Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & wine

Drink

Phonetic
/wn/

Parts of
Definition
speech
noun
an alcoholic drink that is usually made from
grapes, or sometimes from other fruit

Examples
Dictionary examples:
a wine cellar/glass
red/white/dry/sweet/sparkling wine
Let's have a bottle/glass of wine with dinner.
I love Australian wines, especially the white wines.
Would you like to see the wine list, sir?

A1

Food & waitress

Drink

we.trs/

noun

a woman who works in a restaurant, bringing

food to customers

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like to drink wine or beer.
Dictionary example:
She's working as a waitress right now.

A1

Food & waiter

Drink

/wet.r/

noun

a man who works in a restaurant, bringing

food to customers

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

She is a waitress [and] she likes this job.
Dictionary example:
The waiter brought our drinks.
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
The waiter and waitress working there are kind and friendly.

Page 1 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary
A1

Food & vegetable

Drink

Phonetic
/ved.t.bl/

Parts of
Definition
speech
noun
a plant that you eat, for example potatoes,
onions, beans, etc.

Examples
Dictionary examples:
fresh/frozen vegetables
vegetable soup/curry
fruit and vegetables
In the winter we eat more root vegetables, such as carrots and
parsnips.
Raw vegetables contain more vitamins than cooked vegetables.

A1

Food & tomato

Drink

/tmet.o/

noun

a soft, round, red fruit eaten in salad or as a

vegetable

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like eat[ing] fish, vegetables, fruit and sala[d].
Dictionary example:
a cheese and tomato sandwich

A1

Food & tea

Drink

/ti/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like salad - tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, swe[e]tcorn.
Dictionary examples:

[C or U] a hot drink that you make by pouring

water onto dried leaves, or the leaves that you
use to make this drink
I'd love a cup of tea, please.

They have a selection of herbal teas.

He likes strong/weak tea.
Page 2 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & sweet

Drink

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

/swit/

Definition

Examples
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
She likes tea and coffee.
Dictionary examples:

with a taste like sugar

The pineapple was sweet and juicy.

Do you want your pancakes sweet or savoury?

A1

Food & sugar

Drink

/g.r/

noun

a sweet substance used to give flavor to food

and drinks

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like rice and sweet dishes.
Dictionary example:
I don't take sugar in my coffee, thanks.

A1

Food & station

Drink

/ste.n/

noun

a building where trains or buses stop so that

you can get on or off them

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like to eat chicken with bread and tea without sugar.
Dictionary examples:
a train/bus station
Dad met me at the Metro station.
Our office is near the subway station.
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Page 3 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary
A1

Food & soup

Drink

Phonetic
/sup/

Parts of
Definition
Examples
speech
noun
A1 a usually hot, liquid food made from
Dictionary examples:
vegetables and sometimes meat or fish cooked
in water
chicken/tomato/vegetable soup
Would you like a bowl of soup?

A1

Food & sandwich

Drink

/sn.dwt/

noun

two slices of bread with meat, cheese, etc.

between them

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like to eat soup, eggs, meat and salad.
Dictionary examples:
a tuna/cheese sandwich
sandwich fillings

A1

Food & salt

Drink

/slt/

noun

a white substance used to add flavor to food

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

You can make a quick snack, for example a sandwich.
Dictionary examples:
salt and pepper
Pass the salt, please.

A1

Food & rice

Drink

/rs/

noun

small grains from a plant that are cooked and

eaten
Page 4 of 21

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

But before, you put on the top of [the] chicken salt and pepper or
[a] piece of bacon.
Dictionary examples:

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
boiled/fried rice
Do you prefer brown or white rice?

A1

Food & restaurant /res.tr.nt/

Drink

noun

a place where you can buy and eat a meal

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like rice and fish.
Dictionary example:
We had lunch at/in a restaurant near the station.

A1

Food & refrigerator /rfrd.ret.r/ noun

Drink

a large container that uses electricity to keep

food cold

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Sometimes I'm very tired bec[a]use I work in [a] restaurant.
Dictionary examples:
Put the eggs and butter in the refrigerator as soon as you get
home.
Close the refrigerator door!

