If you know these 15 Words, your English is AMAZING!

Summary

In this video, Lucy guides students through testing and expanding their English vocabulary with 15 beautiful words, ranging from common to super-advanced. She provides definitions, examples, and pronunciation tips for words like 'reckon,' 'core,' 'deliberate,' and 'nomophobia.' Lucy emphasizes the importance of vocabulary in effective communication and offers a free PDF with 30 words and interactive exercises to boost learning. She also highlights her Beautiful British English C1 Programme for advanced learners. Viewers are encouraged to join her mailing list for weekly PDFs and updates.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is an educational English lesson aimed at testing and expanding students' vocabulary with 15 advanced words.
• 📈 The vocabulary scale ranges from 1 (knowing nearly nothing) to 10 (extensive knowledge, metaphorically 'eating a dictionary for breakfast').
• 📘 A free PDF is offered, including the 15 words from the video plus 15 bonus words, to enhance vocabulary learning.
• 🔗 Interactive exercises and additional tips for memorizing new words are available through a link provided in the video description.
• 💻 To access the PDF and exercises, viewers can click a link, type in a provided URL, or scan a QR code and submit their name and email.
• 📝 The script introduces words starting with common ones and progresses to more advanced terms, including words that proficient speakers might not know.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation and usage of each word are discussed, with examples provided in complete sentences.
• 📑 Heteronyms, words that have different meanings and pronunciations despite having the same spelling, are highlighted, with 'deliberate' as an example.
• 🎶 The word 'gig' is explained with its use in popular music concerts and as slang for a one-off job.
• 📉 The term 'gaslight' is introduced, relating to psychological manipulation, with its origin from a 1930s British play.
• 👻 The word 'ghost' as a verb is discussed, which means to suddenly cut off all communication with someone without explanation.
• 📉 The lesson concludes with advanced words like 'finicky', 'situationship', 'ableism', and 'nomophobia', each with specific contexts and explanations.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video 'English with Lucy'?

The purpose of the video is to help viewers test and expand their English vocabulary knowledge with 15 beautiful words, starting from common words and progressing to super-advanced words.

How can viewers enhance their vocabulary with the help of Lucy's video?

Viewers can enhance their vocabulary by downloading the free PDF that comes with the video, which includes the 15 words discussed, 15 bonus words, interactive exercises, and top tips for memorizing new words.

What does the word 'reckon' mean in British English?

'Reckon' is an informal verb in British English that means 'think' or 'believe'.

What is the difference between the pronunciation of 'core' and the word 'r'?

In the word 'core', the 'r' is not pronounced, and it has a long vowel sound /ɔː/.

What does 'deliberate' mean and how is it used in a sentence?

A 'deliberate' action is intentional. It can be used in a sentence like 'The teacher made a deliberate mistake to check if the students were still paying attention.'

What is the difference between the pronunciation of 'deliberate' as an adjective and as a verb?

As an adjective, 'deliberate' is pronounced with a schwa sound at the end, /dɪˈlɪbərət/, while as a verb, it is pronounced with an /eɪ/ at the end, /dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/.

What does the word 'elsewhere' mean and how is it used in context?

'Elsewhere' means 'somewhere else' and is used after a verb to indicate going to a different place, as in 'The restaurant is fully booked — we'll have to go elsewhere.'

What is the meaning of 'grab' and how can it be used in casual conversation?

'Grab' literally means to take hold of something very quickly, often using force. In casual conversation, it can mean to get something to eat or drink quickly, as in 'Should we go and grab a coffee?'

What does 'urge' mean and how is it similar to the word 'urgent'?

'Urge' means to recommend something strongly, similar to 'recommend' but with a stronger connotation. It shares the same root or origin as 'urgent'.

How is the word 'gig' used in the context of music and employment?

'Gig' is used to refer to a concert, typically for popular music genres like pop, rock, or jazz. It can also be used as slang to mean a job, especially a one-off job like a children's party entertainer.

