Learn English Vocabulary
Master English vocabulary with Parroto's spaced repetition system
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Master English vocabulary with Parroto's spaced repetition system
Vocabulary is the raw material of every English skill. At A1 you need roughly 500-600 words to get by; to follow a film, read the news and reach IELTS 6.5+ you need 4,000-8,000. The hard part was never how many words you can learn - it is how long you keep them.
Parroto teaches English vocabulary with spaced-repetition flashcards: each word comes back exactly when you are about to forget it, with phonetics, meaning, examples and audio. Better still, you learn words in real context - tap any word in a lesson video to save it to a deck, instead of grinding a dead list.
What is spaced repetition?
Spaced repetition works off the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve: the brain drops new information fast unless it is revisited. An SRS schedules each word to reappear right as your memory of it starts to fade, so you retain it long-term from fewer reviews. For English specifically, pairing SRS with words met in context - real sentences from video - means you remember not just what a word means but how it is used.
How much vocabulary do you need, by level?
| Level (CEFR) | Estimated words | What that gets you |
|---|---|---|
| a1 | 500-600 | Basic exchanges, greetings |
| a2 | 1,000-1,500 | Simple everyday conversation |
| b1 | 2,000-3,000 | Work and travel conversation |
| b2 | 4,000 | Follow films, read the news, IELTS 6.0-6.5 |
| c1 | 8,000 | Fluent and academic use, IELTS 7.0+ |
Figures are indicative and vary by source.
How to learn English vocabulary effectively
Learn by topic
Words grouped by context - travel, work, film - stick better and come back to you faster than words met at random.
Learn in real context
Meeting a word inside a real sentence or video teaches you its register and collocations, not just a dictionary gloss.
Review with SRS daily
Ten to fifteen minutes of flashcards every day beats an hour-long cram at the weekend.
Use the word immediately
Dictation and shadowing turn a word you recognise into a word you can actually say.
Frequently asked questions about learning English vocabulary
How much vocabulary do I need for basic English conversation?
Around 1,000-1,500 common words cover basic everyday conversation. What matters is picking genuinely high-frequency words and being able to use them.
How many new words should I learn each day?
For a beginner, 10-15 new words a day alongside SRS reviews of older ones is realistic and far more sustainable than cramming.
Is it better to learn vocabulary from lists or by topic?
By topic and in real context, usually. A disconnected list teaches you meanings; context teaches you usage, which is what you need when speaking.
How do I remember vocabulary long-term instead of forgetting it?
Use spaced repetition so reviews land at the right moment, and put the words to work - in dictation, shadowing or a live speaking session.
How is Parroto different from a normal flashcard app?
You collect words inside real video context - tap a word to save it - then review them with SRS and use them straight away in listening and speaking practice, rather than flipping isolated cards.
Vocabulary Deck
- 1000 Common English Words (992)
- Conversational English Vocabulary (326)
- 3000 Oxford Vocabulary A1 (759)
- 3000 Oxford Vocabulary A2 (827)
- 3000 Oxford Vocabulary B1 (739)
- 3000 Oxford Vocabulary B2 (715)
- 5000 Oxford Vocabulary B2 (699)
- 5000 Oxford Vocabulary C1 (1312)
- 600 Essential Words for the TOEIC (622)
- ETS TOEIC Vocabulary (1600)
- Common TOEIC Idioms (114)
- 600 Basic IELTS Vocabulary (599)
- IELTS Band 4-5 Vocabulary (2086)
- IELTS Band 6-7 Vocabulary (2753)
- IELTS Band 8-9 Vocabulary (1604)
- Common IELTS Idioms (99)
- Intensive Vocabulary for the National High School Exam (211)
- High School Entrance Vocabulary (406)
- Essential SAT Vocabulary (103)
- Essential Words for the TOEFL (529)
- Vietnamese Lunar New Year Vocabulary (102)