A1

Food & potato

Drink

/ptet.o/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I think I left [my cell phone] in the kitchen when I fell [on] the
slippery floor. Search near the refrigerator, that's where it must
be.
a round vegetable with a brown, yellow, or red Dictionary examples:
skin that grows in the ground
boiled/baked/roasted potatoes

Page 5 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
mashed potato/potatoes

A1

Food & plate

Drink

/plet/

noun

a flat, round object that is used for putting

food on

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like to eat mashed potatoes with chicken and salad.
Dictionary examples:
paper/plastic/china plates
a dinner/salad plate
clean/dirty plates
There's still lots of food on your plate.

A1

Food & pizza

Drink

/pit.s/

noun

a large circle of flat bread baked with cheese,

tomatoes, and sometimes meat and
vegetables spread on top

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Can you bring me 3 plates and 3 cups because I don't have enough
at home.
Dictionary examples:
a slice of pizza
I like a lot of different pizza toppings.

A1

Food & picnic

Drink

/pk.nk/

noun

a meal that you make and take with you

somewhere to eat outside
Page 6 of 21

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like pasta and pizza.
Dictionary examples:

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
If the weather's nice we could have a picnic in the park.
Why don't you take a picnic with you?
a picnic area/lunch/table

A1

Food & orange

Drink

/r.nd/

noun

a round, sweet fruit with a thick skin and a

center that is divided into many equal parts

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

[We] sometimes go for a picnic.
Dictionary examples:
Do you want to get some oranges?
a glass of orange juice

A1

Food & milk

Drink

/mlk/

noun

a white liquid produced by women and other

female animals, such as cows

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like eating a sandwich with Flora and I like drinking tea with sugar
or orange juice.
Dictionary examples:
a glass/carton of milk
cow's/goat's milk

A1

Food & meat

Drink

/mit/

noun

muscles and other soft parts of animals, used

as food
Page 7 of 21

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like [to] drink coffee and tea with milk.
Dictionary examples:

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
I don't eat meat.
raw meat
red/white meat

A1

Food & meat

Drink

/mit/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I don't like meat and fish.
1 muscles and other soft parts of animals, used Dictionary examples:
as food
I don't eat meat.
raw meat
red/white meat

A1

Food & meal

Drink

/mil/

noun

an occasion when food is eaten, or the food

which is eaten on such an occasion

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I don't like meat and fish.
Dictionary examples:
make/prepare/cook a meal
a three-course meal
They had to leave before the meal was served.
The fee for the program includes three meals a day.

Page 8 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & lunch

Drink

Phonetic

/lnt/

Parts of
speech

noun

Definition

a meal that is eaten in the middle of the day

Examples
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
I hope we have a great meal and a lot of fun.
Dictionary examples:
What's for lunch?
I'm sorry, Joanna isn't here at the moment, she's (gone) out to/at
lunch.

A1

Food & knife

Drink

/nf/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

We met in Bristol, and we had beer and [a] light lunch.
Dictionary examples:

a sharp tool, usually with a metal blade and a

handle, used for cutting and spreading food or
other substances, or as a weapon
a fish/butter/steak knife

I prefer to use a knife and fork.

He drew/pulled a knife and stabbed her.

A1

Food & knife

Drink

/nf/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I want to sell a beautiful old knife, because it doesn't cut anything.
Dictionary examples:

a sharp tool, usually with a metal blade and a

handle, used for cutting and spreading food or
other substances, or as a weapon
a fish/butter/steak knife

I prefer to use a knife and fork.

Page 9 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
He drew/pulled a knife and stabbed her.

A1

Food & juice

Drink

/dus/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I want to sell a beautiful old knife, because it doesn't cut anything.
the liquid that comes from fruit or vegetables Dictionary examples:
orange/lemon/grapefruit/tomato juice
a carton of apple juice

A1

A1

Food & ice cream

Drink

Food & hungry

Drink

/s.krim/

/h.gri/

noun

adjective

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I danced, ate cakes, drank juice and spoke with friends.
a sweet, frozen food made from milk or cream, Dictionary example:
sugar, and a flavor
chocolate/vanilla/strawberry ice cream

wanting or needing food

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like chocolate and ice cream with fruit.
Dictionary examples:
By four o'clock I felt/was really hungry.
The boys are always hungry when they get home from school.
She often goes hungry herself so that her children can have
enough to eat.

