English Speaking Glossary

A distinctive way of pronouncing words, influenced by geographic region, social background, or native language.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, a standard for measuring language proficiency from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery).

Words that frequently occur together in natural English, such as "make a decision" (not "do a decision") or "heavy rain" (not "strong rain").

The logical flow and organization of ideas in speech or writing, making it easy to follow and understand.

Words or sounds used to fill pauses while speaking, such as "um", "uh", "like", "you know".

Pauses, filler words, or repetitions in speech caused by uncertainty, thinking, or searching for words.

A scoring system from 0 to 9 used in the IELTS test to measure English proficiency, with 9 being expert user and 1 being non-user.

The rise and fall of pitch in speech, used to convey meaning, emotion, or emphasis.

A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words, such as "break the ice" (start a conversation) or "hit the sack" (go to bed).

The range and accuracy of vocabulary used in speaking or writing, including synonyms, collocations, and less common words.

A person who learned a language as their second (or additional) language, typically through formal education or immersion later than early childhood.

Two words that differ by only one sound, used to practice distinguishing similar sounds (e.g., ship/sheep, bat/bet).

The effect of your native language on how you speak English, including pronunciation, grammar patterns, and word choice.

A person who learned a language as their first language from childhood, typically acquiring it naturally at home.

A verb combined with a preposition or adverb that creates a meaning different from the original verb, such as "give up" (quit) or "look after" (care for).

The way words and sounds are spoken, including individual sounds, stress, rhythm, and intonation.

The level of formality in language, ranging from very formal (academic, legal) to very informal (casual conversation, slang).

The ability to speak smoothly, expressively, and without unnatural pauses or hesitation.

A score from 0 to 120 on the TOEFL iBT test, measuring English proficiency across Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sections.

The emphasis placed on certain syllables in a word, making them louder, longer, or higher in pitch.