VOCABULARY LIST

Key English Test (KET)

Key English Test for Schools (KETfS)

KET Vocabulary List

© UCLES 2012
Introduction to the KET Vocabulary List
The KET Vocabulary List gives teachers a guide to the vocabulary needed when preparing
students for the KET and KET for Schools examinations.

Background to the list

The KET Vocabulary List was originally developed by Cambridge ESOL in consultation
with external consultants to guide item writers who produce materials for the KET
examination. It drew on vocabulary from the Council of Europe’s Waystage (1990)
specification and other vocabulary which corpus evidence shows is high frequency.

The list covers vocabulary appropriate to the A2 level on the Common European
Framework of Reference (CEFR) and includes receptive vocabulary (words that the
candidate is expected to understand but which is not the focus of a question) and
productive vocabulary (words that the candidate needs to know in order to answer a
question).

The list does not provide an exhaustive list of all words which appear on the KET and KET
for Schools question papers and candidates should not confine their study of vocabulary to
the list alone.

How the list is updated

The vocabulary of English changes over time, with words being added and other words
falling into disuse. In order to maintain its currency, the KET Vocabulary List is updated on
an annual basis, with the decision to add or remove words being informed by reference to
the Cambridge Learner Corpus and English Vocabulary Profile.

The Cambridge Learner Corpus is a collection of over 44 million words of English, based
upon evidence of language use by learners from all over the world and from which the
English Vocabulary Profile has developed. The English Vocabulary Profile shows the
most common words and phrases that learners of English need to know in British or
American English. The meaning of each word or phrase in the wordlists has been assigned
a level between A1 and B2 on the CEFR.

A preview version of the English Vocabulary Profile can be accessed by visiting the
website: http://www.englishprofile.org

Organisation of the list

• Word sets
Some categories of words that a learner at this level might be expected to know, e.g. days
of the week, are not included in the alphabetical list but are listed in Appendix 1. Although
‘grammar words’ (pronouns, modal verbs, etc.) are included, the Language Specifications
section of the KET and KET for Schools Handbooks (available from
www.cambridgeesol.org) should be consulted for a more complete listing.

• Exemplification
Example phrases and sentences showing how words might be used are given only where
words with different meanings need to be constrained. For example, bank is followed by ‘I
changed my money in a bank’ – this shows that bank is limited to the idea of a financial
institution: candidates are not expected to know other meanings, such as ‘a river bank’.

© UCLES 2012 Page 2 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

 • Multi-word verbs
All multi-word (or phrasal) verbs that a KET or KET for Schools candidate might be
expected to know are included in the list. These verbs include ‘literal’ verbs (i.e. where the
meaning is transparent), e.g. sit down, go out and ‘non-literal’ verbs, e.g. look after, get up.

• Topic lists
In Appendix 2, words have been grouped together under common KET and/or KET for
Schools themes, such as ‘Food and Drink’, ‘House and Home’ and ‘Sport’.

Unsuitable topics
Cambridge ESOL examinations must not contain anything that might offend or upset
candidates, potentially affect their performance or distract them during the examination. A
number of ‘sensitive’ topics are considered unsuitable for use in KET and KET for Schools,
for example war and politics, and vocabulary relating to these is not included in the KET
Vocabulary List.

Personal vocabulary
The content of the KET Vocabulary List is general in nature and is unlikely to cover
completely the productive vocabulary that may be required by candidates. Candidates
should know the specific lexis they will need to describe themselves and their lives, for
example hobbies, likes and dislikes.

Abbreviations
Abbreviations used in the KET Vocabulary List are:

abbrev abbreviation or acronym mv modal verb

adj adjective n noun
adv adverb phr v phrasal verb
av auxiliary verb pl plural
Am Eng American English prep preposition
Br Eng British English prep phr prepositional phrase
conj conjunction pron pronoun
det determiner sing singular
exclam exclamation v verb

Summary of points to be noted

• The list does not include every word that may appear on a KET or KET for Schools
paper.
• The list covers receptive and productive vocabulary.
• The list is updated every year.

© UCLES 2012 Page 3 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

 also (adv)
A always (adv)
a.m. (adv)
a/an (det) amazing (adj)
able (adj) ambulance (n)
• be able to among (prep)
about (adv & prep) an (det)
• What about a cold drink? and (conj)
• I have about £3. (adv) angry (adj)
• a book about animals (prep) animal (n)
above (adv & prep) another (det & pron)
accident (n) answer (n & v)
across (adv & prep) any (det & pron)
• The bank’s across the road. anybody (pron)
• He walked across the bridge. anymore (adv)
act (n & v) anyone (pron)
activity (n) anything (pron)
actor (n) anyway (adv)
actually (adv) anywhere (adv)
ad (n) apartment (n)
apartment building (n)
• an ad on TV
apple (n)
add (v)
appointment (n)
address (n)
adult (adj & n) • an appointment with the doctor
advanced (adj) area (n)
adventure (n) arm (n)
advertisement (n) armchair (n)
advice (n) around (adv & prep)
aeroplane (n) • to travel around (adv)
afraid (adj) • to sit around the table (prep)
after (adv & prep) arrive (v)
afternoon (n) art (n)
afterwards (adv) article (n)
again (adv) • an article about skiing
against (prep) artist (n)
• We watched England play against France. as (conj & prep)
age (n) • as good as
• I don’t know his age. • as soon as possible
aged (adj) • the same as
ago (adv) ask (v)
agree (v) assistant (n)
• Yes, I agree with you. as well (adv)
• Don’t you agree, Sam? as well (as) (prep)
air (n) at (prep)
• to travel by air at / @ (prep)
airport (n) • My email address is david@cambridgeesol.org
alarm clock (n) attractive (adj)
album (n) aunt (n)
all (adv, det & pron) autumn (n)
all right/alright (adj, adv & exclam) available (adj)
almost (adv) away (adv)
alone (adj & adv) • He’s gone away.
along (prep) • It’s two kilometres away.
already (adv) awful (adj)
alright (adj, adv & exclam)

