COMMON WORDS in IELTS

Speaking Writing
(Learn words by heart in order)
1. like (v): thch.
= be keen on = be pretty fond of = be quite enthusiastic about = be quite passionate
about = be totally mad about = be crazy about + (Noun / Ving).
EX
- Many young people are passionate about hip-hop.
- I wasn't too keen on going to the party.
2. fervent / fervid (adj): nhit tnh, hng hi.
= avid / a vd / = enthusiastic = eager = zealous / ze lus /
3. dislike (v): khng thch.
= loathe / l th / = go off (Sb / Sth) = put Sb off (Sb / Sth) = hate
dislike (n) = loathing = displeasure = disinclination.
dislikeable (adj) = loath
EX
- I loathe the smell of fried fish.
- Dan and Mary went out (cm tnh) together for six months and then she just went off
-

him.
I was terrible at sport at school and it totally put me off doing any kind of exercise.

4. yearn for (Sb / Sth) (v) / yr n /: mong mi, khao kht.

= long for Sth = pine for Sth = look forward to Sth.
EX
- The people yearned for peace.
5. dread (Noun / Ving) (v) / drt d /: s, khinh s.
= fear = be afraid of = be fearful of / fia ful / = be nervous of + (Sb / Sth).
EX
- I dread being sick.
6. can (modal v): c kh nng lm g.
= to be able to = to be possible = to be capable of + (Noun / Ving)
7. big (adj): to ln
= large = major = considerable / con si r ble / = substantial
very big (adj) = huge = enormous = massive = vast = gigantic / gai gn tic / =
tremendous / tri mn dus /

small (adj): nh.

= minor = little = slight = poky / pu ki /

very small (adj) = tiny = teeny = minimal = minuscule = miniature
8. on the verge of + Sth (n): sp, sut, gn.
= nearly = narrowly
verge on the (v): tin st, st gn, gn nh
EX
- We are on the verge of playing game. (Chng ti sp chi banh).
- He is on the verge of 40. (Anh y sp 40 tui)
- Many of his activities verged on the illegal.
9. important (adj): quan trng.
= significant = substantial = noteworthy / nt wor di /
10. momentous / mou mn tus / (adj): rt quan trng.
= essential = vital = crucial = (of great / considerable) importance.
11. paramount / p ra mount / (adj): quan trong nht.
= central = primary / pri m ri / = major = main = chief = principal / prn ci pal /
12. multitude (n) / mu ti tiu /: v s.
= crowd = mass = mob = drove
EX
- These elements can be combined in a multitude of different ways.
13. unsettling (adj): ng lo, ng ngi, lo lng
= worrying = disquieting = disturbing
EX
- The countrys economic crisis had an unsettling effect on world market.
14. advantage (n) / t van tt / : thun li
= clear benefits = obvious / b vi us / plus point = further merit = virtue / vir chu /
15. agree (v): ng
= tally with = concur with = be / find yourself in accord with = coincide with =
conform to = approve of
= see eye to eye = give your consent = go along with Sth = be of the same opinion

disagree (v): khng ng

= dissent = discord = rift = be divided = split = differ
= not see eye to eye = be mistaken = take issue with Sb / Sth
16. be drawn to sthing (phr) = be interested in sthing: b li cun, b cun ht bi.
EX
- I am strongly drawn to the simple life and am often oppressed by the feeling.

17. rich (adj): giu.

= wealthy = prosperous = affluent

poor (adj): ngho.

= impoverished = deprived
1. In fact= actually, in actual fact, in effect, in reality, in truth, indeed, as a matter of fact, in point
of fact, essentially, to all intents and purposes, in operation, successfully for practical purposes.
2. Irony= satire, sarcasm, mockery, biting wit, insincerity, paradox, incongruity, contrariness,
inconsistency, absurdity, contradiction, impossibility, irrationality, foolishness, craziness,
ludicrousness, ridiculousness, senselessness, pointlessness, illogical, craziness, ludicrousness.
3. Lavish= plentiful, abundant, generous, copious, bountiful, prolific, fulsome, extravagant,
profligate, unrestrained, luxuriant, luxurious, copious, abundant, heap, pour, bestow, cover with
. 4. Life= existence, being, living, days, years, death, verve, vivacity, energy, soul.
5. Logical= reason, judgment, sense, common sense, rational, reasonable, commonsensical,
consistent, coherent,valid, plausible, obvious, understandable, most likely, clear, lucid, patent,
plain, unambiguous unmistakable, apparent, visible, seeming, ostensible, deceptive, perceptible,
conspicuous, manifest in full view.
6. Lose= be unable to find, mislay, drop, be defeated, go down, be beaten, fail, suffer defeat,
evade, give somebody the slip, leave behind, get away from, elude, waste, exhaust, be bereaved,
suffer the loss of, squander misuse
7. Low= near to the ground, low down, short, small, little, stumpy, depleted, at a low level,
down, run down, short, in short supply, dwindling, minimal, muted, soothing, quiet, muffled,
miserable, unhappy, gloomy, despondent, depressed, down in the dumps, sorry for yourself, fed
up downcast, low point, depths.
8. Marketing= advertising, promotion, selling, market, sell, marketplace, sale.
9. Modern= contemporary, current, up to date, recent, new, present, fresh, prevailing,
progressive, enlightened, forward-looking, avant-grade, advanced, fashionable, innovative, most
recent, hottest, newest.
10. Mother= look after, care for, protect, nurse, tend.
11. Movie= film, picture, motion picture, show.

12. Nature= landscape, panorama, vista, surroundings, outlook, view, countryside, backdrop,
earth, world, life,
13. atmosphere, milieu, location, ecosystem, natural environment. 14. Need= require, call for,
want, necessitate, could do with, have to, must, should, ought, essential, requirement, poverty,
requisite, hardship, neediness, indigence, penury, destitution, adversity, demand, vital,
indispensable, crucial, fundamental, basic, central, key, chief.
15. Partner=associate, colleague, collaborator, co-worker, spouse, companion, wife, husband,
mate, other half, affiliate, team up, unite, connect, link up.
16. Pet= preferred, much loved, beloved, desired, darling, choice. 17. Play= engage in recreation,
amuse yourself, have fun, fool around, participate, take part in, cooperate, join in, compete,
recreation, games, fun, performance, dramatic piece, show, act. 18. Politics= Government,
Political affairs, Affairs of state, Policy, Political principles, Political opinions, Political views.
19. Put= place, set, lay, position, situate, locate, plant, deposit, leave, plunk.
20. Reserved= set aside, kept back, aloof, unfriendly, detached, diffident, forbidden, prohibited,
restricted, confine, hamper, impede, keep a tight rein on.
21. Rise= go up, increase, climb, mount, get higher, ascend, augment, grow, upsurge,
intensification, be apparent tower,come into view, materialize, spread, development, slope, bank.

18. Inform me = let me know

19. Cancel = drop
20. Contact = get in touch
21. obtain
= get = achieve = accquire = gain = accomplish
= get hold of Sth = lay your hands on Sth
Inform me

Let me know

Cancel

Drop

Contact

Get in touch

Obtain

Get

Apologise

Say sorry

Postpone

Delay

Request

Ask for

Compensate

Make up

Establish

Set up

Discover

Find out

Handle

Deal with

Investigate

Check up on

Tolerate

Put up

Increase

Go up

Children

Kids

Many / Much

A lot of

Many / Much

Heaps of

HOBBY
1. free time (n): thi gian rnh.
= spare time = leisure time = time off = downtime.

WORK
1. jobless (adj): mt vic.
= unemployed = redundant = out of work = unwaged

jobless (n) = redundance = out of work = unwaged: ngi mt vic.

2. colleague (n): bn ng nghip

= associate = co-worker = fellow-worker = staff = workmate.
3. worker (n): cng nhn.
= employee = staff = member of staff = staff member
4. decide (v): gii quyt, quyt nh, la chn.
= make a decision = make up ones mind = resolve = determine / t mn /

CULTURE SOCIETY
1. rich (adj): giu
= wealthy = prosperous = affluent / f flu ent /

poor (adj): ngho.

= impoverished / im p ver rish / = deprived / t praiv /

CONJUNCTION - ADV
5. then = after that: sau .
6. after: sau ny, v sau
= afterwards = susbsequently = later.
7. while (conj): trong lc , khi
= meanwhile = in the meantime = whilst / wai els /
while (n) = space = stretch = period = time: (khong) thi gian.
while Sth away (v): b ra, dng (thi gian).
EX
- At the airport, we whiled away the time by reading magezines.
8. thanks to = by means of: nh vo.