English vocabulary guide
Schindler s List
Vocabulary-Rich — Its subtitles contain a comparatively high share of advanced or rare vocabulary, making it better suited to confident learners.
- Vocabulary size
- 1,803
- Word occurrences
- 11,626
- IMDb rating
- ★ 9.0
Vocabulary profile by level
The percentages show unique vocabulary items and phrases found in the available English subtitles.
Useful vocabulary from Schindler s List
Frequently occurring intermediate, advanced, and phrasal vocabulary with real subtitle examples.
| Level | Vocabulary | Occurrences | Subtitle example |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | attention | 15 | Attention! Attention! |
| B1 | jewish | 15 | ...the Jewish tailors are turning them out by the gross in a variety... |
| Rare | barrack | 11 | Segregated of course. The men in the barracks near the guarry... |
| B1 | director | 11 | Mr. Director! |
| B1 | essential | 11 | ...then you'll get a blue card, a Blauschein, to say that you are an essential worker. |
| B2 | shell | 11 | Their fingers polish the insides of shell metal casings. |
| A2 | get out | 10 | Forget the whole thing. Get out! |
| C1 | ghetto | 10 | ...another for reprocessing jewish clothing from the ghettos... |
| A1 | look at | 9 | She's so embarrassed. Look at her. |
| B1 | war | 9 | Once the war ends, forget it, but for now it's great. |
How to study with this movie
Preview the vocabulary above, watch a short scene with English subtitles, and replay it without pausing. Save complete expressions rather than isolated words. These figures describe subtitle vocabulary; accent, delivery speed, sound mixing, and story familiarity also affect comprehension.
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How difficult is Schindler s List in English?
Schindler s List: 63.3% A1–A2 vocabulary; 16.2% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary. Vocabulary size: 1,745.
Unique vocabulary
- For A2 learners: 28.5% of unique vocabulary is above A2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
- For B1 learners: 16.2% of unique vocabulary is above B1 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
- For B2 learners: 11.6% of unique vocabulary is above B2 or marked rare. Preview recurring words and use English subtitles.
8.2% Unclassified. Unclassified vocabulary has no reliable level assignment.
Vocabulary weighted by word occurrences
91.6% A1–A2 vocabulary; 3.8% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary; 1.7% 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
- attention (B1): 15 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Attention! Attention!
- jewish (B1): 15 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
...the Jewish tailors are turning them out by the gross in a variety...
- barrack (rare): 11 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Segregated of course. The men in the barracks near the guarry...
- director (B1): 11 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Mr. Director!
- essential (B1): 11 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
...then you'll get a blue card, a Blauschein, to say that you are an essential worker.
Compare with titles in similar genres
- Munich The Edge of War: 16.1% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.1 percentage points less than Schindler s List).
- Golda: 16.3% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.1 percentage points more than Schindler s List).
- The Stanford Prison Experiment: 16.4% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.2 percentage points more than Schindler s List).
A short study session
- Prepare. Review three recurring terms below. Write your own sentence for each and check its meaning against the subtitle example. attention, jewish, barrack.
- Listen and check. Choose a two-minute conversation. Listen without subtitles and note who wants what. Replay with English subtitles, then without them. Compare the actual pronunciation, word linking, and pace with what you expected; vocabulary percentages do not measure accents or listening speed.
- Use the language. Write or say four sentences answering this prompt. Include two terms you reviewed. Revisit them tomorrow and one week later. Writing prompt: Summarize a conversation accurately and distinguish spoken words from your interpretation.
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: