Oxford 3000: A2 English Essentials: 600+ Words & Audio

You already know the A1 words. Now it’s time to go further.

The A2 level of the Oxford 3000 adds over 600 new words — the vocabulary you need to talk about everyday life, describe people and places, share opinions, and understand real conversations.

At this level, English starts to feel less like a list of words and more like a language you can actually use.

How to use this list:

  • You already know A1 — build on that foundation
  • Focus on words that appear in topics you care about: work, travel, health, people
  • Say each example sentence out loud — pronunciation matters at this stage

Click any word to hear it and see the full translation.

Oxford 3000 A2 word list

A

ability n.
She has the ability to learn languages very quickly.

able adj.
Are you able to come to the meeting tomorrow?

accept v.
I can’t accept this — the quality is terrible.

accident n.
He had a car accident on the highway.

achieve v.
With hard work, you can achieve anything.

active adj.
Try to stay active — walk at least 30 minutes a day.

actually adv.
I thought the movie was boring, but it was actually great.

advantage n.
Speaking two languages is a huge advantage at work.

adventure n.
Traveling alone is a real adventure.

advertise v.
They advertise their products on social media.

advertisement n.
I saw an advertisement for this app online.

affect v.
Bad sleep affects your mood and concentration.

against prep.
Are you for or against this idea?

airline n.
Which airline do you usually fly with?

alive adj.
Exercise keeps your body and mind alive.

allow v.
Smoking is not allowed in this building.

almost adv.
I’m almost ready — give me two minutes.

alone adj./adv.
I enjoy spending time alone sometimes.

along prep., adv. Let’s walk along the river — it’s beautiful.

already adv.
I’ve already eaten — thank you though.

although conj.
Although it was raining, we went for a walk.

among prep.
She is the best student among the whole group.

amount n.
I was surprised by the amount of homework.

ancient adj.
Rome is full of ancient buildings and history.

anyway adv.
It was late, but we decided to go anyway.

app n.
I use a language app to practice vocabulary every day.

appear v.
A new coffee shop appeared on our street last week.

appearance n.
First appearance matters at a job interview.

apply v.
I want to apply for a job at that company.

argue v.
They always argue about money.

argument n.
We had an argument, but we’re fine now.

arrange v.
Can you arrange a meeting for next Monday?

asleep adj.
The baby fell asleep in the car.

assistant n.
She works as a sales assistant in a clothing store.

athlete n.
To be a professional athlete, you need discipline.

attack n., v.
The dog attacked the mailman.

attend v.
Do you attend any evening classes?

attention n.
Pay attention — this part is important.

attractive adj.
She found him very attractive and funny.

audience n.
The audience loved the performance.

author n.
Who is the author of this book?

available adj.
Is the doctor available this afternoon?

average adj., n.
On average, I sleep about 7 hours a night.

avoid v.
I try to avoid eating sugar after 6 pm.

award n.
She won an award for the best teacher of the year.

awful adj.
The weather was awful — it rained all week.


B

background n.
Tell me about your professional background.

beat v.
Our team beat them 3–0 last night.

behave v.
Please behave — we are in a restaurant.

behavior n.
His behavior at work is always professional.

belong v.
This bag doesn’t belong to me.

benefit n.
One benefit of working from home is no commute.

billion number
There are over 8 billion people in the world.

blood n.
Give blood — it saves lives.

board n.
Write the new words on the board, please.

boil v.
Boil the water before you add the pasta.

bone n.
He broke a bone in his hand.

borrow v.
Can I borrow your pen for a second?

boss n.
My boss is very supportive and understanding.

brain n.
Learning a new language is great exercise for your brain.

bridge n.
The old bridge was built 200 years ago.

bright adj.
She is a bright student — she learns very fast.

brilliant adj.
That’s a brilliant idea!

broken adj.
My phone screen is broken.

burn v.
I burned my hand on the stove.


