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Wiktionary:Extended Basic English alphabetical wordlist

75% of the words in this list have an entry
From Wiktionary
This list consists of
  • the Basic English 850.
  • International words which are common.
  • 100 words of general interest, science or business, and 50 specialty words within that general area.
  • Compound words made up of Basic words, where the origin makes sense.
  • New words made from adding the allowed endings, -er, -ed, -ing, -ly, -s, and the prefix un-.

This list approximates a minimum English wordlist that a student can use to proceed on his or her own without difficulty.


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Basic: aableaboutaccountacidacrossactadditionadjustmentadvertisementagreementafteragainagainstairallalmostamongamountamusementangleanimalanswerandangryantanyapparatusappleapprovalarchargumentarmarmyartasatattackattemptattentionattractionauthorityautomaticawake

International: alcoholalgebraaluminumammoniaanestheticAprilarithmeticasbestosAugustautobusautomobile

Next: absenceabsorptionaccelerationacceptanceaccessoryaccidentactiveaddressadjacentadventureadviceageagentagencyagoallowancealongalsoalternativealwaysambitionamplitudeanchorankleappendageapplicationapproximationarbitrationarbitraryarcareaarrangementashassetassistantaverageawkwardaxis

Compound: afterthoughtairplaneanotheranybodyanyhowanyoneanythinganywhere

Endings: actoracting

Basic: babybackbadbagbalanceballbandbasebasinbasketbathbebeautifulbecausebedbeebeforebehaviorbeliefbellbentberrybetweenbirdbirthbitbitebitterblackbladebloodblowblueboardboatbodybonebookbootboilingbottleboxboybrainbrakebranchbrassbreadbreathbrickbridgebrightbrokenbrotherbrownbrushbucketbuildingbulbbuttonburnburstbusinessbutbutterby

International: balletbangbankbarbeefbeerbiologybomb

Next: balconybalebankruptbarkbarrelbeakbeakerbeardbeatbehindbeltbetbillblameblanketbothbottombravebreakbreakfastbreastbrokerbubblebudbudgetbuoyancybunchburialbusy

Compound: backbonebackwoodsbecomebedroombeeswaxbirthdaybirthrightblackberryblackbirdblackboardbloodvesselbluebellbookkeeperbrushwoodbuttercup

Endings: basingbasedbuilderburnerburnedburning

Basic: cakecameracanvascardcarecarriagecartcatcausecertainchainchalkchancechangecheapcheesechemicalchestchiefchinchurchcircleclothcleanclearclockcloudcoalcoatcoldcollarcolorcombcomecomfortcommitteecommoncompanycomparisoncompetitioncompletecomplexconditionconnectionconsciouscontrolcookcoppercopycordcorkcottoncoughcountrycovercowcrackcreditcrimecruelcrushcrycupcurrentcurtaincurvecushioncut

International: cafecalendarcatarrhcenti-champagnechauffeurchemistchemistrycheckchocolatechoruscigarettecircuscitronclubcoffeecocktailcognaccollegecolony

Next: calculationcallcapacitycapitalcarpetcartilagecasecastcavecavitycellceremonycertificatechaircharacterchargechildchimneychinachoicecirculationcircuitcircumferencecivilizationclayclaimclawcleavagecleverclientclimberclipcodecoilcollisioncollectioncolumncombinationcombinecommunicationscomplaintcomponentcompoundconceptconcreteconductorcongruentconservationconsignmentconstantconsumercontinuouscontourconvenientconversioncoolcornercorrelationcorrosioncostcourtcreepercropcrosscunningcuspcustoms

Compound: cardboardcarefreecaretakerclockworkcommonsensecopyrightcupboard

Endings: carterclothierclothingcookercookedcookingcrying

Basic: damagedangerdarkdaughterdaydeaddeardeathdebtdecisiondeepdegreedelicatedependentdesigndesiredestructiondetaildevelopmentdifferentdigestiondirectiondirtydiscoverydiscussiondiseasedisgustdistancedistributiondivisiondodogdoordowndoubtdraindrawerdressdrinkdrivingdropdrydust

International: danceDecemberdeci-degreedominiondynamite

Next: dampingdatedebitdeckdecreasedefectdeficiencydeflationdegeneratedeliverydemanddenominatordepartmentdesertdensitydepositdeterminingdewdiameterdifferencedifficultydriftdikedilutiondinnerdipdirectdisappearancedischargediscountdisgracedislikedissipationdisturbanceditchdivedivisordivorcedolldomesticatingdreadfuldreamductdullduty

