A

abbot (AB-et)

abominable (a-BOM-i-na-ble)

aboveboard (a-BUV-bord)

abundant (a-BUN-dant)

a cappella (ah-ka-PEL-a)

achieve (a-CHEEV)

Achilles’ heel (a-KIL-eez heel)

acrophobia (ak-ro-FOE-bee-a)

acropolis (a-KROP-o-lis)

ad hoc (ad-HOK)

ad infinitum (ad-in-fi-NIE-tum)

adios (ah-dee-OWS)

admiral (AD-mir-al)

adventure (ad-VEN-chur)

Africa (AF-ri-ka)

against the grain (a-GENST the greyn)

agony (AG-o-nee)

agoraphobia, (ag-o-ro-FOE-bee-a)

Alcatraz (AL-ka-traz)

alcohol (AL-ko-hawl)

alcove (AL-kove)

al fine (al FE-nay)

al fresco (al-FRES-koe)

algebra (AL-je-bra)

alibi (AL-i-bye)

allegretto (AL-i-gret-o)

allegro (a-LEG-ro)

alphabet (AL-fe-bet)

altar (AWL-ter)

alter ego (AWL-ter eg-oe)

amateur (AM-a-choowr)

ambitious (am-BISH-us)

ambulance (AM-byu-lans)

amen (ey-MEN)

ammonia (a-MOAN-ya)

amnesty (AM-nes-tee)

anarchist (AN-ar-kist)

anarchy (AN-ar-kee)

ancestor (AN-ses-tor)

andante (on-DAN-tay)

anecdote (AN-ik-doat)

ankh (ahnk)

anno Domini (a.d.) (AN-oe DOM-i-nee)

antagonist (an-TAG-o-nist)

ante meridiem (a.m.) (an-tee me-RID-ee-em)

anthology (an-THOL-o-jee)

anthropology (an-thro-POL-o-jee)

apostle (a-POS-el)

applaud (a-PLAWD)

apple of discord

apropos (a-pro-po)

archaeology (ahr-kee-OL-o-jee)

archer (AHR-cher)

archery (AHR-cher-ee)

arctic (AHRK-tik)

arena (a-REE-na)

aristocracy (ar-is-TOK-ra-see)

aristocrat (a-RIS-to-krat)

aroma (a-ROW-ma)

artifact (AHR-ti-fakt)

artist (AHR-tist)

aspic (AS-pik)

assassin (a-SAS-in)

assistant (a-SIS-tant)

asterisk (AS-te-risk)

astonished (a-STON-ish-d)

a tempo (ah TEMP-o)

atlas (AT-les)

auspicious (aw-SPISH-us)

aviary (A-vee-er-ee)

aviator (A-vee-ey-tor)

B

Babel (BAYB-el)

bacteria (bak-TIHR-ee-a)

baker’s dozen

balsa (BAWL-sa)

bandanna (ban-DAN-a)

bankrupt (BANGK-rupt)

baptize (bap-TIEZ)

barbarian (bahr-BEYR-ee-an)

basin (BEY-sin)

battle

beauty (BEEYU-tee)

beef up

belfry (BEL-free)

belligerent (be-LIJ-er-ent)

besiege (bi-SEEJ)

beware a wolf in sheep’s clothing

beware of Greeks bearing gifts

beyond the pale

Bible (BIE-bel)

bill

bin

biology (bie-OL-o-jee)

blitzkrieg (BLITS-kreeg)

bobby (BOB-ee)

bonsai (BAWN-zie)

bon voyage (bohn vwah-YAHZH)

bouquet (bow-KAY)

bravo (BRAH-voe)

Brazil (bra-ZIL)

buccaneer (buk-a-NIHR)

buckle (BUK-el)

buckram (BUK-ram)

budget (BUJ-it)

buff

bugle (BEEYU-gel)

bungalow (BUNG-ga-low)

C

caftan (KAF-tan)

calabash (KAL-a-bash)

caliph (KAY-lif)

call a spade a spade

calligraphy (ka-LIG-ra-fee)

camp

canal

canary (ka-NEHR-ee)

