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Compilation of the 120 most common English vocabulary by topic

To achieve a B2 level of English, you need to master the 120 most common English vocabulary by topic. Right below, Prep has compiled a complete list of 120 English vocabulary categorized by topic and alphabetically, with a PDF download link for your reference!

1. I. Compilation of 120 most common English vocabulary by topic
2. II. Effective methods to learn 120 most common English vocabulary

I. Compilation of 120 most common English vocabulary by topic

Below is the 120 most common English vocabulary categorized by topic, which you can save and start learning!

1. Food and Drinks

Let's take a look at some common vocabulary related to the topic of food and drinks below with PREP!

No.	Food and Drinks Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Wine /waɪn/ (n)	an alcoholic drink that is usually made from grapes, but can also be made from other fruits or flowers. It is made by fermenting the fruit with water and sugar	Mark decided to unwind with a glass of red wine.
2	Baked potato /beɪk pəˈteɪtoʊ/ (n)	a potato baked whole with its skin	The restaurant served a perfectly baked potato with a crispy skin and a fluffy interior.
3	Bacon /ˈbeɪ.kən/ (n)	meat from the back or sides of a pig, often eaten fried in thin slices	Sarah prepared sizzling bacon for her family.
4	Baguette /bæɡˈet/ (n)	a long, thin stick of white bread, of a type that originally came from France	At the bakery, customers lined up to buy freshly baked baguettes.
5	Beer /bɪr/ (n)	an alcoholic drink made from grain and hops (= a type of plant)	My friends open cold beers to enjoy with their grilled burgers and sausages.
6	Bean /biːn/ (n)	a seed, or the pod containing seeds, of various climbing plants, eaten as a vegetable	In the vegetarian chili recipe, they use a variety of kidney beans and black beans.
7	Biscuit /ˈbɪs.kɪt/ (n)	a small, flat cake that is dry and usually sweet	Maria enjoyed her afternoon tea with biscuits.
8	Croissant /ˈkwæs.ɒ̃/ (n)	a piece of light crescent-shaped pastry, usually eaten in the morning	The aroma of freshly baked croissants wafted through the air as customers entered the bakery.
9	Cheese /tʃiːz/ (n)	a food made from milk, or from a milk-like substance taken from plants, that can be either firm or soft and is usually yellow or white in colour	Some people dislike goat's cheese because they think it tastes too strong.
10	Chicken nugget /ˈtʃɪkɪn ˈnʌɡɪt/ (n)	a small piece of chicken that has been covered in breadcrumbs and fried	The children eagerly dipped their chicken nuggets into tangy barbecue sauce.
11	Chicken breast /ˈtʃɪkɪn brest/ (n)	the meat from the front part of the body	Grilled chicken breast, marinated in herbs and spices, was the centerpiece of the healthy dinner.
12	Crab /kræb/ (n)	a sea creature with five pairs of legs and a round, flat body covered by a shell, or its flesh eaten as food	The seafood restaurant offered a sumptuous dish of crab legs.
13	Coke /koʊk/ (n)	Coca-Cola (= a brand name for a sweet, bubbly, brown drink that does not contain alcohol, or a glass of this drink)	At the party, guests enjoyed sipping on ice-cold Coke while socializing and playing games.
14	Chili sauce /ˈtʃɪli sɔːs/ (n)	a spicy sauce made with chilli peppers and other ingredients such as tomatoes, vinegar, and spices	The spicy chili sauce added a kick to the stir-fried noodles.
15	Crepe /kreɪp/ (n)	a thin, light pancake	The street vendor skillfully flipped a delicate crepe.
16	Juice /dʒuːs/ = squash /skwɑːʃ/ (n)	the liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables	Freshly squeezed orange juice was a popular choice for breakfast at the juice bar.
17	Fried chicken /fraɪd ˈtʃɪk.ɪn/ (n)	a dish consisting of chicken pieces that have been coated with seasoned flour or batter and pan-fried, deep fried, pressure fried, or air fried	The crispy coating on the fried chicken made it a favorite among the diners.
18	Hotdog /ˈhɒt.dɒɡ/ (n)	a dish consisting of a grilled, steamed, or boiled sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun	At the baseball game, spectators enjoyed classic hotdogs loaded.
19	Milk /mɪlk/ (n)	the white liquid produced by cows, goats, and sheep and used by humans as a drink or for making butter, cheese, etc.	The children sipped on cold glasses of milk, pairing it with warm chocolate chip cookies for an afternoon treat.
20	Noodle /ˈnuː.dəl/ (n)	a food in the form of long, thin strips made from flour or rice, water, and often egg, cooked in boiling liquid	The aromatic bowl of noodle soup, garnished with fresh herbs, was a comforting meal on a chilly evening.

