Essential English Vocabulary: Word Lists by Category

Film and TV Genres

  • Action Adventure
  • Cartoon
  • Comedy
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
  • Romance
  • Musical
  • Western
  • Martial Arts
  • War
  • Documentary
  • Game Show
  • Soap Opera
  • Sports Programme
  • The News
  • Chat Show
  • Reality TV Show
  • Crime Series
  • Comedy Show

Shops and Shopping Concepts

  • Bookshop: selling (vender)
  • Cafe: borrowing (prestar)
  • Chemist: saving (ahorrar)
  • Clothes Shop: buying
  • Electronics Shop: spending (gastar)
  • Music Shop: earning (ganar)
  • Newsagent: shopping
  • Cosmetics Shop
  • Shoe Shop
  • Sport Shop
  • Sweet Shop

Jobs and Related Adjectives

  • Dancer: brave (valiente)
  • Footballer: calm
  • Actor: cheerful (alegre)
  • Artist: stubborn (duro)
  • Musician: friendly
  • Computer Programmer: funny
  • Tennis Player: kind (amable)
  • Writer: quiet (tranquilo)
  • Lawyer: serious
  • Scientist
  • Athlete

Action Verbs and Adverbs

  • Caught: slowly
  • Chased: carefully
  • Climbed: happily
  • Hid: quickly
  • Fell: easily
  • Jumped: sleepily
  • Ran: quietly
  • Threw: well

Furniture and Appliances

  • Wardrobe (armario)
  • Cupboard (alacena)
  • Sofa
  • Mirror
  • Bookcase (librería)
  • Armchair
  • Toilet
  • Chair
  • Bed
  • Shower
  • Table
  • Desk
  • Chest of drawers (cajonera)
  • Kettle (tetera)
  • Dishwasher (lavavajillas)
  • Washing machine (lavadora)
  • Iron (plancha)
  • Toaster
  • Microwave
  • Fridge (nevera / frigorífico)
  • Blender (batidora)
  • Oven (horno)
  • Freezer (congelador)

Computer Words and Actions

  • Headphones
  • Keyboard (teclado)
  • Laptop
  • Memory stick
  • Microphone
  • Mouse
  • Printer
  • Screen (pantalla)
  • Desktop
  • Tablet
  • Touch screen (táctil)
  • Webcam
  • Wifi
  • Scroll down
  • Plug in
  • Log in
  • Turn on
  • Click on
  • Turn up
  • Turn off
  • Shut down
  • Turn down

Life Events

  • Pass your driving test
  • Get married
  • Go to school
  • Retire
  • Go to university
  • Have children
  • Leave school
  • Take a year out
  • Be born
  • Get a job

Accidents and Body Parts

  • Hurt your back: back (espalda)
  • Bang your head: elbow (codo)
  • Cut your fingers: ankle (tobillo)
  • Slip on ice: shoulder (hombro)
  • Break your leg: neck (cuello)
  • Trip over the dog: knee (rodilla)
  • Trap your fingers: wrist (muñeca)
  • Crash your car: chest (pecho)
  • Fall off your bike
  • Burn your hand

Special Occasions and Feelings

  • Christmas Day: stressed
  • Easter: bored
  • Halloween: excited
  • Mother’s Day / Father’s Day: tired
  • New Year’s Eve: embarrassed
  • Valentine’s Day: scared (asustado)
  • Birthday: sad
  • A public holiday: nervous
  • Wedding: angry
  • A day out