Notes
Field notes from building Vocabcord: language learning, charger triggers, and the small habits that make a phrase actually stick. Curious what’s inside the app? See the vocabulary by the numbers and how it’s built.
Learn Spanish vocabulary: a frequency-first guide (A1 to C2)
Learn Spanish vocabulary fast: start with the most frequent words, roughly 600 A1 phrases, then climb the CEFR ladder to C2 without sitting down to study.
App comparisonsAnki alternatives for language learners
Anki alternatives compared for language learning: guided courses, speaking practice, authentic video, audio lessons and prepared vocabulary.
App comparisonsDuolingo alternatives by learning goal
Duolingo alternatives compared by learning goal: structured courses, flashcards, conversation, authentic video, audio practice and prepared vocabulary.
Polish · A2Polish Animals A to Z: Names, Gender & Plurals
Find Polish animal names in Polish alphabet order, with English meanings, gender, plurals, pronunciation tips, and honest answers for difficult letters.
Portuguese · A2Portuguese Animals A to Z: Names & Meanings
Learn Portuguese animal names from A to Z, with Brazilian usage, English meanings, gender, useful plurals, and clear explanations of Ç, K, W, and Y.
Spanish · C1Which Spanish words should you learn first at C1?
C1 Spanish vocabulary from our 100-entry set: linking expressions, abstract nouns, adjectives and verbs, with 14 audio examples.
Spanish · A1 to C2Technology in Spanish: phone, password, and download
Technology in Spanish: teléfono, contraseña, and descargar. Hear 14 device and internet words, with A1 basics and C2 vocabulary in context.
Spanish · A1Which Spanish words should you learn first at A1?
Start A1 Spanish with greetings, then useful verbs in short sentences. Explore all 625 corpus entries by category and hear 14 verbs with audio.
The Vocabcord 500 · French500 most useful French phrases
500 most useful French phrases for everyday life, travel and work, with English translations and audio. Find what to say at the bakery, métro or pharmacy.
The Vocabcord 500 · FrenchFrench for your first 48 hours in France
The French for bonjour at the door, the platform board, a forfait and an eSIM, the tabac, the carafe of tap water, the duty pharmacy and the guichet.
The Vocabcord 500 · FrenchFrench mistakes English speakers make
Entrée is the starter and un demi is a small beer: the French phrases that are correct and still land wrong, from the notes in our 500-phrase list.
The Vocabcord 500 · German500 most useful German phrases
500 most useful German phrases for everyday life, travel and work. English translations, audio and notes on when to use Sie or du, grouped by situation.
The Vocabcord 500 · GermanGerman for your first 48 hours in Germany
The German for the platform, the ticket stamp, a registered SIM, cash and Sunday, the heating, the Notdienst pharmacy, 112, and the Bürgeramt.
The Vocabcord 200 for NursesGerman for nurses: 200 ward phrases
200 German phrases for a nursing shift: the Übergabe, the ward's own verbs, the medication round, pain words patients use, the call bell, the rota.
The Vocabcord 500 · GermanGerman mistakes English speakers keep making
Halb drei means 2:30 and Ich bin kalt says you are a cold person. The register, timing, regional and false-friend traps in the German 500.
The Vocabcord 500Why 500 phrases, and how we chose them
500 phrases for the first weeks abroad, grouped by the situations of a day, in six languages. Why that size, what a phrase had to be, and what we cut.
The Vocabcord 500 · Italian500 most useful Italian phrases
500 most useful Italian phrases for everyday life, travel and work. English translations, audio and notes on Lei and tu, from ordering coffee to meetings.
The Vocabcord 500 · ItalianItalian for your first 48 hours in Italy
The Italian for the passport queue, the taxi meter, a prepaid SIM, when to pay at the bar, the scontrino and the etti.
The Vocabcord 200 for DoctorsItalian for doctors: 200 hospital phrases
200 Italian phrases for a hospital shift: the handover, the ward round, the history, the examination, the family, the discharge letter.
