Explore Movie Vocabulary
Learn English with movies. Discover how much of a movie’s vocabulary you already know and review unfamiliar words before watching.
True Detective
Is True Detective difficult to watch in English? Explore its vocabulary difficulty, estimated English level, and unfamiliar words before watching.
Unique vocabulary and phrases by level
How difficult is True Detective in English?
True Detective: 34.3% A1–A2 vocabulary; 32.7% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary. Vocabulary size: 6,384.
Unique vocabulary
- For A2 learners: 47.0% of unique vocabulary is above A2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
- For B1 learners: 32.7% of unique vocabulary is above B1 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
- For B2 learners: 25.5% of unique vocabulary is above B2 or marked rare. Expect substantial preparation; start with short scenes and English subtitles.
18.8% Unclassified. Unclassified vocabulary has no reliable level assignment.
Vocabulary weighted by word occurrences
91.6% A1–A2 vocabulary; 3.1% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary; 3.1% Unclassified.
This counts repeated eligible words. Phrases are excluded from this calculation to avoid counting their component words twice.
Subtitle coverage: 30 of 31 episodes; the profile describes only available subtitles.
Recurring words and phrases to preview
- cop (B2): 64 occurrences in available subtitles.
English meaning: An informal word for a police officer.
Subtitle example:
You just copped to a double murder.
- suppose (B1): 60 occurrences in available subtitles.
English meaning: To think something is probably true, or to imagine a possible situation.
Subtitle example:
Suppose you're a lover, not a fighter, huh? Come here.
- whatever (B1): 57 occurrences in available subtitles.
English meaning: Anything that is needed or possible; also an informal expression of indifference.
Subtitle example:
Fried her brain on whatever she was on.
- ray (B2): 53 occurrences in available subtitles.
Subtitle example:
Hey. - Hey, Ray.
- get in (B2): 52 occurrences in available subtitles.
English meaning: To enter a place or vehicle; in some contexts, to arrive.
Subtitle example:
You got a chapter in one of those books on jumping to conclusions?
Compare with titles in similar genres
- