hem
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 noun/verb /hɛm/

hem

Meaning
the edge of a piece of cloth that is folded and sewn; to fold and sew the edge of cloth
Example
She hemmed the dress to make it shorter.
B2 noun /ˌhɪp.əˈpɒt.ə.məs/

Hippopotamus

Meaning
a large, mostly herbivorous mammal that lives in and around water in Africa
Example
The hippopotamus spends most of its day in the water.
B2 adjective /hɑːrʃ/

Harsh

Meaning
unpleasantly hard or rough in texture; cruel or severe
Example
The teacher gave harsh criticism about my work.
A1 verb /hoʊld/

hold

Meaning
to grasp or carry something; to maintain a position
Example
Please hold my hand.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd/

haphazard

Meaning
Lacking any obvious principle of organization; random.
Example
His haphazard approach led to project failure.
B2 verb /hætʃ/

hatch

Meaning
to emerge from an egg; to devise or create a plan
Example
The bird will hatch from its egg soon.
B2 verb /hæk/

hack

Meaning
to cut or chop roughly; to gain unauthorized access to a computer system
Example
The programmer managed to hack into the system.
B2 verb /hɔːlt/

halt

Meaning
to stop or bring to a stop
Example
The train suddenly halted at the station.
B1 adjective /ˈhoʊli/

Holy

Meaning
sacred; dedicated to God or religious purposes; morally and spiritually excellent
Example
The holy shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
B2 adjective /hɪˈspænɪk/

hispanic

Meaning
relating to Spain or Spanish-speaking countries, especially Latin America.
Example
She studies Hispanic culture and language.
B2 noun /hʌt/

hut

Meaning
a small simple shelter or house
Example
They lived in a small wooden hut near the river.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːtɪnəs/

haughtiness

Meaning
The appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Example
His haughtiness made him unpopular among his peers.
C2 noun /ˌhɜːrpəˈtɒlədʒɪst/

herpetologist

Meaning
A scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians.
Example
The herpetologist discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest.
C1 verb /həˈluːsɪneɪt/

hallucinate

Meaning
to see, hear, or sense things that are not actually present, often due to illness or drugs
Example
After taking the medicine, he began to hallucinate strange shapes.
B2 noun /ˈher ˌpɪn/

Hair pin

Meaning
a thin piece of metal or plastic used to hold hair in place
Example
She used several hair pins to secure her elegant updo.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈbeɪkt/

half-baked

Meaning
poorly thought out or badly planned
Example
The manager quickly rejected his half-baked proposal.
A1 pronoun /hɜːrz/

hers

Meaning
used to refer to something that belongs to or is associated with a female person previously mentioned or easily identified.
Example
That blue bag is hers.
B1 adjective /ˈhæn.səm/

handsome

Meaning
attractive in appearance, usually referring to men; also can mean generous or impressive in size.
Example
He looked very handsome in his new suit.
C2 adjective/noun /haɪˈbɜːrniən/

hibernian

Meaning
Relating to Ireland or the Irish.
Example
He enjoyed reading about Hibernian culture and history.
C1 noun /ˈhɑː.mɪ.saɪd/

Homicide

Meaning
the deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another; murder
Example
The detective was assigned to investigate the homicide that occurred downtown last night.
B2 noun /hiːl/

Heel

Meaning
the back part of the human foot below the ankle
Example
She wore shoes with high heels to the party.
C1 adjective /haɪˈdrɔːlɪk/

hydraulic

Meaning
operated by the pressure of liquid, especially water or oil
Example
The mechanic repaired the hydraulic system of the machine.
C2 adjective /ˈhæriːd/

harried

Meaning
feeling strained or stressed due to being overworked or constantly bothered
Example
The harried teacher struggled to calm the noisy classroom.
A2 adverb, conjunction /haʊˈɛvər/

however

Meaning
used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something previously said
Example
The journey was long; however, it was enjoyable.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːl.mɑːrk/

hallmark

Meaning
a typical characteristic or feature of someone or something
Example
Honesty is the hallmark of a good leader.
A2 adjective ˈhjuː.mən