C

camp n., v.
We go camping in the mountains every summer.

candy n.
Don’t eat too much candy — it’s bad for your teeth.

careful adj.
Be careful — the floor is wet.

carefully adv.
Read the contract carefully before you sign it.

cartoon n.
I watched cartoons every Saturday as a kid.

cash n.
Do you accept cash or card only?

catch v.
I had to run to catch the bus.

cause n., v.
What was the cause of the accident?

celebrate v.
Let’s celebrate — you passed the exam!

celebrity n.
She became a celebrity after her first movie.

century n.
This building is from the 19th century.

certain adj.
I’m not certain, but I think the meeting is at 3 pm.

certainly adv.
That will certainly help you improve faster.

chance n.
This trip is a great chance to practice English.

character n.
The main character in the movie is a detective.

charity n.
She donates 10% of her salary to charity.

chat v., n.
We chatted for two hours over coffee.

chef n.
The chef in this restaurant trained in Paris.

choice n.
You have a choice — stay or leave.

circle n., v.
Please circle the correct answer.

clear adj.
Your explanation was very clear — thank you.

clearly adv.
Please speak clearly — I can’t hear you well.

climate n.
The climate here is warm and sunny all year.

cloud n.
There are dark clouds — it might rain later.

coast n.
We spent a week on the coast of Spain.

colleague n.
My colleagues and I go to lunch together every day.

collect v.
He collects vintage cameras as a hobby.

comedy n.
I prefer comedy — I like to laugh.

comfortable adj.
This chair is very comfortable.

communicate v.
It’s easier to communicate when you know the language.

community n.
She volunteers in her local community every weekend.

compete v.
Many students compete for a place at that university.

competition n.
The cooking competition attracted 200 participants.

complain v.
He complains about everything — nothing is ever right.

condition n.
The apartment is in great condition.

connect v.
I can’t connect to the Wi-Fi — what’s the password?

consider v.
I’m considering moving to a different city.

contain v.
This drink contains a lot of sugar.

continue v.
Continue reading — the story gets better.

control n., v.
Try to control your emotions in a difficult situation.

copy n., v.
Can you make a copy of this document?

count v.
Count to ten before you respond when you’re angry.

couple n.
We’ve been together as a couple for five years.

cover v.
The book covers everything you need to know about grammar.

crazy adj.
It sounds crazy, but it actually worked!

creative adj.
She is very creative — she designs her own clothes.

crime n.
The crime rate in this neighborhood is very low.

crowd n.
There was a huge crowd at the concert.

crowded adj.
The metro is very crowded during rush hour.

cry v.
She cried when she heard the good news.

cycle n., v.
He cycles to work every day to stay fit.


D

danger n.
The sign says: Danger! Do not enter.

data n.
We need more data before we make a decision.

dead adj.
My phone is dead — can I use yours?

death n.
The news reported the death of a famous actor.

decision n.
It was a difficult decision, but I’m happy with it.

deep adj.
The lake is very deep — don’t swim alone.

definitely adv.
I will definitely come to your party.

degree n.
She has a degree in computer science.

dentist n.
I go to the dentist twice a year.

depend v.
It depends on the weather — we might cancel.

designer n.
She works as a graphic designer for a startup.

destroy v.
The storm destroyed several houses.

develop v.
I want to develop my English speaking skills.

device n.
What device do you use most — phone or laptop?

digital adj.
We live in a digital world — everything is online.

direction n.
Can you give me directions to the train station?

director n.
She is the director of a well-known documentary.

disagree v.
I disagree — I think this is the wrong approach.

disappear v.
My keys disappear every time I need them.

disaster n.
The event was a complete disaster — nothing went right.

discover v.
I discovered a great podcast for learning English.

discussion n.
We had a long discussion about the project.

disease n.
Heart disease is one of the most common health problems.

distance n.
What’s the distance from here to the airport?

divorced adj.
Her parents got divorced when she was ten.

document n.
Please bring all your documents to the appointment.

double adj.
I’d like a double espresso, please.

download v., n.
Download the app and start learning today.

downtown adv., n. All the best restaurants are downtown.

dream n., v.
I have a dream of living abroad someday.

drop v.
Don’t drop your phone — the screen will crack!

drug n.
This drug is available without a prescription.

dry adj., v.
My skin gets very dry in winter.