Compound: daylightdownfall

Endings: dancerdancing (to) • designerdressing (up) • driverdroppeddropperduster

Basic: earearlyeartheastedgeeducationeffecteggelasticelectricendengineenoughequalerroreveneventevereveryexampleexchangeexistenceexpansionexperienceexperteye

International: eightelectricityelevenembassyempireencyclopediaengineer

Next: eacheasyeconomyefficiencyefforteithereliminationemployeremptyenemyenvelopeenvironmentenvyequationerosioneruptionevaporationeveningexactexcitementexperimentexerciseexplanationexplosionexportexpressionextinctioneyebroweyelash

Compound: ear-ringearthworkevergreeneverybodyeverydayeveryoneeverythingeverywhereeyeball

Basic: facefactfallfalsefamilyfarfarmfatfatherfearfeatherfeeblefeelingfemalefertilefictionfieldfightfingerfirefirstfishfixedflagflameflatflightfloorflowerflyfoldfoodfoolishfootforforceforkformforwardfowlframefreefrequentfriendfromfrontfruitfullfuture

International: FebruaryfifteenfifthfiftyfivefourfourteenfourthfortyFriday

Next: factorfailurefairfamousfanfasteningfaultfermentfertilizingfeverfiberfigurefinfinancialflashflaskfleshfloodflourfocusforecastforeheadforeignforgivenessfractionfracturefreshfrictionflintfloodflowfoliationfrostfrozenfumefunnelfunnyfurfurnacefurniturefusion

Compound: fatherlandfingerprintfirearmfire-enginefireflyfiremanfireplacefireworkfirst-ratefootballfootlightsfootmanfootnotefootprintfootstep

Endings: farmerfisher/fishermanfolderfiredfiring

Basic: gardengeneralgetgirlgiveglassglovegogoatgoldgoodgovernmentgraingrassgreatgreengrey/graygripgroupgrowthguidegun

International: gasgeographygeologygeometrygramglycerin

Next: gategenerationgermgerminatinggillglacierglandgodgrandgratefulgratinggravelgreasegriefgrocerygroovegrossgroundguardguaranteeguessgum

Compound: gasworksgoldfishgood lookinggood morninggoodnightgunboatgun-carriagegunmetalgunpowder

Endings: gardener

Basic: hairhammerhandhanginghappyharborhardharmonyhathatehaveheheadhealthyhearingheartheathelpherehighhistoryholehollowhookhopehornhorsehospitalhourhousehowhumor

International: halfhisshotelhundredhyenahygienehysteria

Next: habithandkerchiefhandleheavyhedgehillhingehireholdholidayhomehonesthoneyhoofhosthumanhunthurryhurthusband

Compound: handbookhandwritingheaddressheadlandheadstoneheadwayhereafterherewithhighlandshighwayhimselfhorseplayhorsepowerhourglasshouseboathousekeeperhowever

Endings: hangerheaterheatedheating

Basic: Iiceideaifillimportantimpulseinincreaseindustryinkinsectinstrumentinsuranceinterestinventionironisland

International: imperialinfernoinfluenzainternational

Next: igneousimageimaginationimportimpurityinclusionindexindividualinflationinfinityinheritanceinnocentinstitutioninsulatorintegerintelligentinterceptinterpretationintersectionintrusioninvestigationinvestmentinverseinvitation

Compound: inasmuchincomeindoorsinlandinletinputinsideinstepintoitself

Endings: inner

Basic: jellyjeweljoinjourneyjudgejump

International: JanuaryjazzJulyJune

Next: jamjawjealousjerkjointjugjuicejuryjustice

Endings: jewelerjoiner

Basic: keepkettlekeykickkindkisskneeknifeknotknowledge

International: kilo-king

Next: kennelkidneykitchenknock

Endings: keeper

Basic: landlanguagelastlatelaughlawleadleaflearningleastleatherleglessleftletletterlevellibraryliftlightlikelimitlinelinenlipliquidlistlittlelivinglocklonglooklooselossloudlovelow

