Intermediate English words

Intermediate English words are the vocabulary for expressing ideas rather than just naming things — words like consider, opportunity, advantage, likely and probably. They sit at CEFR B1–B2 and let you give reasons, opinions and explanations, not just simple facts.

B1–B2. B1 (intermediate) means you can handle most situations while travelling and describe experiences and plans; B2 (upper-intermediate) means you can interact fairly fluently and argue a point of view. This page is graded to that B1–B2 range.

On Duolingo’s published alignment, B1 maps to roughly DET 60–95 and B2 to 100–125 — so intermediate covers about DET 60–125. B2 is where most undergraduate requirements sit. Bands follow Duolingo’s published DET–CEFR alignment (A1–A2 ≈ 10–55, B1 ≈ 60–95, B2 ≈ 100–125, C1 ≈ 130–150, C2 ≈ 155–160); the DET does not publish a word list, so these are level-graded, not an official list.

Shift from concrete words (objects, simple actions) to abstract ones (reasons, opportunities, attitudes) and to verbs for thinking and explaining. Learn words in phrases, start using linking words, and read slightly above your level. This page gives the exact B1–B2 core to make that jump.

The most useful ones are the "idea" words that appear everywhere: consider, decide, involve, provide, require, plus nouns like reason, result, issue and opportunity, and adverbs like probably and especially. They carry most explanation and opinion in everyday English.

Roughly 2,000–4,000 word families. Around B1 you know the most frequent 2,000–3,000; by B2 you are comfortably past 3,000 and can read general texts with only occasional gaps. Depth — knowing the common words really well — matters more than a huge count.

No — the DET is adaptive and publishes no word list. It is CEFR-aligned, so learning solid B1–B2 vocabulary is the right preparation for a mid-range score. Treat this as level-graded vocabulary that feeds the test, not an official DET list.

The workhorses of explanation: consider, involve, provide, require, reduce, increase, replace, compare and arrange. They let you describe processes and cause and effect, which is exactly what B2 writing and speaking need.

Available, similar, various, particular, likely, aware, capable, suitable, relevant and accurate are high-value B1–B2 adjectives. They make your descriptions precise without being showy.

At B1 you can deal with most everyday situations and describe events, hopes and plans simply. At B2 you can follow and take part in longer discussions, argue a viewpoint, and understand most general texts. The step up is mainly range and confidence with abstract topics.

Seven to ten well-learned words a day works, but at this level equal effort should go into using words you already half-know — in your own sentences, in speaking and writing. Turning passive words into active ones is what moves you through B2.

They are what the graders reward. Precise verbs and abstract nouns let you explain and argue, and linking adverbs (probably, especially, eventually) make your answer flow. Richer, accurate word choice directly lifts your Literacy and Production subscores.

Commonly a few hundred hours of study and real use, though it varies widely. The reliable accelerators are reading and listening slightly above your level every day, and producing language — writing and speaking — rather than only reviewing lists.

Before: the basic (A1–A2) words. After: the advanced (C1–C2) words once B1–B2 feels automatic. Widen sideways any time with the themed vocabulary list.

Learn each word in an example, use it in your own sentence, and test recall a day later — the quiz on this page does that. Grouping words by idea (thinking, situations, degree) helps each one cue the others, and meeting them again in reading fixes them for good.