Candice (KAN-dis)

candidate (KAN-di-dayt)

candy

cane

canopy (KAN-o-pee)

capital (KAP-i-tal)

captain (KAP-ten)

carat (KAR-et)

caravan (KAR-a-van)

carpe diem (KAHR-pay DEE-um)

carry-all

cartel (kahr-TEL)

castle (KAS-el)168

cataract (KAT-a-rakt)

catch a Tartar

cemetery (SEM-a-ter-ee)

center (SEN-ter)

chair

chapel (CHAP-el)

chaplain (CHAP-len)

checkmate (CHEK-mayt)

chew the fat

chiaroscuro (kee-ahr-o-SKOOR-oe)

chiclets (CHIK-lets)

china (CHI-na)

chisel (CHIZ-el)

choleric (KOL-e-rik)

chop chop

chop suey

chow mein (CHOU MAYN)

Christian (KRIS-chen)

chukker (CHUK-er)

chutzpah (KHOOTS-pa)

citizen (SIT-e-zen)

city

civics, (SIV-iks)

civil (SIV-el)

civilization (siv-e-le-ZAY-shen)

claustrophobia (claws-tro-FOE-bee-a)

cloister (KLOIS-ter)

cloth

coast

cocoa (KOE-koe)

colonel (KUR-nel)

comet (KOM-it)

companion (kom-PAN-yen)

company (KUM-pa-nee)

compress (kom-PRES)

congregation (kong-gra-GEY-shen)

consider (kon-SID-er)

convert (KON-vurt)

cornucopia (kohr-na-koe-pee-a)

cravat (kra-VAT)

crescendo (kre-SHEN-do)

crescent (KRES-ent)

crouton (KROO-ton)

cruise

Crusade (kroo-SAYD)

crust

crustacean (kru-STAY-shen)

culture (KUL-cher)

cummerbund (KUM-er-bund)

curfew (KUR-fyoo)

curry favor (KUR-ee FAY-vor)

curse of the Pharaohs

cushy job

cut the Gordian knot

D

days of the week

decipher (di-SIE-fer)

defeat (di-FEET)

delirious (di-LIHR-ee-us)

delta

democracy (di-MOK-ra-see)

democrat (DEM-o-krat)

dendrochronology (den-drow-kro-NOL-o-jee)

depopulate (dee-POP-yu-layt)

depress (di-PRES)

description (di-SKRIP-shon)

desire

diehard

disaster (di-ZAS-ter)

disport (DI-sport)

divan (di-VAN)

doctor

dog days

dolce vita (DOWL-chay VEET-a)

dollar

dungaree (dung-ga-REE)

dynasty (DIE-na-stee)

E

easel (EE-zel)

ebony (EB-o-nee)

Egypt (E-jipt)

election (ee-LEK-shon)

electricity (ee-lek-TRIS-i-tee)

embargo (em-BAHR-go)

emperor (EM-per-or)

empire

empyreal (em-pie-REE-al)

encyclopedia (en-si-klo-PEE-dee-a)

enthusiasm (en-THOOW-zee-az-em)

epidemic (ep-i-DEM-ik)

epigram (EP-i-gram)

equator (ee-KWAY-ter)

equinoctial (ee-kwa-NOK-shel)

equinox (EE-kwa-noks)

escape (e-SKAYP)

Ethiopia (ee-thee-OE-pee-a)

ethnology (eth-NOL-o-jee)

etiquette (ET-i-kit)

etymologist (et-e-MOL-o-jist)

etymology (et-e-MOL-o-jee)

excavate (EK-ska-vayt)

excerpt (EK-surpt)

exempli gratia (e.g.) (eg-ZEM-plie GRAY-shee-a)

expert (EK-spurt)

explode (ek-SPLOWD)

F

fascism (FASH-iz-em)

fate (fayt)

feather one’s nest

ferret out (FER-it out)

first class liar

fleet

foreign (FOR-in)

forte (FOR-tay)

fossil (FOS-il)

G

gargle (GAHR-gle)

gargoyle (GAHR-goil)

genie (JEE-nee)

geography (jee-OG-ra-fee)

geology (jee-OL-o-jee)

geometry (jee-OM-e-tree)

geyser (GIE-zer)

girl

gladiator (glad-ee-A-tor)

gladiolus (glad-ee-OE-les)

glamour (GLAM-er)

glossary (GLOS-a-ree)

go berserk (go ber-SURK)

govern (GUV-ern)

grand vizier (grand VI-zihr)

graphic (GRAF-ik)

Greek fire

grenade (gre-NAYD)

grin like a Cheshire cat

guerrilla (ge-RIL-a)

guillotine (GIL-o-teen)

gum

gun

gung ho

guru (GOOW-roow)

gymnastics (jim-NAS-tiks)

