Did you know that B2 is considered by most people to be the first level of fluency? There’s even a phenomenon called “The B2 Plateau” which occurs when we get so comfortable in a language that we stop studying as often or intensely.
Personally, when I reach B2 in a language, it’s like passing the finish line for a marathon. After months and months and sometimes even years, B2 gives the greatest feeling of accomplishment.
You’ll be able to read, watch movies and TV shows, listen to podcasts, write a journal, or even a blog. The sky's the limit for you when you reach the B2 level.
In this article, we’ll go over the B2 vocabulary that you need to learn as soon as possible. This will be broken up into multiple categories:
B2 Traveling Vocab
B2 Holiday Vocab
B2 Business Vocab
Nouns, Adjectives, & Verbs
What Can An English Learner Do With A B2 Level?
Achieving a B2 level in English is a significant accomplishment, as it indicates an upper-intermediate level of proficiency. At this stage, you should be able to communicate effectively in a wide range of situations. Here are some activities and goals you can pursue to further enhance your English skills at the B2 level:
Read authentic materials (such as books written by English natives)
Listen to and understand movies, music, podcasts, and YouTube videos
Write essays, articles, or journal entries in English
Have long conversations with friends about most topics
Live in an English-speaking country
How Many Known Words Are Needed To Reach B2 In English?
To reach B2 in English, you’ll need approximately 4,000-5,000 words in your vocabulary. However, don’t focus too much on vocabulary, because you also need to have the ability to comprehend and speak the language well, too.
So make sure to work on your listening and speaking practice while you build up your vocabulary.
How Long Does It Take To Go From B1 To B2 In English?
It takes approximately 240 hours to reach the B2 English level from B1. This means that if you study for 30 minutes a day, you’ll reach B2 within about 480 days.
However, if you want to speed that process up, you can. Take a look at the chart below that will show you how you can make those 480 days only 120.
Daily Study Time Needed | Quantity of Time To Reach B2 |
30 minutes a day | 480 days |
1 hour a day | 240 days |
2 hours a day | 120 days |
B2 Traveling Vocabulary
If you plan on traveling, there is some B2 vocabulary that you’re going to need to know. In this section, we’ll go over the 12 most common traveling words that a learner with a B2 level in English should know. Let’s take a look.
Boarding pass (plane ticket)
Customs (security)
Seatbelt
Cabin crew
Takeoff
Landing
Sightseeing
Guided tour
Reception
Room key
Single/double room
Departure time
B2 Holidays Vocabulary
If you have any friends who are native English speakers, you should know how to wish them a happy holiday, right? In this section, we’ll learn the most common festivities celebrated by English speakers.
Holiday Name | Celebration Date |
Easter | The date varies (usually in March or April) |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
Halloween | October 31 |
Thanksgiving Da | Fourth Thursday in November |
Christmas Eve | December 24 |
Christmas Day | December 25 |
New Year's Eve | December 31 |
B2 Shopping Vocabulary
When I was shopping in Spanish for the first time, I realized that there were definitely some vocabulary words that I had forgotten to learn when I was back in the USA. To save you from that experience, here is a list of the most needed B2 vocabulary words for shopping.
Retailer
Department store
Shopper
Apparel
Trendy
Fashionable
Dressing room
Size (small, medium, large)
Jewelry
Wallet
Scarf
Browse
Try on
Purchase
Return
Exchange
Discount
Bargain
Clearance
Salesperson
Customer service
Help desk
Assistance
Recommendation
Refund
Aisle
Cart/trolley
Produce
Shelf
If you want to get a free lesson with a tutor, click here and Italki will give you a free $10 credit when you schedule your first lesson within 48 hours!
B2 Business Vocabulary
Corporation
Entrepreneur
Revenue
Expenses
Budget
Investment
Market research
Target audience
Branding
Promotion
Negotiate
Deal
Agreement
Contract
Strategic planning
Long-term goals
Risk management
Customer satisfaction
B2 Level Nouns
Adventure
Challenge
Decision
Environment
Friendship
Generation
Harmony
Innovation
Journey
Knowledge
B2 Level Adjectives
Ambitious
Confident
Determined
Efficient
Flexible
Generous
Independent
Knowledgeable
Motivated
Resilient
B2 Level Verbs
Achieve
Adapt
Collaborate
Contribute
Explore
Inspire
Overcome
Persevere
Reflect
Succeed
English B2 Level - Questions & Answers
In this section, we’ll go over some of the most commonly asked questions about the B2 level. Once answered, we’ll conclude this article and be on our way. Good job making it this far into the article!
Is B2 Considered Fluent?
B2 is considered fluent by most standards. While somebody with a B2 level can engage in long conversations, watch YouTube videos, and even live in that language - when more complex vocabulary is used, it will bring problems for the learner. It’s as if B2 is fluent 85% of the time, but in those 15% of conversations, they’ll likely struggle.
Is It Difficult To Pass The B2 Exam?
If you have a B2 level, and you go over some grammar exercises before you take the exam, it shouldn’t be that difficult. After all, if you have a B2 level, you should be able to pass the B2 exam - so be confident.
Is B2 Level Enough To Get A Job?
While some lines of work (Warehouse jobs for example) may require only a B2 level. Many lines of work require a C1 level in the language. So it really all depends on the industry and the company that you want to work for.
Conclusion: Master B2 English Vocabulary
In conclusion, reaching the B2 level in English is a remarkable achievement, marking an upper-intermediate proficiency that opens doors to a multitude of experiences. As language learners advance to this level, they will meet "The B2 Plateau," and will have the ability to engage in diverse activities such as reading, writing, and enjoying various forms of media.
Whether it takes you 480, or 120 days, it’s up to you and how long you study each day. However, in the end, you will see the same results. You’ll be able to have long conversations and even live in an English-speaking country.
I hope that this article helped you out, if you still only have a B1 in Spanish, make sure you know all of the B1 vocabulary that you should have memorized.
Have a wonderful day, evening, or night. See you later.
~ Benji