Page 10 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & have

Drink

Phonetic

/hv/

Parts of
speech

verb

Definition

to eat or drink something

Examples
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
I'm very happy [about] this dinner, because after w[or]k I'm so
hungry.
Dictionary examples:
I had a turkey sandwich for lunch.
Can I have a drink of water?
Let's have a snack before the movie.
When are we having dinner?

A1

Food & glass

Drink

/gls/

noun

[C] a container made of glass that is used for

drinking

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I have dinner [at] 5 pm.
Dictionary example:
Would you like a glass of water?

A1

Food & fruit

Drink

/frut/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Usually for breakfast we have some sandwiches with cheese and
ham and [a] glass of milk.
Dictionary examples:

something such as an apple or orange that

grows on a tree or a bush, contains seeds, and
can be eaten as food
fresh fruit

dried fruit
Page 11 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
fruit juice
I eat three or four pieces of fruit a day.
I like exotic fruit, like mangoes and papayas.
He runs a fruit and vegetable stand at the outdoor market.

A1

Food & food

Drink

/fud/

noun

something that people and animals eat, or

plants absorb, to keep them alive

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

After those, maybe some fresh fruit salad with fruit juice.
Dictionary examples:
baby food
Thai food
to cook/prepare food
There was lots of food at the party.

A1

Food & fish

Drink

/f/

noun

[U] fish eaten as food

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I'd like to eat Italian food, maybe lasagne.
Dictionary examples:
fried fish
I don't eat fish or meat.

Page 12 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & egg

Drink

Phonetic

/eg/

Parts of
speech

noun

Definition

Examples

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Usually in Spain every day the people eat potatoes and salads with
fish or meat.
[C or U] an oval object with a hard shell which Dictionary examples:
is produced by female birds, especially
chickens, and which is eaten as food
a hard-boiled/soft-boiled egg
How do you like your eggs - fried or scrambled?

A1

Food & eat

Drink

/it/

verb

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like to eat soup, eggs, meat and salad, and drink orange juice.
Dictionary example:

[I] to have a meal

We usually eat at about 7 o'clock.

A1

Food & eat

Drink

/it/

verb

[I or T] to put food into your mouth and then

swallow it

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I go there to eat whenever I have time.
Dictionary examples:
Who ate all the cake?
I haven't eaten since breakfast.
Let's have something to eat.

Page 13 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & drink

Drink

Phonetic

/drk/

Parts of
speech

verb

Definition

Examples

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I want [to] go to the river and eat a big chocolate cake.
[I or T] to take liquid into the body through the Dictionary examples:
mouth
He drank three glasses of water.
The animals came down to the water hole to drink.

A1

Food & drink

Drink

/drk/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

You do not have to bring any food, but I['d be] pleased if you could
bring something to drink: wine, coke or something.
[C or U] a liquid or an amount of liquid which is Dictionary examples:
taken into the body through the mouth
Would you like a drink of water/tea/juice?
They'd had no food or drink for two days.

A1

Food & dinner

Drink

/dn.r/

noun

the main meal of the day that people usually

eat in the evening

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I would like to have [a] drink
Dictionary examples:
We were just having (our) dinner.
We had some friends over for dinner on Saturday.
a candlelight dinner

Page 14 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & cup

Drink

Phonetic

/kp/

Parts of
speech

noun

Definition

a small round container, often with a handle,

used for drinking tea, coffee, etc.

Examples
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
I can come to dinner tomorrow at 7 o'clock.
Dictionary examples:
a cup of coffee/tea
a cup and saucer
a plastic/paper cup
a coffee cup/teacup

A1

Food & cracker

Drink

/krk.r/

noun

a flat, dry, small baked bread

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I'd like [to] drink [a] cup of tea.
Dictionary examples:
cheese and crackers
Do you want some crackers with the soup?

A1

Food & cook

Drink

/kk/

verb

to prepare food and usually heat it

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I'll make some food to eat and buy some crackers.
Dictionary examples:
I don't cook meat very often.
Who's cooking this evening?

Page 15 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples
He cooked us an enormous meal./He cooked an enormous meal
for us.

