🍚 Japanese Food & Cooking Vocabulary Food & Cooking
231 essential English words for the Food & Cooking scene, each with IPA, English meaning, CEFR level and native speaker audio, plus example sentences. Tap 🔊 to listen.
- apple /ˈæpəl/ A1I eat a red apple every day after lunch.
- apron /ˈeɪpɹən/ A1The cook wears a white apron in the kitchen.
- banana /bənˈænə/ A1I eat a banana every morning for breakfast.
- bar /bˈɑɹ/ A1We had a drink at the bar last night.
- bean /bˈin/ A1I like to eat rice and bean soup for lunch.
- beef /bˈif/ A1My mother is cooking beef and potatoes for dinner.
- biscuit /bˈɪskət/ A1Would you like a biscuit with your cup of tea?
- bottle /bˈɑtəl/ A1Please pass me that bottle of water.
- bowl /bˈoʊl/ A1She ate a bowl of rice for lunch.
- bread /bɹˈɛd/ A1I eat bread with butter every morning.
- breakfast /bɹˈɛkfəst/ A1I always eat breakfast before I go to work.
- burger /bˈɚɡɚ/ A1I would like a burger and some fries, please.
- butter /bˈʌtɚ/ A1I put some butter on my warm bread.
- cake /kˈeɪk/ A1We ate a chocolate cake at the party.
- candy /kˈændi/ A1The children love to eat sweet candy after dinner.
- cheese /tʃˈiz/ A1I like to put cheese on my sandwich.
- chicken /tʃˈɪkən/ A1We had fried chicken and rice for dinner.
- chocolate /tʃˈɔklət/ A1She gave me a box of sweet chocolate.
- coffee /kˈɑfi/ A1I drink a cup of coffee every morning.
- coke /kˈoʊk/ A1Can I have a cold coke with my burger?
- cook /kˈʊk/ A1My uncle is a cook at a small Italian restaurant.
- cookie /kˈʊki/ A1Would you like a cookie with your tea?
- corn /kˈɔɹn/ A1We ate sweet corn with butter at the picnic.
- cream /kɹˈim/ A1I like cream and sugar in my morning coffee.
- cup /kˈʌp/ A1Can I have a cup of hot tea, please?
- delicious /dɪlˈɪʃəs/ A1This soup is really delicious and warm.
- dinner /dˈɪnɚ/ A1We have dinner together at seven o'clock.
- dish /dˈɪʃ/ A1This dish is my favorite Chinese food.
- drink /dɹˈɪŋk/ A1Would you like a cold drink with your lunch?
- eat /ˈit/ A1We usually eat dinner together at seven in the evening.
- egg /ˈɛɡ/ A1I like to eat one boiled egg every morning.
- fish /fˈɪʃ/ A1I like to eat fish with rice for dinner.
- food /fˈud/ A1The food at this restaurant is really good.
- fruit /fɹˈut/ A1I eat fresh fruit every morning with my breakfast.
- glass /ɡlˈæs/ A1Can I have a glass of orange juice, please?
- grape /ɡɹˈeɪp/ A1There is one last grape on the plate.
- hamburger /hˈæmbɚɡɚ/ A1I want a hamburger and some fries, please.
- hungry /hˈʌŋɡɹi/ A1I am very hungry after my long walk.
- ice /ˈaɪs/ A1Can I have some ice in my water, please?
- juice /dʒˈus/ A1I drink orange juice every morning with breakfast.
- kitchen /kˈɪtʃən/ A1My mother is cooking dinner in the kitchen now.
- knife /nˈaɪf/ A1Please cut the bread with this sharp knife.
- lunch /lˈʌntʃ/ A1We usually have lunch together at twelve o'clock.
- meal /mˈil/ A1Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.
- meat /mˈit/ A1I don't eat meat on Mondays.
- milk /mˈɪlk/ A1She drinks a glass of milk every morning.
- order /ˈɔɹdɚ/ A1The waiter wrote down our order quickly.
- piece /pˈis/ A1Can I have a piece of chocolate cake, please?
- pizza /pˈitsə/ A1We eat pizza together every Friday night.
- potato /pətˈeɪtoʊ/ A1I want a baked potato with cheese for dinner.
