26,511 Words That Start With "C"
26,511 words that start with "C" in our 199K-word dictionary.
Browse the complete list of 26,511 English words starting with "C". Each word in the grid below shows its IPA pronunciation, CEFR difficulty level (A1 beginner up to C2 mastery), and a one-line plain-English definition. Click any word to open its full dictionary entry. Use the filters to narrow by length, part of speech, or learner level.
Most Common Words That Start With "C" (Top 1k)
Less Common Words That Start With "C" (Top 5k+)
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Cable /ˈkeɪbəl/noun A2
A strong rope or wire made of twisted strands, often used for power lines, ships, or supporting structures.
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Cache /kæʃ/noun B2
A fast storage area that saves copies of data so the computer can find it quickly next time.
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Cake /keɪk/noun A1
A soft, sweet food baked in an oven, usually decorated with frosting and served on special occasions or as a treat.
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Call /kɔːl/verb A1
To reach someone by phone or to shout their name to get their attention.
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Calm /kɑːm/adj A2
Peaceful and relaxed, not worried or angry.
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Camp /kæmp/noun A2
A place with tents or cabins where people stay temporarily, or a summer program for kids.
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Candy /ˈkændi/noun A1
A sweet treat you eat, usually made from sugar
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Card /kɑːrd/noun A1
A flat piece of thick paper used for playing games, sending messages, or storing information.
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Care /keər/noun A1
Attention and effort you give to make sure something or someone stays safe, healthy, or in good condition.
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Carry /ˈkæri/verb A1
To hold something in your hands or arms and take it with you to another place.
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Case /keɪs/noun A1
A particular situation or example of something; an occurrence that requires investigation or discussion.
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Cash /kæʃ/noun A1
Paper money and coins that you use to pay for things instead of a credit card.
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Catch /kætʃ/verb A1
To grab something quickly before it falls or escapes.
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Cause /kɔːz/verb A2
To make something happen because of your actions.
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Cave /keɪv/noun A1
A large hole or room under the ground, usually in a mountain or hill.
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Cell /sɛl/noun B1
The tiniest living unit that makes up all plants, animals, and organisms; too small to see without a microscope.
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Chain /tʃeɪn/noun A1
Connected metal rings or links used to hold or pull things; also any series of connected events or things.
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Chair /tʃɛr/noun A1
A piece of furniture you sit on, usually with a back and legs, designed for one person.
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Chart /tʃɑːrt/noun B1
A picture that shows information using graphs, lines, or colors to make it easy to understand.
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Chase /tʃeɪs/verb B1
To run after someone or something because you want to catch it.
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Cheap /tʃiːp/adj B1
Something that does not cost much money; very affordable.
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Check /tʃɛk/noun A1
A look at something to make sure it is working properly or correct.
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Chef /ʃɛf/noun A1
A person who cooks and prepares food, especially in a restaurant.
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Chest /tʃɛst/noun A1
the front part of your body where your heart and lungs are located
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Chief /tʃiːf/adj B1
the main one; the most important or most senior
572 More Words That Start With "C" (definitions coming soon)
Words That Start With "C" by Length
2 Letter Words That Start With "C" (22)
See all 22 2-letter words that start with "C" →
3 Letter Words That Start With "C" (94)
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Can /kæn/verb A1
You have the power or permission to do something. This is about possibility or ability.
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Car /kɑːr/noun A1
A vehicle with four wheels that people drive
See all 94 3-letter words that start with "C" →
4 Letter Words That Start With "C" (368)
See all 368 4-letter words that start with "C" →
5 Letter Words That Start With "C" (1,036)
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Cable /ˈkeɪbəl/noun A2
A strong rope or wire made of twisted strands, often used for power lines, ships, or supporting structures.
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Cache /kæʃ/noun B2
A fast storage area that saves copies of data so the computer can find it quickly next time.
See all 1,036 5-letter words that start with "C" →
6 Letter Words That Start With "C" (1,982)
See all 1,982 6-letter words that start with "C" →
7 Letter Words That Start With "C" (3,087)
See all 3,087 7-letter words that start with "C" →
8 Letter Words That Start With "C" (3,954)
See all 3,954 8-letter words that start with "C" →
9 Letter Words That Start With "C" (4,086)
See all 4,086 9-letter words that start with "C" →
10 Letter Words That Start With "C" (3,648)
See all 3,648 10-letter words that start with "C" →
11 Letter Words That Start With "C" (2,928)
See all 2,928 11-letter words that start with "C" →
12 Letter Words That Start With "C" (2,208)
See all 2,208 12-letter words that start with "C" →
13 Letter Words That Start With "C" (1,511)
See all 1,511 13-letter words that start with "C" →
14 Letter Words That Start With "C" (968)
See all 968 14-letter words that start with "C" →
15 Letter Words That Start With "C" (619)
Words That Start With "C" by Part of Speech
Nouns That Start With "C" (230)
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Car /kɑːr/noun A1
A vehicle with four wheels that people drive
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Child /tʃaɪld/noun A1
A young boy or girl who is not yet an adult.