2. Transportation

Let's pocket some common vocabulary related to the topic of transportation below with PREP!

No.	Transportation Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Subway /ˈsʌbweɪ/ (n)	a railway system in which electric trains travel through tunnels below ground	Commuters in the city prefer taking the subway to avoid traffic congestion.
2	Coach /kəʊtʃ/ (n)	a long motor vehicle with comfortable seats, used to take groups of people on journeys	The luxurious coach glided smoothly along the highway.
3	Bicycle /ˈbaɪ.sɪ.kəl/ (n)	a two-wheeled vehicle that you sit on and move by turning the two pedals (= flat parts you press with your feet)	Sara decided to commute to work by bicycle.
4	Motorbike /ˈməʊ.tə.baɪk/ (n)	a road vehicle with two wheels, driven by an engine, with one seat for the driver and often a seat for a passenger behind the driver	The roar of a motorbike echoed through the streets.
5	Truck /trək/ (n)	a large road vehicle that is used for transporting large amounts of goods	The delivery truck rumbled down the narrow lane.
6	Bus /bəs/ (n)	a large vehicle in which people are driven from one place to another	The crowded bus stopped at the intersection.
7	Ship /ʃɪp/ (n)	a large boat for travelling on water, especially across the sea	The massive cruise ship set sail from the harbor.
8	Airplane /ˈeəpleɪn/ (n)	a vehicle designed for air travel that has wings and one or more engines	Passengers settled into their seats as the airplane taxied down the runway, preparing for takeoff.
9	Road sign /roʊd saɪn/ (n)	signs erected at the side of or above roads to give instructions or provide information to road users	The road sign indicated a sharp turn ahead, prompting drivers to reduce speed.
10	Pedestrian crossing /pɪˈdɛstrɪən ˈkrɒsɪŋ/ (n)	a special place in a road where traffic must stop to allow people to walk across	At the pedestrian crossing, people patiently waited for the traffic signal to change before crossing the street.
11	Traffic jam /ˈtrafik ˌjam/ (n)	a large number of vehicles close together and unable to move or moving very slowly	Frustrated drivers honked their horns as they found themselves stuck in a lengthy traffic jam during rush hour.
12	Two-way traffic /ˌtuː ˈweɪ ˈtræfɪk/ (n)	moving or allowing movement in both directions	The narrow bridge allowed for two-way traffic, with cars carefully passing each other in opposite directions.
13	Motorcycle lane /ˈməʊtəˈsaɪkl leɪn/ (n)	a part of a road that is separated by a line from the rest of the road, for the use of people riding motorbikes	Motorcyclists zipped through the dedicated motorcycle lane, avoiding congestion on the main road.
14	Highway /ˈhaɪweɪ/ (n)	a public road, especially an important road that joins cities or towns together	The highway stretched for miles, connecting cities.
15	Car park /kɑːr pɑːrk/ (n)	an area of ground for parking cars	The shopping mall's underground car park provided ample space for visitors to park their vehicles.

3. Weather

Let's refer to some common vocabulary related to the topic of weather below, with PREP!