What does 'cling' mean and what is the adjective form of this word?

'Cling' means to hold something very tightly, usually because you're afraid. The adjective form 'clingy' describes someone who depends on another person too much and lacks independence.

What is the meaning of 'gaslight' and where does the term originate from?

'Gaslight' means to manipulate someone's memory of an event by making them believe things that aren't true, often as an attempt to control them. The term originates from the 1930's British play 'Gas Light'.

How is the verb 'ghost' used in the context of relationships?

As a verb, 'ghost' means to suddenly stop all communication with someone without explanation, often used in the context of online relationships or friendships.

What are the two meanings of the word 'finicky' and how are they used?

'Finicky' can mean 'fussy', indicating someone who worries too much about certain things, or it can refer to something that requires a lot of attention to detail, like assembling furniture.

What is a 'situationship' and how does it differ from a formal relationship?

A 'situationship' is a term used when you're more than friends with someone but not officially dating or in a serious relationship. It's a blend of 'situation' and 'relationship'.

What is 'ableism' and why is it important to recognize?

'Ableism' refers to discrimination against disabled people. It is important to recognize to draw attention to unacceptable attitudes and behaviors towards people with mental and physical disabilities.

What is 'nomophobia' and how does it relate to mobile phone usage?

'Nomophobia' is a fear of not having your mobile phone. It relates to mobile phone usage as it describes an anxiety or discomfort felt when one is without their phone or unable to use it.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Vocabulary Challenge and Resources

In this introduction, Lucy welcomes her students and asks them to rate their English vocabulary knowledge on a scale of 1 to 10. She explains the video will help test their vocabulary with 15 words, starting with common ones and progressing to more advanced terms. She emphasizes the availability of a free PDF with 15 additional bonus words and interactive exercises. Lucy provides instructions on how to download the PDF and join her mailing list for weekly updates. She explains how the lesson will proceed, highlighting key features and benefits.

05:03

🗣️ Words and Their Uses

Lucy introduces and explains a series of vocabulary words, providing examples and contextual sentences. She starts with 'reckon,' meaning 'think' or 'believe,' commonly used in British English. Next, she discusses 'core,' explaining its meanings as a noun and an adjective. The word 'deliberate' is covered, highlighting its use as both an adjective (intentional) and a verb (to think carefully). Lucy also covers 'elsewhere,' meaning 'somewhere else,' and 'grab,' which can mean to take something quickly or get something to eat or drink casually. She explains 'urge,' meaning to strongly recommend, and 'gig,' referring to a concert or a one-off job.

10:05

🔤 Advanced Words and Concepts

Lucy continues with advanced words, starting with 'cling,' meaning to hold tightly, often out of fear. She describes 'clingy' as a disapproving adjective for overly dependent individuals. The word 'gabble' is introduced, meaning to speak quickly and unintelligibly. She explains 'gaslight,' which means to manipulate someone into doubting their memory, deriving from a 1930s play. Lucy also discusses 'ghost' as a verb, meaning to suddenly stop communication. She describes 'finicky,' meaning fussy or requiring attention to detail. The term 'situationship' refers to a relationship that is more than friendship but not officially dating. 'Ableism' is defined as discrimination against disabled people, and 'nomophobia' is the fear of being without one's mobile phone. Lucy concludes by encouraging viewers to explore the additional resources and advanced English program she offers.

Keywords

💡Vocabulary Range

The term 'vocabulary range' refers to the breadth of words that an individual knows and can use effectively in a language. In the video's context, it is used to gauge the students' English proficiency on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 indicating a very limited knowledge and 10 representing extensive vocabulary, akin to having memorized a dictionary. This concept is central to the video's theme, which is to enhance and test the viewers' English vocabulary.