The Vocabcord 500 · ItalianItalian mistakes English speakers make
The Italian traps our note column kept flagging: when ciao fits, how to answer in bocca al lupo, and why ricetta can mean two things.
How Vocabcord worksOne word per charge: why a lesson would fail
A phone gets plugged in several times a day. Vocabcord plays one word each time, picked by a decay sampler that favours words you have not heard recently.
The Vocabcord 500 · Polish500 most useful Polish phrases
500 most useful Polish phrases for everyday life, travel and work, with English translations and audio. Includes polite pan and pani forms and usage notes.
The Vocabcord 500 · PolishPolish for your first 48 hours in Poland
The Polish for arriving, buying and validating tickets, a starter SIM, the kantor, the till, finding a pharmacy, 112, and day two at the office.
The Vocabcord 200 for Warehouse WorkPolish for warehouse work: 200 shift phrases
200 Polish phrases for a warehouse or delivery shift: the gate, picking and packing, the loading bay, the forklift, the paperwork, the handover.
The Vocabcord 500 · PolishPolish mistakes English speakers keep making
Pan or ty, and the endings that change when a woman says the sentence: the Polish traps our note column kept flagging, and when each one bites.
The Vocabcord 500 · Portuguese500 most useful Portuguese phrases
500 most useful Portuguese phrases for daily life, travel and work, with English translations and audio. Brazilian Portuguese, with European usage notes.
Corpus statisticsPortuguese after Spanish: what carries over
Spanish and Portuguese are the closest pair in our beginner lists: 303 of 617 A1 words near-identical, 179 spelled the same. Where that helps and hurts.
The Vocabcord 500 · PortuguesePortuguese for your first 48 hours in Brazil
The Portuguese for passport control, checking a booked ride, buying a chip, Pix and instalments, lunch by the kilo, the porteiro and 192.
The Vocabcord 500 · PortuguesePortuguese mistakes English speakers make
Obrigado agrees with the speaker, boa noite is a hello on the way in, and estou chegando gives no fixed arrival time. Portuguese traps from our notes.
Corpus statisticsSpanish, Italian and Portuguese word overlap
Computed from our own A1 packs: 303 of 617 beginner words are near-identical in Spanish and Portuguese, 178 in Spanish and Italian, 79 in French.
Corpus statisticsHow many words per CEFR level in six languages
Level by level counts from our 33,233-entry graded corpus: A1 to B1 carry most of each language, B2 and C1 hold 200 entries each, C2 holds 820.
The Vocabcord 500 · Spanish500 most useful Spanish phrases
500 most useful Spanish phrases for daily life, travel and work, with English translations and audio. Usage notes for Spain and Latin American variants.
The Vocabcord 500 · SpanishSpanish at work: your first week
The Spanish for a first week in a Spanish-speaking job: arriving, the first meeting, email sign-offs, deadlines, the payslip, and when to drop usted.
Spanish · A1 to B1Daily routine in Spanish: rutina, chores, and waking up
Daily routine in Spanish runs on rutina, hacer for chores, and reflexive verbs like despertarse. Hear all 17 corpus words with audio.
The Vocabcord 500 · SpanishSpanish for your first 48 hours in Spain
The Spanish for landing, the ride into town, a SIM, the first till, the broken heater, the late pharmacy, 112, and the day-two town hall visit.
The Vocabcord 200 for HospitalitySpanish for hotel and restaurant work: 200
200 Spanish phrases for a hospitality shift: the handover, the front desk, the floor, the bar, the pass, housekeeping, complaints, allergies and the rota.
The Vocabcord 500 · SpanishSpanish mistakes English speakers make
Coger is ordinary in Spain and obscene in Mexico; constipado means a cold. The Spanish traps our own 500-phrase notes kept flagging.
Corpus statisticsSpanish or Italian: which to learn first
Our A1 packs put 178 of 617 beginner words close in Spanish and Italian, against 303 in Spanish and Portuguese. What that settles and what it cannot.
