Explore Movie Vocabulary
Learn English with movies. Discover how much of a movie’s vocabulary you already know and review unfamiliar words before watching.
Playing for Keeps
Unique vocabulary and phrases by level
How difficult is Playing for Keeps in English?
Playing for Keeps: 73.2% A1–A2 vocabulary; 10.4% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary. Vocabulary size: 1,088.
Unique vocabulary
- For A2 learners: 20.2% of unique vocabulary is above A2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
- For B1 learners: 10.4% of unique vocabulary is above B1 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
- For B2 learners: 6.5% of unique vocabulary is above B2 or marked rare. Try a short scene and check your comprehension; the vocabulary offers a relatively accessible starting point.
6.7% Unclassified. Unclassified vocabulary has no reliable level assignment.
Vocabulary weighted by word occurrences
94.6% A1–A2 vocabulary; 1.9% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary; 1.5% Unclassified.
This counts repeated eligible words. Phrases are excluded from this calculation to avoid counting their component words twice.
Recurring words and phrases to preview
- coach (B1): 35 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Well, you were such a splash at practice that the parents want you to coach.
- soccer (C1): 22 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
I did, that's right. By the way, did your son like the soccer jersey?
- goal (B1): 15 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Kick it with your toes. Remember, we want to score goals.
- buddy (B1): 13 occurrences in available subtitles.
English meaning: An informal word for a friend or companion.
Subtitle example:
All right, buddy.
- score (B1): 10 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Kick it with your toes. Remember, we want to score goals.
Compare with titles in similar genres
- Just Wright: 8.2% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (2.2 percentage points less than Playing for Keeps).
- The Love Guru: 14.7% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (4.3 percentage points more than Playing for Keeps).
- Back to School: 14.7% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (4.4 percentage points more than Playing for Keeps).
These percentages describe vocabulary, not the proportion of dialogue you will understand. CEFR labels are estimates, not official film ratings. Accent, speed, songs, context, and your own vocabulary also affect comprehension. Repeated occurrences may include repeated dialogue or lyrics.
How we estimate vocabulary difficulty · Evidence generated: