C1 · Advanced

Ways of Speaking — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about ways of speaking — verbs for every kind of utterance. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. murmur/ˈmɜː.mə/

    “They murmur in the back row.”

  2. mutter/ˈmʌt.ə/

    “He began to mutter to himself.”

  3. stammer/ˈstæm.ə/

    “She started to stammer nervously.”

  4. stutter/ˈstʌt.ə/

    “He tends to stutter when nervous.”

  5. babble/ˈbæb.əl/

    “The toddlers babble happily.”

  6. ramble/ˈræm.bəl/

    “He tends to ramble for hours.”

  7. drawl/drɔːl/

    “She spoke in a slow drawl.”

  8. lisp/lɪsp/

    “The child has a slight lisp.”

  9. vocalise/ˈvəʊ.kə.laɪz/

    “Babies vocalise before they speak.”

  10. exclaim/ɪkˈskleɪm/

    “‘Wonderful!’ they exclaim.”

  11. proclaim/prəˈkleɪm/

    “Heralds proclaim the news.”

  12. declare/dɪˈkleə/

    “Judges declare the verdict.”

  13. interject/ˌɪn.təˈdʒekt/

    “May I interject for a moment?”

  14. rejoinder/rɪˈdʒɔɪn.də/

    “She gave a witty rejoinder.”

  15. blurt/blɜːt/

    “Try not to blurt out the answer.”

  16. intone/ɪnˈtəʊn/

    “The priest began to intone the words.”

  17. recite/rɪˈsaɪt/

    “Children recite the poem.”

  18. recount/rɪˈkaʊnt/

    “Veterans recount their stories.”

  19. divulge/daɪˈvʌldʒ/

    “He refused to divulge the secret.”

  20. disclose/dɪsˈkləʊz/

    “They will not disclose the figures.”

  21. allege/əˈledʒ/

    “Critics allege corruption.”

  22. insinuate/ɪnˈsɪn.ju.eɪt/

    “Are you trying to insinuate something?”

  23. intimate/ˈɪn.tɪ.meɪt/

    “He tried to intimate his plans.”

  24. profess/prəˈfes/

    “They profess great loyalty.”

  25. avow/əˈvaʊ/

    “They openly avow their beliefs.”

  26. attest/əˈtest/

    “Witnesses attest to his honesty.”

  27. testify/ˈtes.tɪ.faɪ/

    “She will testify in court.”

  28. pontificate/pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/

    “He loves to pontificate.”

  29. harangue/həˈræŋ/

    “He began to harangue the crowd.”

  30. preach/priːtʃ/

    “She likes to preach to others.”

  31. soliloquy/səˈlɪl.ə.kwi/

    “The hero delivers a soliloquy.”

  32. converse/kənˈvɜːs/

    “They converse in French.”

  33. natter/ˈnæt.ə/

    “They natter over tea.”

  34. prattle/ˈpræt.əl/

    “The children prattle all day.”

  35. hiss/hɪs/

    “‘Quiet!’ they hiss.”

  36. bellow/ˈbel.əʊ/

    “The sergeant began to bellow.”

  37. holler/ˈhɒl.ə/

    “He started to holler across the yard.”

  38. shriek/ʃriːk/

    “She let out a shriek.”

  39. wail/weɪl/

    “Mourners began to wail.”

  40. groan/ɡrəʊn/

    “He let out a groan.”

  41. grumble/ˈɡrʌm.bəl/

    “They grumble about the weather.”

  42. whine/waɪn/

    “Children whine when tired.”

  43. coo/kuː/

    “She began to coo at the baby.”

  44. croon/kruːn/

    “He likes to croon old songs.”

  45. chant/tʃɑːnt/

    “Fans chant the team’s name.”

  46. mouth/maʊθ/

    “Try not to mouth the words.”

  47. enthuse/ɪnˈθjuːz/

    “Fans enthuse about the film.”

  48. gush/ɡʌʃ/

    “Critics gush over her work.”

  49. rave/reɪv/

    “Reviewers rave about the play.”

  50. boast/bəʊst/

    “He likes to boast about his car.”

  51. brag/bræɡ/

    “She tends to brag about money.”

  52. snap/snæp/

    “‘No!’ she would snap.”

  53. bark/bɑːk/

    “Officers bark orders.”

  54. squeal/skwiːl/

    “Children squeal with delight.”

  55. utterance/ˈʌt.ər.əns/

    “His every utterance was noted.”

  56. verbalise/ˈvɜː.bəl.aɪz/

    “Try to verbalise your feelings.”

  57. butt in/ˌbʌt ˈɪn/

    “Do not butt in while I speak.”

  58. herald/ˈher.əld/

    “Trumpets herald the king.”

  59. reproach/rɪˈprəʊtʃ/

    “She gave him a look of reproach.”

  60. reprimand/ˈrep.rɪ.mɑːnd/

    “The boss will reprimand him.”