E

earn v.
She earns a good salary as a software engineer.

earth n.
We need to take better care of the earth.

easily adv.
She makes friends easily — everyone likes her.

education n.
Good education opens many doors in life.

effect n.
What is the effect of stress on your health?

electricity n.
The electricity went out during the storm.

electronic adj.
Electronic devices are not allowed during the exam.

employ v.
The company employs over 500 people.

employee n.
Every employee gets 25 days of vacation.

energy n.
I don’t have enough energy to go to the gym today.

engineer n.
He is a software engineer at a big tech company.

enormous adj.
The concert hall was enormous.

environment n.
We should all do more to protect the environment.

equipment n.
The gym has new equipment.

especially adv.
I love autumn, especially when the leaves change color.

evidence n.
There is no evidence that this method works.

exactly adv.
That’s exactly what I was thinking!

excellent adj.
Your presentation was excellent — well done!

exist v.
I didn’t know this place existed!

expect v.
I didn’t expect to enjoy the movie so much.

experience n.
Do you have any experience with customer service?

expert n., adj.
She is an expert in nutrition and healthy eating.

extreme adj.
I love extreme sports like skydiving.

extremely adv.
This exam was extremely difficult.


F

factory n.
He works in a car factory on the night shift.

fail v.
Don’t be afraid to fail — it’s how you learn.

fair adj.
It’s not fair that she gets paid more for the same job.

fashion n.
She works in fashion as a stylist.

fear n.
My biggest fear is public speaking.

female adj., n.
The majority of nurses in this hospital are female.

fight v., n.
They fight all the time — it’s a difficult relationship.

film n., v.
We watched an amazing film last night.

finally adv.
After three hours, we finally found a parking space.

fit v., adj. I want to get fit before summer.

fix v.
Can you fix this? It’s broken.

foreign adj.
Do you speak any foreign languages?

forest n.
We went for a long walk in the forest.

formal adj.
The dinner is formal — wear something smart.

fortunately adv.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident.

fresh adj.
Fresh air and exercise can improve your mood.

fuel n.
The price of fuel went up again this month.

furniture n.
We bought new furniture for the living room.


G

gallery n.
There’s a free art gallery downtown — let’s go!

garbage n.
Can you take out the garbage before you leave?

general adj.
In general, people are kinder than you think.

gift n.
She has a gift for languages.

goal n.
My goal is to speak English fluently by the end of the year.

government n.
The government is introducing new health policies.

guess v., n.
I guessed the right answer without studying!

guide n., v.
The tour guide spoke English and Spanish.

guy n.
He’s a really nice guy — you’ll like him.


H

habit n.
Reading every day is a great habit to build.

headache n.
I have a terrible headache — I need to rest.

heart n.
Exercise is good for your heart.

heat n., v.
The heat in July is unbearable here.

heavy adj.
This bag is too heavy — let me help you.

height n.
What’s your height?

hero n.
He is a hero — he saved three people from the fire.

hide v.
Where did you hide my birthday present?

hill n.
The view from the top of the hill is amazing.

hockey n.
Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Canada.

hold v.
Can you hold this for a second?

hole n.
There’s a hole in my shoe.

holiday n.
I need a holiday — I’ve been working nonstop.

huge adj.
There was a huge crowd at the stadium.

human adj., n.
Every human needs sleep, food, and connection.

hurt v., adj. My back hurts from sitting at a desk all day.


I

identify v.
Can you identify the problem?

ill adj.
She was ill for a week and missed a lot of work.

illness n.
Stress can cause serious illness over time.

immediately adv.
Call me immediately if there’s a problem.

impossible adj.
Nothing is impossible if you work hard enough.

including prep.
Everyone came, including the boss.

increase v., n.
The number of English learners is increasing every year.

independent adj.
She is very independent — she doesn’t need help from anyone.

individual n., adj.
Each individual has different learning needs.

industry n.
She works in the fashion industry.

injury n.
He missed three games because of a knee injury.

insect n.
There are so many insects in the garden in summer.

inside prep., adv. It’s raining — let’s stay inside.

instead adv.
I’ll have water instead of juice, please.

instruction n.
Read the instructions carefully before you start.

instrument n.
Can you play a musical instrument?

intelligent adj.
She is very intelligent and always gets top grades.

international adj.
She has an international team — people from 10 countries.

invent v.
Who invented the telephone?

invite v.
I’d like to invite you to dinner on Friday.


