Simple English Wikipedia

The Simple English Wikipedia (simple.wikipedia.org) is an online encyclopedia written at an easier reading level for second-language English learners.

• This encyclopedia contains more than 120 thousand articles about many topics.
• These articles are written and edited by many people on the internet.
• The articles use shorter sentences and simpler vocabulary (such as the 850 words of Basic English), so they are easier to read for people learning English.

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What can you read?

After learning the 360 high-frequency words from the Learn These Words First lessons, you will know more than half of the words you see on any typical page of English text. Then you can start finding articles you can read with a small vocabulary, such as:

• Books written at an easy reading level for children or second-language learners (for example: Penguin Readers or Pearson English Active Readers).
• Websites for English learners, written using simpler English vocabulary and shorter sentences (for example: the Simple English Wikipedia).

Tip: When you read sentences containing some unfamiliar words, you can type the words (or copy and paste whole sentences) into the Word Finding Tool. It can show you where to find a simple explanation for each word.

What books and websites have you found that are easy to read with a small English vocabulary?

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Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary

The Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary (learnersdictionary.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.

• Headwords are defined using simple language for learners. (3000 "Core Vocabulary" words are identified here.)
• You can listen to recorded pronunciations of headwords.

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Collins Cobuild English for Learners Dictionary

The Collins Cobuild English for Learners Dictionary (at www.collinsdictionary.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.

• Headwords are all defined using a 3000-word defining vocabulary.
• You can listen to recorded pronunciations of headwords.
• You can see translations of the headword or look it up in several bilingual dictionaries.

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Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.

• Headwords are all defined using a 3000-word defining vocabulary. (You can see the "Oxford 3000" defining vocabulary listed here.)
• You can hear British (BrE) and American (NAmE) pronunciations of headwords.
• Double-click any word to look up its meaning.
• Definitions include information about grammar, usage, idioms and phrasal verbs.

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Macmillan Dictionary

The Macmillan Dictionary (www.macmillandictionary.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate-level learners of English.

• Headwords are all defined using a 2500-word defining vocabulary. (You can see the defining vocabulary listed here.)
• You can listen to recorded pronunciations of headwords.
• For most words in a definition, clicking a word will look up its meaning.

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Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

The Cambridge Learner's Dictionary (at dictionary.cambridge.org) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate-level learners of English.

• Headwords are all defined using a 2000-word defining vocabulary.
• You can listen to British (UK) and American (US) pronunciations of headwords.
• For most words in a definition, clicking a word will look up its meaning.
• You can see translations of the headword or look it up in several bilingual dictionaries.

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