© UCLES 2012 Page 4 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

 biology (n)
B bird (n)
birth (n)
baby (n) birthday (n)
back (n, adv & adj) biscuit (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: cookie)
backpack (n) bit (n)
bad (adj) • Just a small bit of cake, please.
badly (adv) black (adj & n)
badminton (n) blackboard (n)
bag (n) blanket (n)
bake (v) block (n)
ball (n) • Shall we walk round the block?
balloon (n) blond(e) (adj)
banana (n) blood (n)
band (n) blouse (n)
bandage (n) blue (adj & n)
bank (n) board (n)
• I changed my money in the bank. • The teacher’s writing on the
barbecue (n) (black/white)board.
baseball (n) board game (n)
basketball (n) boat (n)
bat (n) body (n)
bath (n) boil (v)
bathing suit (n) boiled (adj)
bathroom (n) book (n & v)
bathtub (n) bookcase (n)
battery (n) bookshelf (n)
be (av & v) bookshop (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: bookstore)
beach (n) bookstore (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: bookshop)
bean (n) boot (n)
bear (n) • a pair of boots
beard (n) bored (adj)
beautiful (adj) boring (adj)
because (conj) born (v)
become (v) • I was born in Manchester.
bed (n) borrow (v)
bedroom (n) • She borrowed a book from the library.
bee (n) boss (n)
before (adv, conj & prep) both (pron & det)
begin (v) bother (v)
beginner (n) bottle (n)
beginning (n) bottom (n)
behind (adv & prep) • at the bottom of the stairs
believe (v) bowl (n)
belong (v) box (n)
below (adv & prep) boy (n)
belt (n) boyfriend (n)
beside (prep) brain (n)
best (adj & adv) brave (adj)
better (adj & adv) bread (n)
between (prep) break (n & v)
bicycle (n) • a break for lunch (n)
big (adj) • Someone’s broken the window. (v)
bike (n) breakfast (n)
bill (n) bridge (n)
• Can I have my bill, please?

© UCLES 2012 Page 5 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

bright (adj) carpet (n)
brilliant (adj) carrot (n)
• I thought the film was brilliant! carry (v)
bring (v) cartoon (n)
broken (adj) case (n)
brother (n) cash (n & v)
brown (adj & n) castle (n)
brush (n & v) cat (n)
build (v) catch (v)
building (n) cathedral (n)
burger (n) CD (n)
bus (n) CD player (n)
business (n) ceiling (n)
businessman (n) cell phone (n)
businesswoman (n) cent (n)
bus station (n) centre/center (n)
bus stop (n) centimetre/centimeter (cm) (n)
busy (adj) century (n)
but (conj) cereal (n)
butter (n) certainly (not) (adv)
buy (v) chain (n)
by (prep) chair (n)
bye (exclam) change (v & n)
channel (n)
chat (n)
C chatroom (n)
cheap (adj)
cabinet (n) check (v)
cafe/café (n) cheese (n)
cafeteria (n) chef (n)
cake (n) chemist (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: drugstore)
calendar (n) chemistry (n)
call (n & v) cheque (n)
• I’ll call (phone) again later this afternoon. chess (n)
• He’s called John. chicken (n)
• I’m waiting for a call from Anna. child (n)
camel chilli (n)
camera (n) chips (n pl)
camp (v) • egg and chips
camping (n) chocolate (n)
campsite (n) choose (v)
cap (n) cinema (n)
capital (n) circle (n)
can (n & mv) circus (n)
candy (n) city (n)
cannot (mv) class (n)
car (n) • a language class
card (n) • a first-class ticket
• birthday card classical (adj)
• credit card classmate (n)
career (n) classroom (n)
careful (adj) clean (adj & v)
• Be careful! cleaner (n)
carefully (adv) clear (adj)
car park (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: parking lot) • It’s not clear to me.
clearly (adv)

© UCLES 2012 Page 6 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

clever (adj) course (n)
click (n & v) • a university course
• Click here to go to our website. • a main course
climb (v) • of course (not)
climbing (n) cousin (n)
clock (n) cover (v)
close (adj & v) cow (n)
close to (prep phr) crazy (adj)
closed (adj) cream (adj & n)
clothes (n pl) credit card (n)
cloud (n) cricket (n)
cloudy (adj) cross (n & v)
clown (n) • Don’t cross the road here! (v)
club (n) crossing (n)
• to join a club • Use the crossing to cross the street.
coach (n) crowd (n)
• a coach trip crowded (adj)
• a tennis coach cry (v)
coat (n) • The baby’s crying.
coffee (n) cup (n)
cola (n) cupboard (n)
cold (adj & n) curry (n)
colleague (n) curtain (n)
collect (v) customer (n)
college (n) cut (v)
colour (n & v) cycle (v)
comb (n) cycling (n)
come (v)
comfortable (adj)
comic (n) D
company (n)
• What’s the name of your company? dad (n)
competition (n) daily (adj & adv)
complete (v) dance (n & v)
computer (n) dancer (n)
concert (n) dancing (n)
congratulations! (exclam) danger (n)
contact (n & v) dangerous (adj)
conversation (n) dark (adj)
cook (n & v) date (n)
cooker (n) • What’s the date today?
cookie (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: biscuit) daughter (n)
cooking (n) day (n)
cool (adj & exclam) dead (adj)
• That’s a cool bike! (adj) dear (adj)
copy (v) • Dear Anne,
corner (n) decide (v)
• the corner of the street deep (adj)
correct (adj) degree (n)
cost (n & v) • The temperature’s 30 degrees today.
costume (n) delay (n & v)
• I forgot my swimming costume. • There will be a delay of two hours. (n)
could (mv) • The flight is delayed. (v)
country (n) dentist (n)
countryside (n) department (n)