- restaurant /ɹˈɛstɚɑnt/ A1We eat dinner at a small restaurant near our house.
- rice /ɹˈaɪs/ A1We eat rice with vegetables almost every day.
- salad /sˈæləd/ A1I want a green salad with my chicken, please.
- sandwich /sˈændwɪtʃ/ A1I eat a cheese sandwich for lunch at school.
- shake /ʃˈeɪk/ A1I want a chocolate shake with my burger, please.
- smell /smˈɛl/ A1There is a nice smell of fresh bread in the kitchen.
- soup /sˈup/ A1I always eat hot soup when the weather is cold.
- sugar /ʃˈʊɡɚ/ A1Do you want some sugar in your coffee?
- sweet /swˈit/ A1This cake is very sweet and soft.
- table /tˈeɪbəl/ A1Put the cups on the table, please.
- tea /tˈi/ A1Would you like some tea with milk?
- tomato /təmˈeɪtoʊ/ A1Can you cut this red tomato for the salad?
- turkey /tˈɚki/ A1We eat turkey with my family every Christmas.
- vegetable /vˈɛdʒtəbəl/ A1Please eat every vegetable on your plate tonight.
- waiter /wˈeɪtɚ/ A1The waiter brings our food to the table.
- waitress /wˈeɪtɹəs/ A1The waitress smiles and gives us the menu.
- water /wˈɔtɚ/ A1Can I have a glass of water, please?
- bake /bˈeɪk/ A2I want to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's birthday.
- barbecue /bˈɑɹbɪkju/ A2Let's have a barbecue in the garden this weekend.
- batch /bˈætʃ/ A2I made a fresh batch of cookies this afternoon.
- beer /bˈɪɹ/ A2After work, we had a cold beer at the bar.
- bite /bˈaɪt/ A2She took a big bite of the fresh red apple.
- boil /bˈɔɪl/ A2Please boil some water so we can make tea.
- boiled /bˈɔɪld/ A2I always eat a boiled egg for breakfast.
- cafeteria /kæfətˈɪɹiə/ A2We usually eat lunch in the school cafeteria together.
- carrot /kˈæɹət/ A2The rabbit happily ate a fresh orange carrot from the garden.
- cereal /sˈɪɹiəl/ A2I usually have a bowl of cereal for breakfast.
- champagne /ʃæmpˈeɪn/ A2We opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate the news.
- chef /ʃˈɛf/ A2The chef prepared a delicious meal for all the guests.
- cola /kˈoʊlə/ A2Can I have a glass of cola with lots of ice, please?
- container /kəntˈeɪnɚ/ A2She put the leftover soup in a plastic container.
- cooker /kˈʊkɚ/ A2She bought a new gas cooker for her kitchen.
- cooking /kˈʊkɪŋ/ A2My favorite hobby is cooking meals for my friends.
- cooler /kˈulɚ/ A2We packed cold drinks and ice in the cooler for the beach.
- crisp /kɹˈɪsp/ A2She ate the last crisp from the open bag.
- curry /kˈʌɹi/ A2We ordered a spicy chicken curry with rice for dinner.
- dessert /dɪzˈɚt/ A2For dessert we had warm chocolate cake with ice cream.
- diet /dˈaɪət/ A2A healthy diet has lots of fruit and vegetables.
- flour /flˈaʊɚ/ A2Add two cups of flour to make the bread soft.
- fork /fˈɔɹk/ A2She ate her salad with a fork and a knife.
- fresh /fɹˈɛʃ/ A2I always buy fresh vegetables from the local market.
- fridge /fɹˈɪdʒ/ A2There is some cold milk in the fridge if you want.
- fried /fɹˈaɪd/ A2We had fried chicken and rice for dinner last night.
- fry /fɹˈaɪ/ A2On Sundays my dad cooks a big fry for breakfast.
- garlic /ɡˈɑɹlɪk/ A2This soup tastes better with a little garlic in it.
- grilled /ɡɹˈɪld/ A2We had grilled chicken with vegetables for dinner.
- ham /hˈæm/ A2I made a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.
- honey /hˈʌni/ A2I like to put honey in my tea every morning.
- jam /dʒˈæm/ A2I like to eat bread with jam for breakfast.
- jelly /dʒˈɛli/ A2The children love the sweet orange jelly after dinner.
