllables · EM-fuh-syz
engineering
/ˈɛndʒəˈnɪɹɪŋ/
4 syllables · EN-juh-ni-ring
enrollment
/ɛnˈɹoʊlmənt/
3 syllables · en-ROHL-muhnt
essay
/ɛˈseɪ/
2 syllables · e-SAY
essential
/ɛˈsɛnʃəl/
3 syllables · e-SEN-shuhl
establish
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
3 syllables · i-STA-blish
evaluate
/ɪˈvæljuˌeɪt/
4 syllables · i-VA-lyoo-ayt
evidence
/ˈɛvədəns/
3 syllables · E-vuh-duhns
exam
/ɪɡˈzæm/
2 syllables · ig-ZAM
examine
/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
3 syllables · ig-ZA-min
expand
/ɪkˈspænd/
2 syllables · ik-SPAND
experiment
/ɪkˈspɛɹəmənt/
4 syllables · ik-SPE-ruh-muhnt
explanation
/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/
4 syllables · ek-spluh-NAY-shuhn
extracurricular
/ˌɛkstɹəkɚˈɪkjəlɚ/
6 syllables · ek-struh-kuh-I-kyuh-luh
facility
/fəˈsɪlɪti/
4 syllables · fuh-SI-li-tee
faculty
/ˈfækəlti/
3 syllables · FA-kuhl-tee
familiar
/fəˈmɪljɚ/
3 syllables · fuh-MI-lyuh
finding
/ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
2 syllables · FYN-ding
flexible
/ˈflɛksəbəl/
3 syllables · FLEK-suh-buhl
framework
/ˈfɹeɪmˌwɝk/
2 syllables · FRAYM-wurk
freshman
/ˈfɹɛʃmən/
2 syllables · FRESH-muhn
geography
/dʒiˈɑɡɹəfi/
4 syllables · jee-AH-gruh-fee
geology
/dʒiˈɑlədʒi/
4 syllables · jee-AH-luh-jee
gradually
/ˈɡɹædʒuəli/
4 syllables · GRA-joo-uh-lee
handout
/ˈhænˌdaʊt/
2 syllables · HAN-dowt
history
/ˈhɪstɚi/
3 syllables · HI-stuh-ee
hypothesis
/haɪˈpɑθəsəs/
4 syllables · hy-PAH-thuh-suhs
illustrate
/ˈɪləˌstɹeɪt/
3 syllables · I-luh-strayt
improve
/ˌɪmˈpɹuv/
2 syllables · im-PROOV
inconvenient
/ˌɪnkənˈvinjənt/
4 syllables · in-kuhn-VEE-nyuhnt
increase
/ˌɪnˈkɹis/
2 syllables · in-KREES
indicate
/ˈɪndəˌkeɪt/
3 syllables · IN-duh-kayt
influence
/ˈɪnfluəns/
3 syllables · IN-floo-uhns
interpret
/ˌɪnˈtɝpɹət/
3 syllables · in-TUR-pruht
investigate
/ˌɪnˈvɛstəˌɡeɪt/
4 syllables · in-VE-stuh-gayt
laundry
/ˈlɔndɹi/
2 syllables · LAWN-dree
lecture
/ˈlɛktʃɚ/
2 syllables · LEK-chuh
linguistics
/lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/
3 syllables · ling-GWI-stiks
literature
/ˈlɪtɚətʃɚ/
4 syllables · LI-tuh-uh-chuh
lounge
/laʊndʒ/
1 syllable · LOWNJ
maintain
/meɪnˈteɪn/
2 syllables · mayn-TAYN
maintenance
/ˈmeɪntənəns/
3 syllables · MAYN-tuh-nuhns
mathematics
/ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
4 syllables · ma-thuh-MA-tiks
method
/ˈmɛθəd/
2 syllables · ME-thuhd
midterm
/ˈmɪdˌtɝm/
2 syllables · MID-turm
modify
/ˈmɑdəˌfaɪ/
3 syllables · MAH-duh-fy
necessary
/ˈnɛsəˌsɛɹi/
4 syllables · NESS-uh-sair-ee
notebook
/ˈnoʊtˌbʊk/
2 syllables · NOHT-buuk
observation
/ˌɑbzɚˈveɪʃən/
4 syllables · ahb-zuh-VAY-shuhn
opinion
/əˈpɪnjən/
3 syllables · uh-PI-nyuhn
opportunity
/ˌɑpɚˈtunəti/
5 syllables · ah-puh-TOO-nuh-tee
orientation
/ˌɔɹiɛnˈteɪʃən/
5 syllables · or-ee-en-TAY-shuhn
outline
/ˈaʊtˌlaɪn/
2 syllables · OWT-lyn
parking
/ˈpɑɹkɪŋ/
2 syllables · PAHR-king
participant
/pɑɹˈtɪsəpənt/
4 syllables · pahr-TI-suh-puhnt
perspective
/pɚˈspɛktɪv/
