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.
N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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
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
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
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
hunt -
v. to search for animals to capture or kill them; to seek; to try to find
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.

