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Most common English words that start with C organized by topic

One of the most popular approaches to learning vocabulary in English is topic-based learning. How can you master English words that start with C, broken down by the most popular subjects? Let PREP help you answer those questions by a series of vocabulary with illustrative examples.

I. English words that start with C organized by topic

The most common English words that start with C are listed below, arranged by topic. For better understanding, the terms and explanatory examples are provided in this table. Let’s explore this with PREP.

1. Food and beverage

Many people may be interested in the first topic, food and beverages. The following is a list of fruits and vegetables, as well as food words that start with C.

English words that start with C	Word class	Pronunciation	Example
Carrot	Noun	/ˈkærət/	I like to snack on baby carrots with hummus.
Cherry	Noun	/ˈtʃɛri/	She loves to add cherries to her smoothie bowl in the morning.
Coconut	Noun	/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt/	The coconut milk gives this curry a creamy texture.
Cucumber	Noun	/ˈkjuːkʌmbər/	Cucumbers are a great addition to any salad.
Cantaloupe	Noun	/ˈkæntəˌloʊp/	I like to eat cantaloupe for breakfast in the summer.
Corn	Noun	/kɔrn/	We roasted corn on the cob for dinner last night.
Cabbage	Noun	/ˈkæbɪdʒ/	This stir-fry recipe calls for shredded cabbage.
Cranberry	Noun	/ˈkrænˌbɛri/	I like to make cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner.
Celery	Noun	/ˈsɛləri/	I always add celery to my chicken soup for extra flavor.
Coconut milk	Noun	/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt mɪlk/	This vegan ice cream recipe uses coconut milk instead of dairy.
Cauliflower	Noun	/ˈkɔliˌflaʊər/	I like to roast cauliflower with olive oil and garlic for a simple side dish.
Chili pepper	Noun	/ˈtʃɪli ˌpɛpər/	This salsa has a bit of a kick from the chili peppers.
Clementine	Noun	/ˈklɛməntaɪn/	My kids love to eat clementine.
Chicken Curry	Noun	/ˈtʃɪkən ˈkɜri/	I love to make chicken curry with lots of vegetables and serve it over rice.
Clam Chowder	Noun	/klæm ˈtʃaʊdər/	The clam chowder is a New England classic.
Condiment	Noun	/ˈkɑndɪmənt/	Ketchup is a popular condiment for hamburgers and french fries.

2. Health

In terms of health, aside from diseases and body organs, there are chemicals that are beneficial to health. Let's find out what those terms are with PREP!

English words that start with C	Word class	Pronunciation	Example
Cholesterol	Noun	/kəˈlɛstərɔl/	High cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.
Cardiovascular	Noun	/ˌkɑrdiəˈvæskjələr/	Regular exercise can help improve cardiovascular health.
Caffeine	Noun	/ˈkæfiːn/	I try to limit my caffeine intake to avoid jitters and sleeplessness.
Carbohydrate	Noun	/ˌkɑrboʊˈhaɪdreɪt/	Complex carbohydrates like whole grains are a good source of energy for your body.
Calcium	Noun	/ˈkælsiəm/	Calcium is important for building and maintaining strong bones.
Cancer	Noun	/ˈkænsər/	Regular screenings can help detect cancer early and improve outcomes.
Calorie	Noun	/ˈkæləri/	To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume.
Cleanse	Noun	/klɛnz/	Some people do a cleanse to remove toxins from their body.
Constipation	Noun	/ˌkɑnstəˈpeɪʃən/	Drinking plenty of water and eating fiber can help prevent constipation.
Counseling	Noun	/ˈkaʊnsəlɪŋ/	Counseling can be helpful for managing stress and mental health concerns.
Cardio	Adjective	/ˈkɑrdioʊ/	I like to do cardio exercises like running or cycling to control my heart beat.
Chest	Noun	/tʃɛst/	I do chest exercises like bench press to strengthen my upper body.
Chin	Noun	/tʃɪn/	Chin ups are a great way to work your back and biceps muscles.
Calf	Noun	/kæf/	I stretch my calves before and after running to prevent injury.
Cheek	Noun	/tʃiːk/	I apply blush to my cheeks for a natural, healthy glow.

