Learning English Vocabulary

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

Last refreshed: April 9th, 2026 at 3:33 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

English in a Minute: 3 ways to use 'general'

Listen to Beth explain how to use the word 'general'. How many ways do you use the word 'general'? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-91 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: ✔️ Lea...

Jul 03, 2024•1 min

Word stress

Do you know how to pronounce the words photographer and photograph? We can help you. 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.

Jul 01, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: 4 ways to use the word 'material'

Listen to Beth explain how to use the word 'material' and then you can use material everyday. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-90 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...

Jun 26, 2024•1 min

Compound adjectives

Learn how to use compound adjectives (e.g. low-fat yoghurt, high-quality carbohydrates) 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.

Jun 24, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: How to use the word 'during'

Get ready to hear Beth explain how to use the word 'during' in 60 seconds - it's amazing! TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-87 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 E...

Jun 19, 2024•1 min

Lexical sets

Finn and Catherine give you some tips on how to remember new 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: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Jun 17, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: 3 ways to use 'nice'

It’s always nice to have a nice programme to listen to. Beth’s here to tell you all about the word ‘nice’ in 60 seconds. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-86 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 podca...

Jun 12, 2024•1 min

-ing and -ed adjectives

Interested or interesting? Which adjective do you use? We discuss -ing and -ed adjectives 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.

Jun 10, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: 3 ways to use 'count'

Phil knows all about the word 'count' and he'll explain what he knows to you in 60 seconds. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-89 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 E...

Jun 05, 2024•1 min

Phrases made of two words

In this short and sweet episode, learn some common binomials, or phrases made 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: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning Easy English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Jun 03, 2024•6 min

Binomials: phrases made of two words

Do you want some cheap and cheerful tips to improve your English? Listen to learn more. 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.

Jun 03, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: How to use 'schedule'

Phil has scheduled a time to talk to you about the word 'schedule'. That time is now and he will do it in 60 seconds. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-83 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 podcast...

May 29, 2024•2 min

Useful chunks of language

Do you like to eat a full English breakfast? Listen to find out how to use this phrase. 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.

May 27, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: 3 ways to use 'supreme'

This programme is supreme - Beth is explaining how to use the word 'supreme' TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-83 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 ✔️ ...

May 22, 2024•1 min

Words with 'ough'

Cough, thought, enough, although: Learn how to pronounce words with 'ough'.

May 20, 2024•6 min

English in a Minute: 3 ways to use 'situation'

We have a good situation here - Beth is explaining how to use the word 'situation' TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/eiam/unit-3/session-82 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 Engli...

May 15, 2024•1 min

Easily confused words

Boring or bored? Learn about words that look similar but have very different meaning. 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.

May 13, 2024•6 min

Suffixes –free and -less

Carefree or careless? The suffixes -free and -less.

May 06, 2024•6 min

Prefixes: un-, in- and dis-

Learn some prefixes which we hope won't make you feel unhappy.

Apr 29, 2024•6 min

Adjectives and adverbs

Fashionable? Fashionably? We teach you adjectives and adverbs.

Apr 22, 2024•6 min

Suffixes

Finn and Alice look at a very important part of word building – suffixes. 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 ✔️ 6 Minute Grammar ✔️ News Review They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Apr 15, 2024•6 min

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