English Vocabulary by CEFR Level: From A1 Beginner to C2 Proficiency

“What level is my English?” is one of the most common questions language learners ask. The answer depends heavily on vocabulary — how many words you know, how well you know them, and whether you can use them in context.

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) provides the global standard for measuring language proficiency. It divides learners into 6 levels — from A1 (complete beginner) to C2 (mastery) — and vocabulary is one of the key indicators at each stage.

This guide maps English vocabulary to all 6 CEFR levels. For each level, you will see:

• how many words you need,
• what kind of vocabulary is expected,
• sample words and phrases,
• and resources for building your vocabulary at that level.

What Is CEFR?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was created by the Council of Europe in 2001. It is the most widely used framework for describing language ability worldwide.

CEFR divides language proficiency into 3 broad bands and 6 specific levels:

CEFR is used by:

• Language exams: IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, TOEIC all map their scores to CEFR levels
• Schools and universities: Admission requirements often specify a CEFR level
• Employers: Job postings in Europe and Asia commonly require “B2 English” or “C1 English”
• Textbook publishers: Materials like “English Vocabulary in Use” are organized by CEFR level

How Many Words Do You Need at Each CEFR Level?

The relationship between vocabulary size and CEFR level is well-researched. Here are the widely accepted estimates:

Word family = a base word plus its forms (e.g., “happy” + “unhappy” + “happiness” + “happily” = 1 word family). Word forms = each individual variation counted separately.

These are estimates, not sharp boundaries. A learner might have B2-level vocabulary but B1-level grammar, or vice versa.

The 95% Coverage Threshold

Research by linguist Paul Nation shows that you need to understand about 95% of the words in a text to read it comfortably — guessing the rest from context. This corresponds roughly to B2 level (~4,000 word families). For academic reading and listening without difficulty, you need 98% coverage, which corresponds to C1 (~8,000 word families).

This is why B2 is often considered the “independence threshold” — the level where you can function in English without constant dictionary use.

A1 — Beginner (500 Word Families)

What A1 Vocabulary Looks Like

At A1, you know the most basic words for survival: introducing yourself, numbers, colors, days, family, food, and simple actions. You can handle very predictable everyday situations.

CEFR descriptor: “Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.”

A1 Vocabulary by Category

Personal information: name, age, country, address, phone number, email, birthday, language

People: mother, father, brother, sister, friend, teacher, student, boy, girl, man, woman, child, baby

Numbers: one through one hundred, first, second, third, last

Time: today, tomorrow, yesterday, morning, afternoon, evening, night, Monday–Sunday, January–December

Places: home, school, office, hospital, shop, restaurant, park, street, city, country

Food & drink: water, milk, tea, coffee, bread, rice, egg, chicken, fruit, apple, banana

Common verbs: be, have, do, go, come, see, know, want, like, eat, drink, sleep, work, live, speak, read, write, listen, open, close, buy, help

Adjectives: good, bad, big, small, new, old, hot, cold, happy, sad, easy, difficult, beautiful, ugly, cheap, expensive

Question words: what, where, when, who, how, how much, how many, why

A1 Sample Sentences

Go deeper: A1 English Vocabulary: 500 Essential Beginner Words

A2 — Elementary (1,000–1,500 Word Families)

What A2 Vocabulary Looks Like

At A2, you can handle routine tasks: shopping, ordering food, asking for directions, talking about your daily routine and past experiences. You know enough words to survive in an English-speaking country.

CEFR descriptor: “Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g., very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).”