© UCLES 2012 Page 7 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

department store (n) during (prep)
describe (v) DVD (n)
desert (n) DVD player (n)
desk (n)
dessert (n)
detail (n) E
diary (n)
dictionary (n) each (det & pron)
die (v) ear (n)
difference (n) early (adj & adv)
different (adj) earn (v)
difficult (adj) earring (n)
digital (adj) easily (adv)
digital camera (n) east (n, adj & adv)
dining room (n) easy (adj)
dinner (n) eat (v)
dinosaur (n) egg (n)
diploma (n) electric (adj)
dirty (adj) electricity (n)
disco (n) elephant (n)
discount (n) elevator (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: lift)
discuss (v) else (adv)
dish (n) • Anything else?
• Chicken and chips is my favourite dish. email (n & v)
do (av & v) empty (adj)
doctor (n) end (v & n)
document (n) engine (n)
dog (n) engineer (n)
doll (n) enjoy (v)
dollar (n) enough (adv, det & pron)
dolphin (n) enter (v)
door (n) • Are you going to enter the poster
dot (n) competition?
• dot com • Please enter through the side door.
double (adj) entrance (n)
• a double room envelope (n)
down (adv & prep) eraser (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: rubber)
download (n & v) especially (adv)
• I downloaded the songs from the euro (n)
internet (v). even (adv)
downstairs (adv) evening (n)
Dr (n) ever (adv)
draw (v) every (det)
drawer (n) everybody (pron)
drawing (n) everyone (pron)
dream (n & v) everything (pron)
dress (n & v) everywhere (adv)
dressed (adj) exactly (adv)
drink (n & v) examination/exam (n)
drive (v) example (n)
driver (n) • Look at the example first.
driving licence (n) • for example
drugstore (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: chemist) excellent (adj)
drum (n) except (conj & prep)
dry (adj & v) excited (adj)
duck (n) exciting (adj)

© UCLES 2012 Page 8 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

excuse (v) fine (adj)
• Excuse me! • That’s fine!
exercise (n & v) • I’m fine, thank you.
exhibition (n) • The weather is fine.
• art exhibition finger (n)
exit (n) finish (v)
expensive (adj) fire (n)
explain (v) first (adv & adj)
explore (v) • First… then… (adv)
explorer (n) • John came first. (adv)
• This book’s about famous explorers. • first prize (adj)
extra (adj) first name (n)
eye (n) fish (n & v)
fishing (n)
F fit (adj)
flat (n)
flight (n)
face (n) floor (n)
fact (n) • The bedrooms are on the first floor.
factory (n) • Don’t leave your clothes on the floor.
fail (v) flower (n)
fair (adj) fly (v)
• She has fair hair. fog (n)
fall (n & v) foggy (adj)
• in the fall (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: autumn) follow (v)
• he fell and hurt his leg (v) food (n)
family (n) foot (n)
famous (adj) • my right foot
fan (n) football (n)
fantastic (adj) footballer (n)
far (adv) for (prep)
• How far is the next garage? foreign (adj)
farm (n) forest (n)
farmer (n) forget (v)
fashion (n) fork (n)
fast (adj & adv) • knife and fork
fast food (n) form (n)
fat (adj) • Fill in this form.
father (n) free (adj & adv)
favourite (adj) French fries (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: chips)
feel (v) fresh (adj)
• to feel well • fresh fruit
festival (n) fridge (n)
few (det & adj) fried (adj)
field (n) friend (n)
file (n) friendly (adj)
fill (v) from (prep)
fill in (phr v) front (n)
• to fill in a form • in the front of the train
film (n & v) • Stand in front of me.
final (adj) fruit (n)
finally (adv) full (adj)
find (v) fun (adj & n)
find out (phr v) funny (adj)
furniture (n)

© UCLES 2012 Page 9 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

further (adj) grape (n)
future (n) grass (n)
great (adj)
green (adj)
G grey (adj & n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: gray)
grilled (adj)
game (n) grocery store (n) (Am Eng)
garage (n) group (n)
garden (n) grow (v)
garlic (n) grow up (phr v)
gas (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: petrol) guess (v)
gas station (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: petrol station) guest (n)
gate (n) guest-house (n)
geography (n) guide (n)
get (v) guidebook (n)
get fit (v) guitar (n)
get off (phr v) guy (n)
• to get off the bus • He’s a really nice guy.
get on (phr v) gym (n)
• to get on the bus
get up (phr v)
• to get up in the morning
H
gift (n)
girl (n) hair (n)
girlfriend (n) half (det, n & pron)
give (v) half-price (adj)
glad (adj) hall (n)
glass (n) hand (n)
glasses (n pl) handbag (n)
glove (n) happen (v)
go (v) happy (adj)
goal (n) hard (adj & adv)
gold (n & adj) • hard wood (adj)
golden (adj) • the homework was hard (adj)
golf (n) • to work hard (adv)
good (adj) hat (n)
good afternoon (exclam) hate (v)
goodbye (exclam) have (av & v)
good evening (exclam) have got to (mv)
good-looking (adj) have to (mv)
good morning (exclam) he (pron)
good night (exclam) head (n)
go out (phr v) • My head hurts.
• Are you going out this evening? headache (n)
grade (n) headteacher (n)
gram(me) (n) health (n)
grandchild (n) healthy (adj)
grand(d)ad (n) hear (v)
granddaughter (n) heart (n)
grandfather (n) heating (n)
grandma (n) • Can you turn the heating on?
grandmother (n) heavy (adj)
grandpa (n) • a heavy blanket
grandparent (n) helicopter (n)
grandson (n) hello (exclam)
granny (n)