💡Reckon

'Reckon' is an informal British English verb that means 'to think' or 'to believe.' The video uses 'reckon' as an example of a common word, illustrating its usage in a sentence: 'I reckon it's gonna rain soon.' The term is integral to the video's educational goal of teaching and testing vocabulary, showcasing a word that might be new to some learners or a colloquialism to others.

💡Core

'Core' is a versatile noun that refers to the central or middle part of something, such as 'an apple core' or 'the Earth's core.' As an adjective, it denotes the central or key part, as in 'a core memory' which is a significant memory from one's childhood impacting their personality. The video emphasizes 'core' as a fundamental concept in English vocabulary, teaching its various uses and pronunciation.

💡Deliberate

The word 'deliberate' is used to describe an intentional action, as shown in the script: 'The teacher made a deliberate mistake to check if the students were still paying attention.' It is an important term in the video's lesson on vocabulary, highlighting the distinction between intentional and unintentional actions and teaching the correct pronunciation, including its reduction to three syllables in fast speech.

💡Elsewhere

'Elsewhere' is a term that means 'somewhere else' or 'another place.' The video script uses it in the context: 'The restaurant is fully booked — we'll have to go elsewhere.' This keyword is significant as it helps learners understand the concept of using a word to indicate an alternative location, which is a common linguistic function.

💡Grab

'Grab' is a verb that means to take hold of something very quickly, often with force, as in 'Someone just grabbed my bag and ran off with it.' The video also uses it in a casual context to mean getting something to eat or drink quickly, such as 'Should we go and grab a coffee?' This keyword exemplifies the video's aim to teach both literal and idiomatic uses of words.

💡Urge

'Urge' is a formal verb that means to strongly recommend or encourage someone to do something. The script provides an example: 'The government urged the public to remain calm.' The term is highlighted in the video to teach its formal usage and to illustrate its similarity to the word 'urgent,' which shares the same root.

💡Gig

'Gig' is a noun used to refer to a concert, typically for popular music genres like pop, rock, or jazz. The video mentions: 'I've just bought tickets for the Coldplay gig in September.' Additionally, 'gig' can be used to describe a one-off job. This keyword is part of the video's broader educational mission to teach slang and colloquial terms alongside their standard meanings.

💡Cling

'Cling' is a verb that describes holding onto something very tightly, often out of fear, as in 'He always clings to his girlfriend's arm when they watch horror films together.' The term 'clingy' is also introduced as an adjective to describe someone who depends on another person excessively. This keyword is used in the video to demonstrate the use of a word in different contexts and its derived adjective form.

💡Gabble

'Gabble' is a verb that means to speak so quickly that it is difficult for others to understand. An example from the script is: 'He got nervous in the interview and started to gabble.' The video uses 'gabble' to illustrate a specific manner of speaking, contributing to the overall theme of exploring various ways words can be used in English.

💡Gaslight

'Gaslight' is a verb that describes the act of manipulating someone's memory of an event to make them believe things that aren't true, often as a means of control. The video provides the context: 'The boss made a mistake and then gaslighted me into thinking it was my fault.' This keyword is significant as it introduces a concept that is both linguistically and culturally relevant, expanding the learners' understanding of English beyond the literal meanings of words.

Highlights

Introduction to a vocabulary test with 15 advanced English words.

Availability of a free PDF with 15 words and 15 bonus words to enhance vocabulary.

Link provided for interactive vocabulary exercises to test the 30 words learned.

Tips included for memorizing new vocabulary words.

Explanation of the informal verb 'reckon' meaning 'think' or 'believe'.

Pronunciation guide for the word 'core' without the 'R' sound.

Usage of 'core' as a noun and adjective referring to the central part of something.

Definition and context usage of 'deliberate' as an intentional action.

Pronunciation variations of 'deliberate' in spoken English.

Differentiation between the verb 'deliberate' and its heteronym.

Meaning and usage of 'elsewhere' to indicate an alternative location.

Explanation of 'grab' as both a verb for quick taking and a casual expression for quick eating or drinking.