human

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of people or human beings; showing the better qualities of humankind, such as kindness.
Example
Human values shape social systems.
C1 noun /hjuːˈmɪl.ɪ.ti/

humility

Meaning
The quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.
Example
She accepted the award with grace and humility.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪdrəs/

hydrous

Meaning
Containing water, especially water of crystallization.
Example
The mineral is hydrous because it contains water molecules in its structure.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpi ɡoʊ ˈlʌki/

happy-go-lucky

Meaning
cheerfully unconcerned about the future; carefree
Example
She has a happy-go-lucky attitude and never worries about tomorrow.
C1 adverb/noun /ˌhɪərˈæftər/

hereafter

Meaning
from now on; in the future; also refers to life after death.
Example
Hereafter, all reports must be submitted electronically.
C2 noun /haɪˈdrɒl.ɪ.sɪs/

hydrolysis

Meaning
A chemical process that breaks down compounds by adding water, splitting complex molecules into simpler forms.
Example
Hydrolysis breaks down complex molecules into simpler forms.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪndmoʊst/

hindmost

Meaning
Farthest back; last in position.
Example
The hindmost car in the convoy broke down first.
B1 noun /ˈhæm.ər/

Hammer

Meaning
a tool with a heavy metal head for hitting nails or breaking things
Example
She used a hammer to nail the picture frame to the wall.
C2 noun /ˈhɛʃ.ən/

Hessian

Meaning
a strong coarse fabric made from jute or hemp, used for sacks and wrapping
Example
The farmer stored grain in hessian sacks.
C1 noun /ˈhæŋ.ər/

Hanger

Meaning
a shaped piece of wood, plastic, or metal with a hook at the top, used to hang up clothes
Example
She hung her dress on a wooden hanger to prevent it from getting wrinkled.
B2 adjective /ˈheɪsti/

Hasty

Meaning
done or acting with excessive speed or urgency; hurried
Example
Don't make hasty decisions when you're angry.
A2 pronoun /hɜːrˈsɛlf/

herself

Meaning
used to refer to a female person as the object of a verb or preposition when she is the subject
Example
She prepared the meal all by herself.
C2 noun /ˈhɒthɛd/

hothead

Meaning
a person who acts quickly and without thinking when angry
Example
He is such a hothead that he often starts arguments.
C1 adverb /ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ/

headlong

Meaning
With the head leading; in a rush or without thinking.
Example
She rushed headlong into the new project.
B2 noun /ˈhæs.əl/

Hassle

Meaning
irritating inconvenience; trouble or difficulty; a situation causing problems
Example
Booking tickets online can save you the hassle of waiting in long queues at the theater.
B2 adjective ˈhæzədəs

hazardous

Meaning
Dangerous, risky, or potentially harmful
Example
Hazardous pollutants increase health risks.
A1 noun /hoʊˈtɛl/

hotel

Meaning
A building where people pay to stay and sleep, usually for short periods.
Example
We stayed at a hotel near the beach.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.pɚˈten.ʃən

hypertension

Meaning
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Example
High sodium intake leads to hypertension.
C2 adjective /həˈmɑː.lə.ɡəs/

homologous

Meaning
Having the same relation, relative position, or structure, especially due to evolutionary origin.
Example
The wings of bats and the arms of humans are homologous structures.
A1 noun /help/

Help

Meaning
the action of helping someone to do something; assistance or support
Example
The volunteer offered his help to carry the elderly woman's groceries to her car.
C1 adjective /ˈhiːdləs/

heedless

Meaning
showing a reckless lack of care or attention
Example
He drove with heedless disregard for the rules.
C2 adjective /ˈhɜːrsuːt/

hirsute

Meaning
Having a lot of hair, especially in an unusual place.
Example
The hirsute man stood out in the crowd with his long beard.
C2 noun /hæp/

hap

Meaning
luck, fortune, or chance occurrence
Example
By sheer hap, he discovered the old letter hidden in the drawer.
A1 verb /hoʊp/

hope

Meaning
to expect and desire that something will happen
Example
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
B1 noun /ˈhaʊswaɪf/