© UCLES 2012 Page 10 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

help (v) in (adv & prep)
her (det & pron) include (v)
here (adv) including (prep)
hers (pron) indoor (adj)
herself (pron) indoors (adv)
• by herself information (n)
hey (exclam) in front of (prep phr)
hi (exclam) insect (n)
high (adj) inside (adv & prep)
hill (n) instead (adv)
him (pron) instructions (n pl)
himself (pron) instrument (n)
• by himself interested (adj)
hip hop (n) interesting (adj)
his (det & pron) international (adj)
history (n) internet (n)
hit (v) into (prep)
hobby (n) invitation (n)
hockey (n) invite (v)
hold (v) island (n)
holiday (n) it (pron)
home (n & adv) IT (n)
homework (n) its (det)
honey (n) itself (pron)
hope (v)
horrible (adj)
horse (n)
J
hospital (n)
hot (adj) jacket (n)
hotel (n) jam (n)
hour (n) • fruit jam
house (n) jazz (n)
housewife (n) jeans (n pl)
how (adv) jewellery (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: jewelry)
however (adv) job (n)
hungry (adj) join (v)
hurry (v) journalist (n)
hurt (v) journey (n)
husband (n) juice (n)
jump (v)
jumper (n)
I just (adv)
• I’ve just seen Tom.
I (pron) • Just a moment.
ice (n)
ice cream (n)
ice skating (n) K
ID (n)
ID card (n) keep (v)
idea (n) • May I keep this?
identification (n) • Keep right!
if (conj) key (n)
ill (adj) keyboard (n)
immediately (adv) • I play the keyboard in a band.
important (adj) • The keyboard for my computer is broken.
improve (v)

© UCLES 2012 Page 11 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

kick (n & v) • driving licence
kilogramme (kg) (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: kilogram) lie down (phr v)
kilometre (km) (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: kilometer) life (n)
kind (adj & n) lift (n)
• That’s very kind of you. • Take the lift to the third floor.
• What kind of book do you want? light (n & adj)
king (n) like (adv, prep & v)
kiss (n & v) • What’s the weather like? (adv)
kit (n) • It’s like an orange but bigger. (prep)
kitchen (n) • I’d like a drink. (v)
kite (n) line (n)
knife (n) • draw a line
know (v) • the next line
lion (n)
L list (n)
listen (v)
litre (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: liter)
lake (n) little (adj)
lamp (n) live (v)
language (n) living room (n)
laptop (computer) (n) long (adj)
large (adj) look (v)
last (adj & det) • You look happy.
late (adv & adj) • Don’t look now!
• The train is going to be late. (adj) look after (phr v)
later (adv) look at (phr v)
• I’ll see you later. look for (phr v)
latest (adj) look out (phr v)
laugh (v) • Look out – it’s going to fall!
lazy (adj) lorry (n)
learn (v) lose (v)
least (adv) • We lost the game.
• at least • I’ve lost my passport.
leather (n & adj) lost (adj)
leave (v) lots / a lot (n)
• The train leaves at 10 o’clock. • a lot of homework.
• I left my bag in the cinema. loud (adj)
• There isn’t any milk left. love (n & v)
left (adj, adv & n) lovely (adj)
• Go to the left. (n) low (adj)
• left hand (adj) luck (n)
• Turn left. (adv) lucky (adj)
left-hand (adj) luggage (n)
leg (n) lunch (n)
lemon (n) lunchtime (n)
lemonade (n)
lend (v)
less (adj, det & pron) M
lesson (n)
let (v) machine (n)
letter (n) mad (adj)
level (n) magazine (n)
• language level mail (n)
library (n) main course (n)
licence (n) make (v)

© UCLES 2012 Page 12 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

make-up (n) mix (v)
man (n) mobile (phone) (n)
manager (n) model (n)
mango (n) modern (adj)
many (det & pron) moment (n)
map (n) • Just a moment.
mark (n) money (n)
market (n) monkey (n)
married (adj) month (n)
match (n) monthly (adj & adv)
• football match moon (n)
maths/mathematics (n) (Br Eng) more (adj, adv, det & pron)
(Am Eng: math) morning (n)
matter (n & v) most (adj, adv, det & pron)
• It doesn’t matter. (v) mother (n)
• What’s the matter? (n) motorbike (n)
may (mv) motorway (n)
maybe (adv) mountain (n)
me (pron) mouse (n)
meal (n) mouth (n)
mean (v) move (v)
meat (n) movie (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: film)
mechanic (n) movie theater (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: cinema)
medicine (n) movie star (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: film star)
meet (v) MP3 player (n)
meeting (n) Mr (n)
melon (n) Mrs (n)
member (n) Ms (n)
• a member of a club much (adj, adv, det & pron)
memory (n) mug (n)
menu (n) mum (n)
message (n) museum (n)
metre (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: meter) mushroom (n)
midday (n) music (n)
middle (n) musical (adj)
• in the middle musician (n)
midnight (n) must (mv)
might (mv) my (det)
mile (n) myself (pron)
milk (n) • by myself
million (n)
mind (v)
• Do you mind if I close the window?
N
• I don’t mind if…
• Never mind. name (n)
• Mind your head! national (adj)
mine (pron) nationality (n)
mineral water (n) nature (n)
minus (prep) near (adv & prep)
minute (n) nearly (adv)
mirror (n) neck (n)
Miss (n) necklace (n)
miss (v) need (v)
missing (adj) neighbour (n)
mistake (n) net (n)
• I found a great website on the net.