- lemon /lˈɛmən/ A2I like to add a slice of lemon to my tea.
- lemonade /lˈɛmənˌeɪd/ A2On hot days we sell cold lemonade outside the house.
- lunchtime /lˈʌntʃtaɪm/ A2Let's meet at the café around lunchtime tomorrow.
- melon /mˈɛlən/ A2I cut the sweet melon into small pieces for breakfast.
- menu /mˈɛnju/ A2Can I see the menu before I order my food?
- mix /mˈɪks/ A2Please mix the eggs and sugar in a big bowl.
- mug /mˈʌɡ/ A2He drinks his coffee from a big blue mug.
- mushroom /mˈʌʃɹum/ A2I put some fresh mushroom slices on my pizza.
- napkin /nˈæpkɪn/ A2She wiped her mouth with a paper napkin.
- oil /ˈɔɪl/ A2Add a little oil to the pan before frying the eggs.
- onion /ˈʌnjən/ A2Cutting an onion always makes my eyes water.
- oven /ˈʌvən/ A2She put the bread into the hot oven to bake.
- pan /pˈæn/ A2She fried two eggs in a hot pan for breakfast.
- pasta /pˈɑstə/ A2We cooked some pasta with tomato sauce for dinner.
- pea /pˈi/ A2There is one small green pea left on my plate.
- pear /pˈɛɹ/ A2She cut a sweet pear into small pieces for the kids.
- pepper /pˈɛpɚ/ A2Please add some salt and pepper to the soup.
- plate /plˈeɪt/ A2He put too much food on his plate at dinner.
- pour /pˈɔɹ/ A2Could you pour me a glass of cold water, please?
- raw /ɹˈɑ/ A2In Japan, people often eat raw fish called sushi.
- refrigerator /ɹəfɹˈɪdʒɚeɪtɚ/ A2Please put the milk back in the refrigerator before it spoils.
- roast /ɹˈoʊst/ A2My mother likes to roast a chicken on Sundays.
- roll /ɹˈoʊl/ A2I had a warm bread roll with butter for breakfast.
- salt /sˈɔlt/ A2Can you pass me the salt, please?
- sauce /sˈɔs/ A2I put some tomato sauce on my pasta.
- sausage /sˈɔsədʒ/ A2For breakfast he ate eggs and a fried sausage.
- seafood /sˈifud/ A2This restaurant serves fresh seafood every day.
- sink /sˈɪŋk/ A2Please put the dirty dishes in the sink after dinner.
- slice /slˈaɪs/ A2Can I have another slice of pizza, please?
- snack /snˈæk/ A2I always have a small snack after school.
- soda /sˈoʊdə/ A2Can I have a cold soda with my burger?
- spaghetti /spəɡˈɛti/ A2We had spaghetti with tomato sauce for dinner last night.
- spoon /spˈun/ A2She ate the soup with a small spoon.
- spread /spɹˈɛd/ A2I put a chocolate spread on my toast this morning.
- steak /stˈeɪk/ A2He cooked a juicy steak for dinner last night.
- stove /stˈoʊv/ A2She heated the soup on the stove for dinner.
- supper /sˈʌpɚ/ A2We usually have supper together at seven in the evening.
- tablespoon /tˈeɪbəlspun/ A2Add one tablespoon of sugar to the cake mix.
- tap /tˈæp/ A2Please turn off the tap when you finish washing.
- toast /tˈoʊst/ A2I had toast with butter and jam for breakfast.
- wine /wˈaɪn/ A2She poured a glass of red wine for each guest.
- alcohol /ˈælkəhɑl/ B1The doctor told him to avoid alcohol for a few weeks.
- alcoholic /ælkəhˈɑlɪk/ B1They only serve alcoholic drinks after six in the evening.
- appetite /ˈæpətaɪt/ B1After the long hike, I had a huge appetite for a big dinner.
- bacon /bˈeɪkən/ B1I like to fry some bacon with eggs for breakfast.
- bitter /bˈɪtɚ/ B1The coffee tasted really bitter without any sugar in it.
- blend /blˈɛnd/ B1You should blend the fruit and milk until it's smooth.
- broccoli /bɹˈɑkəli/ B1My kids refuse to eat broccoli unless I add cheese.