J – K

journalist n.
She is a journalist for an international newspaper.

jump v., n.
The kids jumped into the pool.

kid n.
He’s just a kid — don’t be too hard on him.

kill v.
Stress can literally kill you — take care of yourself.

king n.
The king opened the ceremony.

knife n.
Be careful with that knife!

knowledge n.
Knowledge of English opens doors worldwide.


L

lake n.
We go swimming in the lake every summer.

laptop n.
I work on my laptop from a coffee shop sometimes.

laughter n.
Laughter is the best medicine.

law n.
You need to follow the law, even if you disagree.

lawyer n.
If you have a legal problem, talk to a lawyer.

lazy adj.
Don’t be lazy — consistency is the key to success.

leader n.
A good leader listens to their team.

least det./pron., adv.
Try to sleep at least 7 hours a night.

lend v.
Can you lend me some money until Friday?

less det./pron., adv.
Try to eat less sugar and more vegetables.

level n.
What level of English do you have?

lifestyle n.
A healthy lifestyle starts with small daily habits.

likely adj.
It’s likely to rain this afternoon.

lock v., n.
Don’t forget to lock the door when you leave.

loud adj., adv.
The music was so loud I couldn’t hear anything.

low adj., adv.
My battery is low — I need a charger.

luck n.
Good luck on your exam tomorrow!

lucky adj.
You’re so lucky to live near the beach.


M

mail n., v.
I got some important mail from the bank today.

major adj.
This is a major problem — we need to fix it now.

manage v.
How do you manage to work and study at the same time?

manager n.
She was promoted to manager after two years.

marry v.
They got married in a small ceremony on the beach.

material n.
What material is this jacket made of?

matter n., v.
It doesn’t matter — we can try again tomorrow.

medical adj.
Do you have travel medical insurance?

medicine n.
Take this medicine twice a day after meals.

memory n.
I have a terrible memory for names.

mention v.
You never mentioned you had a brother!

method n.
What is your method for learning new vocabulary?

mind n., v.
Do you mind if I open the window?

mistake n.
Making mistakes is a normal part of learning.

monkey n.
The kids loved watching the monkeys at the zoo.

movement n.
The yoga instructor showed us slow, careful movements.

musician n.
He is a talented musician — he plays four instruments.


N

national adj.
July 4th is a national holiday in the US.

nature n.
I feel calm when I spend time in nature.

nearly adv.
I’ve nearly finished the book — just 20 pages left.

necessary adj.
Is it really necessary to bring a passport?

nervous adj.
I always feel nervous before a presentation.

network n.
It’s important to build a professional network.

noise n.
The noise from the street kept me awake all night.

noisy adj.
This café is too noisy — let’s find a quieter one.

normal adj.
It’s completely normal to feel nervous in a new job.

notice v., n.
Did you notice she got a new haircut?

novel n.
I read one novel a month to improve my English.


O

offer v., n.
The company offered me a great job.

oil n.
Use olive oil — it’s healthier than butter.

opportunity n.
This is a great opportunity to practice your English.

option n.
You have two options — take it or leave it.

ordinary adj.
It started as an ordinary day, then everything changed.

organize v.
I need to organize my schedule for next week.

owner n.
The owner of this restaurant is from Italy.


