🗣️ IELTS Speaking – natural words & phrases, Parts 1–3 · Vocabulary by Exam · 116 words

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to be honest /tə bi ˈɒnɪst/ phrase	used before giving a sincere, sometimes surprising answer To be honest, I'm not a big reader, but I love audiobooks.
I'd say /aɪd ˈseɪ/ phrase	used to give an opinion or estimate in a relaxed way I'd say I spend about two hours a day on my phone.
I reckon /aɪ ˈrekən/ phrase	an informal British way to say you think something I reckon most young people in my city prefer street food.
I suppose /aɪ səˈpəʊz/ phrase	used when giving an opinion you are not very sure about I suppose the main reason is that rent is so expensive.
it depends /ɪt dɪˈpendz/ phrase	used when the answer changes according to the situation It depends on my mood, but usually I go for a walk after dinner.
that's a tricky question /ðæts ə ˈtrɪki ˈkwestʃən/ phrase	a natural way to gain time before answering a hard question That's a tricky question, but I think money matters more to adults.
I've never really thought about it /aɪv ˈnevə ˌrɪəli ˈθɔːt əbaʊt ɪt/ phrase	used honestly before giving an answer to an unfamiliar question I've never really thought about it, but maybe I'd like to live by the sea.
off the top of my head /ˌɒf ðə ˌtɒp əv maɪ ˈhed/ phrase	without time to think or check carefully Off the top of my head, I can name three good parks near my house.
if I remember correctly /ɪf aɪ rɪˌmembə kəˈrektli/ phrase	used when you are fairly but not completely sure of a memory If I remember correctly, it was the summer after I finished school.
as far as I know /əz ˌfɑːr əz aɪ ˈnəʊ/ phrase	used to say something is true based on your limited knowledge As far as I know, the market has been there for over a century.
it's hard to say /ɪts ˈhɑːd tə ˌseɪ/ phrase	used when you cannot give a definite answer It's hard to say whether robots will replace teachers one day.
the thing is /ðə ˈθɪŋ ɪz/ phrase	used to introduce an explanation or a problem The thing is, I never have enough time to cook during the week.
what I mean is /ˌwɒt aɪ ˈmiːn ɪz/ phrase	used to explain or clarify what you have just said What I mean is, people should spend less time on social media.
to put it simply /tə ˌpʊt ɪt ˈsɪmpli/ phrase	used before explaining something in an easy way To put it simply, I prefer the countryside because it's quieter.
in a nutshell /ɪn ə ˈnʌtʃel/ phrase	in a very few words; as a short summary In a nutshell, my hometown is small, friendly and very green.
generally speaking /ˌdʒenrəli ˈspiːkɪŋ/ phrase	used when describing what is usually true Generally speaking, older people in my country prefer cooking at home.
broadly speaking /ˌbrɔːdli ˈspiːkɪŋ/ phrase	in a general way, without considering details Broadly speaking, technology has made our lives easier.
it goes without saying /ɪt ˌɡəʊz wɪˌðaʊt ˈseɪɪŋ/ phrase	used to say something is so obvious it hardly needs saying It goes without saying that health is more important than money.
kind of /ˈkaɪnd əv/ phrase	informal phrase meaning slightly or in some way The film was kind of slow at first, but the ending was great.
pretty much /ˈprɪti mʌtʃ/ phrase	almost completely I pretty much grew up in my grandparents' restaurant.
a bit of a /ə ˈbɪt əv ə/ phrase	used to make a negative description sound softer I'm a bit of a night owl, so mornings are hard for me.
these days /ˈðiːz deɪz/ phrase	at the present time, compared with the past These days I mostly listen to podcasts on my way to work.
back in the day /ˌbæk ɪn ðə ˈdeɪ/ phrase	informal phrase for a time in the past Back in the day, my village didn't even have a proper road.
when I was a kid /wen aɪ wəz ə ˈkɪd/ phrase	informal way to refer to your childhood When I was a kid, I used to collect stamps from different countries.
growing up /ˌɡrəʊɪŋ ˈʌp/ phrase	during the time when you were a child Growing up, I spent every summer at my uncle's farm.
for ages /fər ˈeɪdʒɪz/ phrase	for a very long time (informal) I haven't been to the cinema for ages because tickets are so expensive.
every now and then /ˌevri ˌnaʊ ən ˈðen/ phrase	sometimes but not often or regularly Every now and then, I treat myself to a meal at a nice restaurant.
