A2 English Vocabulary: Words That Take You Past Beginner [2026]

A2 is the level where English starts to feel useful rather than just studied. At A1 you name the things around you; at A2 you begin to talk about them, describing what you did at the weekend, saying what you think, and coping with the small complications of travel and work. It is often called the survival level, and the vocabulary is what makes survival possible.

A2 is also a common measuring point. Among people who sit our dedicated A2 test, 40% reach the level, out of 1,127 who have taken it, and across all completed level tests A2 is the result for about 9% of the 193,751 people who have finished one. That pass rate is worth knowing: A2 is a genuine step up from A1, not a given. This guide groups the essential A2 words by what they let you do.

Talking about the past

The single biggest jump from A1, because A2 is where the past tense becomes usable.

• time markers: yesterday, last week, ago, then. I saw him yesterday.
• past verbs: went, saw, had, made, bought. We went to the beach.
• sequencing: first, after that, finally. First we ate, then we walked.

Describing experiences

Words that let you tell a simple story about your own life.

• feelings: bored, excited, tired, worried, glad. I was tired after work.
• opinions: think, like, prefer, agree. I think it is a good idea.
• descriptions: beautiful, terrible, cheap, busy, quiet. The town was quiet.

Travel and work

The practical vocabulary of getting around and getting things done.

• travel: ticket, luggage, arrive, book, trip. I booked a ticket online.
• work: job, office, meeting, boss, salary. She has a new job.
• directions: left, right, straight on, opposite, between. Turn left at the bank.

Health and daily life

The words for the small realities of a day.

• health: ill, doctor, medicine, tired, better. I feel better today.
• home: clean, cook, tidy, fix, share. I cook every evening.
• frequency: usually, sometimes, often, never. I usually walk to work.

Connecting your ideas

The first small linking words, which lift speech above single sentences.

• because: I stayed home because I was ill.
• but: I like tea but not coffee.
• so: It was late, so we left.

Where A2 leads

A2 vocabulary is the survival kit: enough to describe your life, handle travel and give simple opinions. The move to A2 rests on the A1 core, so if any of that felt shaky, our guide to A1 vocabulary is worth a look first. The next step is B1, where you begin to explain and connect ideas at length.

A1 and A2 blur together in the middle, so the line between them is genuinely hard to feel from the inside. Our English levels explained guide sets them side by side, so you can see whether you have crossed into survival-level English or still have a step to go.