

Learning English Vocabulary
BBC Radio
Build your English vocabulary with these short programmes. Each episode explores a new topic to improve your English.Find more at bbclearningenglish.comFollow us at
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Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 17, 2025 • 7min
Homophones
Dive into the playful world of homophones, where words sound alike but mean different things! Explore amusing sketches that showcase the confusion between words like flour and flower. Tune in for clever definitions and examples like mail/male and right/write. Engage with a fun quiz to test your homophone spelling skills. Plus, discover tips on using context to master these tricky words! It's a delightful blend of language learning and entertainment.

4 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 1min
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'light'
Explore the meaning behind phrases with 'light' in everyday language! Discover how to 'shed light on' a topic to clarify confusion, and learn what it means to 'see the light' when changing your perspective. Find out about 'a light at the end of the tunnel' representing hope after tough times, and have a laugh as you hear about 'out like a light', describing how quickly some people fall asleep. Get ready to brighten your vocabulary!

Nov 10, 2025 • 7min
Compound nouns
Explore the fascinating world of compound nouns, where two words unite to create new meanings. Discover how everyday terms like ice cream and popcorn work, along with insights into their pronunciation and stress patterns. Engage in a fun listening activity with Bill's laptop woes that illustrates how these compounds fit into real-life contexts. Learn the nuances of writing them, including tricky hyphenations, and challenge yourself with a quiz to master the art of compound nouns!

Nov 6, 2025 • 1min
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'pull'
Explore phrases that creatively incorporate 'pull.' Discover how 'pull your leg' refers to jokingly misleading someone. Learn about 'pull yourself together,' emphasizing the need to manage your emotions. Delve into 'pull out all the stops,' which means putting forth maximum effort for a task. Each phrase brings unique nuances to daily conversations, making learning both fun and practical!

Nov 3, 2025 • 7min
Adjective order
Discover the art of adjective order and why it matters in description! Learn how to properly describe a sofa with size, age, and material. Find out how closeness in meaning affects placement, as illustrated with cushions and a beautiful kilim. Get tips on using 'but' between adjectives and take on a fun quiz to test your skills. Finally, enjoy a vocabulary game that challenges you to guess nouns using clues from adjectives. Tune in for an engaging way to enhance your descriptive language!

Oct 29, 2025 • 1min
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'clock'
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_minuteFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
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Oct 27, 2025 • 6min
Contractions
"I've run a marathon." Look at the shorter form 'I've'. Learn how to use contractions.FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
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Oct 22, 2025 • 1min
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'home'
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_minuteFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
Visit our website
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Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
✔️ Learning Easy English
✔️ Learning English for Work
✔️ Learning English GrammarThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Oct 20, 2025 • 6min
Job suffixes
What's the connection between a teacher, a driver and a presenter? We explain.FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
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✔️ Learning English for Work
✔️ Learning English from the News
✔️ Learning English Stories They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Oct 15, 2025 • 1min
English in a Minute: Phrases with 'look'
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_minuteFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
Visit our website
✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
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Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
✔️ Learning English Stories
✔️ Learning English Grammar
✔️ 6 Minute EnglishThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.