© UCLES 2012 Page 13 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

never (adv) or (conj)
new (adj) orange (adj & n)
news (n) order (n)
newspaper (n) other (det & pron)
next (adj & adv) our (det)
next to (prep) ours (pron)
nice (adj) ourselves (pron)
night (n) out (adv)
no (adv, det & pron) outdoors (adv)
nobody (pron) out of (prep)
noise (n) outside (prep & adv)
noisy (adj) over (prep & adv)
noon (n) • over 60 people (adv)
no one (pron) • to travel all over the world (prep)
normal (adj) own (adj)
north (n, adj & adv) • They cook their own meals.
nose (n)
not (adv)
note (n & v) P
notebook (n)
nothing (pron) pack (v)
notice (n) • pack a suitcase
now (adv) page (n)
number (n) pain (n)
nurse (n) paint (v & n)
painter (n)
O painting (n)
pale (adj)
pair (n)
occupation (n) • a pair of shoes
o'clock (adv) paper (n & adj)
of (prep) pardon (exclam)
of course (not) (adv) • Pardon?
off (adv) parent (n)
offer (n & v) park (n & v)
office (n) parking lot (n) (Am Eng) (Br Eng: car park)
often (adv) part (n)
oh (exclam) • the best part of the day
oil (n) partner (n)
• car oil party (n)
• cooking oil pass (v)
OK/okay (exclam) • You pass the station on the left.
old (adj) • to pass a driving test
omelette (n) passenger (n)
on (prep & adv) passport (n)
once (adv) past (prep)
• only once pasta (n)
one (det & pron) path (n)
onion (n) pay (v)
online (adj & adv) PC (personal computer) (n)
only (adv & adj) pear (n)
• I only wanted to help. pen (n)
• the only one pence (n)
open (adj & v) pencil (n)
opera (n) pencil case (n)
opposite (prep)

© UCLES 2012 Page 14 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

penfriend (n) police car (n)
penny (n) police officer (n)
people (n pl) police station (n)
pepper (n) polite (adj)
per (prep) pool (n)
perfect (adj) • swimming pool
perfume (n) poor (adj)
perhaps (adv) pop (n)
person (n) • pop music
pet (n) popular (adj)
petrol (n) possible (adj)
petrol station (n) possibly (adv)
pharmacy (n) post (v & n)
phone (v & n) • to post a letter
photo(graph) (n) • What’s in the post today?
photographer (n) postcard (n)
photography (n) poster (n)
physics (n) post office (n)
piano (n) potato (n)
pick up (phr v) pound (£) (n)
picnic (n) practice (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: practise)
picture (n) • football practice
piece (n) practise (v)
• a piece of cake • You must practise if you want to play well.
pillow (n) prefer (v)
pilot (n) prepare (v)
pink (adj) present (n)
pity (n) • a birthday present
• What a pity! pretty (adj)
pizza (n) price (n)
place (n) print (v)
plan (n & v) printer (n)
plane (n) prize (n)
• The plane was late. probably (adv)
plant (n) problem (n)
plastic (n & adj) program (n)
plate (n) • a computer program
platform (n) programme (n)
• Your train leaves from Platform 8. • a TV programme
play (v & n) project (n)
• to play football (v) • a school project
• to play the guitar (v) pull (v)
• a play at the theatre (n) pupil (n)
player (n) purple (adj)
playground (n) purse (n)
pleasant (adj) push (v)
please (v & exclam) put (v)
• I’m very pleased for you. (v) put on (phr v)
• Please be quiet! puzzle (n)
pleased (adj)
plus (prep)
p.m. (adv)
pocket (n) Q
point (v)
police (n) quarter (n)

© UCLES 2012 Page 15 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

 • a quarter of an hour • your right hand (adj)
queen (n) • That’s the right answer. (adj)
question (n) • Turn right here. (adv)
quick (adj) right hand (adj)
quickly (adv) ring (n)
quiet (adj) river (n)
quite (adv) road (n)
• Are you quite sure? roast (v & adj)
• quite old rock (n)
quiz (n) • rock concert
roof (n)
R room (n)
• a double room
round (adj)
rabbit (n) roundabout (n)
race (n & v) rubber (n)
• a running race (n) rugby (n)
• She raced her brother to the bus stop. (v) ruler (n)
racket (n) run (v)
• Can I borrow your tennis racket? runner (n)
radio (n) running (n)
railway (n)
rain (n & v)
raincoat (n)
S
rap (n)
read (v) sad (adj)
reading (n) safe (adj)
ready (adj) sail (v)
• When will it be ready? sailing (n)
real (adj) salad (n)
really (adv) sale (n)
reason (n) • for sale
receipt (n) salt (n)
receive (v) same (adj & pron)
receptionist (n) • at the same time (adj)
record (v) • Your watch is the same as mine. (pron)
red (adj) sandwich (n)
refrigerator (n) sauce (n)
remember (v) sausage (n)
rent (v) save (v)
repair (v) • to save money
repeat (v) • to save time
rest (n & v) say (v)
• to have a rest (n) scarf (n)
• ‘Try to rest’, the doctor said. (v) school (n)
restaurant (n) schoolchild (n)
return (n & v) science (n)
• my return from holiday (n) scissors (n pl)
• He returned home late. (v) scooter (n)
• She returned her library books. (v) screen (n)
rice (n) sea (n)
rich (adj) seat (n)
ride (n & v) second (adj, det & n)
right (n, adj & adv) secretary (n)
• He swam to the right. (n) see (v)