from time to time /frəm ˌtaɪm tə ˈtaɪm/ phrase	occasionally, but not regularly From time to time I go fishing with my dad at the lake.
on a daily basis /ɒn ə ˈdeɪli ˌbeɪsɪs/ phrase	every day I use English on a daily basis because my company is international.
bring back memories /ˌbrɪŋ bæk ˈmeməriz/ phrase	to make you remember past experiences The smell of fresh bread always brings back memories of my grandmother.
vivid memory /ˌvɪvɪd ˈmeməri/ n	a memory that is very clear and detailed I have a vivid memory of my first day at primary school.
it reminds me of /ɪt rɪˈmaɪndz miː əv/ phrase	used to say something makes you think of another thing This song really reminds me of my university days.
the other day /ði ˈʌðə ˌdeɪ/ phrase	a few days ago I bumped into an old classmate at the supermarket the other day.
hometown /ˈhəʊmtaʊn/ n	the town or city where you were born or grew up My hometown is famous for its silk and old wooden houses.
born and raised /ˌbɔːn ən ˈreɪzd/ phrase	born in a place and grew up there I was born and raised in Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam.
close-knit /ˌkləʊs ˈnɪt/ adj	with members who support each other and are very close I come from a close-knit neighbourhood where everyone knows each other.
bustling city /ˌbʌslɪŋ ˈsɪti/ phrase	a busy city full of people and activity Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling city that never really sleeps.
sleepy town /ˌsliːpi ˈtaʊn/ phrase	a quiet town where little happens My grandparents live in a sleepy town where shops close at six.
leafy /ˈliːfi/ adj	having many trees and plants, often describing a pleasant area We live on a leafy street not far from the city park.
well-connected /ˌwel kəˈnektɪd/ adj	having good transport links to other places My area is well-connected, with buses and a metro line nearby.
cost of living /ˌkɒst əv ˈlɪvɪŋ/ n	the amount of money needed for basic things like food and rent The cost of living in big cities has risen a lot recently.
work-life balance /ˌwɜːk ˈlaɪf ˌbæləns/ n	the balance between time spent working and time for yourself My job is demanding, so I try hard to keep a healthy work-life balance.
nine-to-five /ˌnaɪn tə ˈfaɪv/ adj	describing a regular office job with fixed daytime hours I don't think I'd enjoy a nine-to-five job; I prefer flexible hours.
hands-on /ˌhændz ˈɒn/ adj	involving doing things yourself rather than just watching I like my course because it is very hands-on and practical.
make a living /ˌmeɪk ə ˈlɪvɪŋ/ phrase	to earn the money you need to live My parents make a living by running a small coffee shop.
career path /kəˈrɪə pɑːθ/ n	the series of jobs a person does as they develop at work I'm still not sure which career path I want to follow.
major in /ˈmeɪdʒər ɪn/ phr v	to study a subject as the main focus of a university degree I majored in economics, but now I work in marketing.
day job /ˈdeɪ dʒɒb/ n	the main job that pays your bills, not your passion Painting is my passion, but I can't give up my day job yet.
in my spare time /ɪn maɪ ˌspeə ˈtaɪm/ phrase	during the time when you are not working or studying In my spare time I enjoy taking photos of street life.
unwind /ˌʌnˈwaɪnd/ v	to relax after a period of work or worry Listening to jazz helps me unwind after a long day.
recharge my batteries /ˌriːˈtʃɑːdʒ maɪ ˈbætəriz/ phrase	to rest so that you feel full of energy again I go to the beach at weekends to recharge my batteries.
binge-watch /ˈbɪndʒ wɒtʃ/ v	to watch many episodes of a series one after another Last weekend I binge-watched an entire Korean drama series.
lie-in /ˈlaɪ ɪn/ n	staying in bed later than usual in the morning On Sundays I love having a lie-in until about ten o'clock.
homebody /ˈhəʊmbɒdi/ n	a person who prefers to stay at home I'm a bit of a homebody, so I rarely go out at night.
outdoorsy /ˌaʊtˈdɔːzi/ adj	liking outdoor activities such as hiking and camping My sister is really outdoorsy and goes hiking every month.
sociable /ˈsəʊʃəbl/ adj	friendly and enjoying spending time with other people I'm fairly sociable, so I enjoy group activities like football.
