Learn English vocabulary
English beyond the textbook.
Practise useful words, natural phrases, slang and internet English through quick, focused choices. Learn what fits the sentence instead of memorising a lonely definition.
Start the free English challengeWords that look close
Knowing the difference is the skill.
A strong vocabulary is not the longest list. It is the ability to choose the natural word quickly and understand the tone it carries.
- affect / effect
- Affect is usually a verb; effect is usually a noun. The weather affects your mood. The effect may last all day.
- advice / advise
- Advice is the thing; advise is the action. You give advice, but you advise a friend. Their pronunciation is different too.
- accept / except
- Accept means receive or agree; except means excluding. “Everyone accepted the plan except Mia” uses both meanings clearly.
- hang in there
- Keep going through something difficult. It is supportive. Hang out means spend relaxed time with someone, so the two phrases are not interchangeable.
- my bad / too bad
- My bad takes responsibility; too bad reacts to disappointment. My bad is casual and means “that was my mistake.”
- low-key
- Quiet, restrained or slightly secret. “I low-key love this song” softens the admission. In another context, a low-key event is relaxed and not flashy.
Internet English
Short letters, specific moods.
Abbreviations are useful only when you know the setting. They belong in chats and comments, not every business email.
- FTW
- For the win. Used to celebrate or enthusiastically support a choice: “Window seats FTW.”
- FRFR
- For real, for real. Strong agreement or emphasis that something is genuinely true. Very casual.
- ELI5
- Explain like I’m five. A request for a simple, beginner-friendly explanation, not necessarily a literal request to speak to a child.
- ICYMI
- In case you missed it. Often introduces a repost, reminder or summary of something shared earlier.
- TBH
- To be honest. It introduces a candid opinion. Depending on the sentence, it can sound warm, blunt or slightly defensive.
How to practise
Make recognition turn into recall.
- Answer before checking audio.
Let meaning lead. Use the speaker after you have formed a guess, so pronunciation strengthens the memory instead of replacing it.
- Compare both choices after every answer.
The wrong option is part of the lesson. Say why it does not fit this sentence, even if it would be correct somewhere else.
- Repeat short runs.
Ten focused questions are easier to revisit than one exhausting session. The game changes the mix so you keep retrieving, not reciting an order.