No.	Weather Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Aftershock /’ɑ:ftə∫ɔk/ (n)	a sudden movement of the earth's surface that often follows an earthquake and is less violent than the first main movement	Residents felt a slight aftershock following the earthquake.
2	Avalanche /’ævəlɑ:n∫/ (n)	a large amount of ice, snow, and rock falling quickly down the side of a mountain	The mountain rescue team issued a warning about the risk of avalanches.
3	Breeze /bri:z/ (n)	a light and pleasant wind	The leaves on the trees rustled in the gentle breeze.
4	Blizzard /’blizəd/ (n)	a severe snow storm with strong winds	During the blizzard, visibility dropped to almost zero.
5	Baking hot /beɪk hɑːt/ (adj)	very hot	The desert experienced baking hot temperatures.
6	Cold /koʊld/ (adj)	at a low temperature, especially when compared to the temperature of the human body, and not hot, or warm	Despite wearing layers, Emily shivered in the cold wind.
7	Celsius /ˈselsiəs/ (n)	(of) a measurement of temperature on a standard in which 0° is the temperature at which water freezes, and 100° the temperature at which it boils	The weather forecast predicted temperatures in Celsius.
8	Chilly /ˈtʃɪli/ (adj)	(of weather, conditions in a room, or parts of the body) cold	The morning was chilly, with a crisp breeze.
9	Clear /kliə/ (adj)	easy to understand, hear, read, or see	The sky was clear.
10	Damp /dæmp/ (n)	slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable	The grass is still damp.
11	Drizzle /’drizl/ (n)	rain in very small, light drops	A light drizzle began, creating a fine mist.
12	Dry /drai/ (adj)	used to describe something that has no water or other liquid in, on, or around it	The arid region experienced an extended period of dry weather.
13	Freezing /'fri:ziɳ/ (adj)	extremely cold	The temperature dropped below freezing.
14	Flood /flʌd/ (n)	to cause to fill or become covered with water, especially in a way that causes problems	Heavy rains resulted in a flood that submerged low-lying areas.
15	Gloomy /’glu:mi/ (adj)	dark in a way that is unpleasant and makes it difficult to see	The gloomy sky and persistent rain cast a somber atmosphere over the town.

4. Emotions/Feelings

Let's see some common vocabulary related to the topic of emotions/feelings below with PREP!

No.	Emotions/ Feelings Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Amused /ə’mju:zd/ (adj)	showing that you think something is funny	The comedian's jokes left the audience amused.
2	Afraid /əˈfreɪd/ (adj)	feeling fear, or feeling worry about the possible results of a particular situation	Sarah felt afraid when she heard strange noises coming from the dark alley.
3	Angry /ˈæŋgri/ (adj)	having a strong feeling against someone who has behaved badly, making you want to shout at them or hurt them	James became angry when he discovered that someone had changed his computer settings.
4	Anxious /ˈæŋkʃəs/ (adj)	worried and nervous	Before the exam, students were anxious.
5	Annoyed /əˈnɔɪd/ (adj)	to make someone angry	Maria was annoyed by the noise from the construction site.
6	Ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ (adj)	feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or about a quality in your character	After the mistake at work, John felt ashamed.
7	Bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd/ (adj)	confused and uncertain	The complicated instructions left the new employee bewildered.
8	Bored /bɔrd/ (adj)	feeling unhappy because something is not interesting or because you have nothing to do, or showing that you feel like this	The lecture was so dull that many students looked bored.
9	Confident /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/ (adj)	being certain of your abilities or having trust in people, plans, or the future	Despite the challenges, Emily remained confident that she could successfully complete the project.
10	Confused /kənˈfjuzd/ (adj)	unable to think clearly or to understand something	The complex puzzle left the participants confused.
11	Delighted /dɪˈlaɪtɪd/ (adj)	very pleased	The children were delighted when they received unexpected gifts on their birthdays.
12	Disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ (adj)	unhappy because someone or something was not as good as you hoped or expected, or because something did not happen	Tom felt disappointed when his favorite team lost the championship game.
13	Disgusted /dɪsˈgʌstɪd/ (n)	feeling extreme dislike or disapproval of something	The spoiled food in the refrigerator left a disgusting odor.
14	Ecstatic /ɪkˈstætɪk/ (adj)	extremely happy	Winning the lottery made Mark ecstatic, and he couldn't believe his good fortune.
15	Embarrassed /ɪmˈbɛrəst/ (adj)	feeling ashamed or shy	Emma was embarrassed when she realized she had been talking loudly on the phone in a quiet library.