3 syllables · puh-SPEK-tiv
phenomenon
/fəˈnɑmənɑn/
4 syllables · fuh-NOM-uh-non
philosophy
/fəˈlɑsəfi/
4 syllables · fuh-LAH-suh-fee
physics
/ˈfɪzɪks/
2 syllables · FI-ziks
plagiarism
/ˈpleɪdʒɚˌɪzəm/
4 syllables · PLAY-juh-i-zuhm
preference
/ˈpɹɛfɹəns/
2 syllables · PREF-ruhns
prerequisite
/pɹiˈɹɛkwəzət/
4 syllables · pree-RE-kwuh-zuht
priority
/pɹaɪˈɔɹəti/
4 syllables · pry-AW-ruh-tee
procedure
/pɹəˈsidʒɚ/
3 syllables · pruh-SEE-juh
process
/ˈpɹɑsɛs/
2 syllables · PROSS-ess (UK PROH-sess)
psychology
/saɪˈkɑlədʒi/
4 syllables · sy-KAH-luh-jee
publication
/ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/
4 syllables · pu-bli-KAY-shuhn
quiz
/kwɪz/
1 syllable · KWIZ
reasonable
/ˈɹizənəbəl/
4 syllables · REE-zuh-nuh-buhl
recommend
/ˌɹɛkəˈmɛnd/
3 syllables · re-kuh-MEND
recreation
/ˌɹɛkɹiˈeɪʃən/
4 syllables · re-kree-AY-shuhn
reduce
/ɹəˈdus/
2 syllables · ruh-DOOS
registrar
/ˈɹɛdʒɪˌstɹɑɹ/
3 syllables · RE-ji-strahr
registration
/ˌɹɛdʒɪˈstɹeɪʃən/
4 syllables · re-ji-STRAY-shuhn
reliable
/ɹɪˈlaɪəbəl/
4 syllables · ri-LY-uh-buhl
replace
/ˌɹiˈpleɪs/
2 syllables · ree-PLAYS
research
/ˈɹisɚtʃ/
2 syllables · REE-surch (UK rih-SURCH)
reservation
/ˌɹɛzɚˈveɪʃən/
4 syllables · re-zuh-VAY-shuhn
residence
/ˈɹɛzɪdəns/
3 syllables · RE-zi-duhns
revision
/ɹiˈvɪʒən/
3 syllables · ree-VI-zhuhn
roommate
/ˈɹuˌmeɪt/
2 syllables · ROO-mayt
sample
/ˈsæmpəl/
2 syllables · SAM-puhl
schedule
/ˈskɛdʒul/
2 syllables · SKED-jool (UK SHED-yool)
scholarship
/ˈskɑlɚˌʃɪp/
3 syllables · SKAH-luh-ship
semester
/səˈmɛstɚ/
3 syllables · suh-ME-stuh
seminar
/ˈsɛməˌnɑɹ/
3 syllables · SE-muh-nahr
significant
/səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
4 syllables · suhg-NI-fi-kuhnt
similarly
/ˈsɪməlɚli/
4 syllables · SI-muh-luh-lee
sociology
/ˌsoʊsiˈɑlədʒi/
5 syllables · soh-see-AH-luh-jee
sophomore
/ˈsɑfəˌmɔɹ/
3 syllables · SOF-uh-mor
statistic
/stəˈtɪstɪk/
3 syllables · stuh-TI-stik
statistics
/stəˈtɪstɪks/
3 syllables · stuh-TI-stiks
submission
/səbˈmɪʃən/
3 syllables · suhb-MI-shuhn
summary
/ˈsʌmɚi/
3 syllables · SU-muh-ee
survey
/sɚˈveɪ/
2 syllables · suh-VAY
syllabus
/ˈsɪləbəs/
3 syllables · SI-luh-buhs
textbook
/ˈtɛkstˌbʊk/
2 syllables · TEKST-buuk
theory
/ˈθɪɹi/
2 syllables · THI-ree
therefore
/ˈðɛɹˌfɔɹ/
2 syllables · DHER-fawr
thesis
/ˈθisəs/
2 syllables · THEE-suhs
transcript
/ˈtɹænˌskɹɪpt/
2 syllables · TRAN-skript
transform
/tɹænˈsfɔɹm/
2 syllables · tran-SFAWRM
transportation
/ˌtɹænspɚˈteɪʃən/
4 syllables · tran-spuh-TAY-shuhn
tuition
/tjuˈɪʃən/
3 syllables · tyoo-I-shuhn
tutorial
/tuˈtɔɹiəl/
4 syllables · too-TAW-ree-uhl
undergraduate
/ˌʌndɚˈɡɹædʒəwət/
5 syllables · un-duh-GRA-juh-wuht
valuable
/ˈvæljəbəl/
3 syllables · VAL-yuh-buhl
variable
/ˈvɛɹiəbəl/
4 syllables · VE-ree-uh-buhl
volunteer
/ˌvɑlənˈtɪɹ/
3 syllables · vah-luhn-TIR
More ways to work through the dictionary
Academic Word List
561 words — All 570 headwords of Averil Coxhead's Academic Word List (AWL, Victoria University of Wellington, 2000) — the vocabulary that appears across every academic discipline. Long words with moving stress, so they are worth drilling out loud.