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Children /ˈtʃɪldrən/noun A1
More than one child; young boys and girls.
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Choice /tʃɔɪs/noun A2
A decision you make by picking one option from several possible ones.
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Christian /ˈkrɪstʃən/noun A2
A person who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and believes in Christianity.
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Class /klɑːs/noun A1
students who study together with a teacher
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Classroom /ˈklɑːsruːm/noun A1
A room in a school where students learn from a teacher.
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Clock /klɑːk/noun A1
An instrument that tells you what time it is.
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Colour /ˈkʌlər/noun A1
One of the basic colors like red, blue, yellow, or green that you see in things around you.
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Consequence /ˈkɑːnsɪkwɛns/noun B2
What happens as a result of an action or decision; the outcome or effect of something.
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Cow /kaʊ/noun A1
A big farm animal that gives milk and lives in fields or barns.
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Cup /kʌp/noun A1
A small dish with a handle that holds drinks.
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Cable /ˈkeɪbəl/noun A2
A strong rope or wire made of twisted strands, often used for power lines, ships, or supporting structures.
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Cake /keɪk/noun A1
A soft, sweet food baked in an oven, usually decorated with frosting and served on special occasions or as a treat.
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Camp /kæmp/noun A2
A place with tents or cabins where people stay temporarily, or a summer program for kids.
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Campus /ˈkæmpəs/noun B1
The land and buildings where students attend classes at a school or university.
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Candy /ˈkændi/noun A1
A sweet treat you eat, usually made from sugar
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Card /kɑːrd/noun A1
A flat piece of thick paper used for playing games, sending messages, or storing information.
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Care /keər/noun A1
Attention and effort you give to make sure something or someone stays safe, healthy, or in good condition.
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Case /keɪs/noun A1
A particular situation or example of something; an occurrence that requires investigation or discussion.
See all 230 nouns that start with "C" →
Verbs That Start With "C" (90)
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Can /kæn/verb A1
You have the power or permission to do something. This is about possibility or ability.
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Clean /kliːn/verb A1
To make something free from dirt or mess by washing or wiping.
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Clear /klɪər/verb A2
To remove things so that a space becomes empty or unblocked.
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Close /kloʊz/verb A1
To shut or move something so it is no longer open.
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Come /kʌm/verb A1
To move from where you are to where someone else is.
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Cry /kraɪ/verb A1
To have tears come from your eyes when sad or upset.
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Cut /kʌt/verb A1
Use a knife or sharp tool to divide something into pieces.
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Call /kɔːl/verb A1
To reach someone by phone or to shout their name to get their attention.
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Carry /ˈkæri/verb A1
To hold something in your hands or arms and take it with you to another place.
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Catch /kætʃ/verb A1
To grab something quickly before it falls or escapes.
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Categorize /ˈkætɪɡəraɪz/verb B2
To decide which group or type something belongs to.
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Cause /kɔːz/verb A2
To make something happen because of your actions.
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Chase /tʃeɪs/verb B1
To run after someone or something because you want to catch it.
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Claim /kleɪm/verb B1
to say that something is yours or that something happened
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Classify /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/verb B2
To put things into groups based on what they have in common.
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Click /klɪk/verb A1
To push a mouse button or tap a screen to select something.
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Climb /klaɪm/verb A1
To go up a mountain, ladder, or other high place using your hands and feet.
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Consolidate /kənˈsɒlɪdeɪt/verb B2
To join separate things together into one unified whole.
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Could /kʊd/verb A1
The past form of can, used to say what was possible or allowed in the past.
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Count /kaʊnt/verb A1
To say numbers in order, or to find how many of something you have.
See all 90 verbs that start with "C" →
Adjectives That Start With "C" (72)
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Cold /koʊld/adj A1
When something has a low temperature and you feel chilly or uncomfortable.
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Consistent /kənˈsɪstənt/adj B2
Something that stays the same, happens regularly, or is done in the same way repeatedly.
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Calm /kɑːm/adj A2
Peaceful and relaxed, not worried or angry.
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Cheap /tʃiːp/adj B1
Something that does not cost much money; very affordable.