The Vocabcord 500How to say no politely in six languages
Turning things down in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Polish: the phrase people really use, and the trap inside each one.
How Vocabcord worksSorting vocabulary by theme and CEFR level
How we sorted a 33,233-entry vocabulary corpus into twelve themes and six CEFR levels, where the lines were hardest to draw, and what the grid leaves out.
The Vocabcord 500What 3,000 phrases have in common
Six 500-phrase lists written separately in six languages share 15 of the same 19 situations. What a practical phrase list looks like, measured.
The Vocabcord 500Who is last? The queue phrase in six languages
Two of our six phrase lists carry a spoken who-is-last question. Four reach for a ticket machine. The queue and counter phrases, quoted with their notes.
Spanish · A1At the doctor in Spanish: how to say you're sick
At the doctor in Spanish: say you're sick, name a symptom, and book an appointment, with audio for every A1 health word.
Spanish · A2Which Spanish words should you learn first at A2?
Which Spanish words to learn first at A2: abstract nouns already outrank verbs in Vocabcord's 625-phrase A2 corpus, each ranked with audio.
Spanish · A1Hobbies and free time in Spanish, with me gusta
Hobbies in Spanish start with afición and the verb gustar: me gusta el fútbol. See sports, games, and vacation words, with audio for every one.
Italian · A2Italian Animals A to Z: Names, Articles & Plurals
Find Italian animal names from A to Z with English meanings, gender, plurals, pronunciation tips, and clear answers for difficult letters Q, W, X, and Y.
German · A2German Animals A to Z: Names, Articles & Plurals
Find German animal names from A to Z with English meanings, articles, plurals, umlaut sections, and useful answers for difficult letters C, Q, X, and Y.
Spanish · A1Spanish pronouns: yo, tú, él, and the rest
Spanish pronouns are yo, tú, él, ella, nosotros, and ellos, plus mi, tu, and su. Spanish often skips the subject pronoun entirely. Hear each with audio.
Spanish · B1Which Spanish words should you learn first at B1?
Which Spanish words to learn first at B1: the reasoning verbs, abstract nouns and precision adjectives ranked from a 495-phrase B1 corpus, with audio.
Spanish · B1Money in Spanish: budgeting, saving, borrowing and debt
Money in Spanish means gasto (expense), ahorros (savings), préstamo (loan) and deuda (debt). Learn 17 core words for budgets and banking, with audio.
French · A2Animals That Start With A in French (Plus B to Z)
Find French animal names from A to Z, with English meanings, gender, useful plurals, and clear answers for tricky letters Q, U, W, X, and Y.
Spanish · A1 to C1Spanish conjunctions: y, o, pero, and porque
Spanish conjunctions start with y, o, pero, and porque. See the full list by level, from these basics to formal aunque and por lo tanto, with audio.
Spanish · A1 to B1Shopping in Spanish: prices, cash, and cards
Shopping in Spanish runs on precio (price), efectivo (cash), and tarjeta (card). Ask the price, pay, and get a discount, with 10 corpus words and audio.
Spanish · A1 to C2School in Spanish: classroom, homework, and exam words
School in Spanish: aula, deberes, examen, nota and 20 more classroom, homework, and grade words, with audio, from A1 basics to C2 academic terms.
German · A1 to A2Most common German nouns, ranked by frequency
The most common German nouns split three ways: der, die, and das. See the frequency list with audio and how compound nouns inherit their gender.
French · A2Transport or Transportation in French: 19 words
Transport in French is le transport. Learn en voiture, en train, prendre l'avion and marcher à pied, plus 19 more words with audio.
Spanish · A1 to A2Spanish prepositions: the 17 words you need
Spanish prepositions are con, sin, para, sobre, entre, and more. See all 17 words by level, with audio and real example sentences.
Spanish · A1Rooms of the house in Spanish
Learn Spanish rooms, furniture and outdoor spaces with articles, regional alternatives, translated examples, audio and a short practice exercise.