5. Shopping

In the 120 most common English vocabulary related to the topic of shopping, you need to remember the following basic words:

No.	Shopping Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Shop /ˈʃɒp/ (v)	to buy things in shops	I like shopping on weekends.
2	Retail /ˈriː.teɪl/ (n)	the activity of selling goods to the public, usually in shops	Retail stores are more expensive than dealers.
3	Mall /mɔːl/ (n)	a large, usually covered, shopping area where cars are not allowed	Shopping malls are usually very crowded.
4	Store /stɔːr/ (n)	a large shop where you can buy many different types of goods	I stopped by the shoe store to pick up a pair.
5	Customer /ˈkʌs.tə.mər/ (n)	a person who buys goods or a service	The customer is the one who pays you.
6	Sale /seɪl/ (n)	an act of exchanging something for money	This store is on sale.
7	Discount /ˈdɪs.kaʊnt/ (n)	a reduction in the usual price	I got a 30% discount with this order.
8	Purchase /ˈpɜː.tʃəs/ (v)	to buy something	I have a habit of purchasing cheap goods.
9	Payment /ˈpeɪ.mənt/ (n)	an amount of money paid	Payment methods are very diverse.
10	Receipt /rɪˈsiːt/ (n)	something such as a piece of paper or message proving that money, goods, or information have been received	I would like to receive a receipt.

6. Colors

Regarding the topic of colors, in the 120 most common English vocabulary, you need to remember the following words:

No.	Colors Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Color /ˈkʌl.ər/ (n)	a substance, such as a paint or dye, which you add to something to make it have the appearance of a particular color.	Color makes the wall stand out.
2	Red /red/ (n)	of the color of fresh blood	Red represents the color of blood.
3	Blue /bluː/ (n)	of the color of the sky without clouds on a bright day, or a darker or lighter type of this	Blue gives a cool feeling.
4	Green /ɡriːn/ (n)	of a color between blue and yellow; of the color of grass	Green is symbolic of summer.
5	Yellow /ˈjel.oʊ/ (n)	a color like that of a lemon or gold or the sun	I like the yellow color of ripe rice fields.
6	Orange /ˈɔːr.ɪndʒ/ (n)	a color between red and yellow	I have an orange bag.
7	Pink /pɪŋk/ (n)	a pale red color	The pink color is symbolic of love.
8	Purple /ˈpɜːr.pəl/ (n)	a dark reddish-blue color	Purple is a symbol of fidelity.
9	Brown /braʊn/ (n)	the color of chocolate or soil	Brown gives an antique feel.
10	Black /blæk/ (n)	the color of coal or of the sky on a very dark night	Black is a masculine color.
11	White /waɪt/ (n)	a color like that of snow, milk, or bone	White is easy to get dirty.

7. Sports

In the 120 most common English vocabulary related to the topic of sports, here are some basic words:

No.	Sports Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Sport /spɔːrt/ (n)	a game, competition, or activity needing physical effort and skill that is played or done according to rules, for enjoyment and/or as a job	My boyfriend loves to play sports.
2	Football /ˈfʊt.bɔːl/ (n)	a game played between two teams of eleven people, where each team tries to win by kicking a ball into the other team's goal	Football is the king sport.
3	Basketball /ˈbæs.kɪt.bɔːl/ (n)	a game played by two teams of five players who score points by throwing a large ball through an open net hanging from a metal ring	Playing basketball helps to increase height.
4	Tennis /ˈten.ɪs/ (n)	a game played between two or four people on a special playing area that involves hitting a small ball across a central net using a racket	Tennis is a sport that requires agility.
5	Swimming /ˈswɪm.ɪŋ/ (n)	the sport or activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs	I usually go swimming on weekends.
6	Running /ˈrʌn.ɪŋ/ (n)	the activity of going somewhere quickly on foot, as a sport or for pleasure	Running helps to lose weight.
7	Cycling /ˈsaɪ.kəl.ɪŋ/ (n)	the sport of riding a bicycle	I'm going to get up early to go cycling this weekend.
8	Gymnastics /dʒɪmˈnæs.tɪks/ (n)	physical exercises and activities performed inside, often using equipment such as bars and ropes, intended to increase the body's strength and the ability to move and bend easily	Gymnastics requires the guidance of a coach.
9	Volleyball /ˈvɒl.i.bɔːl/ (n)	a game in which two teams use their hands to hit a large ball backwards and forwards over a high net without allowing the ball to touch the ground	Volleyball is my school's main sport.