housewife

Meaning
a married woman who manages a household and whose main occupation is caring for her family and home
Example
She chose to work as a housewife while raising her children.
A1 interjection /hɑː/

ha

Meaning
used to express amusement, surprise, or triumph
Example
Ha! I knew you couldn’t resist joining us.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɔːri/

hortatory

Meaning
Intended to encourage or urge to action.
Example
The manager’s hortatory words inspired the team to work harder.
A2 adjective /ˈhɛl.θi/

healthy

Meaning
Good physical and mental condition, free from disease or illness.
Example
Regular exercise and a balanced diet keep the body healthy.
C1 adverb /ˌhɛdˈfɜrst/

headfirst

Meaning
With the head leading; in a reckless or hasty manner.
Example
He dived headfirst into the pool.
C1 adjective /ˌhaɪəˈrɑː.kɪ.kəl/

hierarchical

Meaning
arranged in order of rank or authority
Example
The company has a strict hierarchical structure.
A2 noun /ˈhæn.dəl/

Handle

Meaning
the part by which a thing is held, carried, or controlled; to manage or deal with something
Example
The suitcase has a sturdy handle that makes it easy to carry through the airport.
B2 noun /ˌhɑː.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/

Hospitality

Meaning
the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests or strangers
Example
The hotel staff's exceptional hospitality made our vacation truly memorable and enjoyable.
C1 adverb /ˈhɒtli/

hotly

Meaning
in an intense, angry, or passionate way
Example
She hotly denied the accusations.
C2 noun /ˈhæbɪtənt/

habitant

Meaning
An inhabitant; a person or animal that lives in a particular place.
Example
The habitants of the village were friendly and welcoming.
C1 noun/verb /ˈhɛmərɪdʒ/

hemorrhage

Meaning
A significant loss of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, or to lose blood heavily.
Example
The patient suffered a severe brain hemorrhage.
B2 adjective /ˈhɑlːoʊ/

Hollow

Meaning
having an empty space inside; lacking substance or meaning; insincere
Example
The hollow tree trunk provided shelter for small animals.
B1 verb /ˈɒnər/

honour

Meaning
to show respect; to keep a promise
Example
We honour our veterans for their service.
C1 noun /ˈhɪr.seɪ/

Hearsay

Meaning
information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor
Example
The accusations were based on hearsay rather than concrete evidence or eyewitness testimony.
C2 noun /ˈhʌvəl/

hovel

Meaning
a small, poorly built, and dirty house
Example
The refugees lived in a makeshift hovel.
C1 adjective /ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

Hypocritical

Meaning
behaving in a way that contradicts one's stated beliefs or values
Example
It's hypocritical to preach honesty while lying yourself.
C1 noun /ˈheəˌkʌtər/

haircutter

Meaning
a person whose job is to cut and style hair; barber or hairdresser
Example
The haircutter gave me a neat and stylish haircut.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːt.biːt/

heartbeat

Meaning
A pulsation of the heart, especially as perceptible to the touch or audible with a stethoscope.
Example
Rubbing the eyes helps normalize the heartbeat.
B2 verb /hɔːnt/

haunt

Meaning
to trouble persistently; to visit as a ghost
Example
The old memories still haunt me.
A1 adjective /hɒt/

Hot

Meaning
having high temperature; warm; heated;
Example
The coffee is too hot to drink.
C2 noun /hæɡ/

Hag

Meaning
an ugly old woman, especially a vicious or malicious one; a witch
Example
In the fairy tale, the wicked hag lived alone in a cottage deep in the forest.
A1 noun /ˈhʌzbənd/

husband

Meaning
A married man regarded in relation to his spouse.
Example
Her husband is very supportive of her career.
B2 noun ˈhoʊmˌskuː.lɪŋ

homeschooling

Meaning
The practice of educating children at home rather than sending them to a school.
Example
Homeschooling allows parents to tailor education to their child's needs.
B2 adjective /hɪˈstɛrɪkəl/

hysterical

Meaning
Extremely funny or uncontrollably emotional.
Example
The comedian's jokes were absolutely hysterical.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪˌbraʊ/

highbrow

Meaning
intellectually superior or cultured; often describing art, literature, or activities appealing to intellectual tastes
Example
The museum is known for its highbrow exhibitions.
C1 noun /həˌluː.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Hallucination

