BBC Radio

Learning English Vocabulary

Education EN ↓ 409 episodes

Build your English vocabulary with these short programmes. Each week we explore a new topic to improve your English vocabulary. Learn words for the weather, how to talk about people’s jobs, adjective order, and so much more. Plus, in our English in a Minute episodes, give your vocabulary a boost in under a minute. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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BBC Radio

Episodes

Strong adjectives 08.12.2025 6:49

'Terrified', 'fantastic', 'amazing' - learn how to use strong adjectives. Find Learning English Grammar: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-grammar FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslett...

Male and female job words 01.12.2025 6:46

Policeman/policewoman, actor/actress - learn about job titles and gender. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️...

Weather words 24.11.2025 6:09

The British love to talk about weather! Learn some useful vocabulary about it here. TRY THE LISTENING ROOM: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_listening_room (Hard: Upper intermediate level and above, B2 and above) Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus The Pronunciation Lounge: https://www.b...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'gold' 19.11.2025 1:14

Learn 4 phrases with 'gold' with Phil in this podcast. They're worth their weight in gold! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/l...

Homophones 17.11.2025 6:58

Mail and male... Learn about words that sound the same but have different spellings. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus The Pronunciation Lounge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_pronunciation_lounge NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslett...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'light' 13.11.2025 1:03

What does it mean to see the light? Learn that and more with Georgie. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/follow...

Compound nouns 10.11.2025 6:35

Ice cream, popcorn... Learn about nouns made up of a combination of two words. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searchi...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'pull' 06.11.2025 1:12

Learn 4 phrases with 'pull' here. You'll enjoy it – we're not pulling your leg! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningengl...

Adjective order 03.11.2025 6:34

This is a big, old, smelly dog! Learn which adjective has to come first. TRY THE READING ROOM: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_room FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'clock' 29.10.2025 1:08

What phrases do you know with 'clock'? Learn some in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus...

Contractions 27.10.2025 6:22

"I've run a marathon." Look at the shorter form 'I've'. Learn how to use contractions. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Eng...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'home' 22.10.2025 1:10

Get comfy, make yourself a hot drink – make yourself at home! Learn 'make yourself at home' and more in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us...

Job suffixes 20.10.2025 6:10

What's the connection between a teacher, a driver and a presenter? We explain. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English for...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'look' 15.10.2025 1:04

Learn 4 phrases with 'look'' in this podcast. If you learn them all you'll really look sharp. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.u...

Word stress 13.10.2025 6:34

How to pronounce the words 'photographer' and 'photograph'? Learn about word stress. THE PRONUNCIATION LOUNGE ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_pronunciation_lounge FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningen...

English in a Minute: Verbs that go with 'resource' 08.10.2025 1:09

What does it mean to draw on and squander resources? Learn that and more in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/le...

Compound adjectives 06.10.2025 6:31

Learn how to use compound adjectives (e.g. low-fat yoghurt, high-quality carbohydrates). FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus THE LONDON LETTER CHALLENGE - an easy English series for pre-intermediate (A2) learners ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_london_let...

English in a Minute: Verbs that go with 'task' 01.10.2025 1:01

What verbs can we use 'task'? Learn some here. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try s...

Lexical sets 29.09.2025 6:32

Finn and Catherine give you some tips on how to remember new words. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus THE LONDON LETTER CHALLENGE - an easy English series for pre-intermediate (A2) learners ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_london_letter_challenge/ SUBSCR...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'hit' 24.09.2025 1:07

Make sure your English learning isn't hit-and-miss – be consistent! Learn this phrase and more in this podcast. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ ht...

-ing and -ed adjectives 22.09.2025 6:06

Boring or bored? Interested or interesting? We'll tell you the right adjective to use. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Englis...

English in a Minute: Phrases with 'red' 17.09.2025 1:08

Learn 4 phrases with 'red' in this podcast. Don't worry, none of them are red herrings! TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/lear...

Binomials 15.09.2025 6:57

Learn how to use these short English phrases made of two words that go together. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English for...

English in a Minute: Phrases with head 10.09.2025 1:07

What phrases do you know with 'head'? Beth has a few to tell you. TRANSCRIPT Find a free transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/s5english_in_a_minute FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus L...

Useful chunks of language 08.09.2025 6:30

Do you like to eat a full English breakfast? Listen to find out how to use this phrase. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Engli...