Italian · A1 to C2Most common Italian verbs: A1 to C2 frequency ladder
The most common Italian verbs are essere, avere, fare, and andare. See the full frequency ladder, 110 verbs at A1 down to 12 at C2, with audio.
German · A1 to C2Most common German verbs: A1 to C2 frequency ladder
The most common German verbs are sein, haben, werden, and machen. See the full frequency ladder, 110 verbs at A1 down to 12 at C2, with audio.
French · A1 to C2Most common French adjectives, by frequency
The most common French adjectives are bon, mauvais, grand, petit, nouveau, and vieux. All 272 corpus-ranked describing entries, A1 to C2, with audio.
French · A1 to A2Most common French nouns, ranked by frequency
The most common French nouns are livre, ordinateur, clé, and tasse. See all 73 corpus-ranked object nouns, A1 to A2, each with audio.
French · LevelsHow many words are in French?
French dictionary counts explained, from Le Petit Robert to the Académie française, plus what vocabulary size means for learners at A1 to C2.
French · A1Days of the week in French: lundi to dimanche
Days of the week in French: lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, dimanche. Hear each with audio; the French week starts on lundi.
Spanish · A2Transport or Transportation in Spanish: 19 words
Transport (and transportation) in Spanish is el transporte. Learn en coche, en tren, en avión and andando on foot, plus 19 more words with audio.
French · A1 to C2The most common French verbs, ranked the way you'll actually meet them
The most common French verbs are être, avoir, faire, aller, pouvoir, and vouloir. Corpus data ranks the whole ladder: 110 verbs at A1 down to 12 at C2, with native audio.
Spanish · B1The most common Spanish adverbs, and the -mente pattern
The most common Spanish adverbs mostly end in -mente: probablemente, finalmente, especialmente. See all 30 corpus-ranked B1 adverbs, with audio.
Spanish · A2Animals That Start With A in Spanish (Plus B to Z)
Find Spanish animal names from A to Z, including Ñ, with English meanings, articles, useful plurals, and clear answers for tricky letters W and X.
Spanish · A1Are months capitalized in Spanish? Capitalization rules for days, languages, and names
Capitalized in Spanish: the rule for months, days, languages, nationalities and titles, each with an audio example.
Spanish · A1Months in Spanish: enero to diciembre
Months in Spanish are enero, febrero, marzo, abril, mayo, junio, julio, agosto, septiembre, octubre, noviembre, diciembre. Hear each with audio.
Spanish · A1 to C2Feelings in Spanish: the words for how you feel
Feelings and emotions in Spanish: estoy feliz, estoy triste and tengo miedo. Explore examples from A1 to C2, with 14 everyday words to hear.
Spanish · A1 to A2Jobs in Spanish: the words, and why the ending changes
Jobs in Spanish: ingeniero, abogado, camarero, and 11 more, with audio. Learn why most job titles change for gender and a few, like artista, never do.
Spanish · A1 to A2The most common Spanish nouns, ranked by frequency
The most common Spanish nouns are libro, teléfono, llave, and taza. See all 73 corpus-ranked object nouns, A1 to A2, each with audio.
Spanish · A1 to C2Animals in Spanish: from gato to depredador
Animals in Spanish start with gato, perro, and vaca at A1, then wild animals at A2 and precise words like nocturno and depredador at C2. With audio.
Spanish · A1 to A2Clothes in Spanish: la ropa, plus every clothing word by level
Clothes in Spanish is la ropa. See all 32 words by level, how to say I'm wearing a sweater and a coat, and audio on every word.
Spanish · A1 to A2Common Spanish phrases you'll actually use, from first hello to real conversation
Common Spanish phrases grouped by situation: hola, por favor, gracias, no entiendo, ¿dónde está el baño? The survival core with audio, plus frequency data.
Spanish · A1 to C2The most common Spanish adjectives, in frequency order
The most common Spanish adjectives are bueno, malo, grande, pequeño, nuevo, and viejo. Corpus data ranks all 272 describing entries, A1 to C2, with audio.
