English vocabulary
English vocabulary: Aardvark to Abolition
Begin an alphabetical listening journey through English words, their meanings, and their sounds.
A short companion guide
Some words are familiar on the page but harder to bring to mind in conversation. Others are simply new. This first vocabulary chapter offers an unhurried way to spend time with the beginning of the alphabet.
Listen for the whole word
Notice the sound of a word before rushing to the next one. If it is unfamiliar, pause the lesson and repeat it aloud. Let its pronunciation and meaning sit together for a moment.
Put a meaning in context
An aardvark is an African mammal that feeds on ants and termites. Abolition means doing away with something, such as a law or institution. The words sound very different because they belong to different stories; an example makes each one more concrete.
Give one word a place in your day
Choose a word from the lesson and write a sentence that uses it. Check a dictionary when the meaning is uncertain. Returning to a few words with attention gives you something specific to practice alongside the longer recording.
Explore a little further
Definitions are briefly paraphrased for this original companion guide. The linked dictionaries provide pronunciation, usage and fuller definitions. This guide is not a transcript or a complete word list.