8. Environment

In the 120 most common English vocabulary related to the topic of the environment, you need to remember some basic words:

No.	Environment Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Environment /ɪnˈvaɪ.rən.mənt/ (n)	the air, water, and land in or on which people, animals, and plants live	Please protect the environment because that is also protecting yourself.
2	Pollution /pəˈluː.ʃən/ (n)	damage caused to water, air, etc. by harmful substances or waste	Car exhaust is the main reason for the city's pollution.
3	Climate /ˈklaɪ.mət/ (n)	the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place	The climate is cooler in the east of the country.
4	Conservation /ˌkɒn.səˈveɪ.ʃən/ (n)	the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity	Animal conservation is something we need to do together.
5	Recycle /ˌriːˈsaɪ.kəl/ (v)	to sort and collect rubbish in order to treat it and produce useful materials that can be used again	Recycling waste helps reduce environmental pollution.
6	Ecosystem /ˈiː.koʊ.sɪs.təm/ (n)	all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment	Forest ecosystems are being destroyed.
7	Biodiversity /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.daɪˈvɜːr.sə.ti/ (n)	the number and types of plants and animals that exist in a particular area or in the world generally, or the problem of protecting this	Learning about biodiversity is very interesting.
8	Deforestation /ˌdiː.fɒr.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən/ (n)	the cutting down of trees in a large area, or the destruction of forests by people	Deforestation causes many animals to die.

9. Animals

In the 120 most common English vocabulary related to the topic of animals, you need to grasp the following basic words:

No.	Animals Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Animal /ˈæn.ɪ.məl/ (n)	something that lives and moves but is not a human, bird, fish, or insect	Please protect animals.
2	Mammal /ˈmæm.əl/ (n)	any animal of which the female feeds her young on milk from her own body. Most mammals give birth to live young, not eggs.	Kangaroos are mammals.
3	Bird /bɜːrd/ (n)	a creature with feathers and wings, usually able to fly	I have 3 birds.
4	Fish /fɪʃ/ (n)	an animal that lives in water, is covered with scales, and breathes by taking water in through its mouth, or the flesh of these animals eaten as food	Fish are animals that live in the water.
5	Reptile /ˈrep.taɪl/ (n)	an animal that produces eggs and uses the heat of the sun to keep its blood warm	Snakes are reptiles.
6	Amphibian /æmˈfɪb.i.ən/ (n)	an animal, such as a frog, that lives both on land and in water but must produce its eggs in water	Frogs are amphibians.
7	Insect /ˈɪn.sekt/ (n)	a type of very small animal with six legs, a body divided into three parts and usually two pairs of wings, or, more generally, any similar very small animal	Insects are invertebrates.
8	Predator /ˈpred.ə.tər/ (n)	an animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals	Lions are predators.
9	Pet /pet/ (n)	an animal that is kept in the home as a companion and treated kindly	Cats are my pets.