International: latitudelavaliterliqueurlongitude

Next: lacelaglakelamelamplargelatitudelawyerlayerlazylecturelegallengthlenslessonleverliabilitylicenselidlifelimelimestonelinkliverloadlocalloadloanlocuslongitudelucklumplunchlung

Compound: landmarklandsliplighthouselooking-glass

Endings: laughing (at) • learnerlockerlocking (up)

Basic: machinemanmanagermakemalemapmarkmarketmarriedmatchmaterialmassmaymealmeasuremeatmedicalmeetingmemorymetalmiddlemilitarymilkmindmineminutemistmixedmoneymonkeymonthmoonmoremorningmostmothermotionmountainmouthmovemuchmusclemusic

International: macaronimadammagneticmalariamaniaMarchmathematicsMaymetermeowmicro-microscopemilli-millionminuteMondaymuseum

Next: magicmagnitudemannermanymarblemarginmarriagemastmattressmaturemeanmeaningmedicinemediummeltmembermessmessagemetabolismmillmineralmixturemodelmodernmodestmomentummonopolymoodmoralmoustachemudmultiplemultiplicationmurder

Compound: manholemyself

Endings: markedminer

Basic: nailnamenarrownationnaturalnearnecessaryneckneedneedlenervenetnewnewsnightnonoisenormalnorthnosenotnotenownumbernut

International: neutronnickelnicotinenineNovember

Next: nastynaturenavyneatneglectneighbornestnextnicenodenostrilnucleusnumeratornurse

Compound: networknewspapernobodynothingnowhere

Endings: nearernoted

Basic: observationofoffofferofficeoiloldononlyopenoperationopinionoppositeororangeorderorganizationornamentotheroutovenoverowner

International: Octoberoliveonceomeletoneoperaopiumorchestraorganismorphanage

Next: obedientofficerorchestraoreorganoriginoutcropoutlieroverlapovalownoxidation

Compound: offspringoncomingoneselfonlookerontooutburstoutcomeoutcryoutdooroutgoingouthouseoutlawoutletoutlineoutlookoutputoutsideoutskirtsoutstretchedoveractingoveralloverbalancingoverbearingovercoatovercomeoverdooverdressedoverfulloverhangingoverheadoverlandoverleafoverloudoverseasoverseerovershoeoverstatementovertakeovertaxedovertimeoverturnedoveruseovervaluedoverweightoverworking

Endings: outer

Basic: pagepainpaintpaperparallelparcelpartpastpastepaymentpeacepenpencilpersonphysicalpicturepigpinpipeplaceplaneplantplateplaypleasepleasureplough/plowpocketpointpoisonpolishpoliticalpoorporterpositionpossiblepotpotatopowderpowerpresentpriceprintprisonprivateprobableprocessproduceprofitpropertyproseprotestpublicpullpumppunishmentpurposepushput

International: pajamasparaffinparadiseparkpassportpatentpenguinpetroleumphonographphysicsphysiologypianoplatinumpolicepostpotashpresidentprinceprincessprogrampropagandapsychologypurrpyramid

Next: packingpadpairpanparagraphparentparticlepartnerpartypassagepathpatiencepedalpendulumpensionpeopleperfectpetalpistonplainplanplasterplugpoetrypollenpoolpopulationporcelainpracticepraiseprayerpressureprickpriestprimeprobabilityproductprogressprojectileprojectionpromiseproofproudpulleypupilpurchasepure

Compound: pincushionplaythingpolicemanpostmanpostmarkpostmasterpostoffice

Endings: painterpaintingpartingplayingplayedpleased (with) • pointerpointing (at) • potterprinterprisonerproducer

Basic: qualityquestionquickquietquite

International: quackquarterqueenquinine

Next: quantityquotient

Basic: railrainrangeratraterayreactionredreadingreadyreasonreceiptrecordregretregularrelationreligionrepresentativerequestrespectresponsiblerestrewardrhythmricerightringriverroadrodrollroofroomrootroughroundrubrulerun

International: radioradiumreferendumrestaurantrheumatismroyalrum

Next: raceradiationratioreagentrealreceiverreciprocalrectanglerecurringreferencerefluxreinforcementrelativeremarkremedyrentrepairreproductionrepulsionresistanceresidueresolutionresultretailrevengereversiblerichrigidityriserivalrockrotrotationruderust