A1

A1

Food & coffee

Drink shop

Food & coffee

Drink

/k.fip/

/k.fi/

noun

noun

a small restaurant where you can buy drinks

and light meals, or a store that sells coffee
drinks and snacks

a popular hot drink with a strong smell that is

made from dark beans, or the beans or
crushed beans from which this drink is made

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I would like you to cook Camerounian traditional foods (Ndole,
Pistache, Couscous, Khaki).
Dictionary example:
I'm just going to grab a sandwich at the coffee shop.
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
In my free time I like to [go to the] Library or to the coffee shop
with my friends.
Dictionary examples:
fresh/instant coffee
a cup of coffee
decaffeinated coffee
Would you like some coffee?
I'd like a black/regular coffee, please.
Do you take/like milk in your coffee?

Page 16 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & chocolate

Drink

Phonetic

/tk.lt/

Parts of
speech

noun

Definition

a sweet, usually brown, food that is prepared

and sold in a block, or a small sweet made
from this

Examples
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
I don't like drinking coffee.
Dictionary examples:
a bar of chocolate
chocolate biscuits
milk/dark/white chocolate
I took her a box of chocolates.

A1

Food & cheese

Drink

/tiz/

noun

a food made from milk, which can either be

firm or soft and is usually yellow or white in
color

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

I like chocolate and ice-cream with fruit.
Dictionary examples:
a slice of cheese
goat's cheese
I like soft French cheeses such as Brie and Camembert.
I prefer hard cheeses, like Cheddar.
cheese and crackers
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Page 17 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & cake

Drink

Phonetic

/kek/

Parts of
speech

noun

Definition

Examples

[In a salad,] I like onion, [c]arrots, beans, garlic, green sala[d],

sunflower oil and cheese.
A1 a sweet food made from flour, butter, sugar Dictionary examples:
and eggs, mixed together and baked
chocolate cake
a birthday cake
Would you like a piece of/a slice of cake?
He made/baked a delicious cake.

A1

Food & caf

Drink

/kfe/

noun

a small restaurant where you can buy drinks

and light meals

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Your chocolate cake is great too.
Dictionary example:
There's a little caf on the corner that serves very good coffee.

A1

Food & butter

Drink

/bt.r/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

There's a new caf near my home.
a pale yellow food made from cream that you Dictionary examples:
put on bread or use in cooking
Have some bread and butter.
a butter dish

Page 18 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary

A1

Food & breakfast

Drink

Phonetic

/brek.fst/

Parts of
speech

noun

Definition

the food you eat in the morning after you

wake up

Examples
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
We have fresh farm food like butter, milk, chees[e].
Dictionary examples:
What do you want for breakfast?
Have you had breakfast?
Breakfast is served in the dining room between 8:30 and 10.

A1

Food & bread

Drink

/bred/

noun

a basic food made by mixing flour, water and

sometimes yeast

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

You can have breakfast in my house.
Dictionary examples:
a piece/slice of bread
a loaf of bread
white/wheat/rye bread
sliced bread
fresh/stale bread
Do you bake your own bread?
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
I like bread, rice and bean[s].

Page 19 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary
A1

Food & beer

Drink

Phonetic

Parts of
speech

/br/

Definition
A1 ! an alcoholic drink made from grain

Examples
Dictionary examples:
a bottle of beer
Would you like another beer?
This beer is brewed in Mexico.

A1

Food & bean

Drink

/bin/

noun

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

She likes drink[ing] beer and sometimes goes to the nightclub.
a seed, or the pod containing seeds, of various Dictionary examples:
climbing plants, eaten as a vegetable
pinto/black/kidney beans
a lima/string bean
baked/refried beans
Coffee beans are the beanlike seeds of the coffee plant.

A1

Food & banana

Drink

/bnn./

noun

a long curved fruit with a yellow skin

Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:

Everybody like[s] to eat beans, rice, chips and meat, but on
Saturday, people like a special lunch.
Dictionary examples:
a bunch of bananas
banana milkshake

Page 20 of 21

Food & Drink

CEFR Topic Vocabulary
A1

Food & apple

Drink

Phonetic
/p.l/

Parts of
speech

Definition

Examples

a hard, round fruit that has a green or red skin Dictionary examples:
and is white inside
to peel an apple
apple pie/sauce
an apple tree
Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example:
The place is in North Iraq. I like this place, becaus[e] it [has] very
nice w[ea]ther, and [there is] nice fruit: dates, grapes, peach[es],
[and] apple[s].

Page 21 of 21