10. Information Technology

In the 120 most common English vocabulary related to the topic of information technology, you need to grasp the following basic words:

No.	Information Technology Topic	Meaning	Example
1	Technology /tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi/ (n)	(the study and knowledge of) the practical, especially industrial, use of scientific discoveries	My boyfriend works in the field of information technology.
2	Computer /kəmˈpjuː.tər/ (n)	an electronic machine that is used for storing, organizing, and finding words, numbers, and pictures, for doing calculations, and for controlling other machines	I am equipped with a computer to work on in the office.
3	Software /ˈsɒft.weər/ (n)	the instructions that control what a computer does; computer programs	I am a software programmer.
4	Hardware /ˈhɑːd.weər/ (n)	the physical and electronic parts of a computer, rather than the instructions it follows	I know how to replace the hardware of the computer.
5	Internet /ˈɪn.tə.net/ (n)	the large system of connected computers around the world that allows people to share information and communicate with each other	The device requires an internet connection to access the application.
6	Website /ˈweb.saɪt/ (n)	a set of pages of information on the internet about a particular subject, published by a single person or organization	I am managing two websites.
7	Database /ˈdeɪ.tə.beɪs/ (n)	a large amount of information stored in a computer system in such a way that it can be easily looked at or changed	A database is a place where data is stored in a programming system.
8	Programming /ˈproʊ.ɡræm.ɪŋ/ (n)	the activity or job of writing computer programs	This programming system has secure security.
9	Algorithm /ˈæl.ɡə.rɪðəm/ (n)	a set of mathematical instructions or rules that, especially if given to a computer, will help to calculate an answer to a problem	You need to learn about algorithms when you start programming.
10	Cybersecurity /ˈsaɪ.bər.sɪˌkjʊr.ə.ti/ (n)	things that are done to protect a person, organization, or country and their computer information against crime or attacks carried out using the internet	Cybersecurity laws are very strict.

II. Effective methods to learn 120 most common English vocabulary

To effectively learn the 120 most common English vocabulary, you can apply the following methods:

1. Application and avoidance of word death

Try to apply the 120 most common English vocabulary in real-life situations and contexts, such as in daily communication or in your studies, to prevent the words from becoming stagnant. You can practice naming objects and phenomena around you using English vocabulary. Alternatively, you can create situations and topics to practice speaking every day. Additionally, an effective way to learn vocabulary is by writing a daily journal in English.

2. Spaced repetition

Spaced repetition is an effective method to learn vocabulary that you should adopt. With this learning method, you can plan the appropriate number of new words to learn and review old words.

For example, on the second day, learn 5 new words; on the third day, learn 10 new words; on the fourth day, review the 5 words from the second day and the 5 words from the third day. In the first month of familiarizing yourself with this vocabulary learning method, you can start by learning only 5 words per day. However, in the second month, you can increase it to 10 words per day.

3. Thematic learning and mind mapping

Learning vocabulary by themes helps you to have a holistic understanding and better connections between words. You can study according to the main themes mentioned above, and combine it with mind mapping to ensure a comprehensive and easier-to-remember approach.

You can divide the 120 most common English vocabulary into themes such as food, transportation, weather, etc., and then create mind maps for each theme.

For example, for the topic of clothing, you can refer to the basic mind map below:

4. Learn vocabulary with PREP

PREP offers vocabulary courses ranging from basic to advanced levels, suitable for different learning paths and proficiency levels. PREP's vocabulary courses not only cover diverse topics but also provide effective learning methods. The content of PREP's vocabulary courses includes:

Course	Content
Basic vocabulary	10 lessons covering 10 main topics: Introduction, Natural World, Daily Activities, Family, Interior Design, Health, Student Life, Leisure Time, Work and Colleagues, Technology.
Intermediate vocabulary	17 lessons covering vocabulary topics such as appearance, personality and social relationships, events and celebrations, homes, weather and climate, emotions and opinions, shopping, food and drinks, health, arts and sports, work, education, films and media, places and transportation.
Advanced vocabulary	18 lessons including lectures on effective vocabulary learning methods, topics related to relationships in life, dining, entertainment, cultural tourism, construction and housing, social media, politics and war, crimes and punishments, education, environment and related issues, science and technology, professions and economy, infrastructure.

This article is a compilation of the 120 most common English vocabulary organized by basic themes that you should familiarize yourself with when starting to learn English. PREP hopes that you can apply suitable learning methods to enhance your learning effectiveness!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.