3. Environment

The environment is one of the most common and currently most concerned topics. To understand, research, and professionally communicate about this topic, learning vocabulary is one of the essential ways to dive deeper into it.

English words that start with C	Word class	Pronunciation	Example
Climate change	Noun	/ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/	The effects of climate change are already being paid attention around the world.
Conservation	Noun	/ˌkɑnsərˈveɪʃən/	The conservation of endangered species is crucial to maintain biodiversity.
Carbon footprint	Noun	/ˈkɑrbən ˈfʊtˌprɪnt/	We need to reduce our carbon footprint to limit the impact of climate change.
Composting	Noun	/ˈkɑmpoʊstɪŋ/	Composting is a great way to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil.
Clean energy	Noun phrase	/kliːn ˈɛnərdʒi/	The development of clean energy is essential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Conservationist	Noun	/ˌkɑnsərˈveɪʃənɪst/	Jane Goodall is a renowned conservationist who has worked to protect chimpanzees and their habitats.
Coral reef	Compound Noun	/ˈkɔrəl riːf/	Coral reefs are crucial to marine ecosystems and are threatened by climate change and pollution.
Conservation area	Compound Noun	/ˌkɑnsərˈveɪʃən ˈɛriə/	Yellowstone National Park is a protected conservation area that is home to many unique species.
Clean water	phrase	/kliːn ˈwɔtər/	Access to clean water is a basic human right that is still denied to many people around the world.
Canyon	Noun	ˈkænjən/	The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States.
Climate	Noun	/ˈklaɪmət/	The climate of the tropics is typically warm and humid.
Coastline	Noun	/ˈkoʊstˌlaɪn/	The coastline of California is known for its beautiful beaches and rugged cliffs.
Crater	Noun	/ˈkreɪtər/	The Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii has a massive crater that is constantly spewing lava.
Current	Noun/ Adjective	/ˈkɜrənt/	The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that influences weather patterns in the Atlantic Ocean.
Contamination	Noun	/kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/	Much of the coast has been contaminated by nuclear waste.

4. Education and School

What terms are related to education? Let’s find them down with PREP!

English words that start with C	Word class	Pronunciation	Example
Classroom	Noun	/ˈklæsˌrum/	The students were all seated in the classroom when the teacher entered.
Curriculum	Noun	/kəˈrɪkjələm/	The school board decided to update the curriculum to include more technology-based classes.
College	Noun	/ˈkɑlɪdʒ/	After graduating from high school, she decided to attend a college in another state.
Coursework	Noun	/ˈkɔrsˌwɜrk/	The students were assigned a lot of coursework to complete before the end of the semester.
Credential	Noun	/krəˈdɛnʃəl/	He earned a teaching credential and started working as a high school teacher.
Certificate	Noun	/sərˈtɪfɪkət/	She has a Certificate in Drama Education.
Calculator	Noun	/ˈkælkjəˌleɪtər/	Make sure you bring a calculator to the math exam.
Cafeteria	Noun	/ˌkæfəˈtɪriə/	I always eat lunch in the school cafeteria with my friends.
Campus	Noun	/ˈkæmpəs/	The campus is very large, and it has many different buildings.
Computer lab	Noun	/kəmˈpjutər læb/	The computer lab is open until 8 pm every day.
Chemistry lab	Noun	/ˈkɛmɪstri læb/	The chemistry lab is where we perform experiments and analyze chemical reactions.
Calculus	Noun	/ˈkælkjələs/	Calculus is a challenging but rewarding subject to study.
Creative Writing	Noun	/kriˈeɪtɪv ˈraɪtɪŋ/	I took a creative writing class last semester, and it helped me improve my storytelling skills.
Civics	Noun	/ˈsɪvɪks/	Civics is an essential subject for students to learn because it teaches them about their role in society and the importance of voting.
Computer Science	Noun	/kəmˈpjutər ˈsaɪəns/	I took a creative writing class last semester, and it helped me improve my storytelling skills.