Pronunciation and meaning of 'urge' as a strong recommendation.

Understanding 'gig' as slang for a concert or a one-off job.

Description of 'cling' as holding something tightly out of fear or the quality of being overly dependent.

Definition of 'gabble' as speaking quickly and incomprehensibly.

Explanation of 'gaslight' as a form of manipulation involving distorting someone's memory.

Usage of 'ghost' as a verb to describe the act of suddenly ceasing communication with someone.

Clarification of 'finicky' with dual meanings of being overly concerned with details or fussiness.

Introduction of 'situationship' for a romantic connection that is undefined or unclear.

Definition of 'ableism' as discrimination against disabled individuals.

Explanation of 'nomophobia' as the fear of being without a mobile phone.

Invitation to join the Beautiful British English C1 Programme for advanced English learners.

Transcripts

Hello, lovely students, and welcome back to English with Lucy.

How would you rate your English vocabulary range on a scale of 1 to 10?

One being, 'I know nearly nothing,' to ten, which is, 'I ate a dictionary for breakfast.'

Well, today, I'm going to help you test your vocabulary knowledge with 15

beautiful words.

We'll start with some fairly common

words, and we'll gradually build up to super-advanced words that even proficient

speakers of English might not know.

What do you think?

Are you ready for the challenge?

Mega important!

There's a free PDF that you can download that goes with this video, and in this

PDF, you won't just find the 15 words, we've also added 15 bonus words to really

give your vocabulary a boost.

There's also a link that will take you to

some interactive vocabulary exercises to test you on the 30 words you'll learn in

the PDF.

I've also included some top tips to help

you memorise any words that are new for you.

To download this mega PDF and exercise

pack, just click on the link in the description box, or type in the link you

see here, or

you can even scan the QR code.

Then just enter your name and your email address.

After that, you'll automatically receive my free weekly PDFs alongside my news,

course offers, and updates.

It's a totally free service, and you can

unsubscribe at any time.

With these words, I will say them once so

you can think about whether you recognise it, and then when I say it the second

time, I'll show it on screen.

Let's get the ball rolling with a

relatively easy word—'reckon.'

'Reckon.'

Does it ring any bells?

Here it is in a complete sentence.

'I reckon it's gonna rain soon.'

Have you got it?

'Reckon' is an informal verb that means

'think' or 'believe.'

We use it so often in British English.

'I reckon that I use it around 100 times a day!'

Number 2—'core.'

'Core.'

Notice how I don't pronounce the 'R' in 'core.'

There's no 'R' sound there.

It's just that long vowel sound /ɔː/—'core.'

An example using 'core'—'My dad reading me

a story before bed is one of my core childhood memories.'

'Core' is such a beautifully versatile word.

As a noun, it means the central or middle

part of something, like 'an apple core' or 'the Earth's core.'

When used as an adjective, it usually refers to the central or key part of something.

'A core memory' is a significant memory from your childhood.

It's often something that has a direct impact on your personality.

We also often talk about 'core beliefs' or 'core values.'

Number 3—'deliberate.'

'The teacher made a deliberate mistake to

check if the students were  still paying attention.'

If you've never heard this word before,

can you guess its meaning from the context?

A 'deliberate' action is intentional.

We can also say—'The teacher made a mistake on purpose.'

The opposite of 'deliberate' is 'unintentional' or 'by accident,' British English.

In American English, they also say 'on accident.'

We favour 'by accident' in British English.

Now, 'deliberate' has an /ə/ sound at the end, the schwa, /dɪˈlɪbərət/.

You will also hear it squeezed down to three syllables, /dɪˈlɪb rət/, in fast

spoken English.

Be careful, though!

There is also a verb that is spelled in exactly the same way, but it has a

different meaning and pronunciation.

The verb form is 'to deliberate,'

/dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/, with /eɪ/ at the end.

Words like this are called heteronyms,

and I've included some more examples in the PDF.

