Environment and Ecology Vocabulary
Build your environmental English with 138 words and expressions about nature, climate, pollution and conservation. Explore English definitions, hear pronunciations and test your knowledge.
Talking about the environment
Use climate change when discussing long-term changes in the climate, and global warming for the rise in average temperatures.
Pollution describes harmful substances in the environment. Conservation means protecting natural habitats and resources.
Practise the words aloud, then hide the English terms to test your recall.
Nouns
| English | English clue | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| alternative sources of energy | A term for alternative sources of energy | |
| atmosphere | The layer of gases surrounding Earth | |
| biosphere | All parts of Earth where life exists | |
| natural resources | Materials found in nature that people use | |
| industrial chemicals | A term for industrial chemicals | |
| chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) | A term for chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs) | |
| sulphur dioxide | A term for sulphur dioxide | |
| carbon dioxide | A gas released by breathing and burning fuels | |
| ozone hole | An area where the protective ozone layer is thinner | |
| greenhouse effect | Warming caused by gases trapping heat | |
| ecosphere | A term for ecosphere | |
| ecosystem | A community of organisms and their surroundings | |
| factory emission | A term for factory emission | |
| renewable energy | Power from sources that can naturally replenish | |
| soil erosion | The wearing away of the upper layer of soil | |
| species | A group of similar living organisms | |
| endangered species | A kind of animal or plant at risk of extinction | |
| global weather changes | A term for global weather changes | |
| hydrosphere | A term for hydrosphere | |
| smokestack; factory chimney | A term for smokestack; factory chimney | |
| acid rain | Rain made unusually acidic by air pollution | |
| food chain | The sequence of who eats whom in nature | |
| rain forest | A dense forest with high rainfall | |
| lithosphere | A term for lithosphere | |
| inhabitants | A term for inhabitants | |
| fertilizers | Substances added to soil to help plants grow | |
| forest destruction | A term for forest destruction | |
| conservation; protection | A term for conservation; protection | |
| wildlife conservation | A term for wildlife conservation | |
| ozone layer protection | A term for ozone layer protection | |
| global warming | A long-term rise in Earth’s average temperature | |
| sewage treatment plant | A facility that cleans wastewater | |
| waste | A term for waste | |
| nuclear waste | A term for nuclear waste | |
| industrial waste | A term for industrial waste | |
| nuclear fallout | A term for nuclear fallout | |
| fossil fuels | Coal, oil and natural gas | |
| planet | A term for planet | |
| environmental officer | A term for environmental officer | |
| population problem | A term for population problem | |
| food production | A term for food production | |
| ultraviolet rays | A term for ultraviolet rays | |
| recycling | Turning waste into usable materials | |
| naturalist | A term for naturalist | |
| radioactivity | A term for radioactivity | |
| nature reserve | A term for nature reserve | |
| ecological balance | A term for ecological balance | |
| sewage | A term for sewage | |
| untreated sewage | A term for untreated sewage | |
| waste storage | A term for waste storage | |
| litter | A term for litter | |
| killer air | A term for killer air | |
| smog | Air pollution that can make the sky hazy | |
| exhaust gases | A term for exhaust gases | |
| pesticides | A term for pesticides | |
| pollutants | A term for pollutants | |
| environment | The natural world around us | |
| natural habitat | The place where a species normally lives | |
| raw materials | A term for raw materials | |
| oxygen | A gas that humans and animals need to breathe | |
| damage | A term for damage | |
| struggle for survival | A term for struggle for survival | |
| ozone layer | Atmospheric layer that helps block harmful UV rays | |
| deforestation | Large-scale clearing of forests | |
| extinction | When a species no longer exists | |
| nuclear accident | A term for nuclear accident | |
| dump | A term for dump | |
| chemical dump | A term for chemical dump | |
| nuclear dump | A term for nuclear dump | |
| toxic fumes | A term for toxic fumes | |
| afforestation | A term for afforestation | |
| interdependence | A term for interdependence | |
| pollution | Harmful substances introduced into the environment | |
| air pollution | Harmful substances in the air | |
| water pollution | Contamination of rivers, lakes or seas | |
| renewable resources | A term for renewable resources | |
| contamination | A term for contamination | |
| destruction | A term for destruction | |
| food sources | A term for food sources |
Adjectives
| English | English clue | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| dying | Describes something that is dying | |
| at serious risk | Describes something that is at serious risk | |
| pure | Describes something that is pure | |
| harmless | Describes something that is harmless | |
| renewable | Able to be replenished naturally | |
| overpopulated | Describes something that is overpopulated | |
| radioactive | Emitting radiation from unstable atoms | |
| biodegradable | Able to break down naturally | |
| wasteful | Describes something that is wasteful | |
| developing | Describes something that is developing | |
| developed | Describes something that is developed | |
| rare (species) | Describes something that is rare (species) | |
| harmful | Causing damage or injury | |
| environmental | Related to the natural world | |
| global (problem) | Describes something that is global (problem) | |
| in danger | Describes something that is in danger | |
| sustainable | Able to continue without exhausting resources | |
| under threat | Describes something that is under threat | |
| polluted | Describes something that is polluted | |
| green | Describes something that is green |
Verbs
| English | English clue | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to conserve (nature) | To protect nature and prevent waste | |
| to protect the environment | To keep the natural world safe from harm | |
| to adapt to the environment | An action: adapt to the environment | |
| to emit | To send out gas, light or other substances | |
| to create the environment | An action: create the environment | |
| to keep a check on the environment | An action: keep a check on the environment | |
| to endanger | An action: endanger | |
| to save | An action: save | |
| to hunt | An action: hunt | |
| to improve the environment | An action: improve the environment | |
| to survive | To stay alive despite danger | |
| to recycle | To process used material so it can be used again | |
| to take in | An action: take in | |
| to solve (a problem) | An action: solve (a problem) | |
| to lose (natural habitat) | An action: lose (natural habitat) | |
| to soak up | An action: soak up | |
| to work together; to cooperate | An action: work together; to cooperate | |
| to release; to give off | An action: release; to give off | |
| to die out | To gradually disappear as a species | |
| to become extinct | To disappear completely as a species | |
| to dump | To throw away waste, often carelessly | |
| to threaten | To put something at risk | |
| to ban | To officially prohibit something | |
| to disturb | An action: disturb | |
| to pollute | To make air, water or land dirty or harmful | |
| to poison | An action: poison | |
| to alter the environment | An action: alter the environment | |
| to destroy; to damage | An action: destroy; to damage | |
| to live in harmony | An action: live in harmony |
Expressions and phrases
| English | English clue | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What can you do for the planet? | An expression about what can you do for the planet | |
| eco freak | An expression about eco freak | |
| green thinking | An expression about green thinking | |
| environmentally friendly | An expression about environmentally friendly | |
| Save the planet! | A call to protect Earth and its ecosystems | |
| lead an ecological campaign | An expression about lead an ecological campaign | |
| eco farming | An expression about eco farming | |
| Greenpeace | An international environmental campaign organization | |
| Friends of the Earth | An international network of environmental organizations | |
| to enforce ecological laws | An expression about to enforce ecological laws |
Flashcards – practise vocabulary
Read the English clue, try to recall the word or expression, then reveal the answer.
Quiz – 10 questions
Read the English clue and type the matching English word or expression. Earn one point for each correct answer.