Learning English Vocabulary

BBC Radio

About

Build your English vocabulary with these short programmes.

Each week we explore a new topic to improve your English vocabulary. Learn words for the weather, how to talk about people’s jobs, adjective order, and so much more.

Plus, in our English in a Minute episodes, give your vocabulary a boost in under a minute.

Find more at bbclearningenglish.com

Follow us at
bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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382 episodes

Pronouncing verbs and nouns

So you want a salary increase? Who doesn't? But do you pronounce 'increase' with the stress on the first syllable in, or the second syllable crease? The answer depends on whether you're using increase as a noun or a verb... And that's the subject that Neil and Catherine are talking about in this 6 Minute Vocabulary programme. Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus Discover Beating Speaking Anxiety: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxiety Learn more English for Work: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/business-english Subscribe to our newsletter: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Conversations They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Feb 23
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'big'

What phrases do you know with the word 'big'? Learn some in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Feb 18
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'baby'

If you sleep like a baby, do you sleep well or badly? Learn that here and more with Georgie TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Feb 11
British and American English

Cookies or biscuits? Autumn or fall? Catherine and Doug discuss British and American English. Hear about differences and similarities in vocabulary from both sides of the Atlantic. Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus Discover Beating Speaking Anxiety: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxiety Learn more English for Work: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/business-english Subscribe to our newsletter: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Conversations They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Feb 09
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'foot'

What phrases do you know with 'foot'? Learn some in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Conversations ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Grammar They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Feb 04
Business jargon

Can you think out of the box or take the helicopter view at work? Learn business jargon. Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus Discover Beating Speaking Anxiety: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxiety Learn more English for Work: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/business-english Subscribe to our newsletter: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Conversations They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Feb 02
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'stop'

Here are 4 phrases with 'stop'. Stop at nothing to learn them. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Jan 29
Pronouncing words that start with ‘c’

Listen out for words that begin with the /s/ sound but start with the letter 'c'. Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus WATCH THE PRONUNCIATION LOUNGE: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_pronunciation_lounge SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Jan 26
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'bite'

If you've been procrastinating on your English study, it's time to bite the bullet and listen to this podcast! Learn four phrases with the word 'bite' TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Jan 21
Phrasal verbs and context

Learn phrasal verbs in sentences to help understand their meanings. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Jan 19
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'bone'

Learn 4 phrases with 'bone' here. It's only a minute long, so you don't have to work your fingers to the bone. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Jan 14
Prefixes: re- pre- and pro-

We talk about words with the prefixes re, pre and pro. LISTEN TO REAL EASY ENGLISH: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Jan 12
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'cake'

Listening to this podcast is great, but using the phrases in real life is the icing on the cake. Learn four phrases with 'cake'. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English Conversations They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Jan 07
Silent letters

We talk about letters in English that we see in words but don’t actually pronounce. LISTEN TO REAL EASY ENGLISH: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Jan 05
Onomatopoeia

Learn about words that sound like the thing they describe. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Dec 29, 2025
Multi-word verbs

Do you ever 'meet up with' your friend in the park? We talk about multi-word verbs. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Dec 22, 2025
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'lose'

Learn 4 phrases with 'lose' here. Don't lose your touch! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English Conversations They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Dec 17, 2025
Adjectives ending with -ic and -ical

'Classic' or 'classical'? Learn about adjectives ending in -ic and -ical. Find Learning English Grammar: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-grammar FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Dec 15, 2025
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'wind'

Use these phrases with 'wind' in your everyday conversations. It's time to throw caution to the wind! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Dec 10, 2025
Strong adjectives

'Terrified', 'fantastic', 'amazing' - learn how to use strong adjectives. Find Learning English Grammar: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-grammar FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Dec 08, 2025
Male and female job words

Policeman/policewoman, actor/actress - learn about job titles and gender. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Dec 01, 2025
Weather words

The British love to talk about weather! Learn some useful vocabulary about it here. TRY THE LISTENING ROOM: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_listening_room (Hard: Upper intermediate level and above, B2 and above) Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus The Pronunciation Lounge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_pronunciation_lounge NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Nov 24, 2025
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'gold'

Learn 4 phrases with 'gold' with Phil in this podcast. They're worth their weight in gold! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Nov 19, 2025
Homophones

Mail and male... Learn about words that sound the same but have different spellings. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus The Pronunciation Lounge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_pronunciation_lounge NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Nov 17, 2025
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'light'

What does it mean to see the light? Learn that and more with Georgie. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Nov 13, 2025
Compound nouns

Ice cream, popcorn... Learn about nouns made up of a combination of two words. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Nov 10, 2025
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'pull'

Learn 4 phrases with 'pull' here. You'll enjoy it – we're not pulling your leg! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Nov 06, 2025
Adjective order

This is a big, old, smelly dog! Learn which adjective has to come first. TRY THE READING ROOM: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_room FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Nov 03, 2025
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'clock'

What phrases do you know with 'clock'? Learn some in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

1m
Oct 29, 2025
Contractions

"I've run a marathon." Look at the shorter form 'I've'. Learn how to use contractions. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

6m
Oct 27, 2025