Bonus point if you know what /dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/ means.

If you 'deliberate something,' you think

about it very carefully.

For example—'The judges deliberated for

hours before reaching their final decision.'

Time for number 4, 'elsewhere, elsewhere.'

Notice how the main stress is on the second syllable, 'elsewhere.'

Here is the word in context. Any idea what it means?

'The restaurant is fully booked — we'll have to go elsewhere.'

There is actually a bit of a clue in the word itself.

'To go elsewhere' means 'to go somewhere else, elsewhere, somewhere else.'

I think it is a beautiful word, the way 

that 'somewhere else' is  inverted to become 'elsewhere.'

We usually use it after a verb, like we did in the example sentence.

Okay, how are you getting on so far?

Let's do number 5—'grab, grab.'

For example—'Someone just grabbed my bag and ran off with it.'

'Grab' literally means to take hold of something very quickly, often using force.

But we can also use 'grab' as a casual expression, meaning to get something to

eat or drink quickly.

It's a great phrase that we use all the time.

For example—'We've got 30 minutes before the next meeting. Should we go and grab a coffee?'

Obviously, I'm not going to snatch the coffee like that, we're just going to get

it quickly.

It implies speed.

Number 6, ready?

I love this vowel sound, 'urge, urge.'

I love this word, but it can be tricky to pronounce because of the long vowel sound

at the beginning, /ɜː/.

Imagine you've just seen something that's

disgusting and say 'ur.'

It's the same sound you find in 'world' and

'work,'—'urge.'

Have you heard this word before?

Okay, let's look at the meaning.

Can you replace 'urge' with a synonym in

this sentence?

'The government urged the public to remain calm.'

It's a pretty formal word; you might have heard it on the news.

Still not sure?

Maybe you can think of another word that

begins with the letters u, r, g, and e. We have 'urgent,' this has the same root or

origin as 'urge.'

It's similar in meaning to 'recommend,' but

it's stronger.

The structure is 'to urge  somebody to do something.'

It's also often used in the passive.

For example—'She was urged to follow

safety procedures at all times.'

Okay, here comes lucky number 7, 'gig.'

'Gig.'

'I've just bought tickets for the Coldplay

gig in September.'

'Gig' is another word for 'concert.'

We normally use it with popular music concerts like pop, rock, or jazz.

We don't normally say a classical music gig.

Here, the word concert would be more appropriate.

Musicians or comedians 'do' or 'play a gig,' but most of us 'go to a gig.'

Sometimes it's used in a slang way to mean a job.

'I've got a gig as a children's party entertainer'—for example.

It's like a one-off.

It can also be used as a verb, and I've

left more information about all of this and all of the other words, plus

more, in the PDF.

The link's in the description.

Okay, we're over halfway through now, and we're moving things up a notch to some

advanced level words.

Number 8, I love how this word

sounds, 'cling.'

'Cling.'

Here it is in a sentence.

'He always clings to his girlfriend's arm

when they watch horror films together.'

If you 'cling to or onto something,' you

hold it very tightly, usually because you're afraid.

You probably have some cling film in your kitchen.

It's also known as plastic wrap.

We use it to cover food tightly.

If you describe a person  as 'clingy,' /ˈklɪŋi/ what

are you saying?

It's a fairly disapproving adjective,

meaning that a person depends on another person too much and lacks independence.

We often use it to describe children or partners who are perhaps a bit too possessive.

For example—'Sarah is a clingy child —

che never leaves her mother's side.'

Ready for number 9?

We're moving into super advanced

territory now.

'Gabble.'

'Gabble.'

'He got nervous in the interview and

started to gabble.'

If you 'gabble,' you speak so quickly that

people find it difficult to understand you.

We often use it with the prepositions 'on'

and 'away.'

What do you tend to 'gabble on about' or

'gabble away about?'

'I have to admit, I tend to gabble on a

bit about Spain…'

I'm here right now and I love it.