- cabbage /kˈæbədʒ/ B1I chopped some cabbage to add to the soup.
- canned /kˈænd/ B1We keep some canned soup for days when we can't cook.
- canteen /kæntˈin/ B1Most workers eat lunch in the company canteen around noon.
- carton /kˈɑɹtən/ B1Can you buy a carton of milk on your way home?
- cod /kˈɑd/ B1For dinner we had fried cod with chips and peas.
- complement /kˈɑmpləmənt/ B1This wine is a perfect complement to the cheese.
- cucumber /kjˈukəmbɚ/ B1I sliced a fresh cucumber into the salad for lunch.
- feast /fˈist/ B1My grandmother prepared a huge feast for the whole family.
- freezer /fɹˈizɚ/ B1Please put the ice cream in the freezer before it melts.
- ginger /dʒˈɪndʒɚ/ B1I always add fresh ginger to the soup for extra flavor.
- gravy /ɡɹˈeɪvi/ B1My father pours thick gravy over the roast chicken and potatoes.
- grill /ɡɹˈɪl/ B1My uncle cleans the grill before every barbecue in the garden.
- hunger /hˈʌŋɡɚ/ B1A glass of milk was not enough to satisfy my hunger.
- ingredient /ɪnɡɹˈidiənt/ B1Garlic is the main ingredient in this simple pasta sauce.
- jar /dʒˈɑɹ/ B1Could you open this jar of jam for me, please?
- jug /dʒˈʌɡ/ B1Please put a jug of cold water on the dinner table.
- juicy /dʒˈusi/ B1These peaches are sweet and juicy, so eat them over the sink.
- kettle /kˈɛtəl/ B1Could you put the kettle on? I'd love a cup of tea.
- lamb /lˈæm/ B1We ordered roast lamb with potatoes at the small restaurant.
- layer /lˈeɪɚ/ B1A thin layer of dust covered all the old books.
- lettuce /lˈɛtəs/ B1I always add fresh lettuce and tomato to my sandwiches.
- loaf /lˈoʊf/ B1Could you buy a loaf of brown bread on your way home?
- mash /mˈæʃ/ B1Boil the potatoes first, then mash them with butter and milk.
- mustard /mˈʌstɚd/ B1I always put a little mustard on my hot dog.
- nutrient /nˈutɹiənt/ B1Milk contains calcium, an important nutrient for strong bones.
- nutrition /nutɹˈɪʃən/ B1Good nutrition is just as important as regular exercise.
- nutritious /nutɹˈɪʃəs/ B1This soup is cheap, easy to make, and surprisingly nutritious.
- oily /ˈɔɪli/ B1This soup tastes too oily for me, so I ordered a salad.
- organic /ɔɹɡˈænɪk/ B1This shop only sells organic vegetables grown without chemicals.
- peanut /pˈinət/ B1My brother is allergic to peanut butter and cannot eat it.
- pie /pˈaɪ/ B1My grandmother baked an apple pie for Sunday dinner.
- pineapple /pˈaɪnæpəl/ B1She cut a fresh pineapple into slices for the fruit salad.
- popcorn /pˈɑpkɔɹn/ B1We shared a big bucket of popcorn during the movie.
- pork /pˈɔɹk/ B1This restaurant serves roast pork with apple sauce.
- pot /pˈɑt/ B1Put the vegetables in a large pot of boiling water.
- powder /pˈaʊdɚ/ B1Add two spoons of chilli powder to the sauce and stir well.
- pub /pˈʌb/ B1We had lunch at a small pub near the river.
- raspberry /ɹˈæzbɛɹi/ B1I put a fresh raspberry on top of each little cake.
- ration /ɹˈæʃən/ B1Each soldier received a daily ration of bread and water.
- refreshments /ɹəfɹˈɛʃmənts/ B1Light refreshments will be served after the morning talk.
- reservation /ɹɛzɚvˈeɪʃən/ B1I made a reservation for two people at eight o'clock.
- ripe /ɹˈaɪp/ B1These peaches are not ripe enough to eat yet.
- rotten /ɹˈɑtən/ B1Throw away those rotten apples before the whole box spoils.
- salmon /sˈæmən/ B1I ordered grilled salmon with vegetables for dinner last night.