A2 Vocabulary Additions (Beyond A1)

Daily routine: wake up, get dressed, brush teeth, take a shower, have breakfast, go to work, come home, go to bed

Travel: airport, ticket, passport, hotel, taxi, bus, train, station, map, left, right, straight, near, far

Shopping: price, sale, discount, size, color, try on, pay, cash, card, receipt, bag

Health: doctor, hospital, medicine, sick, pain, headache, cold, cough, fever, hurt, feel

Past tense markers: yesterday, last week, ago, already, just, yet

Common phrasal verbs: get up, wake up, turn on, turn off, look for, pick up, put on, take off

Emotions: excited, bored, scared, surprised, worried, angry, tired, nervous, proud

Connectors: because, but, so, and, or, also, then, before, after, if

A2 Sample Sentences

Go deeper: A2 English Vocabulary: Moving Past Beginner

B1 — Intermediate (2,000–2,500 Word Families)

What B1 Vocabulary Looks Like

B1 is a turning point. You can handle most situations while traveling, talk about experiences and plans, give reasons and opinions, and understand the main points of clear texts on familiar topics.

CEFR descriptor: “Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling.”

B1 Vocabulary Additions (Beyond A2)

Opinions and arguments: I think, I believe, in my opinion, I agree, I disagree, on the other hand, however, although, therefore, the reason is

Work & career: apply, interview, hire, resign, salary, experience, deadline, project, team, manager, skill, achieve, promotion, career

Education: course, degree, graduate, assignment, research, presentation, knowledge, improve, practice, develop

Abstract concepts: opportunity, experience (abstract), success, problem, solution, decision, advantage, disadvantage, difference, situation

Collocations: make a decision, take responsibility, give advice, pay attention, keep in touch, get in trouble, make progress, do research

Modals and hedging: might, could, should, would, probably, perhaps, it seems, it depends, I’m not sure, I suppose

Describing processes: first, next, then, after that, finally, as a result, in order to, so that

B1 Sample Sentences

Go deeper: B1 Intermediate English Vocabulary: 500 Words

B2 — Upper-Intermediate (3,500–4,500 Word Families)

What B2 Vocabulary Looks Like

B2 is where independence begins. You can read news articles, participate in discussions on unfamiliar topics, write clear essays, and understand most films without subtitles. This is the level most employers require.

CEFR descriptor: “Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.”

B2 Vocabulary Additions (Beyond B1)

Academic vocabulary: analyze, evaluate, significant, relevant, contribute, imply, perspective, phenomenon, theory, assumption, evidence, conclude, demonstrate, consistent

Expressing nuance: tend to, be likely to, apparently, presumably, to some extent, somewhat, relatively, considerably, nevertheless, furthermore, whereas, despite

Complex collocations: draw a conclusion, raise awareness, gain experience, pose a threat, address an issue, meet a requirement, take into account, come to terms with

Idioms and figurative language: break the ice, get the hang of, keep an eye on, at the end of the day, by and large, in the long run, take for granted, miss the point

Phrasal verbs (formal alternatives): set up → establish, carry out → conduct, come up with → devise, look into → investigate, turn down → decline, bring about → cause

Topic vocabulary: politics (government, policy, election, democracy), economics (inflation, recession, investment), environment (pollution, sustainability, renewable), technology (algorithm, data, artificial intelligence)

B2 Sample Sentences

Go deeper: B2 Upper-Intermediate Vocabulary: 500 Words

C1 — Advanced (6,000–8,000 Word Families)

What C1 Vocabulary Looks Like

C1 speakers can express complex ideas flexibly, understand long and demanding texts (including implicit meaning), and produce well-structured detailed text on complex subjects. This is the level of professional and academic English.

CEFR descriptor: “Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.”

C1 Vocabulary Additions (Beyond B2)

Sophisticated academic words: exacerbate, mitigate, unprecedented, paradigm, scrutinize, ubiquitous, pragmatic, resilient, volatile, ambiguous, inherent, proliferate, corroborate, juxtapose, delineate

Precise connectors: notwithstanding, insofar as, inasmuch as, in light of, with respect to, contingent upon, irrespective of, in conjunction with

Abstract and nuanced concepts: dichotomy, catharsis, hegemony, epistemology, cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, socioeconomic, sustainability, commodification

Formal register: It is worth noting that…, One might argue that…, This raises the question of…, It would be remiss not to mention…, The implications of this are significant.