© UCLES 2012 Page 16 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

sell (v) skiing (n)
send (v) skirt (n)
sentence (n) sky (n)
serve (v) sleep (v)
set (n) slice (n)
several (det & pron) slim (adj)
shall (mv) slow (adj)
shame (n) slowly (adv)
• What a shame! small (adj)
shampoo (n & v) smoke (v)
share (v) smoking (n)
she (pron) snack (n)
sheep (n) snow (n & v)
sheet (n) snowboard (n)
• a bed sheet snowboarding (n)
shelf (n) so (conj & adv)
ship (n) • So, I think it’s right. (conj)
shirt (n) • He ate too much, so he felt ill. (conj)
shoe (n) • He wanted to go but he didn’t say so. (adv)
shop (n & v) soap (n)
shop assistant (n) soccer (n)
shopping (n) sock (n)
short (adj) sofa (n)
• a short time soft (adj)
shorts (n pl) software (n)
should (mv) some (det & pron)
shout (v) somebody (pron)
show (v & n) someone (pron)
• Show me your photos. (v) something (pron)
• a film show (n) sometimes (adv)
shower (n) somewhere (adv)
shut (v) son (n)
sick (adj) song (n)
side (n) soon (adv)
• this side of the room sorry (adj)
sightseeing (n) • I’m sorry I’m late.
sign (n) • Sorry, I don’t understand that.
silver (n & adj) sort (n)
simple (adj) sound (v)
since (prep) • That sounds nice.
sing (v) soup (n)
singer (n) south (n, adj & adv)
singing (n) space (n)
single (adj) spare (adj)
sink (n) speak (v)
sister (n) speaker (n)
sit (v) special (adj)
sit down (phr v) spell (v)
site (n) spelling (n)
sitting room (n) spend (v)
size (n) spoon (n)
skate (v) sport (n)
skateboard (n) sports centre (n)
skateboarding (n) spring (n)
skating (n) • I hate winter but I love spring.
ski (v)

© UCLES 2012 Page 17 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

square (n & adj) surfing (n)
stadium (n) surname (n)
staff (n) surprise (n)
stage (n) surprised (adj)
stairs (n pl) sweater (n)
stamp (n) sweet (n & adj)
• Put a stamp on the envelope. swim (v)
stand (v) swimming (n)
• She was standing at the bus stop. swimming costume (n) (Br Eng)
star (n & v) (Am Eng: bathing suit)
start (v) swimming pool (n)
station (n) swimsuit (n)
stay (v)
steak (n)
steal (v)
T
• Someone’s stolen my bag!
still (adv) table (n)
stomach (n) table tennis (n)
stomach ache (n) take (v)
stop (n & v) • I’ll take it to your room.
store (n) • It takes three hours.
storm (n) take off (phr v)
story (n) • She took off her shoes.
straight (adj & adv) talk (n & v)
• a straight line (adj) tall (adj)
• Go straight on. (adv) taxi (n)
strange (adj) tea (n)
• That’s a strange story! teach (v)
street (n) teacher (n)
strong (adj) team (n)
student (n) teenager (n)
studies (n pl) telephone (n & v)
study (v) television (TV) (n)
subject (n) tell (v)
• What’s your favourite subject at school? temperature (n)
• the subject of a talk • The temperature was below zero.
such (det) tennis (n)
suddenly (adv) tent (n)
sugar (n) term (n)
suit (n) terrible (adj)
• He was wearing a grey suit. test (n)
suitcase (n) text (n & v)
summer (n) textbook (n)
sun (n) text message (n)
sunglasses (n pl) than (prep & conj)
sunny (adj) thank (v)
supermarket (n) thanks (exclam)
supper (n) thank you (exclam)
suppose (v) that (conj & pron)
• I suppose so. the (det)
• I suppose you’re right. theatre (n) (Br Eng) (Am Eng: theater)
sure (adj) their (det)
• I’m (not) sure. theirs (pron)
surf (v) them (pron)
surfboard (n) themselves (pron)
then (adv)

© UCLES 2012 Page 18 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

there (adv) true (adj)
these (det & pron) try (v)
they (pron) try on (phr v)
thin (adj) T-shirt (n)
thing (n) turn (v)
think (v) turn off (phr v)
thirsty (adj) • Turn the gas off.
this (det & pron) turn on (phr v)
those (det & pron) • Turn the heating on.
through (prep) twice (adv)
throw (v) type (n)
thunderstorm (n) tyre (n) (Am Eng: tire)
ticket (n)
tidy (adj & v)
tidy up (v) U
tie (n)
tiger (n) umbrella (n)
tights (n pl) uncle (n)
till (prep) under (prep)
time (n) underground (n & adj)
timetable (n) understand (v)
tired (adj) unfortunately (adj)
to (prep) unhappy (n)
toast (n) uniform (n)
today (n & adv) university (n)
toe (n) until (prep)
together (adv) unusual (adj)
toilet (n) up (prep & adv)
tomato (n) upset (adj)
tomorrow (n & adv) upstairs (adv)
tonight (n & adv) us (pron)
too (adv) use (v)
tooth (n) useful (adj)
toothbrush (n) usual (adj)
top (n) usually (adv)
• the top of the page
total (adj & n)
tour (n) V
tour guide (n)
tourist (n) v/versus (prep)
tourist information centre (n) • Manchester United v Liverpool
towel (n) variety (n)
town (n) various (adj)
toy (n) vegetable (n)
traffic (n) very (adv)
traffic light (n) video (n)
train (n) video game (n)
trainer (n) view (n)
• a pair of trainers village (n)
tram (n) violin (n)
travel (v) visit (v)
tree (n) visitor (n)
trip (n) vocabulary (n)
trouble (n) volleyball (n)
trousers (n pl)

