vo·cab·lish

vocablishes, vocablishing, vocablished

To learn an English word for good: hear it explained, explain it back in your own words, and review it right before you would forget it.

"She vocablished twenty new words on the train this week."

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Free on iPhone and Android. No account, no ads.

The Vocablish home screen: New York by day above a card with four words to review and a Start review button, and doors to add a word or get suggestions.

How it works

Every word you add goes through the same short loop. You do the remembering; the app does the timing.

  1. The add screen: a large microphone button under Add a word, with Type instead and Suggest a word below it.

    1Say a word

    Heard a word in a meeting or on a show? Tap the mic and say it, type it, or share it to Vocablish from any app.

  2. A dictionary card for the word ephemeral, with its pronunciation, two plain English senses and three example sentences.

    2Hear it explained

    A short definition in plain English, written for your level and read aloud, with example sentences that show the word at work.

  3. The verdict after explaining ephemeral from memory: Correct, with a note on what the explanation got right, what you said, and the original definition.

    3Explain it back

    The definition hides and you say what the word means, in your own words. Vocablish checks your explanation and tells you what you got right.

  4. A review card asking What word is this?, showing the definition and an example sentence with the word blanked out, above a microphone, a hint button and a field to type the answer.

    4Review it before you forget

    Each word comes back when you are about to lose it. Answer out loud or by typing, and every answer is checked.

Know the word, not just recognize it

You do the remembering
Reading a definition and nodding along feels like learning, then fades by next week. Explaining a word from memory is what makes it stay.
Every answer is checked
There is no "I knew that" button. Say the word from its definition, or explain a word in your own words, and Vocablish checks it. A miss gets a nudge and another try.
Timed to your memory
Spaced repetition brings each word back right before you would forget it. Words you know wait longer; words you missed return sooner, until they stick.
A review card turned to its answer side after a correct answer: the word ephemeral, its definition and your own words, with Hard, Good and Easy buttons.

Made for the English you need

Pick your level and goal once. Everything after that is shaped around them.

  • Your level, from A1 to C2

    Definitions and suggestions follow the level you pick, from first words to the precise vocabulary of fluent speakers.

  • Preparing for IELTS or TOEFL

    Get word suggestions drawn from academic word lists, picked for your exam and your level.

  • Your language, as a reading aid

    Show each definition translated into your own language (there are more than 35), right under the English. Practice always stays in English.

  • Sentences about your life

    Every few reviews, use the word in a sentence about yourself. That is the moment it becomes your word.

  • Hints that open a step at a time

    Stuck on a card? See the first letter, then the length, then a little more, until it comes back to you.

  • A few minutes a day

    Set your daily practice and a reminder for a time that suits you. A little every day is what moves words into long-term memory.

Suggested words for IELTS at level B1: assignment, impression, propose, nucleus, participant, simplify, each with a short definition and a check box.

A window on five cities

Home opens on a live scene of London, Madrid, New York, Paris or Sydney, painted for the hour and the weather there right now. Clouds drift, rain falls, and the Eiffel Tower lights up after dark.

Pick the city you are learning English for, or the one you miss. It also comes in a dark theme for evening practice.

Home at night in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower lit up, in the light theme.
The same Paris night scene in the dark theme.

Your words stay on your phone

  • No account

    Nothing to sign up for. Your words, notes and progress are stored on your device.

  • No ads, no tracking

    Anonymous usage data helps us fix what breaks. It never includes your words, and you can turn it off in Settings.

  • Yours to keep

    Export every word, your own definitions and your progress whenever you like.

Questions

Is Vocablish free?

Yes. Vocablish is free to download and use. There are no ads and no account to create.

Who is it for?

Adults learning English, at any level from beginner to near-native, and anyone preparing for IELTS or TOEFL who wants their vocabulary to stick.

Do I have to speak out loud?

No. Every step works by typing too. Speaking is quicker and helps you remember, but the keyboard is always one tap away.

Where do the definitions come from?

An AI language model writes them, prompted for short, plain definitions at your level. If one is ever wrong, tap Report a problem with this word on its page and we will look into it.

Does it work offline?

Your words and progress live on your phone, so they are always there. Looking up a new word and checking your explanations need an internet connection.

Which devices does it run on?

iPhone with iOS 16.4 or later, and Android phones.

Something else? See Support or write to hello@vocablish.app.

Start with the next word you hear

Free on iPhone and Android.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play