Classroom Pronunciation Reductions Grammar Conversation Reading Listening Vocabulary Activities Videos
Idioms Slang Acronyms Phonics Portmanteau Words Handwriting Alphabet Surveys Tests
Holidays Movies Everyday Environment Learning News Places Flashcards Study Literacy
World America History Drive Education Teaching Dictionary Resources About Contact
 
Fun Easy English Classroom April 15
 

Classroom
Today


Learn American
English vocabulary
beginning with
letter A
American English Vocabulary - Letter A

Today in the classroom you are going to learn some words you should know beginning with the letter A.
Hey if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English dictionary (opens in a new window)
Quick Links
Months Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec April
Dates 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30    
American English Vocabulary - Letter A

The words on this page came from the VOA, Voice of America, Special English Word Book. Use the Fun Easy English dictionary for a more detailed explanation of each word.
  • a (an) - ad. one; any; each
  • able - v. having the power to do something
  • about - ad. almost ("about half"); of or having a relation to ("We talk about the weather.")
  • above - ad. at a higher place
  • abuse - n. bad treatment causing harm or injury
  • accept - v. to agree to receive
  • accident - n. something that happens by chance or mistake; an unplanned event
  • accuse - v. to say a person is responsible for an act or crime; to make a statement against someone
  • across - ad. from side to side; to the other side
  • act - v. to do something
  • activist - n. one who seeks change through action
  • actor - n. someone acting in a play or show
  • add - v. to put (something) with another to make it larger; to say more
  • administration - n. the executive part of a government, usually headed by a president or prime minister
  • admit - v. to accept ("admitted to the United Nations"); to express one's guilt or responsibility ("He admitted that what he did was wrong.")
  • adult - n. a grown person
  • advertise - v. to show or present the qualities of a product to increase sales
  • advise - v. to help with information, knowledge or ideas in making a decision
  • affect - v. to produce an effect on; to influence ("A lack of sleep affected the singer's performance.")
  • afraid - ad. feeling fear
  • after - ad. later; behind
  • again - ad. another time; as before
  • against - ad. opposed to; not agreeing with something
  • age - n. how old a person or thing is
  • agency - n. an organization that is part of a larger group ("an agency of the United Nations")
  • aggression - n. an attack against a person or country; the violation of a country's borders
  • ago - ad. of time past; before now
  • agree - v. to have the same belief as someone; to be willing to do something
  • agriculture - n. farming
  • aid - v. to help; to support; n. help, assistance
  • aim - v. to point a gun at; n. a goal or purpose
  • air - n. the mixture of gases around the earth, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, that we breathe
  • air force - n. a military organization using airplanes
  • airplane - n. a vehicle with wings that flies
  • airport - n. a place where airplanes take off and land
  • album - n. a collection of recorded music
  • alcohol - n. a strong, colorless liquid, usually made from grain, used as a drug or in industrial products
  • alive - ad. having life; not dead
  • all - ad. everything; everyone; the complete amount
  • ally - n. a nation or person joined with another for a special purpose
  • almost - ad. a little less than completely
  • alone - ad. separated from others
  • along - ad. near or on ("along the road")
  • already - ad. before now; even now
  • also - ad. added to; too
  • although - conj. even if it is true that
  • always - ad. at all times; every time
  • ambassador - n. a nation's highest diplomatic representative (to another government)
  • amend - v. to add to or to change (a proposal or law)
  • ammunition - n. the bullets or shells fired from guns
  • among - ad. in or part of (a group)
  • amount - n. the number, size or weight of anything
  • anarchy - n. a lack of order; lawlessness
  • ancestor - n. a family member from the past
  • ancient - ad. very old; long ago
  • and - conj. also; in addition to; with
  • anger - n. a strong emotion against someone or something
  • animal - n. a living creature that moves, such as a dog or cat
  • anniversary - n. a yearly celebration or observance of an event that happened in the past
  • announce - v. to make known publicly; to declare officially
  • another - ad. one more; a different one
  • answer - n. a statement produced by a question; v. to make a statement after being asked a question
  • any - ad. one or more of no special kind
  • apologize - v. to express regret for a mistake or accident for which one accepts responsibility
  • appeal - v. to take to a higher court, person or group for a decision; to call on somebody for help
  • appear - v. to show oneself; to come into sight; to seem
  • appoint - v. to name; to choose ("appoint a judge")
  • approve - v. to agree with; to agree to support
  • archeology - n. the scientific study of past human life and activities
  • area - n. any place or part of it
  • argue - v. to offer reasons for or against something; to dispute; to disagree
  • arms - n. military equipment; weapons
  • army - n. military ground forces
  • around - ad. on every side (of)
  • arrest - v. to seize a person for legal action; to take as a prisoner
  • arrive - v. to come to a place, especially at the end of a trip
  • art - n. expressions or creations by humans, such as paintings, music, writing or statues
  • artillery - n. big guns
  • as - conj. equally ("as fast as"); when; while
  • ash - n. the part left after something burns
  • ask - v. to question; to say something is wanted ("We ask the teacher questions every day.")
  • assist - v. to help
  • astronaut - n. a person who travels in space
  • astronomy - n. the scientific study of stars and the universe
  • asylum - n. political protection given by a government to a person from another country
  • at - prep. in or near ("at the edge"); where ("look at"); when ("at noon")
  • atmosphere - n. the gases surrounding any star or planet
  • attach - v. to tie together; to connect
  • attack - n. a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. to start a fight
  • attempt - v. to work toward something; to try; to make an effort
  • attend - v. to be present at
  • attention - n. close or careful observing of, or listening to, someone or something ("The student paid attention to his teacher.")
  • automobile - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; a car
  • autumn - n. the time of the year between summer and winter
  • available - ad. present and ready for use; willing to serve or help. ("There was a list of available candidates.")
  • average - n. something (a number) representing the middle; ad. common; normal
  • avoid - v. to stay away from
  • awake - ad. not sleeping
  • award - n. an honor or prize for an act or service
  • away - ad. not near
From YOUR Teacher: Words You Should Know