Meaning
an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present; a false or distorted perception
Example
The patient experienced visual hallucinations as a side effect of the medication.
C1 verb /ˈheɪsən/

hasten

Meaning
To move or act quickly; to cause something to happen sooner.
Example
He hastened to finish his work before the deadline.
B2 noun /ˈhæz.ərd/

Hazard

Meaning
a danger or risk; something that poses a threat to safety
Example
Smoking is a serious health hazard that can lead to lung cancer and heart disease.
C2 noun /ˌhjuː.mɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

humification

Meaning
The process of organic matter decomposition to form humus in soil.
Example
Humification enhances soil structure and fertility.
C2 noun /ˈhelmz.mən/

Helmsman

Meaning
a person who steers a ship or boat; the person at the helm of a vessel
Example
The experienced helmsman skillfully guided the yacht through the narrow channel during the storm.
B2 noun /ˈhɛdˌkwɔːrtərz/

headquarters

Meaning
The main office or center of operations of an organization.
Example
The company’s headquarters is located in New York.
C2 noun /ˌhæŋ.ki ˈpæŋ.ki/

Hanky-Panky

Meaning
dishonest or suspicious activity; unethical behavior; trickery or deception
Example
The audit revealed some hanky-panky in the company's financial records.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːbəl/

hobble

Meaning
to walk awkwardly with difficulty, usually due to injury
Example
He hobbled across the room after twisting his ankle.
C1 adjective /həˈmɑː.dʒə.nəs/

homogenous

Meaning
Similar or uniform in nature; often used interchangeably with 'homogeneous'.
Example
The class was made up of a homogenous group of students.
C2 noun /ˈhɒɡz.hɛd/

hogshead

Meaning
A large cask or barrel, traditionally used for storing liquids like wine or beer.
Example
The cellar was filled with hogsheads of ale.
B2 adjective /ˈhek.tɪk/

Hectic

Meaning
very busy and full of activity; frantic; characterized by intense activity or excitement
Example
My schedule has been hectic lately with back-to-back meetings.
B2 noun /ˌhez.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

Hesitation

Meaning
the action of pausing or delaying; uncertainty or unwillingness to act
Example
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to accept the challenging job offer from the company.
C2 adjective /hɪk/

Hick

Meaning
unsophisticated person from a rural area; country bumpkin
Example
He had a hick accent from growing up in a small town.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːr.nət/

Hornet

Meaning
a large wasp that can sting and is often aggressive
Example
The hornet built its nest under the roof.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔː.ti/

Haughty

Meaning
arrogantly superior and disdainful; showing excessive pride
Example
She gave him a haughty look and walked away.
A2 noun /haɪt/

height

Meaning
the measurement of someone or something from base to top
Example
The height of the tower impressed the visitors.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊdaɪˈnæmɪks/

hydrodynamics

Meaning
The branch of science concerned with the motion of fluids, especially liquids, and the forces acting on solid bodies immersed in fluids.
Example
Hydrodynamics is essential in designing efficient ship hulls.
B2 noun /ˈhænd.fʊl/

Handful

Meaning
a quantity that fills the hand; a small number or amount; something difficult to control
Example
She grabbed a handful of nuts from the bowl before heading out for her walk.
B1 noun /ˈhev.ən/

Heaven

Meaning
a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God and the angels; a place of eternal happiness
Example
Many people believe that good souls go to heaven after they pass away from this world.
A2 noun /hɛlθ/

health

Meaning
The state of being free from illness or injury.
Example
Exercise is important for good health.
B2 noun /hɔrn/

Horn

Meaning
a hard pointed projection on the head of certain animals; a musical instrument
Example
The rhinoceros used its horn to defend itself.
B2 adjective /hɑːˈspɪtəbəl/

