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Voice of America Broadcast Dictionary - H

This Special English Dictionary contains about 1,500 words and makes an excellent vocabulary goal for intermediate level learners.

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Parts of Speech Key

n. (noun) - a name word
v. (verb) - an action word
ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word
prep. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation
pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun
conj. (conjunction) - a joining word

To hear the correct pronunciation, click on the audio symbol next to the word. To return to this page, click on "back" in your browser.

hair - n. the fine material that grows from the skin, especially from the head

half - n. one of two equal parts of something

halt - v. to come or cause to come to a stop; to stop

hang - v. to place something so the highest part is supported and the lower part is not; to kill by hanging

happen - v. to become a fact or event; to take place

happy - ad. pleased; satisfied; feeling good; not sad

hard - ad. not easily cut or broken; solid; difficult to do or understand; needing much effort or force

harm - v. to injure; to damage; n. damage; hurt

harvest - v. to gather crops; n. the crop after it is gathered

hat - n. a head cover

hate - v. to have strong emotions against; to consider as an enemy; opposite love

have - v. to possess; to own; to hold

he - pro. the boy or man who is being spoken about

head - v. to lead; to command; n. leader; chief; the top part of something; the highest position

headquarters - n. the center from which orders are given; the main offices of a business or organization

heal - v. to return to good health; to cure; to become well

health - n. the general condition of the body and mind; the condition of being free from sickness or disease

hear - v. to receive sound through the ears; to receive news about

heat - v. to make hot or warm; n. great warmth; that which is produced by burning fuel; energy from the sun

heavy - ad. having much weight; not easy to lift; of great amount or force

helicopter - n. a machine without wings that can fly up or down or remain in one place above the ground

help - v. to give support; to assist; to make easier; n. support; aid

here - ad. in, to or at this place

hero - n. a person honored for being brave or wise

hide - v. to prevent from being seen or found; to make secret

high - ad. tall; far up; far above the ground; important; above others

hijack - v. to seize or take control of a vehicle by force

hill - n. a small mountain

history - n. the written record or description of past events; the study of the past

hit - v. to strike; to touch with force

hold - v. to carry or support, usually in the hands or arms; to keep in one position; to keep as a prisoner; to contain; to possess; to occupy; to organize and be involved in ("The two sides hold talks this week.")

hole - n. an opening; a torn or broken place in something

holiday - n. a day when one does not work; a day on which no work is done to honor or remember a person or event

holy - ad. greatly honored in religion

home - n. the building where a person lives, especially with family; the place where one was born or comes from; the area or country where one lives

honest - ad. truthful; able to be trusted

honor - v. to obey; to show strong, good feelings for ("to honor one's parents"); n. an award; an act of giving special recognition ("He received many honors for his efforts to help others.")

hope - v. to expect; to believe there is a good chance that something will happen as wanted; to want something to happen

horrible - ad. causing great fear; terrible

horse - n. a large animal often used for racing, riding or farm work

hospital - n. a place where sick or injured people are given medical care

hostage - n. a person captured and held as a guarantee that a demand or promise will be honored

hostile - ad. ready to fight; ready for war

hot - ad. having or feeling great heat or a high temperature

hotel - n. a building with rooms, and often food, for travellers

hour - n. a measure of time; sixty minutes

house - n. a building in which people live; a country's parliament or lawmaking group ("House of Representatives")

how - ad. in what way; to what amount

however - conj. yet; but

huge - ad. very big; of great size

human - ad. of or about people

humor - n. the ability to understand, enjoy or express what makes people laugh

hunger - n. the need for food

hunt - v. to search for animals to capture or kill them; to seek; to try to find

hurry - v. to do or go fast

hurt - v. to cause pain, injury or damage

husband - n. a man who is married

This dictionary was created by the VOA (Voice of English) Special English and Voice of America. It makes an excellent starting vocabulary selection for intermediate level learners. This dictionary is used as the basis on which listening selections vocabulary is chosen and can help you understand VOA broadcasts which can be found at the Voice of America Special English site.

Special English Dictionary Pages

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