B1 word list: the first 50 English words to learn next
Sep 9, 2026 · 9 min read
This B1 list is the next stage after the A2 list of the next 50 words, starting with 50 words you reach for when you give an opinion, talk about work or study, describe daily life, plan a trip, or join a conversation about your community. Not solid on the first 50 A1 words yet? Start there and return.
Each word shows its part of speech, a plain definition and one example, grouped into five themes of ten; a theme gives your memory a place for every word.
Why the first 50 B1 words are different
At A1 you name things, at A2 you describe them, and at B1 you argue, plan and explain. That shift changes how to learn words: opinion or afford cannot be pointed at, so each becomes useful inside a phrase, give an opinion or afford a holiday. Learning the company a word keeps now matters as much as the word itself, so every set below mixes word types and natural partners.
Set 1: opinions and feelings (10 words)
Give your view and say how you feel:
- opinion (noun) — what you think about something: What is your opinion of the plan?
- suggest (verb) — to offer an idea: I suggest we leave before noon.
- decide (verb) — to choose after thinking: She decided to study abroad.
- choice (noun) — the act of picking one thing: It was a difficult choice.
- prefer (verb) — to like one thing more than another: I prefer tea to coffee.
- support (verb) — to help or stand behind: My family supports my plan.
- honest (adjective) — truthful: Give me your honest answer.
- proud (adjective) — pleased about an achievement: We are proud of our team.
- nervous (adjective) — worried before something: I feel nervous before exams.
- confident (adjective) — sure of yourself: She is confident about the interview.
Quick check: write one true sentence for each word, such as I support my local team.
Set 2: school and work (10 words)
For studying, job hunting and the workplace:
- career (noun) — the work you do through life: Teaching is a rewarding career.
- experience (noun) — knowledge gained from doing things: She has years of experience.
- skill (noun) — ability to do something well: Writing is an important skill.
- training (noun) — learning for a job: New staff get two weeks of training.
- salary (noun) — money paid for work: The salary is paid monthly.
- boss (noun) — the person who manages you: My boss is friendly.
- colleague (noun) — someone you work with: A colleague helped me finish.
- deadline (noun) — the time work must be done by: The deadline is Friday.
- project (noun) — a planned piece of work: Our project is almost ready.
- research (noun) — careful study to find facts: She does research at the lab.
Quick check: cover the list and recall each word from its definition; anything slow goes into tomorrow's review.
Set 3: daily life at home (10 words)
For routines, money and the people around you:
- routine (noun) — your usual way of doing things: My morning routine is short.
- habit (noun) — something you do regularly: Reading is a good habit.
- borrow (verb) — to use something and return it: Can I borrow your pen?
- lend (verb) — to give something for a while: Could you lend me some money?
- repair (verb) — to fix something broken: He repaired the old chair.
- waste (verb) — to use without care: Do not waste water.
- save (verb) — to keep for later: We are saving money for a trip.
- afford (verb) — to have enough money for: We cannot afford a new car.
- neighbour (noun) — a person who lives near you: Our neighbour waters our plants.
- guest (noun) — a person you invite: We have guests for dinner.
Quick check: say one sentence with borrow and one with lend; then pair words that travel together, such as save money and repair the car.
Set 4: travel and getting around (10 words)
For trips, bookings and moving through a new place:
- journey (noun) — a long trip: The journey took six hours.
- abroad (adverb) — in another country: She works abroad.
- luggage (noun) — bags carried on a trip: My luggage is heavy.
- passenger (noun) — a person travelling in a vehicle: The passengers waited calmly.
- schedule (noun) — a plan of times: Check the train schedule.
- destination (noun) — the place you are going to: We reached our destination.
- reserve (verb) — to book in advance: I reserved a table for two.
- cancel (verb) — to stop something planned: The flight was cancelled.
- delay (noun) — time lost when something is late: Sorry for the delay.
- view (noun) — what you can see: The room has a sea view.
Quick check: describe a trip that went wrong using five of these words; telling a short story makes vocabulary stick far better than rereading.
Set 5: society and community (10 words)
For news, culture and the world around you:
- community (noun) — people who live near each other: Our community meets weekly.
- volunteer (verb) — to work without pay: She volunteers at the library.
- charity (noun) — an organisation that helps others: We donate to charity.
- government (noun) — the group that runs a country: The government built new schools.
- law (noun) — a rule made by a country: Parking here is against the law.
- public (adjective) — open to everyone: The library is a public building.
- culture (noun) — the way of life of a people: I enjoy learning about local culture.
- tradition (noun) — a custom passed down the family: Dumplings are a family tradition.
- event (noun) — something that happens: The concert is a big event.
- celebrate (verb) — to mark a happy occasion: We celebrate New Year together.
Quick check: read a short news headline and look for these words; when you find one, say the sentence that contains it out loud.
How to learn these 50 words at the B1 stage
Take one set of ten per week, learning words in their natural partnerships, and review on a spaced schedule: after one day, three days, then a week. The spaced repetition guide explains why this rhythm builds lasting recall, and the 20 words a week plan shows a faster pace for busy schedules.
Producing a word from its meaning beats recognising it. Cover the example, read the definition and say the word, then write your own sentence the same day. Recall games on this site fit the same habit: a meaning appears and you produce the English word before time runs out, so misses mark tomorrow's review. Five minutes of honest recall a day keeps Set 1 alive by the time you reach Set 5.
Frequently asked questions
What does B1 level mean for vocabulary?
B1 is the third stage of the Common European Framework of Reference. At B1 you move beyond naming everyday things and start to explain opinions, experiences and plans in simple connected sentences. Learners at this stage usually recognise roughly 2,000 to 3,000 words (estimates vary), and they begin learning words in natural partnerships, such as make a choice or gain experience, instead of one item at a time.
How are these 50 words chosen?
These 50 are high-frequency words that keep appearing in daily life, work, study, travel and community topics at B1. Each set mixes nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, and none of the words repeats the A1 or A2 lists, so every entry is genuinely new. Within a theme, the words are chosen to work together, which lets you build useful phrases rather than isolated items.
How is this list different from A1 and A2 lists?
The A1 list names the basics of your world, and the A2 list lets you describe that world with feelings, time and routines. This B1 list adds the more abstract everyday words you need for opinions, work and society: opinion, deadline, afford, volunteer, culture. They are harder to point at than apple or station, which is exactly why each word here comes with a definition and an example sentence.
How should I study 50 words without feeling overwhelmed?
Study one set of ten at a time and do not mix sets on the same day. Learn each word inside a short phrase, then test yourself by producing the word from its meaning: cover the list, read a definition, say the word aloud, and check. Review on a spaced schedule, again after one day, three days and a week, so earlier sets stay alive while you learn the next ones.
Which games work best for B1 words?
Recall-style games suit B1 best because they make you produce the word from its meaning instead of recognising it. Try a timed recall round where a definition appears and you type the word before time runs out, or a memory-match game that pairs each word with its example sentence. A short daily challenge that mixes older and newer words also keeps the whole list fresh.