Number 10.

This is a word that I learnt fairly

recently, and now that I know what it means, I see and hear it everywhere.

It's a regular verb, 'gaslight.'

'Gaslight.'

For example —'The boss made a mistake and then gaslighted me into thinking it was

my fault.'

'To gaslight' means to manipulate someone's

memory of an event, and this usually involves trying to make somebody believe

things that aren't true in an attempt to control them.

If someone gaslights you, you might start to doubt your memory of an event and

you're probably thinking, where on earth does this come from?

Well, interestingly, this term comes from the 1930's British play called 'Gas Light,' in

which a man manages to convince his wife that she has a mental illness.

Really creepy!

Number 11:

We have 'ghost.'

'Ghost.'

Now, I know you're thinking, Lucy, there's no way that ghost is an advanced word.

Well, you're not wrong.

The noun 'ghost' is definitely an

intermediate word, but could you use 'ghost' as a verb?

Here's an example.

'We chatted online for over a year and

then she completely ghosted me.'

If you 'ghost somebody,' you suddenly stop

all communication with  someone without explanation.

You simply, and then I'll go down like

this, disappear!

We often use the term with online

relationships, but you could also be ghosted by a friend or someone you're

dating in person or in real life.

It's quite sad, actually.

Let's move on to number 12, to another word I love saying, 'finicky.'

'Finicky.'

This word has two meanings, so let's hear

it in context.

'I'm a bit finicky when it comes to

coffee so I always buy from the same independent coffee shop.'

Another example, different meaning:

'Can you help me put this shelf together —

it's a bit finicky.'

So, in the first sentence,  'finicky' means 'fussy.'

It's a disapproving adjective which means that you worry too much about certain things.

This worrying can make it difficult for you to be happy or satisfied with something.

In the second sentence, assembling the furniture is 'finicky' because it requires

a lot of attention to detail as there may be lots of small parts.

Okay, we are on the home straight now.

Our final 3 words.

Number 13, 'situationship.'

'Situationship.'

An example—'I'd love to move things on from being in a situationship to actually

being boyfriend and girlfriend.'

Any ideas?

This is a great word to use when you're more than friends with somebody but

you're not officially dating or in a serious relationship.

It's a blend of the word 'situation' and 'relationship,' and it's being used more and

more frequently.

Number 14, 'ableism.'

Do you recognise any parts of this word, 'able-' or '-ism'?

Perhaps you're familiar with the words 'racism,' 'sexism,' and 'feminism.'

Here's the word in context.

'As a wheelchair user, Sally is forced to

face ableism on a daily basis.'

'Ableism' refers to discrimination against

disabled people, and I love this word because it draws attention to

unacceptable attitudes and behaviours 

towards people with mental  and physical disabilities.

Okay, now it's time for our final word of the day and this is a word that I most

definitely relate to, 'nomophobia.'

Perhaps you recognise the last part of

the word, '-phobia.'

Here's the word in context.

'She has a severe case of nomophobia —

she can't go anywhere without her mobile phone.'

So, a 'phobia' is an extreme fear of something, and 'nomophobia' is a fear of not

having your mobile phone, something I can kind of relate to, although I'm trying to

spend more time away from my mobile phone.

Okay, that brings us to the end of

today's lesson.

How many of these wonderful words did you

already know and which one is your favourite?

Let me know in the comments section.

As I said, there are 15 more words in the PDF, and we go into loads more detail, and

you'll also find that link for the interactive exercise pack.

I think you'll really like it.

Just click on the link in the description

box to join the mailing list and get that right away.

If you enjoy learning advanced English with me, I think you will love my

Beautiful British English C1 Programme.

In the C1 Programme, we really dive into nuance.

We differentiate between those little shades of meaning.

We also look at your pronunciation, conversation skills, and of course,

advanced C1 grammar.

If you're interested, visit

englishwithlucy.com.

I will see you soon for another

lesson!

Muah!