Developing vocabulary is essential in helping people better understand their language. Idioms and slang are such a big part of American culture that it’s essential that Americans as well as people of all ages learning English as a Second Language (ESL) should study idiomatic expressions and slang. These expressions can be understood easily on a [...]

A synonym is a word or expression that has nearly the same meaning as another word or expression. Synonyms tend to be adjectives, adverbs and verbs, with relatively few nouns qualifying as true synonyms. For example “big” (an adjective), “slowly” (an adverb) and “talk” (a verb) all have synonyms, while “sock” (a noun) does not. [...]

A prefix is a group of letters attached to the beginning of a root or word (or even group of words) serving to modify and/or extend meaning. Prefixes generally have an easily understood meaning in and of themselves, which they apply to the root word to which they are affixed. For example, “un” is a [...]

I have been blessed to know some amazing ESL teachers over the last several years.  Thanks to our ever-shrinking world, teaching English as a Second Language is crucial for the millions of students in American schools who need to operate bilingually every day.  The English language is the second most widely used language in the [...]

Do you have a particular homophone weakness?  You know…a pair of words that you can’t ever seem to remember which one to use when??  Mine is most definitely the homophone pair hangar and hanger.  I am NEVER sure which one holds clothes and which one holds airplanes.  Maybe you have more than one set that [...]

One of the favorite vocabulary games of the youngest visitors to Vocabulary.co.il is Match Game.  Match Game is a simple flashcard-style game that can be played in learning mode or game mode.  When you first click on the Match Game icon, it will take you to the mode choice screen: If you choose “LEARN” mode, [...]

I have this weird thing with song lyrics.  I can hear music I haven’t heard in 20 years or more, and suddenly I will realize that I STILL remember the words!!  It’s kind of freaky, actually.  It’s like there is this little “compartment” up in my brain that stores song lyrics without my knowledge! But [...]

Here is a little quiz for you:  which word could be described by the following two meanings?? 1. A piece of open land used for recreational purposes 2. To maneuver a vehicle into a particular space If you guessed “PARK”, you would be correct! A word with two or more meanings is called a homograph.  [...]

Americans love their slang. It is unusual to get through even one normal conversation without at least one idiom or slang phrase coming up.  Idioms, or slang expressions, are words or phrases that you cannot figure out from the actual word choice. They often mean something completely different from the normal use of the words, [...]

Children who have a grade-appropriate vocabulary can succeed not only in the classroom, but also on statewide standardized tests.  Students who lack these vocabulary milestones in the early grades find it more and more difficult to catch up as they progress through their school years.  This is especially important for English language learners, as they [...]