Connotation awareness: childish (negative) vs. childlike (positive); thrifty (positive) vs. cheap/stingy (negative); assertive (positive) vs. aggressive (negative)

Low-frequency collocations: deeply entrenched, inextricably linked, diametrically opposed, categorically deny, resounding success, tacit approval

C1 Sample Sentences

Go deeper: C1 Advanced English Vocabulary: 500 Words | IELTS Advanced Vocabulary: Band 8–9

C2 — Proficiency (10,000–16,000+ Word Families)

What C2 Vocabulary Looks Like

C2 is near-native mastery. You understand virtually everything you read or hear, including slang, archaic language, specialized jargon, and subtle humor. You can express yourself precisely and distinguish fine shades of meaning.

CEFR descriptor: “Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.”

C2 Vocabulary Additions (Beyond C1)

Rare and literary words: ephemeral, ineffable, surreptitious, obsequious, magnanimous, recalcitrant, lugubrious, perfunctory, sesquipedalian, defenestration

Archaic and formal expressions: henceforth, albeit, heretofore, notwithstanding, pursuant to, in lieu of, vis-à-vis, ipso facto, modus operandi

Idiomatic mastery: know the ropes, cut to the chase, a Pyrrhic victory, a Catch-22, beyond the pale, a red herring, tongue-in-cheek, a Faustian bargain

Register flexibility: switching fluently between formal academic (“The data corroborate the hypothesis”), informal conversational (“The numbers check out”), and colloquial/slang (“The stats totally back it up”)

Connotation mastery: understanding that aroma (pleasant), smell (neutral), and stench (unpleasant) all mean “odor” but carry different emotional weight

Domain-specific vocabulary: the ability to discuss specialized topics (law, medicine, finance, technology, philosophy) using field-appropriate terminology without oversimplifying

C2 Sample Sentences

Go deeper: C2 Proficiency Vocabulary: Mastering Nuance | Hard English Words: 500+ Difficult Words

The Oxford 3000 and Oxford 5000

The Oxford 3000 and Oxford 5000 are curated word lists created by Oxford University Press, selected based on frequency, range, and familiarity. They are widely used in English teaching and are organized by CEFR level.

How the Oxford Lists Map to CEFR

The Oxford 3000 covers A1–B2 and represents the vocabulary a learner needs for general English communication. The additional 2,000 words in the Oxford 5000 are primarily C1-level academic vocabulary.

Why this matters: If you learn the Oxford 3000, you have the core vocabulary for B2-level proficiency — enough to handle most everyday and professional situations. Adding the Oxford 5000 brings you to C1 and prepares you for academic contexts.

For a detailed guide, see The Oxford 3000 and 5000 Word Lists by CEFR Level.

CEFR and Language Exams

CEFR levels map directly to scores on major English exams:

For IELTS preparation, vocabulary is a critical component of the Lexical Resource scoring criterion. See IELTS Advanced Vocabulary: Words for Band 8–9 for level-specific word lists.

How Linglify Organizes Vocabulary by Level

Linglify’s word library is tagged by CEFR level, so you can study vocabulary that matches your current proficiency and gradually progress to the next level.

When you add a word to your personal dictionary, Linglify shows its CEFR level (A1–C2) and schedules spaced repetition reviews at optimal intervals. This means:

• Beginners (A1–A2) can focus on high-frequency words they will actually use daily
• Intermediate learners (B1–B2) can target the vocabulary gap between everyday and academic English
• Advanced learners (C1–C2) can work on nuanced, low-frequency words that distinguish good English from excellent English

Vocabulary to Practice

These 24 words span all 6 CEFR levels — 4 per level, from basic to advanced.

Your Vocabulary Building Path

Step 1: Assess your current level

If you are unsure of your CEFR level, a rough self-test: read the sample sentences in each section above. The level where you start to struggle with more than 2–3 words per sentence is approximately your current level.

