Some advanced English words only appear in books, but these 20 C1 words are ones Americans use in everyday conversation. In this video, Camille and Calvin explain each word with a simple meaning and real examples from their own lives. Below, you’ll find the full list with definitions, example sentences, common word partners, and a quiz.
Level: C1 (advanced)
Video length: About 10 minutes
Topic: Advanced vocabulary for everyday conversation
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The 20 words:
accomplish, advocate, ambitious, astonishing, compromise, consequence, controversial, cynical, devastating, dilemma, empathy, essential, exaggerate, frustrated, influence, insightful, obvious, prioritize, significant, tentative
Meanings and examples
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| accomplish (verb) | to complete something successfully | We can accomplish a lot if we work together. |
| advocate (noun / verb) | someone who publicly supports a cause or idea | I’m a big advocate for language learning. |
| ambitious (adj.) | having a strong desire to succeed | Because he was so ambitious, he got a promotion at work. |
| astonishing (adj.) | extremely surprising | The view from the top of the mountain was astonishing. |
| compromise (noun / verb) | an agreement where each side gives up something | I wanted Thai food and Calvin wanted Indian, so we compromised: Thai tonight, Indian next week. |
| consequence (noun) | a result of an action, usually a negative one | If you keep doing that, there’s going to be a consequence. |
| controversial (adj.) | likely to cause strong public disagreement | Politics and religion are often controversial topics. |
| cynical (adj.) | believing people are only acting for selfish reasons | He has a cynical view of car salesmen: he thinks they all want to scam him. |
| devastating (adj.) | causing great damage or emotional pain | The storm was devastating. Many people lost their homes. |
| dilemma (noun) | a difficult choice between two or more options | I’m facing a dilemma: should I study Persian or Chinese next? |
| empathy (noun) | the ability to understand and share someone’s feelings | Showing empathy can help build stronger relationships. |
| essential (adj.) | absolutely necessary | Drinking water is essential for survival. |
| exaggerate (verb) | to make something seem bigger, better, or worse than it is | Don’t exaggerate! It wasn’t that bad. |
| frustrated (adj.) | annoyed because you can’t change or achieve something | I get frustrated when my kids keep coming out of bed at night. |
| influence (noun / verb) | the power to affect how someone thinks or acts | My parents were a good influence on me growing up. |
| insightful (adj.) | showing a deep understanding of something | She gave an insightful analysis of the situation. |
| obvious (adj.) | easy to see or understand | If you’re still watching, it’s obvious you want to improve your English. |
| prioritize (verb) | to treat something as more important than other things | I prioritize my family before my work. |
| significant (adj.) | important enough to deserve attention | This discovery is significant for scientific research. |
| tentative (adj.) | not certain or final yet | We have tentative plans to meet our friends tomorrow. |
Word partners: how Americans really use these words
Advanced words sound most natural with the right partner words. These combinations come straight from the video:
- a big advocate for something: “I’m a big advocate for exercise.”
- make / reach a compromise, or meet in the middle: “We made a compromise.”
- face a dilemma: “We’re facing a dilemma.”
- show empathy: “I’m showing her empathy.”
- a good / bad influence on someone: “My parents were a good influence on me.”
- tentative plans: “We have tentative plans for tomorrow.”
- the consequences of your actions: “We always talk about the consequences of our actions.”
Word forms to know
C1 speakers switch easily between word forms. Here are the most useful ones:
| Noun | Adjective | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| ambition | ambitious | — |
| empathy | empathetic | empathize |
| exaggeration | exaggerated | exaggerate |
| frustration | frustrated / frustrating | frustrate |
| priority | — | prioritize |
| significance | significant | — |
Frustrated vs. frustrating: Frustrated describes how you feel (“I’m frustrated”). Frustrating describes the thing causing the feeling (“It’s so frustrating”). Calvin and Camille use both in the video!
From Camille and Calvin’s life
Their examples show how these words come up in real conversations. When they couldn’t agree on dinner, they made a compromise: Thai tonight, Indian next week. Camille’s language-learning dilemma is whether to study Persian or Chinese next. And Calvin is a big advocate for exercise, while Camille is a big advocate for language learning.
Check your understanding
Choose the best word for each sentence.
- We couldn’t agree, so we met in the middle and made a ______.
a) dilemma b) compromise c) consequence - Our plans for Saturday are only ______. They might change.
a) tentative b) essential c) obvious - He doesn’t trust anyone’s intentions. He’s very ______.
a) ambitious b) insightful c) cynical - Stop ______! You didn’t wait three hours; you waited 20 minutes.
a) exaggerating b) prioritizing c) accomplishing - My job is so ______. Nothing ever works the first time.
a) frustrated b) frustrating c) frustration - Sleep is ______ for good health.
a) controversial b) essential c) astonishing
REVEAL THE QUIZ ANSWERS
Answers:
1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-a, 5-b, 6-b
Practice advanced English in real conversations
Want to see advanced vocabulary used in context? 50 Advanced English Conversations has 50 natural dialogues across real-life topics like work, relationships, money, and travel, with vocabulary breakdowns, real-life tips, and free audio of Camille and Calvin reading at natural speed.
Each conversation includes bolded vocabulary with definitions, a real-life English tip, a listening tip, and free audio of Camille and Calvin reading at natural speed.
More advanced lessons:
Advanced English Conversation: The Nomadic Life
Advanced English Conversation: Paris Adventures
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What are C1 English words?
C1 words are advanced vocabulary that fluent speakers use to express ideas more precisely, like “dilemma,” “tentative,” or “insightful.” At C1, you understand these words and can also use them naturally in conversation.
What's the difference between "frustrated" and "frustrating"?
“Frustrated” describes how a person feels. “Frustrating” describes what causes the feeling. For example: “I’m frustrated because the traffic is so frustrating.”
What does "tentative plans" mean?
Tentative plans are plans that aren’t confirmed yet. They might happen, but they might change.
What does it mean to be "a big advocate for" something?
It means you strongly support something and recommend it to others. For example: “I’m a big advocate for learning languages.”
How can I start using advanced English words naturally?
Learn each word with its word partners and a real example, then use it in your own sentences. Try writing one sentence with each word from this list.
Your turn!
Which of these 20 words was new to you? Write a sentence using it in the comments on the YouTube video!