GRE vocabulary
328 words — High-frequency GRE words. Many are Latinate with four or more syllables, so the stress pattern matters as much as the definition.
IELTS Speaking vocabulary
289 words — Topic vocabulary across the IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2 and 3 themes — work, study, home, travel, technology, environment, health, culture and society. Pronunciation is a quarter of your Speaking band.
SAT vocabulary
263 words — Words that recur in SAT reading and writing passages. Reading them aloud is the fastest way to stop confusing pairs that look alike on the page.
Commonly mispronounced words
196 words — The words English learners — and plenty of native speakers — get wrong, with the sound people expect to hear and the one that is actually there.
Words with silent letters
172 words — Letters English writes but does not say — the b in debt, the k in knee, the s in island, the t in castle. Say the letter and the word stops sounding English.
Difficult words to pronounce
155 words — Words that trip up fluent speakers too: consonant pile-ups, stress that lands where the spelling does not suggest, and vowels that reduce to almost nothing.
Business English
152 words — The vocabulary of meetings, email, strategy and negotiation. Say these cleanly and you sound like someone who does the job, not someone describing it.
GMAT vocabulary
150 words — Words that recur in GMAT verbal reasoning and business-school reading. Practise them aloud so the meaning sticks through sound as well as sight.
TOEIC vocabulary
149 words — Workplace vocabulary that the TOEIC tests: scheduling, shipping, invoicing, personnel, travel and customer contact.
Advanced English vocabulary
147 words — C1–C2 words that mark fluent, precise English. Most are three or four syllables with an unstressed vowel that collapses to a schwa — the single biggest reason an advanced word sounds laboured.
PTE Academic vocabulary
138 words — Vocabulary for PTE Academic Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence and Describe Image. PTE scores pronunciation and oral fluency by machine, so clean vowels and consonants count twice.
Job interview vocabulary
119 words — The words you actually say when you describe your experience, your strengths and what you want next. Say them confidently and clearly, because the first minute sets the tone.
English for students
103 words — Classroom, campus and coursework vocabulary: the words you need to ask a question, give a presentation and write about what you read.
English for professionals
101 words — Words that come up in client calls, standups, reviews and presentations across engineering, medicine, law, finance and consulting.
Or browse every published word A–Z.
Work the list out loud, not in your head
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