Step 2: Focus one level up

If you are comfortably at B1, study B2 vocabulary. Trying to jump from B1 to C1 is inefficient — the gap is too large, and C1 words are rarely useful until your B2 foundation is solid.

Step 3: Use the right resources

Step 4: Practice with spaced repetition

Add words from the appropriate level to Linglify and review them daily. Research shows that spaced repetition is the most efficient way to move vocabulary from short-term to long-term memory. See How to Memorize Vocabulary: Science-Backed Techniques for the full methodology.

What to Read Next

By level:

• A1 English Vocabulary: 500 Essential Beginner Words
• B1 Intermediate English Vocabulary
• B2 Upper-Intermediate Vocabulary
• C1 Advanced English Vocabulary
• C2 Proficiency Vocabulary

By type:

• 1000 Most Common English Words — the essential word list
• English Words for Daily Use — practical everyday vocabulary
• English Synonyms and Antonyms Guide — upgrade word choices at any level
• English Homophones: 300+ Examples — avoid common spelling confusion

Learning strategies:

• How to Improve Your Vocabulary — the complete system
• How to Memorize Vocabulary — science-backed techniques

FAQ

What CEFR level is IELTS 6.5?

IELTS 6.5 corresponds to B2 on the CEFR scale. This means you can understand complex texts, interact with reasonable fluency, and produce clear writing on a range of topics. A score of 6.5 is the most common minimum requirement for university admission in English-speaking countries. To reach C1 (IELTS 7.0–8.0), you typically need to expand your vocabulary by 2,000–3,000 additional word families beyond B2.

How long does it take to go from one CEFR level to the next?

The Cambridge English estimates are: A1 → A2: ~200 hours of study; A2 → B1: ~200 hours; B1 → B2: ~200 hours; B2 → C1: ~200 hours; C1 → C2: ~200+ hours. These are guided study hours (classroom or structured self-study). The gap between C1 and C2 is the widest in practice because C2 requires mastering nuance, rare vocabulary, and near-native cultural knowledge.

Is B2 enough for working in English?

For most professional roles, B2 is the minimum functional level. You can participate in meetings, write emails, read reports, and handle client communication. However, roles that require negotiation, persuasion, nuanced writing (marketing, law, diplomacy), or academic work typically require C1. Many international companies set B2 as the minimum for non-English-speaking employees and C1 for client-facing or management roles.

What is the difference between knowing a word and “having” it at a CEFR level?

Knowing a word at a CEFR level means three things: (1) Recognition — you understand it when you hear or read it; (2) Production — you can use it correctly in your own speech and writing; (3) Collocation awareness — you know which other words it naturally combines with. At A1, you might “know” the word “make” but only use it in “make breakfast.” At B2, you use “make a decision,” “make progress,” “make an effort.” At C1, you use “make a concession,” “make a compelling case.”

Should I learn all the words at my level before moving to the next?

No. Language levels overlap significantly, and you will naturally encounter words from the level above as you read and listen. A practical approach: learn 80% of the vocabulary at your current level, then start adding words from the next level. You do not need to “complete” B1 before touching B2 vocabulary — especially for topics that interest you personally or relate to your work.

How do I know which words are A1, A2, B1, etc.?

The most reliable reference is the Oxford 3000/5000 list, which tags every word with its CEFR level. The English Vocabulary Profile (EVP) by Cambridge is another research-based resource. In Linglify, every word in the library is tagged with its CEFR level, so you can filter and study by level directly. Major learner dictionaries (Oxford, Cambridge, Longman) also mark word frequency and level in their entries.

Can I skip levels if I already know some English?

You should never skip vocabulary fundamentals. Even learners who test at B2 often have gaps in A2–B1 vocabulary (especially phrasal verbs, collocations, and function words). However, you can absolutely study vocabulary from multiple levels simultaneously — review lower-level gaps while learning new higher-level words. The key is not skipping the assessment step: test yourself honestly to identify where your actual gaps are, then fill them systematically.