Fun Easy English Words You Should Know comes from  the VOA, Voice of America, Special English Word Book Vocabulary. Special English, now called Learning English, consists of 1,500 essential words which anyone learning English should know.
News Words - Letter A

The videos on this page came from the VOA, Voice of America, News Words program. Use the Fun Easy English dictionary for a detailed explanation of words you do not understand. Click the full screen button on the video to make it easier to watch and to read the video script.
Word Video  
Accord  
Accountable  
Achievement  
Affordable  
Agenda  
Alien  
Allegations  
Alliance  
Alternative  
Analyst  
Anonymous  
Apprehended  
Artifact  
Assets  
Atrocities  
Augmented Reality  
Authentic  
Automate  
Avatar  
 
Additional Lessons
About These Lessons

The following classroom lessons are great for students who want additional conversation, listening, and reading practice.
  • Conversation Lesson - Beginner Level. Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language with a written conversation and a conversation notes section.
Conversation Lesson 23 - Mailing Letters
(Beginner - Conversation, Reading)

Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language.
Mailing Letters

Dean: Do you mind if we stop by the post office? 1 have to mail these letters and I don’t have any stamps.

Carol: Oh, I have some. We don’t need to go all the way to the post office.

Dean: That would save time. Can you let me have two airmail stamps and one regular one?

Carol: Here you are. Are you sure that’s enough?

Dean: Yes, that’s fine. Now all we have to do is find a mailbox.
Conversation Notes
  • Do you mind
  • Meaning is it all right with you…? or Do you have any objection…? This phrase is similar to, but somewhat more direct than, Would you mind…? (see 10). It is followed by an if­clause to provide for the change of subject from you to we: Do you mind if we stop…? However, if the speaker wishes simply to request the listener to stop by the post office (in which case there is no “we” involved, hence no change of subject), he will use an ­ing form complement: Do you mind stopping by the post office? Some additional examples of the “if’ type: Do you mind if Mary and Fred come with us? Do you mind if we talk about that later, when we have more time? Do you mind very much if I don’t come to see you today? Some examples of the “­ing” type: Do you mind asking Mary and Fred to come with us? Do you mind discussing that later, when we have more time? Do you mind very much postponing our visit until tomorrow?
  • post office
  • A compound noun, with the principal stress on the first word.
  • That would save time
  • The strong stress on would and the fact that the intonation falls only partially at the end indicate a thoughtful, hesitant attitude.
  • Can you let me have
  • Meaning is can you give me…
  • two airmail stamps and one regular one
  • Note the contrastive stress on airmail and regular and on two and one. Note also the weak stress on stamps and on the corresponding pronoun one.
  • mailbox
  • A compound noun, with the stress on the first part.
  • all we have to do is
  • Meaning is the only thing that we must do is…, The one thing that remains to be done is… Some other examples: I’ve finished writing the story; now all I have to do is think of a title. He’s finished all his courses; now all he has to do is pass the examination. We’ve got the decorations all ready for the party; now all we have to do is prepare the food.
Source: U.S. State Department
Additional Conversation
Conversation

This is a collection of 36 situational conversations which focus on spoken American English in a relatively natural way....these lessons are for intermediate students.
Conversation

This is a collection of 30 situational conversations. Each conversation is accompanied by language notes....these lessons are for advanced students.
Conversation

English conversation lessons. 52 lessons covering pronunciation, speaking, writing, and grammar topics....these lessons are for beginning students.
Conversation

English conversation lessons. 30 lessons focusing mostly on communication and grammar topics....these lessons are for intermediate students.
 
Additional Information
Avoid Ineffective Study Methods

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Long-Term Memory by Spacing Practice

The lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Hey Students,

Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not understand in Fun Easy English.

Note: search opens in a new tab.
Online Reference
Dictionary, Encyclopedia & more
Word:
by:
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
About    Contact    Copyright    Resources    Site Map