P

pain n.
I have pain in my lower back from sitting all day.

particular adj.
Is there a particular reason you chose this city?

passenger n.
All passengers must show their boarding pass.

patient n.
The doctor has 30 patients today.

peace n.
All I want is a little peace and quiet.

percent noun, adj./adv.
Prices went up by 10 percent last year.

perform v.
The band performed in front of 10,000 people.

permission n.
You need permission to park here.

personality n.
She has a great personality — warm and funny.

physical adj.
Physical activity is essential for good health.

pick v.
Pick me up at 7 — we’ll go together.

pilot n.
She became a pilot at the age of 24.

planet n.
We need to take care of our planet.

plastic n., adj.
Try to use less plastic — it harms the environment.

plate n.
Could I have a clean plate, please?

pleased adj.
I’m very pleased to meet you.

polite adj.
Always be polite — it costs nothing.

pollution n.
Air pollution is a serious problem in big cities.

population n.
The population of this city is over 5 million.

position n.
What position do you hold at your company?

possibility n.
There is a possibility the flight will be delayed.

power n.
Knowledge is power.

predict v.
It’s hard to predict the weather here.

president n.
The president gave a speech on national television.

prevent v.
Wash your hands regularly to prevent illness.

prison n.
He spent two years in prison.

prize n.
She won first prize in the photography competition.

process n.
Learning a language is a slow process — be patient.

professional adj.
Always act in a professional way at work.

professor n.
Her professor recommended her for a scholarship.

progress n.
I can see real progress in your English!

promise v., n.
I promise I’ll call you when I arrive.

protect v.
Sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays.

provide v.
The company provides free lunches for all employees.

public adj., n.
Public transport here is fast and cheap.


Q – R

quality n.
I prefer quality over quantity.

queen n.
The queen opened the new hospital.

race n., v.
She ran a 10km race last Sunday.

raise v.
He raised his hand to answer the question.

rate n.
The success rate of this program is very high.

react v.
How did she react when you told her the news?

realize v.
I didn’t realize how difficult it would be.

receive v.
Did you receive my email?

recent adj.
Have you seen any recent news about the economy?

recently adv.
I recently started learning Spanish.

recipe n.
Can you share your grandmother’s recipe?

recognize v.
I didn’t recognize him — he looks so different!

recommend v.
Can you recommend a good restaurant nearby?

recycle v.
We recycle glass, plastic, and paper at home.

reduce v.
Try to reduce screen time before bed.

relationship n.
Good communication is the key to any relationship.

remove v.
Please remove your shoes at the door.

repair v.
I need to repair my bike before the trip.

reply v., n.
I sent a message three days ago and got no reply.

research n., v.
She is doing research on climate change.

respond v.
Please respond to my email as soon as possible.

response n.
I’m still waiting for a response.

review n., v.
Read reviews before you book a hotel.

role n.
She plays an important role in the company.

route n.
What’s the fastest route to the airport?

rude adj.
It’s rude to use your phone during dinner.


S

safe adj.
Is it safe to walk here at night?

salary n.
He got a salary increase after his promotion.

sale n.
Everything in the store is on sale — 30% off!

save v.
I’m saving money to travel to Japan.

scared adj.
I’m scared of flying but I do it anyway.

scene n.
The last scene of the movie made me cry.

schedule n.
I have a busy schedule this week.

score v., n.
The final score was 2–1.

search n., v.
I searched online but couldn’t find the answer.

season n.
Which season do you prefer — summer or winter?

secret adj., n.
Can you keep a secret?

seem v.
You seem tired — are you okay?

sense n.
That doesn’t make sense — explain it again.

serious adj.
This is a serious problem and we need to act now.

sign n., v.
The sign says no parking here.

simple adj.
The recipe is simple — even I can cook it.

since prep., conj. I’ve been studying English since I was 12.

single adj., n.
I’m single — I’m not in a relationship.

size n.
What size shoes do you wear?

skill n.
Communication is the most important skill at work.

skin n.
Drink more water — it’s good for your skin.

sky n.
The sky turns orange and pink at sunset.

smartphone n.
Most people can’t imagine life without a smartphone.

smile v., n.
A smile is the best way to start a conversation.

social adj.
I’m not very active on social media.

society n.
Education is the foundation of a healthy society.

solution n.
Every problem has a solution — you just need to find it.