H

hacienda (hah-see-EN-da)

halcyon days (HAL-see-on days)

harem (HEYR-em)

hazard (HAZ-erd)

hearse (hurs)

heckler (HEK-ler)

hectic (HEK-tik)

heresy (HER-i-see)

heretic (HER-i-tik)

hieroglyphs (HIE-er-o-glifs)

histrionics (his-tree-ON-iks)

horoscope (HOR-o-skowp)

hospital (HOS-pi-tel)

humor (HYOOW-mor)

humorous (HYOOW-mor-us)

hydrophobia (hie-dro-FOE-bee-a)

hypocrite (HIP-o-krit)

hysteria (hi-STER-ee-a)

I

ibis (IE-bis)

icon

iconoclast (IE-kon-o-klast)

idea (ie-DEE-a)

ideal (ie-DEE-al)

id est (i.e.) (id EST)

idiot (ID-ee-ot)

immortal (i-MORT-l)

imperial (im-PIHR-ee-al)

imperious (im-PIHR-ee-us)

impress (im-PRES)

incunabula (in-kyoow-NAB-yu-la)

India ink (IN-dee-a ingk)

infant

infantry (IN-fan-tree)

in loco parentis (in LOE-koe pa-REN-tis)

innocent (IN-o-sent)

in situ (in SI-too)

intrigue (IN-treeg)

inundate (IN-un-dayt)

invent

iron curtain

Islam (IS-lahm)

italics (i-TAL-iks)

J

jade (jayd)

Janus-faced (JAY-nus-fayst)

jeopardy (JEP-ar-dee)

jewels (JOOW-els)

jig is up

jodhpurs (JOD-purs)

journal (JUR-nel)

journey (JUR-nee)

jovial (JOE-vee-al)

jubilee (JU-ba-lee)

judo (JU-doe)

juggernaut (JUG-er-not)

jujitsu (JU-jit-soo)

jungle

jury

K

kabuki (ka-BOO-kee)

kaleidoscope (ka-LIE-do-skowp)

ketchup (KECH-up)

khaki (KAK-ee)

Khmer (kmer)

kindergarten (KIN-der-gart-n)

kiosk (kee-OSK)

knot (not)

know the ropes

kowtow (KOU-tou)

kung fu (koong foow)

Kush (koosh)

L

laconic (la-KON-ik)

lacrosse (la-KROS)

laissez faire (LES-ay FEHR)

Latin expressions

learn by heart

leave no stone unturned

legato (le-GA-toe)

lento (LEN-toe)

lento molto (LEN-toe MOL-toe)

letter

liar of the first water

libation (lie-BAY-shen)

libel (LIE-bel)

lilac (LIE-lak)

lockck barrel

long time, no see

loot

M

mad as a hatter

madras (MAD-drahs)

maestro (MIES-troe)

magazine (MAG-a-zeen)

magic

magnum opus (MAG-num OE-pus)

maharajah (mah-ha-RAH-jah)

mahjong (mah-ZHONG)

mail

maneuver (ma-NOOW-ver)

mansion (MAN-shon)

manuscript (MAN-yu-skript)

map

march

mass

mathematics (math-a-MAT-iks)

mausoleum (mo-zo-LEE-um)

mazel tov (MAH-zel tof)

medicine (MED-i-sin)

medieval (mee-dee-EE-vel)

Mediterranean (med-i-te-RAY-nee-an)

meet the deadline

megalith (MEG-a-lith)

melancholy (MEL-an-kol-ee)

melee (MAY-lay)

meter

metropolis (me-TROP-o-lis)

microscope (MIE-kro-skowp)

mile

milestone (MIEL-stown)

militant (MIL-a-tent)

militarism (MIL-i-ta-riz-um)

military (MIL-a-ter-ee)

militia (mi-LISH-a)

milliner (MIL-i-ner)

mint

missionary (MISH-o-ner-ee)

mistletoe (MIS-el-toe)

mob

modus operandi (MOW-dus op-a-RAN-dee)

modus vivendi (MOW-dus vi-VEN-dee)

mohair (MOW-heyr)

monarch (MON-ark)

monarchy (MON-ar-kee)

monastery (MON-a-ster-ee)

money

monk

monolith (MON-o-lith)

monotheism (MON-o-thee-iz-um)

monseigneur (mohn-se-NYOER)

monster

mummy

muscle (MUS-el)

musical terms in Italian

Muslim (MUZ-lem)

myth

N

nation (NAY-shon)

nausea (NO-zee-a)

nautical (NO-ti-kal)

navigate (NAV-a-gayt)

navy

necropolis (ne-KROP-o-lis)

negotiate (ni-GO-she-ayt)

nemesis (NEM-i-sis)

neolithic (nee-o-LITH-ik)

ninja (nin-JAH)