introvert /ˈɪntrəvɜːt/ n	a quiet person who prefers being alone or with a few people As an introvert, I recharge by reading alone in a quiet café.
extrovert /ˈekstrəvɜːt/ n	a lively person who enjoys being with others My best friend is a total extrovert who talks to everyone.
keep fit /ˌkiːp ˈfɪt/ phrase	to stay healthy and strong by exercising I go swimming twice a week to keep fit.
get some fresh air /ˌɡet səm ˌfreʃ ˈeə/ phrase	to go outside, often for a short walk After hours at my desk, I like to get some fresh air in the park.
pick up a hobby /ˌpɪk ʌp ə ˈhɒbi/ phrase	to start a new hobby, often casually During the lockdown, I picked up a new hobby: baking bread.
get into /ˌɡet ˈɪntuː/ phr v	to start being interested in an activity I started to get into photography when my uncle gave me an old camera.
be into /biː ˈɪntuː/ phrase	to be very interested in something (informal) I'm really into cooking Thai food at the moment.
be keen on /biː ˈkiːn ɒn/ phrase	to be interested in or like something I'm not very keen on horror films; they give me nightmares.
be a big fan of /biː ə ˌbɪɡ ˈfæn əv/ phrase	to like someone or something very much I'm a big fan of local street markets because everything is so fresh.
can't stand /ˌkɑːnt ˈstænd/ phrase	to dislike something very much I can't stand waiting in long queues, so I shop online.
not really my thing /nɒt ˌrɪəli maɪ ˈθɪŋ/ phrase	a polite way to say you do not enjoy something Clubbing is not really my thing; I prefer quiet evenings.
passionate about /ˈpæʃənət əˌbaʊt/ adj	having very strong feelings of enthusiasm for something I'm passionate about protecting animals, so I volunteer at a shelter.
home-cooked /ˌhəʊm ˈkʊkt/ adj	cooked at home rather than bought from a shop or restaurant Nothing beats a home-cooked meal made by my mum.
takeaway /ˈteɪkəweɪ/ n	a meal bought from a restaurant to eat somewhere else On busy evenings we usually order a takeaway instead of cooking.
street food /ˈstriːt fuːd/ n	food sold by vendors in the street or at markets Vietnamese street food like banh mi is cheap and delicious.
sweet tooth /ˌswiːt ˈtuːθ/ n	a strong liking for sweet food I have a real sweet tooth, so I can never say no to cake.
picky eater /ˌpɪki ˈiːtə/ n	someone who only eats a limited range of food As a child I was a picky eater who refused all vegetables.
grab a bite /ˌɡræb ə ˈbaɪt/ phrase	to eat something quickly (informal) We usually grab a bite near the office before the afternoon meeting.
treat myself /ˈtriːt maɪˌself/ phrase	to buy or do something special for your own pleasure After my exams, I treated myself to a new pair of trainers.
window shopping /ˈwɪndəʊ ˌʃɒpɪŋ/ n	looking at goods in shop windows without buying I enjoy window shopping in the mall, but I rarely buy anything.
shop around /ˌʃɒp əˈraʊnd/ phr v	to compare prices in different shops before buying I always shop around online before buying a new phone.
splash out /ˌsplæʃ ˈaʊt/ phr v	to spend a lot of money on something enjoyable For my birthday we splashed out on a fancy dinner.
pricey /ˈpraɪsi/ adj	expensive (informal) Cafés in the city centre are a bit pricey for students.
value for money /ˌvæljuː fə ˈmʌni/ n	good quality compared with the price paid The local market offers excellent value for money.
tech-savvy /ˈtek ˌsævi/ adj	knowing a lot about modern technology My grandfather is surprisingly tech-savvy and uses video calls daily.
scroll through /ˈskrəʊl θruː/ phr v	to move up or down a screen to look at content I often scroll through social media before going to sleep.
screen time /ˈskriːn taɪm/ n	time spent looking at a phone, computer or TV I'm trying to cut down my screen time to sleep better.
go viral /ˌɡəʊ ˈvaɪrəl/ phrase	to spread very quickly on the internet A video of a cat in my town went viral last year.
keep in touch /ˌkiːp ɪn ˈtʌtʃ/ phrase	to continue communicating with someone I keep in touch with my school friends through a group chat.
drift apart /ˌdrɪft əˈpɑːt/ phr v	to gradually become less close to someone We drifted apart after she moved to another city.