5. Sports

Sports is one of the fascinating and globally connecting topics. To stay updated with sports information worldwide, it's crucial to grasp vocabulary related to sports starting with the C as provided below!

English words that start with C	Word class	Pronunciation	Example
Coach	Noun	/koʊtʃ/	The coach gave the team a pep talk before the big game.
Competition	Noun	/ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/	She always looks forward to the annual dance competition.
Competitive	Adjective	/kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/	The smartphone market is highly competitive, with many companies vying for a share of the profits.
Cheerleader	Noun	/ˈtʃɪrˌlidər/	The cheerleaders led the crowd in cheers for their team.
Championship	Noun	/ˈtʃæmpiənˌʃɪp/	The team won the championship after a hard-fought season.
Cardio	Adjective	/ˈkɑrdioʊ/	She did cardio exercises to improve her endurance for the race.
Cleats	Noun	/kliːts/	He needed new cleats for the soccer game.
Court	Noun	/kɔrt/	The tennis court was freshly painted and ready for play.
Catcher	Noun	/ˈkætʃər/	The catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher after each pitch.
Cycling	Noun	/ˈsaɪklɪŋ/	She enjoys cycling as a way to stay in shape and explore the outdoors.
Cross-training	Noun	/ˈkrɔs ˌtreɪnɪŋ/	The athlete engaged in cross-training to develop overall fitness and prevent injury.
Cup	Noun	/kʌp/	Sheila won this cup in the school squash championship.
Cricket	Noun	/ˈkrɪkɪt/	England and Australia have a long-standing rivalry in cricket.
Cycling	Noun	/ˈsaɪklɪŋ/	The Tour de France is one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world.
Curling	Noun	/ˈkɜrlɪŋ/	Curling is a sport that involves sliding stones on ice towards a target area.
Capoeira	Noun	/ˌkæpoʊˈɛrə/	Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, music, and acrobatics.

6. Clothes

Regarding clothes, what are the English words that start with C? Let’s discover with PREP!

English words that start with C	Word class	Pronunciation	Example
Caftan	Noun	/ˈkæftæn/	The woman wore a beautiful caftan embroidered with gold thread
Camouflage	Noun	/ˈkæməˌflɑʒ/	The soldiers wore camouflage uniforms to blend in with their surroundings
Cap and gown	Noun	/kæp ənd ɡaʊn/	The graduates wore their cap and gown for the commencement ceremony.
Capris	Noun	/ˈkæpriz/	The woman wore a pair of blue capris with her white blouse
Chemise	Noun	/ʃəˈmiːz/	She wore a soft cotton chemise to bed.
Collar	Noun	/ˈkɑlər/	The man wore a white shirt with a pointed collar.
Costume	Noun	/ˈkɑstjuːm/	The actors wore elaborate costumes for the historical drama.
Cowboy boots	Noun	/ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ bʊts/	He wore a pair of cowboy boots with his jeans.
Cravat	Noun	/krəˈvæt/	The gentleman wore a silk cravat with his suit.
Cuff	Noun	/kʌf/	Her blouse had ruffled cuffs.
Culottes	Noun	/ˈkjuːlɒts/	She wore a pair of black culottes with her blouse.
Camisole	Noun	/ˈkæmɪˌsoʊl/	The woman wore a lacy camisole under her sweater.
Cap	Noun	/kæp/	He wore a baseball cap to protect his head from the sun.
Coat	Noun	/koʊt/	She wore a wool coat to keep warm in the winter
Crown	Noun	/kraʊn/	The king wore a golden crown on his head.
Creative	Adjective	/kriˈeɪtɪv/	She has a very creative mind and is always coming up with new and innovative ideas.
Cultural	Adjective	/ˈkʌlʧərəl/	During the festival, dancers wear traditional cultural costumes to showcase their heritage.
Cheap	Adjective	/tʃiːp/	The T-Shirt is so cheap.
Cool	Adjective	/kuːl/	He always dresses in a cool style, wearing leather jackets and ripped jeans.
Contemporary	Adjective	/kənˈtɛmpəˌrɛri/	The designer's new collection showcases a blend of traditional and contemporary fashion elements.
Coordinate	Verb	/koʊˈɔrdɪˌneɪt/	She always coordinates her accessories with her outfit.
Customize	Verb	/ˈkʌstəˌmaɪz/	He decided to customize his suit to fit him perfectly.
Contrast	Verb	/ˈkɒntræst/	She likes to contrast her bright clothing with neutral accessories.
Combine	Verb	/kəmˈbaɪn/	He combined a casual shirt with a blazer for a more formal look.
Carefully	Adverb	/ˈkɛrfəli/	She carefully chose her accessories to match her outfit.
Carelessly	Adverb	/ˈkɛrlɪsli/	She threw on her clothes carelessly, not caring about her appearance.
Comfortably	Adverb	/ˈkʌmfərtəbli/	He prefers to dress comfortably, wearing loose-fitting clothing.
Chicly	Adverb	/ˈʃiːkli/	She always dresses chicly, with stylish and trendy clothing.
Casually	Adverb	/ˈkæʒuəli/	He dressed casually for the weekend, wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Refer to some more articles:

II. Tips to learn English words that start with C effectively

1. Learn by images

Create a list of words that start with C which you want to learn (you can use the list of all words that start with C provided by PREP. Then, search for illustrative images for each word.

Focus on carefully memorizing each image for a few seconds, then label the image with the corresponding English word. Using this method will help your memory save vocabulary more visually and effectively.

2. Watch movies and read English books on the same topics

Searching for documents that include English English words that start with C for reading and watching helps you approach new words and their usage in specific contexts. Take note of how those words are used in a sentence or paragraph!

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 1-16: The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series not only provides vocabulary but also contains many useful idioms that are commonly used in everyday life.
Series “Friends”: This series of films about relationships between friends provides numerous vocabulary items, not only covering school settings but also everyday life situations that you can encounter and add to your vocabulary collection!
Show “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”: This is one of the most popular and well-liked shows not only in America but also in many other countries. With the talented hosting of Jimmy Fallon and appearances from famous celebrities, you can both entertain yourself and actively absorb a large amount of vocabulary useful for communication.

3. Use vocabulary applications

There are many useful English vocabulary learning apps available for both mobile phones and desktop computers that you can leverage, such as 4English App and Cambridge Dictionary. Applications like these often feature repetition practice which allows you to review vocabulary regularly without spending hours at a time.

4. Practice regularly

To effectively learn English words that start with C, you need consistent practice. Try to use the new words in your daily activities, write sentences with them, or compose short paragraphs on related topics to fully apply the vocabulary you learned to your own writing.

III. Exercises on English words that start with C with detailed answers

Below is the exercise for you to practice memorizing those words deeply.

Exercise: Rearrange the following words into appropriate topics then explain the meaning.

Classroom, Cucumber, Curriculum, Cardiovascular, Cranberry, Climate change, Calculator, Cantaloupe, Clean energy, Chest, Cup, Conservationist, Computer, Competion, Certificate
Food and fruits	Health	Environment	Education	Sports

Answer:

Food and fruits

Health

Environment

Education

Sports

Cucumber

Cantaloupe

Cranberry

Cardiovascular

Chest

Climate change

Clean energy

Conservationist

Classroom

Computer

Certificate

Competition

Cup

PREP has collected and organized English words that start with C according to common themes. Learning vocabulary thematically helps you expand and improve your command of words within a subject, enabling more professional communication skills. Wish you the best in mastering English.

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.