Nirvana (ner-VAH-na)

no can do

noon

Nubia (NOO-bee-a)

O

oasis (ow-AY-sis)

obelisk (OB-a-lisk)

obituary (ow-BICH-u-er-ee)

Occidental (ok-se-DEN-tel)

oligarch (OL-a-gahrk)

oligarchy (OL-a-garh-kee)

omen

onion

opera

optimist (OP-ti-mist)

oracle (OR-a-kel)

orchestra (OR-kes-tra)

Orient (OR-ee-ent)

ostracize (OS-tra-siez)

ottoman (OT-o-men)

out of the frying pan and into the fire

P

pagan (PAY-gan)

palace (PAL-is)

paleoanthropology (pay-lee-ow-an-thro-POL-o-jee)

paleontology (pay-lee-on-TOL-o-jee)

palette (PAL-it)

Pali (PAH-lee)

pandit (PAN-dit)

panic (PAN-ik)

pants

paradise (PAR-a-dies)

paragraph (PAR-a-graf)

parsley (PAHR-slee)

parting shot

pasta

pastor (PAS-ter)

patriot (PAY-tree-ot)

patron (PAY-tron)

patronage (PAY-tro-nij)

pavilion (pa-VIL-yon)

peaches

peasant (PEZ-ant)

peat (peet)

Peking duck (PEE-king duk)

Pekingese (pee-king-EEZ)

Peking man

pelican (PEL-i-kan)

peninsula (pa-NIN-syu-la)

people

persecute (PUR-se-kyuwt)

pessimist (PES-i-mist)

pheasant (FEZ-ent)

philippics (fi-LIP-iks)

philosopher (fil-LOS-o-fur)

philosophy (fil-LOS-o-fee)

Phineas (FIN-ee-us)

phlegmatic (fleg-MAT-ik)

phobia (FOE-bee-a)

phoenix (FEE-niks)

physician (fi-ZISH-en)

piano

pigeon (PIJ-en)

pilgrim (PIL-grim)

pilgrimage (PIL-gra-mij)

pirate

pirogi (pi-ROW-gee)

plagiarism (PLAY-ja-riz-em)

plague (playg)

planets [Jupiterscurytunetournnusus]

plaza (PLAZ-a)

plebe (pleeb)

plebeian (pli-BEE-an)

plebiscite (PLEB-i-siet)

plover (PLO-ver)

plunge (plunj)

plutocracy (pluw-TOK-ra-see)

political (po-LIT-i-kel)

poll

polytheism (POL-ee-thee-iz-um)

poncho (PON-choe)

popular (POP-yu-lar)

population (pop-yu-LAY-shen)

port (navigational term)

port (city or location near water)

post meridiem (p.m.) (powst me-RID-ee-em)

postscript (POWST-skript)

pour oil on troubled waters

presbyterian (prez-bi-TER-e-an)

press

presto (PRES-toe)

priest (preest)

prima donna (PREE-ma DON-a)

print

pro bono (proe BOE-noe)

procession (pro-SESH-on)

protagonist (pro-TAG-o-nist)

protege (PRO-ta-zhay)

protocol (PRO-to-kol)

public (PUB-lik)

publish (PUB-lish)

pull strings

punch

pundit (PUN-dit)

pupil (PEEYU-pil)

puppet

puppy

put the cart before the horse

pyramid (PIHR-a-mid)

pyre (pier)

pyretology (pier-TOL-o-jee)

Pyrex (PIER-reks)

pyromania (PIE-row-MAY-nee-a)

pyrophobia (pie-row-FOE-bee-a)

pyrosis (pie-ROW-sis)

Q

quid pro quo (kwid proe kwoe)

quixotic (kwik-SOT-ik)