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Chief /tʃiːf/adj B1
the main one; the most important or most senior
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Civil /ˈsɪvəl/adj B1
Connected to citizens and their rights, or polite and respectful in dealings with others.
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Collaborative /kəˈlæbərətɪv/adj B1
Collaborative means done by people working together as a team. It describes an activity or effort where multiple people contribute to achieve a common result.
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Continuous /kənˈtɪnjuəs/adj B1
Something that goes on and on without any breaks or pauses.
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Cool /kuːl/adj A1
When something is slightly cold or feels fresh, not hot.
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Crazy /ˈkreɪzi/adj B1
Very excited about something, or acting in a silly or uncontrolled way. Can also mean mentally ill.
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Cruel /ˈkruːəl/adj A2
Unkind and willing to hurt others.
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Careful /ˈkeərfl/adj A1
Paying attention to detail and taking steps to prevent accidents or errors.
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Careless /ˈkeərləs/adj A2
Not paying enough attention to what you are doing and causing mistakes or accidents.
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Certain /ˈsɜːrtn̩/adj A2
Feeling sure or confident that something is definitely true.
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Characteristic /ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk/adj B2
Typical or normal for someone or something; showing the qualities that make them recognizable or special.
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Chemical /ˈkɛmɪkəl/adj B1
involving or produced by chemistry; relating to substances that react with each other
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Classic /ˈklæsɪk/adj B1
something that is very well-known and respected because it is of high quality and has lasted a long time
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Clever /ˈklevər/adj A2
Quick to understand things and able to solve problems well and easily.
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Coarse /kɔːrs/adj B1
Having a rough, bumpy surface; not smooth or delicate.
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Coherent /koʊˈhɪr.ənt/adj B2
When ideas or arguments fit together sensibly without contradictions.
See all 72 adjectives that start with "C" →
Adverbs That Start With "C" (6)
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Clearly /ˈklɪərli/adv A2
In a way that is easy to see or understand; without confusion.
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Continuously /kənˈtɪnjuəsli/adv B1
Continuously = non-stop, never pausing. Rain continuously for hours means it never stopped.
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Closely /ˈkloʊsli/adv B1
In a way that is nearby, intimate, or with focused attention.
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Continually /kənˈtɪnjuəli/adv B1
Continually = happens again and again with stops between. He continually forgets = he keeps forgetting.
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Certainly /ˈsɜːrtnli/adv A2
Definitely or for sure; used to show you are confident or to agree with someone.
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Completely /kəmˈpliːtli/adv B1
Totally or entirely; in every way or to the fullest extent.
How to Use Words That Start With "C"
Scrabble and Word Games
In Scrabble and Words With Friends, words starting with "C" can be valuable when you need to play through an existing tile on the board. Higher-tier letters like J, Q, X, and Z multiply your score quickly when stacked on bonus squares — scan the list below for short words that contain them. Two and three-letter words starting with "C" are especially useful for parallel plays where you build along an existing word and earn points for every adjacent tile.
Crossword Puzzles
For crossword puzzles, the most useful entries are mid-length common words — 5 to 8 letters — that fit standard grid patterns. Filter the list by length to match the cells in your clue. Pay attention to the CEFR level: clues from mainstream newspapers favour B1–B2 vocabulary, while themed and cryptic puzzles draw on rarer C1 and C2 words. The IPA shown on each card also helps confirm a guess — a clue marked "two syllables" should match a word with a simple stress pattern.
Creative Writing and Poetry
Writers and poets often look for groups of words starting with "C" to build alliteration, rhythm, or near-rhymes. Sort the list by length, scan the rare and C1+ words for fresh imagery, and use the linked dictionary entries to confirm connotation before you commit. The plain-English definitions are intentionally short so you can scan dozens of options without losing flow.
Longest Word That Start With "C"
Frequently Asked Questions About Words That Start With "C"
- How many words starting with "C"?
- There are 26,511 words starting with "C" in our 199,000-word English dictionary. The list ranges from common everyday words to rarer specialised vocabulary.
- What is the longest word starting with "C"?
- The longest word starting with "C" in our list is "CAERNARVONSHIRE" — 15 letters long. Tap the word to see its full definition.
- Are these words valid in Scrabble?
- Most of the words in this list are valid in Scrabble and similar word games (we cross-reference standard tournament dictionaries). A handful of proper nouns and very rare technical terms may not be — when in doubt, double-check with the official Scrabble dictionary used in your league.
- How many 5-letter words starting with "C"?
- 1,036 5-letter words starting with "C" — useful for Wordle, daily puzzles, and short crosswords. Filter by length above to see only 5-letter results.