get on well /ˌɡet ɒn ˈwel/ phrase	to have a friendly relationship I get on well with my younger brother, even though we're very different.
hit it off /ˌhɪt ɪt ˈɒf/ phrase	to like someone immediately after meeting them We hit it off at the first lecture and have been friends ever since.
bond over /ˈbɒnd əʊvə/ phr v	to become close because you share an interest or experience My colleagues and I bonded over our love of football.
quality time /ˈkwɒləti taɪm/ n	time spent giving full attention to people you love I try to spend quality time with my parents every weekend.
family gathering /ˌfæməli ˈɡæðərɪŋ/ n	an occasion when relatives meet, often for a celebration Tet is the biggest family gathering of the year in my country.
scorching /ˈskɔːtʃɪŋ/ adj	extremely hot It gets scorching in April, so we usually stay indoors at noon.
muggy /ˈmʌɡi/ adj	unpleasantly warm and humid Hanoi gets really muggy in early spring, so clothes never dry.
humid /ˈhjuːmɪd/ adj	with a lot of water in the air, making it feel hot The climate in my city is hot and humid most of the year.
drizzle /ˈdrɪzl/ n	light rain falling in very small drops In February there is often a cold drizzle that lasts for days.
downpour /ˈdaʊnpɔː/ n	a sudden very heavy fall of rain We got caught in a downpour on the way home from school.
packed /pækt/ adj	extremely full of people The beach is always packed during the summer holidays.
serene /səˈriːn/ adj	calm and peaceful The temple is a serene place to sit and think.
state-of-the-art /ˌsteɪt əv ði ˈɑːt/ adj	using the newest and most advanced technology Our university library has state-of-the-art study rooms with smart screens.
old-fashioned /ˌəʊld ˈfæʃnd/ adj	not modern; belonging to the past My grandparents still use an old-fashioned radio in the kitchen.
trendy /ˈtrendi/ adj	fashionable and modern A lot of trendy cafés have opened in the old quarter.
must-have /ˈmʌst hæv/ n	something that many people want to own Wireless earphones have become a must-have for students.
time-consuming /ˈtaɪm kənˌsjuːmɪŋ/ adj	taking a lot of time to do Cooking traditional dishes for Tet can be very time-consuming for families.
step out of my comfort zone /ˌstep aʊt əv maɪ ˈkʌmfət ˌzəʊn/ phrase	to try something new that makes you a little nervous Joining the drama club helped me step out of my comfort zone.
a sense of achievement /ə ˌsens əv əˈtʃiːvmənt/ phrase	the pleasant feeling after doing something difficult Finishing my first marathon gave me a huge sense of achievement.
life-changing /ˈlaɪf ˌtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ adj	having a very strong effect on someone's life Studying abroad was a life-changing experience for me.
learning curve /ˈlɜːnɪŋ kɜːv/ n	the rate at which someone learns a new skill My first job was a steep learning curve, but I learned so much.
peer pressure /ˈpɪə ˌpreʃə/ n	influence from people of your age to behave like them Teenagers often start smoking because of peer pressure.
older generation /ˌəʊldə ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ n	people who are older, such as parents and grandparents The older generation tends to value job security more than passion.
younger generation /ˌjʌŋɡə ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ n	young people as a group The younger generation is much more comfortable with technology.
I see where you're coming from /aɪ ˌsiː weə jɔː ˈkʌmɪŋ frɒm/ phrase	used to show you understand someone's point of view I see where you're coming from, but I think it's more complicated.
there's no denying that /ðeəz nəʊ dɪˈnaɪɪŋ ðæt/ phrase	used to say something is clearly true There's no denying that social media has changed how we communicate.
on the flip side /ɒn ðə ˈflɪp saɪd/ phrase	used to introduce the opposite point or a disadvantage Living alone is peaceful; on the flip side, it can feel lonely.
take something for granted /ˌteɪk ˌsʌmθɪŋ fə ˈɡrɑːntɪd/ phrase	to fail to appreciate something because it is always there Young people often take clean water and electricity for granted.
it all boils down to /ɪt ˌɔːl ˌbɔɪlz ˈdaʊn tuː/ phrase	used to say what the most basic reason or point is In the end, it all boils down to how much time people have.
speaking from experience /ˌspiːkɪŋ frəm ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ phrase	used to show your opinion is based on what happened to you Speaking from experience, learning a language abroad is much faster.