© UCLES 2012 Page 19 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

 will ('ll) (mv)
W win (v)
wind (n)
wait (v) window (n)
waiter (n) windsurfing (n)
waitress (n) windy (adj)
wake (v) winner (n)
wake up (phr v) winter (n)
walk (v) wish (n)
walking (n) • Best wishes.
wall (n) with (prep)
wallet (n) without (prep)
want (v) woman (n)
warm (adj) wonderful (adj)
wash (v) wood (n)
washing machine (n) wooden (adj)
washing-up (n) wool (n)
wash up (phr v) word (n)
watch (n & v) work (n & v)
water (n) worker (n)
way (n) world (n)
• Do it this way. worried (adj)
• one-way street worry (v)
• Is this the quickest way home? worse (adj)
we (pron) worst (adj)
wear (v) would (mv)
weather (n) wow (exclam)
web (n) write (v)
web page (n) write down (phr v)
website (n) writer (n)
week (n) writing (n)
weekday (n) wrong (adj)
weekend (n)
weekly (adj & adv)
welcome (adj & exclam)
Y
• You’re welcome (adj)
• Welcome to London! (exclam) yeah (exclam)
well (adv & adj) year (n)
well known (adj) yellow (adj)
west (n, adj & adv) yes (adv)
wet (adj) yesterday (adv)
what (det & pron) yet (adv)
wheel (n) • Has he arrived yet?
when (adv) yog(h)urt (n)
where (adv) you (pron)
which (det & pron) young (adj)
while (conj) your (det)
white (adj) yours (pron)
who (pron) yourself (pron)
whole (adj & n)
• the whole world (adj)
• the whole of July (n)
Z
why (adv)
wide (adj) zero (n)
wife (n) zoo (n)
wild (adj)
• wild animals

© UCLES 2012 Page 20 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Appendix 1

Word sets
In addition to the words in the alphabetical list, KET and KET for Schools candidates
are expected to know:

Cardinal numbers
one, two, three, etc. to one thousand

Ordinal numbers
first, second, third, fourth, etc. to thirty-first

Days of the week

Monday, Tuesday, etc.

Months of the year

January, February, etc.

Seasons of the year

spring, summer, autumn, winter

Countries, languages and nationalities

English-speaking countries and others, for example Brazil/Brazilian, Canada/Canadian,
China/Chinese, France/French, Ireland/Irish, India/Indian, Italy/Italian, Spain/Spanish, etc.

Continents
Africa, Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Antarctica, Europe

© UCLES 2012 Page 21 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Appendix 2

Topic Lists
Appliances
camera DVD (player) laptop telephone
CD (player) electric lights television / TV
cell phone electricity mobile (phone) video
clock fridge MP3 player washing machine
computer gas PC
cooker heating phone
digital camera lamp radio

Clothes and Accessories

bag fashion raincoat tights
bathing suit glasses ring trainers
belt glove scarf trousers
blouse handbag shirt try on (v)
boot hat shoes T-shirt
bracelet jacket shorts umbrella
cap jeans skirt uniform
chain jewellery / jewelry suit wallet
clothes jumper sunglasses watch
coat kit sweater wear (v)
costume (swimming) necklace swimming costume
dress pocket swimsuit
earring purse tie

Colours
black golden orange red
blue green pale white
brown grey pink yellow
dark light purple

Communication and Technology

address digital laptop (computer) screen
at / @ digital camera mobile (phone) software
by post dot mouse talk
call (v) download (n & v) MP3 player telephone
camera DVD (player) net text (n & v)
CD (player) email (n & v) online video
cell phone envelope PC web
chat file photograph web page
click (v) information photography website
computer internet phone
conversation keyboard printer

© UCLES 2012 Page 22 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Documents and Texts
ad / advertisement diary magazine passport
article diploma menu postcard
bill email message project
book form newspaper text (n & v)
card letter note textbook
comic licence notebook ticket

Education
advanced course lesson ruler
beginner desk level school
biology dictionary library science
blackboard diploma mark student
board eraser maths/mathematics studies
book exam(ination) note study (v)
bookshelf geography physics subject
chemistry history practice (n) teach
class homework practise (v) teacher
classmate information project term
classroom instructions pupil test (n)
clever know read university
coach language remember
college learn rubber

Entertainment and Media

act draw magazine practise (v)
actor drawing MP3 player programme
adventure disco museum project
advertisement drum music radio
art DVD (player) musician read (v)
article exhibition news rock (concert)
board game festival newspaper screen (n)
book film (n & v) opera show (n)
card fun paint (v) sing
cartoon go out painter singer
CD (player) group photograph song
chess guitar photographer television / TV
cinema hip hop photography theatre
classical (music) instrument piano ticket
competition keyboard picture video (game)
concert laugh play (n) watch (v)
dance (n & v) listen to pop (music)
dancer look at practice (n)

© UCLES 2012 Page 23 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Family and Friends
aunt girl group mum(my)
boy grandchild guest neighbour
brother grand(d)ad guy parent
child granddaughter husband pen-friend
cousin grandfather love (n & v) sister
dad(dy) grandma married son
daughter grandmother Miss surname
family grandpa mother teenager
father grandparent Mr uncle
friend grandson Mrs wife
friendly granny Ms

Food and Drink

apple chocolate ice plate
bake coffee ice cream potato
banana cola jam rice
barbecue cook (n & v) juice roast (v & adj)
biscuit cooker kitchen salad
boil cream knife salt
boiled cup lemon sandwich
bottle curry lemonade sauce
bowl cut (n) lunch sausage
box dessert main course slice (n)
bread dinner meal snack (n)
break (n) dish (n) meat soup
breakfast drink melon steak
burger eat menu sugar
butter egg milk sweet (n & adj)
cafe/café fish mineral water tea
cafeteria food mushroom thirsty
cake fork oil toast
can (n) fridge omelette tomato
candy fried onion vegetable
carrot fruit orange waiter
cereal garlic pasta waitress
cheese glass pear wash up
chef grape pepper yog(h)urt
chicken grilled picnic
chilli honey piece of cake
chips hungry pizza

