Around the World in Eighty Days: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Jules Verne uses again and again in Around the World in Eighty Days that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
steamer/ˈstimɝ/109× in the book
From Suez to Bombay, by steamer ....................
mil/ˈmɪɫ/68× in the book
It is thirteen hundred and ten miles from Suez to Aden, at the other end of the Red Sea, and she has to take in a fresh coal supply.”
sail/ˈseɪɫ/46× in the book
She had a hundred and sixty-eight hours in which to reach Bombay, and the sea was favourable, the wind being in the north-west, and all sails aiding the engine.
railway/ˈɹeɪɫˌweɪ/35× in the book
“But that doesn’t take into account bad weather, contrary winds, shipwrecks, railway accidents, and so on.”
elephant/ˈɛɫəfənt/35× in the book
Mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas, tigers, snakes, elephants!
traveller/ˈtɹævəɫɝ/34× in the book
… with a few clear words, the thousand conjectures advanced by members of the club as to lost and unheard-of travellers, pointing out the true probabilities …
robber/ˈɹɑbɝ/30× in the book
“On the contrary,” broke in Ralph, “I hope we may put our hands on the robber.
betray/bɪˈtɹeɪ/30× in the book
… exactitude personified, and this was betrayed even in the expression of his very hands and feet; for in men …
wager/ˈweɪdʒɝ/28× in the book
But I would wager four thousand pounds that such a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible.”
pagoda/pəˈɡoʊdə/27× in the book
… its Armenian churches, and the noble pagoda on Malabar Hill, with its two polygonal towers—he cared not a straw to see them.
locomotive/ˌɫoʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/27× in the book
Just then the locomotive gave a sharp screech, and the train passed out into the darkness of the night.
eighty/ˈeɪti/27× in the book
On this very 2nd of October he had dismissed James Forster, because that luckless youth had brought him shaving-water at eighty-four degrees Fahrenheit instead of eighty-six; and he was awaiting his successor …
consul/ˈkɑnsəɫ/25× in the book
One was the British consul at Suez, who …
steam/ˈstim/25× in the book
… ere many moments longer, the noble steamer rode out at full steam upon the waters of the Red Sea.
descend/dɪˈsɛnd/25× in the book
… he carefully shut the door of his room, and descended to Mr. Fogg.
warrant/ˈwɔɹənt/23× in the book
Send without delay warrant of arrest to Bombay.
midst/ˈmɪdst/23× in the book
The train stopped, at eight o’clock, in the midst of a glade some fifteen miles beyond Rothal, where there were several bungalows, and workmen’s cabins.
quay/ˈkeɪ/22× in the book
Little by little the scene on the quay became more animated; sailors of various nations, merchants, ship-brokers, porters, fellahs, bustled to and fro as if the steamer were immediately expected.
honour/ˈɑnɝ/21× in the book
“We will trust your word, as a gentleman of honour.”
eleven/ˈiɫɛvən/21× in the book
… and he was awaiting his successor, who was due at the house between eleven and half-past.
sledge/ˈsɫɛdʒ/20× in the book
“No; on a sledge,” replied Fix.
passport/ˈpæsˌpɔɹt/20× in the book
… and, if you will examine my passport when I get back, you will be able to judge whether I have accomplished the journey agreed upon.”
conductor/kənˈdəktɝ/20× in the book
The conductor, passing along the carriages, shouted, “Passengers will get out here!”
till/ˈtɪɫ/19× in the book
… exactly at which hour Phileas Fogg rose, till half-past eleven, when he left the house for the Reform Club—all the details of service …
whist18× in the book
His sole pastimes were reading the papers and playing whist.
voyage/ˈvɔɪədʒ/18× in the book
It is a ten days’ voyage by sea.”
worthy/ˈwɝði/18× in the book
And the worthy fellow returned the watch to its fob with a defiant gesture.
ruin/ˈɹuən/18× in the book
Meanwhile the “Mongolia” was pushing forward rapidly; on the 13th, Mocha, surrounded by its ruined walls whereon date-trees were growing, was sighted, and on the mountains beyond were espied vast coffee-fields.
instant/ˈɪnstənt/17× in the book
… precisely like that in Mr. Fogg’s bedchamber, both beating the same second at the same instant.
calm/ˈkɑɫm/17× in the book
Whether she would find a protector in him she could not tell; but Mr. Fogg essayed to calm her anxieties, and to assure her that everything would be mathematically—he used the very word—arranged.
sacrifice/ˈsækɹəˌfaɪs/17× in the book
I have two days, which I have already gained, to sacrifice.
morrow/ˈmɑɹoʊ/16× in the book
The woman you have just seen will be burned to-morrow at the dawn of day.”
scarcely/ˈskɛɹsɫi/16× in the book
… without ever shedding blood; there was a period when this part of the country could scarcely be travelled over without corpses being found in every direction.
conceal/kənˈsiɫ/16× in the book
An English criminal, you know, is always better concealed in London than anywhere else.”
recognise/ˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪz/15× in the book
When Passepartout reached the second story he recognised at once the room which he was to inhabit, and he was well satisfied with it.
north/ˈnɔɹθ/15× in the book
… which means in Arabic “The Bridge of Tears,” and the next day they put in at Steamer Point, north-west of Aden harbour, to take in coal.
rajah15× in the book
A considerable portion of India is still free from British authority; and there are certain ferocious rajahs in the interior who are absolutely independent.
madam/ˈmædəm/15× in the book
… “It is an accident, madam; nothing more.”
utter/ˈətɝ/15× in the book
Just as the train was whirling through Sydenham, Passepartout suddenly uttered a cry of despair.
evidently/ˈɛvədəntɫi/15× in the book
The detective was evidently inspired by the hope of obtaining the splendid reward which would be the prize of success, and awaited with a feverish impatience …
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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