- saucepan /sˈɔspæn/ B1Heat the milk in a small saucepan over a low flame.
- saucer /sˈɔsɚ/ B1He put his cup back on the saucer without saying a word.
- seaweed /sˈiwid/ B1Japanese rice balls are usually wrapped in dried seaweed.
- shrimp /ʃɹˈɪmp/ B1We ordered fried rice with shrimp and a bowl of soup.
- sour /sˈaʊɚ/ B1These green apples taste too sour for me to eat.
- spice /spˈaɪs/ B1The chef added one more spice to give the curry a deeper flavor.
- spicy /spˈaɪsi/ B1This soup is too spicy for me, but my brother loves it.
- spinach /spˈɪnətʃ/ B1She added fresh spinach to the salad for extra iron.
- sponge /spˈʌndʒ/ B1Wipe the table with a wet sponge before we eat.
- steam /stˈim/ B1Hot steam rose from the pot as the water started boiling.
- stir /stˈɚ/ B1You should stir the soup slowly so it doesn't burn.
- straw /stɹˈɔ/ B1Could I have a paper straw with my iced coffee, please?
- strawberry /stɹˈɔbɛɹi/ B1She put a fresh strawberry on top of each little cake.
- stuffed /stˈʌft/ B1I'm too stuffed to eat any dessert after that huge meal.
- takeaway /tˈeɪkəweɪ/ B1We were too tired to cook, so we ordered a takeaway.
- taste /tˈeɪst/ B1This soup has a strange taste, a little too salty for me.
- tin /tˈɪn/ B1I opened a tin of tomatoes to make the pasta sauce.
- treat /tɹˈit/ B1Ice cream after dinner is a nice treat for the kids.
- tuna /tˈunə/ B1I usually make a tuna sandwich for lunch at the office.
- vegetarian /vɛdʒətˈɛɹiən/ B1Do you have any vegetarian dishes on the menu tonight?
- wrap /ɹˈæp/ B1I ordered a chicken wrap and a coffee at the little café.
- aubergine /ˈɔbɚdʒin/ B2She grilled a whole aubergine and served it with olive oil.
- barley /bˈɑɹli/ B2The farmers harvest their barley in late summer each year.
- berry /bˈɛɹi/ B2She picked a single ripe berry and popped it in her mouth.
- bourbon /bˈɚbən/ B2He poured a glass of bourbon and sat by the fire.
- brewery /bɹˈuɚi/ B2We took a guided tour of the local brewery and tasted four fresh beers.
- bun /bˈʌn/ B2She spread butter on a warm bun for breakfast.
- catering /kˈeɪtɚɪŋ/ B2We hired a company to handle the catering for the wedding.
- cherry /tʃˈɛɹi/ B2She placed a bright red cherry on top of the ice cream.
- chew /tʃˈu/ B2You should chew your food slowly to help your digestion.
- chip /tʃˈɪp/ B2He dipped a crispy chip into the tomato sauce and ate it.
- chop /tʃˈɑp/ B2Could you chop the onions finely before we start cooking?
- chunk /tʃˈʌŋk/ B2She broke off a large chunk of bread and shared it with us.
- clam /klˈæm/ B2I found a large clam buried in the wet sand at low tide.
- cocktail /kˈɑkteɪl/ B2The bartender mixed a refreshing cocktail with lime and fresh mint.
- cocoa /kˈoʊkoʊ/ B2On cold nights I love a warm mug of cocoa before bed.
- coconut /kˈoʊkənʌt/ B2She cracked open a fresh coconut and drank the sweet water inside.
- cone /kˈoʊn/ B2She handed me an ice cream cone topped with chocolate.
- crab /kɹˈæb/ B2We ordered a whole steamed crab with garlic butter sauce.
FAQ
How many English food & cooking words are in this list?
231 words, including A1: 67, A2: 74, B1: 72, B2: 18. Every word has playable native audio and example sentences.
Are these words CEFR-graded?
Yes — every word carries its CEFR level (A1–C2), so you can start with the level you need.
What is the best way to memorise them?
Scene groups plus spaced repetition: listen, repeat, learn the word inside its example sentence, then review the next day. Wordwing has SRS and four quiz types built in.