Spanish · A1 to A2Spanish numbers to 1,000: the three rules that generate them all
Spanish numbers to 1,000 run on three rules: cien turns to ciento before a remainder, hundreds add -cientos with three irregulars, and mil never takes un.
Spanish · A1Spanish question words: qué, cuál, cómo, dónde and the rest, with audio
Spanish question words: qué (what), cuál (which), quién (who), cómo (how), dónde (where), cuándo (when), cuánto (how much), por qué (why). Hear each with audio.
Spanish · LevelsHow many words in Spanish? The word count by CEFR level
How many words in Spanish do you actually need? See the count by CEFR level, A1 to C2, and how the numbers compare.
Spanish · A1 to C2The Spanish verbs you'll actually use: the high-frequency core
The most common Spanish verbs are ser, estar, tener, hacer, ir, and poder. Corpus data ranks them all: 111 verbs at A1 down to 12 at C2, with native audio.
Spanish · A1The most common Spanish words, ranked by how often you'll actually hear them
The most common Spanish words are the workhorses: ser, estar, tener, hacer, ir, plus yo, tú, sí, and no. Hear 20 with audio.
Spanish · A1Days of the week in Spanish: lunes to domingo
Days of the week in Spanish: lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, domingo. Hear each with audio; the week starts on lunes, not Sunday.
Spanish · PhrasesTe quiero or te amo? How to say 'I love you' in Spanish
Te quiero is the everyday I love you in Spanish; te amo is heavier and more romantic. When to use each in Spain versus Latin America.
Spanish · PhrasesHow to order food in a Spanish restaurant: the script
How to order food in a Spanish restaurant: a six-line script from pedir and para mí to la cuenta, por favor for the bill.
Spanish · A1Essential Spanish verbs: ser vs estar, and the ones you use most
Essential Spanish verbs with audio: ser covers what things are, estar covers states, tener handles hunger and age, and -ar, -er, -ir sort the rest.
Language apps · CompareVocabcord vs Duolingo: which fits your learning?
Compare Vocabcord and Duolingo for lessons, offline vocabulary audio, phrase packs, widgets and free access. Hear a sample and choose the right fit.
Spanish · A1Spanish body parts, and how to say what hurts
Spanish body parts with audio, plus the two traps: say what hurts with me duele la cabeza, and la mano is feminine despite the -o.
Spanish · A1Colors in Spanish: the words, and how they agree with the noun
Colors in Spanish agree with their noun: rojo becomes roja, rojos, rojas; azul, verde, and gris change only for number. Every color comes with audio.
Spanish · A1Family in Spanish: the words for every relative
Family in Spanish reaches from madre and padre out to primos, with audio. Key rule: the masculine plural covers mixed groups, so los padres means parents.
Spanish · A1Spanish food and drink vocabulary for cafés
Spanish food and drink words from agua and pan to carne and helado, with audio, plus what un café gets you in Spain and when Spaniards actually eat.
Spanish · A1How to count in Spanish: numbers 0 to 100
Spanish numbers 0 to 100 with native audio: the teens and twenties are single words, plus the rules for uno, un, una and cien versus ciento.
Spanish · A1Telling time in Spanish: qué hora es and the parts of the day
Tell the time in Spanish: ask ¿Qué hora es?, answer es la una for one o'clock or son las plus the number. Covers the parts of the day and the mañana trap.
Spanish · A1Spanish travel vocabulary: places, directions, and getting around
Spanish travel vocabulary that carries you: tren, estación, aeropuerto, directions like izquierda and derecha, and the coger versus tomar trap for the bus.
Spanish · A1Talking about the weather in Spanish: hace calor and the rest
Weather in Spanish runs on the verb hacer: hace calor, hace frío. The sky takes está nublado, rain takes llueve. Hear the core words with native audio.
Spanish · A1How to greet people in Spanish: the 12 phrases to learn first (A1)
The 12 essential Spanish greetings, when to use each, and the buenos dias vs buenas tardes vs buenas noches rule, plus the lazy way to make them stick.
