Learning English Vocabulary

Education & Explainer

About

Build your English vocabulary with these short programmes. Each week we explore a new topic to improve your English vocabulary. Learn words for the weather, how to talk about people’s jobs, adjective order, and so much more. Plus, in our English in a Minute episodes, give your vocabulary a boost in under a minute. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

Episodes

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'look'

    Beth explains English phrases that include the word 'look'. This episode is part of the Learning English Vocabulary series.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'end'

    In this episode of English in a Minute, Georgie explains four different English phrases that use the word 'end'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with fire Learning English Vocabulary

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores the meaning and usage of phrases featuring the word 'fire', including being 'on fire'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with hat

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains three common English phrases featuring the word 'hat'. Phil hosts this short lesson to help listeners improve their English communication skills.

  • Prefixes: dys- de- dis-

    In this episode of Learning English Vocabulary, Neil and Finn discuss the prefixes dys-, de-, and dis-. They explain how these prefixes function while using examples like dyspepsia and detox.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'money'

    In this episode of English in a Minute, Beth discusses various English phrases that feature the word 'money'. Listeners can access a free transcript for this lesson on the BBC Learning English website.

  • Ordinal numbers

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains how to use ordinal numbers and how to identify and state the current date.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'thing'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains common English phrases using the word "thing," such as "the next big thing" and "a thing of the past."

  • Short spoken forms

    This episode explores short spoken forms of English words, such as "gonna," "wanna," and "dunno," examining who uses them and why.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'hand'

    Georgie teaches four different English phrases featuring the word 'hand' in this episode of English in a Minute.

  • Uncountable nouns

    This episode explores the concept of uncountable nouns, using examples such as knowledge, money, and happiness to explain how to properly use them in English.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'eye'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores four common English phrases that feature the word 'eye'.

  • Time expressions

    Neil and Catherine explain how to use the time expressions 'in', 'at', and 'on' in English.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'water'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains the meaning and usage of several English phrases that feature the word 'water'.

  • Hyphenation

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains how to use hyphens correctly, using the example sentence: They did a ten-foot dive into the swimming pool.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'cards'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores various English idioms and phrases related to card games, including the meaning of 'to lay all your cards on the table'.

  • Words with double letters

    Catherine and Neil discuss how to spell words that contain double letters, including tips for remembering the spelling of 'accommodation'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'grass'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores four common English phrases that feature the word 'grass'. Listeners can also access additional learning resources and transcripts on the BBC Learning English website.

  • Pronouncing verbs and nouns

    In this episode of Learning English Vocabulary, Neil and Catherine explain how to correctly stress syllables when pronouncing words that can function as both nouns and verbs, such as 'increase'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'big'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary teaches various common English phrases that contain the word 'big'. Listener resources and transcripts are provided through the BBC Learning English website.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'baby'

    In this episode of English in a Minute, Georgie explores the meaning and usage of English phrases that include the word 'baby'. Listeners learn how to correctly use these expressions in everyday conversation.

  • British and American English

    Catherine and Doug explore the vocabulary differences and similarities between British and American English. The discussion covers examples like cookies versus biscuits and autumn versus fall.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'foot'

    This episode explores various English phrases that incorporate the word 'foot' to help listeners expand their vocabulary. A transcript and additional learning resources are available on the official BBC Learning English website.

  • Business jargon

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary introduces common business jargon, such as 'thinking out of the box' and taking a 'helicopter view'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'stop'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains four different phrases that use the word 'stop'. It also provides resources for learners to access transcripts and other language-learning materials.

  • Pronouncing words that start with ‘c’

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary teaches listeners how to identify and pronounce words that begin with the letter 'c' but produce an /s/ sound.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'bite'

    In this episode of English in a Minute, listeners learn four English phrases featuring the word 'bite'. The podcast includes a link to a free transcript on the BBC Learning English website.

  • Phrasal verbs and context

    This episode focuses on learning phrasal verbs by using them within sentences to better understand their meanings.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'bone'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary teaches four common phrases using the word 'bone'. The lesson lasts one minute and directs listeners to the BBC Learning English website for transcripts.

  • Prefixes: re- pre- and pro-

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores the use of the prefixes re-, pre-, and pro-.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'cake'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary teaches four English phrases that include the word 'cake'. Listeners are encouraged to practice using these expressions in everyday conversation.

  • Silent letters

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores the concept of silent letters in English words, which are written but not pronounced.

  • Onomatopoeia

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains the concept of onomatopoeia, which refers to words that imitate the sounds they describe.

  • Multi-word verbs

    In this episode of Learning English Vocabulary, the hosts discuss the use and meaning of multi-word verbs, using examples such as 'meet up with'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'lose'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains four common English phrases that use the word "lose." Listeners can find a transcript and additional learning resources on the BBC Learning English website.

  • Adjectives ending with -ic and -ical

    This episode explains the differences between English adjectives ending in -ic and -ical, specifically focusing on the example of 'classic' versus 'classical'.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'wind'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains how to use various English phrases containing the word 'wind' in everyday conversation. Listeners can access a transcript and additional learning resources on the BBC Learning English we…

  • Strong adjectives

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary teaches listeners how to use strong adjectives such as 'terrified', 'fantastic', and 'amazing'.

  • Male and female job words

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores job titles that differ based on gender, such as policeman/policewoman and actor/actress.

  • Weather words

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary teaches listeners useful words and phrases related to talking about the weather.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'gold'

    In this episode of Learning English Vocabulary, Phil explores four different English phrases that include the word 'gold'.

  • Homophones

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains the concept of homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different spellings. It uses the example of mail and male to illustrate the topic.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'light'

    Georgie explains the meaning of common English phrases containing the word 'light', including the phrase 'to see the light', as part of the English in a Minute series.

  • Compound nouns

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains compound nouns, which are nouns formed by combining two words, such as ice cream or popcorn.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'pull'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explains four different phrases that use the word 'pull'.

  • Adjective order

    This episode explains the grammatical rules for adjective order when describing nouns in English.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'clock'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary focuses on common English phrases containing the word "clock". It encourages listeners to learn these phrases.

  • Contractions

    This episode explains English contractions using the example "I've run a marathon." It teaches listeners how to use these shorter word forms.

  • English in a Minute: Phrases with 'home'

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary focuses on the phrase 'make yourself at home'. It provides a free transcript and suggests other BBC Learning English podcasts.

  • Job suffixes

    This episode of Learning English Vocabulary explores the connection between various job titles, such as teacher, driver, and presenter, by examining common suffixes used in English.