Hospitable

Meaning
friendly and welcoming to strangers or guests; generous in receiving guests
Example
The local people were very hospitable to the tourists.
B2 noun /ˈhɔːr.ər/

Horror

Meaning
an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust; something that causes such feelings
Example
The survivors described the horror of the earthquake that destroyed their entire village.
B1 verb /ˈhɛdɪŋ/

heading

Meaning
Moving in a particular direction.
Example
The ship is heading toward Antarctica.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːrtɪˌkʌltʃər/

horticulture

Meaning
The art or practice of garden cultivation and management.
Example
Horticulture plays a vital role in producing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
A1 pronoun /hɪm/

him

Meaning
Used to refer to a male person or animal already mentioned.
Example
I saw him at the park yesterday.
B2 noun /ˈhɔːrmoʊn/

hormone

Meaning
a chemical substance produced in the body that influences how the body grows or functions
Example
Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
B2 noun /heɪ/

hay

Meaning
grass that has been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal feed
Example
The cows were eating hay in the barn.
B1 adverb /ˈhoʊpfəli/

hopefully

Meaning
in a hopeful manner; expressing hope or optimism
Example
Hopefully, the weather will be nice tomorrow.
C2 noun /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/ or /hɪˈdʒaɪrə/

hegira

Meaning
a journey, especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation
Example
The refugees began their hegira across the desert.
A2 noun /ˈheəkʌt/

haircut

Meaning
the act or style of cutting hair
Example
I got a haircut before the wedding.
C1 noun /ˌhaɪ.roʊˈɡlɪf.ɪks/

hieroglyphics

Meaning
a system of writing using pictures or symbols, used especially by ancient Egyptians
Example
The tomb walls were covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics.
B1 verb/noun /haɪk/

hike

Meaning
To take a long walk in the countryside or mountains; also to increase suddenly (prices, rates, etc.).
Example
We decided to hike in the hills this weekend.
C1 noun /ˈheɪl.stɔːrm/

Hailstorm

Meaning
a violent storm with hail falling from the sky
Example
The hailstorm damaged many cars in the parking lot.
C1 adverb /ˈhɑr.tɪ.li/

Heartily

Meaning
in a sincere and enthusiastic manner; wholeheartedly
Example
She heartily welcomed her guests to the party.
A2 pronoun /hɪmˈself/

himself

Meaning
Used to emphasize that a male person does something by his own effort.
Example
He fixed the car himself.
A1 noun /haʊs/

house

Meaning
A building for people to live in, usually with rooms and a roof.
Example
They bought a new house in the city.
A2 noun ˈhɪs.tər.i

History

Meaning
The study of past events; a chronological record of events and heritage.
Example
The history of ancient civilizations fascinates scholars.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪtən/

heighten

Meaning
to make or become greater in intensity or degree
Example
The announcement served to heighten the excitement in the room.
A2 interjection /hʌ/

huh

Meaning
used to express confusion, surprise, or that you did not hear something
Example
Huh? What did you say?
B2 adverb /hɛns/

hence

Meaning
for this reason; as a result
Example
She was the best candidate, hence she was chosen for the job.
C2 noun /ˈhæbɪtjuːd/

habitude

Meaning
a customary condition or mode of life; habitual practice
Example
He lived in a quiet habitude, avoiding the noise of the city.
C1 noun /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/

hyperbole

Meaning
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example
Saying he could run a thousand miles in a day is pure hyperbole.
A1 noun /ˈhoʊmwɜːrk/

homework

Meaning
schoolwork that a student does at home
Example
I need to finish my math homework before dinner.
B2 noun, verb /ˈhɑːrbər/

harbor

Meaning
noun: a place on the coast where ships may find shelter; verb: to keep (a thought or feeling, often negative) in one's mind
Example
He continued to harbor resentment towards his former boss.
A2 verb /hæŋ/

hang

Meaning
to suspend or be suspended from above; to attach from a higher point
Example
I hang my coat on the hook.
C1 noun /ˈhɛzɪtənsi/

hesitancy

Meaning
The tendency to pause or delay due to uncertainty or fear.
Example
His hesitancy in answering made everyone doubt his confidence.