R

raglan (RAG-lan)

rallentando (ral-en-TAN-do)

ranch

rapidamente (RAP-e-da-men-tay)

rebus (REE-bus)

recession (ree-SESH-in)

red-letter day

red tape

redundant (ri-DUN-dant)

refrigerator (ri-FRIJ-a-ray-tor)

refugee (ref-yu-JEE)

regatta (ri-GAH-ta)

rehearse (ri-HURS)

reincarnation (re-in-KAHR-nay-shen)

religion (ri-LIG-en)

Renaissance (ren-a-SAHNS)

republic (ri-PUB-lik)

requiescat in pace (RIP) (rek-wee-ES-kat in PAY-see)

résumé (REZ-oow-may)

rigmarole (RIG-ma-rowl)

rival (RIE-val)

rostrum (ROS-trum)

rote (rowt)

rout (roowt)

route (roowt)

routine (roow-TEEN)

RSVP

ruminate (ROOW-mi-nayt)

S

Sabbath (SAB-eth)

sabbatical (sa-BAT-I-kal)

sack

sacrifice (SAK-ri-fies)

safari (sa-FAH-ree)

saffron (SAF-ron)

salary (SAL-a-ree)

salud (sa-LUWD)

samovar (SAM-o-vahr)

sampan (SAM-pan)

sandwich

sang-froid (sahn-FRWA)

sanguine (SANG-gwin)

sarcophagus (sahr-KOF-a-gus)

Satan (SAYT-n)

savoir-faire (sa-vwar-FEHR)

sayonara (sie-YON-ar-a)

scapegoat (SKAYP-gowt)

scent

schedule (SKEJ-oowl)

scherzando (sker-STAN-do)

school

scope

scot-free (SKOT-free)

scribe

see red

seersucker (SIHR-suk-er)

semper paratus (SEM-per pa-RAH-tus)

senate

senator

shalom (sha-LOWM)

shampoo

shantung (shan-TUNG)

sheik (sheek)

sherbet (SHUR-bit)

show a white feather

siesta (see-ES-ta)

silk

sinologist (si-NOL-o-jist)

slush fund

so long

solstice (SOL-stis)

sports

staccato (sta-KA-to)

stadium (STAY-dee-um)

starboard (STAHR-bord)

statue

steppe (step)

steer (sail) between Scylla and Charybdis

strategy (STRAT-o-jee)

strong as an ox

subjugate (SUB-ju-gayt)

submarine (SUB-ma-reen)

subpoena (sa-PEE-na)

subscribe (sub-SCRIEB)

Sudan (soo-DAN)

sultan (SUL-tan)

surplice (SUR-plis)

Susan (SOO-zan)

sushi (SOO-shee)

swami (SWAH-mee)

swan song

syrup (SUR-ep)

T

tablet (TAB-lit)

taijiquan (TAHJ-ee-kwan)

talent

tally (TAL-ee)

tantalize (TAN-ta-liez)

tantalum (TAN-ta-lum)

telegraph (TEL-a-graf)

telescope (TEL-a-skowp)

temple (TEM-pel)

tempura (tem-POUR-a)

tempus fugit (TEM-pus FYUW-jeet)

terra firma (TER-a FUR-ma)

tête-à-tête (teyt-a-TEYT)

theater (THEE-a-ter)

three sheets to the wind

torc

torpedo (tor-PEE-doe)

tournament (TUR-na-ment)

tradition (tra-DISH-on)

tranquillo (tran-KWILL-o)

travail (tra-VAYL)

travel

tree of life

tsar (zar)

turn turtle

tycoon (tie-KOOWN)

typhoon (tie-FOOWN)

U

umpire (UM-pier)

under the aegis of

unstrung (un-STRUNG)

V

vaya con Dios (VI-a con dee-OWS)

vernacular (ver-NAK-yu-lar)

Victoria (vik-TOR-ee-a)

videlicet (viz.) (vi-DEL-i-sit)

Viking (VIE-king)

villain (VIL-en)

viola (vee-OE-lah)

violin (VIE-o-lin)

viva, viva (VEE-vah, VEE-vah)

vodka (VOD-ka)

volcano (vol-KAY-noe)

vox populi (voks POP-yu-lee)

voyage (VOI-ij)

vulgar (VUL-ger)

vulgarity (vul-GAR-a-tee)

vulgate (VUL-gayt)

W

whetstone (HWET-stown)

white elephant

work of vandals

worth one’s salt

Y

yang (yang)

yin (yin)

yoga (YO-ga)