Learning English Vocabulary

BBC Radio

<p>Build your English vocabulary with these short programmes. Each episode explores a new topic to improve your English.</p><p>Find more at bbclearningenglish.com</p><p>Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus</p>

  • 1 minute 6 seconds
    English in a Minute: Phrases with 'water'

    Do you hate it when people pour water on your ideas, or is it like water off a duck's back? Learn these 'water' phrases and more 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 some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning Easy English ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ 6 Minute English

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    11 March 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 6 minutes 42 seconds
    Hyphenation

    Learn how to use hyphens: "They did a ten-foot dive into the swimming pool."

    Have you tried the podcast 'Real Easy English'? Two presenters have short, real conversations about everyday topics in easy English. From birthdays, to rain, to public transport... you're likely to find a topic that interests you! Search for 'Learning Easy English' in your podcast app, or find it with free worksheets and transcripts on our website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english

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    If you're looking for something else, you can browse by level, topic or language feature on the homepage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/

    9 March 2026, 1:04 pm
  • 1 minute 4 seconds
    English in a Minute: Phrases with 'cards'

    There are a few phrases in English about card games. Learn what it means to lay all your cards on the table, 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/learningenglish/followus

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    4 March 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 6 minutes 10 seconds
    Words with double letters

    How would you recommend people remember which double letters are in accommodation? Catherine and Neil talk about spelling words with double letters, such as 'accommodation'.

    Want to boost your speaking skills? Try Beating Speaking Anxiety, our series to help fight your fears of speaking English https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxiety

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    2 March 2026, 1:43 pm
  • 1 minute 11 seconds
    English in a Minute: Phrases with 'grass'

    Here are 4 phrases with 'grass'. Don't kick learning them into the long grass!

    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

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    25 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 6 minutes 13 seconds
    Pronouncing verbs and nouns

    So you want a salary increase? Who doesn't? But do you pronounce 'increase' with the stress on the first syllable in, or the second syllable crease? The answer depends on whether you're using increase as a noun or a verb... And that's the subject that Neil and Catherine are talking about in this 6 Minute Vocabulary programme.

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    23 February 2026, 2:28 pm
  • 1 minute 11 seconds
    English in a Minute: Phrases with 'big'

    What phrases do you know with the word 'big'? 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

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    18 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 1 minute 5 seconds
    English in a Minute: Phrases with 'baby'

    If you sleep like a baby, do you sleep well or badly? Learn that here 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/followus

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    11 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 6 minutes 7 seconds
    British and American English

    Cookies or biscuits? Autumn or fall? Catherine and Doug discuss British and American English. Hear about differences and similarities in vocabulary from both sides of the Atlantic.

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    9 February 2026, 12:54 pm
  • 1 minute 9 seconds
    English in a Minute: Phrases with 'foot'

    What phrases do you know with 'foot'? 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

    LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Conversations ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Grammar

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    4 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 6 minutes 38 seconds
    Business jargon

    Can you think out of the box or take the helicopter view at work? Learn business jargon.

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    LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Conversations

    They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

    2 February 2026, 1:49 pm
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