© UCLES 2012 Page 24 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Health, Medicine and Exercise
accident cut (v) foot pain
ambulance danger hair problem
appointment dangerous hand rest (n)
arm dead head run
baby dentist health sick
back die hear (v) soap
bandage doctor heart stomach
blood Dr hospital stomach ache
body ear hurt (v) swim
brain exercise ill temperature
break (v) eye leg tired
check (v) face lie down tooth
chemist fall (v) medicine toothache
clean (adj & v) feel (v) neck toothbrush
cold (n) finger nose walk
comb (n) fit nurse well (adj)

Hobbies and Leisure

barbecue CD (player) guitar musician
beach club hobby paint (n & v)
bicycle collect (v) holidays park
bike computer join party
book dance (n & v) magazine photograph (n & v)
camera draw member picnic
camp DVD (player) MP3 player quiz
camping festival museum tent
campsite go out music video game

House and Home

address computer garage refrigerator
apartment cooker garden roof
armchair cupboard gas room
bath(tub) curtain gate safe (adj)
bathroom desk hall shelf
bed dining room heating shower
bedroom door home sink
blanket downstairs house sitting room
bookcase drawer key sofa
bookshelf DVD (player) kitchen stay (v)
bowl entrance lamp toilet
box flat (n) light towel
carpet floor live (v)
chair fridge living room
clock furniture pillow

© UCLES 2012 Page 25 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Measurements
centimetre / centimeter hour minute week
day kilo(gram[me])/kg moment year
degree kilometre/km/kilometer quarter
gram(me) litre / liter second
half metre / meter temperature

Personal Feelings, Opinions and Experiences (adjectives)

able difficult kind soft
afraid excellent lovely sorry
alone famous lucky special
amazing fast married strange
angry favourite modern strong
bad fine nice sure
beautiful free noisy sweet
better friendly old tall
big funny pleasant terrible
bored good poor tired
boring great pretty unhappy
brave happy quick useful
brilliant hard quiet well
busy heavy ready worried
careful high real wrong
clear hungry rich young
clever important right
cool interested slow
different interesting small

Places: Buildings
apartment (building) college hospital school
bank department store hotel shop
block disco house sports centre
bookshop elevator library stadium
bookstore entrance lift supermarket
building exit museum swimming pool
cafe/café factory office theatre
cafeteria flat pharmacy university
castle garage police station
cathedral grocery store post office
cinema guest-house railway station

© UCLES 2012 Page 26 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Places: Countryside
area forest path sky
beach hill railway village
campsite island rainforest wood
farm lake river
field mountain sea

Places: Town and City

airport city centre petrol station station
bridge corner playground street
bus station market road town
bus stop motorway roundabout underground
car park park square zoo

Services
bank doctor petrol station theatre
cafe / café garage post office tourist information
cafeteria hotel restaurant
cinema library sports centre
dentist museum swimming pool

Shopping
ad / advertisement cheque expensive shop
assistant close (v) for sale shop assistant
bill closed open (v & adj) shopper
bookshop cost (n & v) pay (for) shopping
buy (v) credit card penny spend
cash (n & v) customer pound store
cent department store price supermarket
change (n & v) dollar receipt try on
cheap euro rent

© UCLES 2012 Page 27 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Sport
ball football riding swimming
badminton football player rugby swimming costume
baseball game run (v) swimming pool
basketball goal sailing swimsuit
bat golf sea table tennis
bathing suit hockey skate (v) team
beach kit skateboard (n) tennis
bicycle luck ski (v) tennis player
bike member skiing throw (v)
boat play (v) snowboard (n) ticket
catch (v) player snowboarding tired
climb (v) pool (n) soccer trainers
club practice (n) sport(s) v / versus
coach (n) practise (v) sports centre volleyball
competition prize stadium walk (v)
cricket race (n & v) surf watch (v)
cycling racket surfboard win (v)
enter (a competition) rest (n & v) surfboarding windsurfing
fishing ride (n & v) swim winner

The Natural World

air fire moon spring
autumn flower mountain star
beach forest north summer
bee grass plant tree
country grow rabbit water
countryside hill river west
desert hot sea winter
east ice sky wood
explorer island south wool
field lake space world

Time
afternoon evening morning tonight
a.m./p.m. half (past) night week
appointment holidays noon weekday
autumn hour o’clock weekend
birthday January - December past weekly
calendar meeting quarter (past/to) winter
century midnight second working hours
clock minute spring year
daily moment summer yesterday
date Monday - Sunday time
day month today
diary monthly tomorrow

© UCLES 2012 Page 28 of 29 KET Vocabulary List

Travel and Transport
(aero)/(air)plane explorer park (v) street
airport far passenger suitcase
ambulance flight passport taxi
backpack fly petrol ticket
boat garage petrol station tour (n)
bridge helicopter pilot tour guide
bus journey platform tourist
bus station leave railway tourist information centre
bus stop left repair (v) traffic
car light return (n & v) traffic light
case luggage ride tram
coach machine right travel
country map road trip
delay (n & v) mechanic roundabout tyre
delayed mirror sailing underground (n)
drive miss (v) seat visit
driver motorbike ship visitor
driving/driver’s licence motorway station way (n)
engine move stop wheel
engineer oil straight on window

Weather
cloud hot sun wet
cloudy ice sunny wind
cold rain thunderstorm windy
fog snow warm
foggy storm weather

Work and Jobs

actor diploma journalist secretary
artist doctor king shop assistant
boss Dr letter shopper
break (n) driver manager singer
business earn mechanic staff
businessman email (n & v) meeting student
businesswoman engineer message teacher
chemist explorer musician tennis player
cleaner factory nurse tour guide
coach (n) farm occupation uniform
company farmer office waiter/ waitress
computer footballer painter work
cook (n & v) football player photographer worker
customer guest pilot writer
dentist guide police officer
desk instructions queen
diary job receptionist

© UCLES 2012 Page 29 of 29 KET Vocabulary List