Compound: runaway

Endings: rainingreaderreadingrollerrulerrubber

Basic: sadsafesailsaltsamesandsayscaleschoolsciencescissorsscrewseaseatsecondsecretsecretaryseeseedselectionselfsendseemsenseseparateseriousservantsexshadeshakeshamesharpsheepshelfshipshirtshockshoeshortshutsidesignsilksilversimplesistersizeskinskirtskysleepslipslopeslowsmallsmashsmellsmilesmokesmoothsnakesneezesnowsosoapsocietysocksoftsolidsomesonsongsortsoundsoupsouthspacespadespecialspongespoonspringsquarestagestampstarstartstatementstationsteamsteelstemstepstickstickystiffstillstitchstockingstomachstonestopstorestorystraightstrangestreetstretchstrongstructuresubstancesuchsuddensugarsuggestionsummersunsupportsurprisesweetswimsystem

International: saladsardineSaturdaysecondSeptemberserumsevensirsixsixteensportSunday

Next: sacsalesamplesatisfactionsaturatedsaucersavingscalescarpschistscratchscreensealsearchsecuritysecretionsectionsedimentaryselfishsensitivitysentencesepalservicesetshadowshaleshareshaveshearsheetshellshoreshouldershowsightsillsimilaritysinceskullslatesleeveslidesocialsoilsoldiersolutionsolventsorrysparkspecializationspecimenspeculationspiritspitsplashspotstablestainstairstalkstamenstatisticssteadystimulusstormstrainstrawstreamstrengthstressstrikestringstudysubjectsubstitutionsubtractionsuccesssuccessivesuckersumsupplysurfacesurgeonsuspensionsuspiciousswellingswingswitchsympathetic

Compound: seamansecondhandshorthandsideboardsidewalksomebodysomedaysomehowsomeonesomethingsometimesomewhatsomewheresuchlikesunburnsunlightsunshadesweetheart

Endings: sailorshockingshockedsnowingsteamerstopperstoppingstopping upstretcher

Basic: tabletailtaketalktalltastetaxteachingtendencytestthanthatthethentheorytherethickthinthingthisthoughthoughtthreadthroatthroughthumbthundertickettighttiredtilltimetintotoetogethertomorrowtonguetoothtoptouchtowntradetraintransporttraytreetricktrouserstruetroubleturntwist

International: tapiocataxiteatelegramtelephonetenterracetheaterthermometerthirdthirteenthirtythousandthreeThursdaytoasttobaccotorpedoTuesdayturbinetwenty-onetwelvetwentytwicetwo

Next: tailortametapteartenttermtexturethicknessthiefthimblethoraxthreatthrusttidetietissuetongstoototaltoweltowertraffictragedytransmissiontransparenttraptraveltreatmenttriangletrucktubetunetunneltwintypist

Compound: todaytonighttradesman

Endings: talking (of) • teachertouching (up) • tradertrainertrainingtroublingtroubledturning (over)

Basic: umbrellaunderunitupuse

International: university

Next: uglyunconformityunderstandinguniverseunknown

Compound: underclothingundercookedundergoundergrowthunderminedundersignedundersizedunderstatementundertakeundervaluedundoupkeepupliftuponuprightuptake

Endings: used (to)

Basic: valueverseveryvesselviewviolentvoice

International: vanillaviolinvisavitaminvodkavolt

Next: valencyvalleyvalvevaporvariablevascularvegetablevelocityvestigialvictimvictoryvolumevortexvote

Compound: viewpoint

Basic: walkwallwaitingwarwarmwashwastewatchwaterwavewaxwayweatherweekweightwellwestwetwheelwhenwherewhilewhipwhistlewhitewhowhywidewillwindwindowwinewingwinterwirewisewithwomanwoodwoolwordworkwormwoundwritingwrong

International: Wednesdaywhisky

Next: weakwedgewelcomewhetherwholesalewidowwifewildworldwreckwrist

Compound: waterfallweekendwell-beingwell-offwhateverwheneverwhereaswherebywhereverwhicheverwhitewashwhoeverwindpipewithinwithoutwoodworkworkhouse

Endings: waiterworkerworking (on) working (out) / working (up) • writerwaitingwasted

X, Y, Z

Basic: yearyellowyesyesterdayyouyoung

International: zebrazinczoology

Next: yawn

Compound: x-rayyearbookyourselfzookeeper

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

See also