solve v.
We need to solve this problem before Monday.

somewhere adv., pron. Let’s go somewhere new this weekend.

source n.
What is your source for this information?

specific adj.
Can you be more specific? I don’t understand.

speech n.
He gave a great speech at the wedding.

speed n.
The speed limit here is 50 km/h.

stage n.
She performed on stage for the first time at 15.

steal v.
Someone stole my wallet on the subway.

stomach n.
I have a stomachache — I ate too much.

storm n., v.
Stay inside — there’s a big storm coming.

strange adj.
That’s strange — the door is open but no one’s home.

strategy n.
What’s your strategy for learning new vocabulary?

stress n., v.
Exercise is one of the best ways to deal with stress.

structure n.
The structure of English sentences can be tricky.

stupid adj.
I made a stupid mistake and deleted the file.

subway n.
Take the subway — it’s faster than driving.

succeed v.
If you work consistently, you will succeed.

successful adj.
She built a very successful business from zero.

suddenly adv.
Suddenly, the lights went out.

suggest v.
Can you suggest a good book to read?

support v., n.
Thank you for all your support.

suppose v.
I suppose we could take the train.

surprise n., v.
What a wonderful surprise!

survey n.
Please fill in this short survey — it takes 2 minutes.

system n.
The new ticketing system is much faster.


T

task n.
My first task every morning is to check my email.

taste n., v.
This soup tastes incredible — what’s in it?

technology n.
Technology has completely changed how we communicate.

temperature n.
The temperature today is 32°C — stay hydrated.

term n.
In simple terms, it means you got the job.

thick adj.
The walls are thick — you can’t hear anything from outside.

thin adj.
She looks thin — has she been eating enough?

thought n.
My first thought was — this is going to be great.

throw v.
Throw me the keys — I’ll wait in the car.

tool n.
A dictionary is the most important tool for a language learner.

top n., adj.
She graduated at the top of her class.

tour n.
We booked a walking tour of the old city.

tourism n.
Tourism is the main industry in this region.

tradition n.
It’s a tradition in our family to cook together on Sundays.

traditional adj.
I love traditional food from different countries.

training n.
The new staff starts training next Monday.

transportation n.
Public transportation in this city is excellent.

trouble n.
If you ever need help, I’m here — no trouble at all.

typical adj.
A typical work day starts at 9 and ends at 6.


U – V

unfortunately adv.
Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled.

unhappy adj.
If you’re unhappy at work, it’s time to change jobs.

uniform n.
All students must wear a uniform.

unusual adj.
It’s unusual for her to be late — something must be wrong.

used to modal v.
I used to hate vegetables, but now I love them.

valley n.
The valley was covered in mist in the morning.

variety n.
Try to eat a variety of foods for good health.

vehicle n.
What kind of vehicle do you drive?

view n.
The view from the 30th floor is breathtaking.

village n.
I grew up in a small village with 300 people.

voice n.
She has a beautiful voice — she should be a singer.


W

war n.
We study the causes of the war in history class.

wedding n.
I’m going to my best friend’s wedding next Saturday.

weight n.
I want to lose some weight before summer.

wet adj.
My hair is still wet — give me five minutes.

while conj.
I listen to podcasts while I cook dinner.

whole adj.
I spent the whole day studying English.

wide adj.
The streets are wide and easy to navigate.

wild adj.
I love wildlife documentaries about wild animals.

winner n.
And the winner is… you!

wish v., n.
I wish I could speak English like a native.

wood n.
The cabin was built from local wood.

worried adj.
I’m worried about my exam next week.

worry v.
Don’t worry — everything will be fine.

worse adj.
My English was much worse a year ago.


Y – Z

yet adv.
Have you finished the report yet?

yours pron. Is this seat taken, or is it yours?

zero number
My battery is at zero — I really need a charger.


You just completed A2. What’s next?

At A2, you now have the vocabulary to handle real conversations — at work, while traveling, with new people. That’s a huge step.

The next level is B1: the words that let you talk about opinions, news, society, and complex ideas. It’s where English starts to feel natural.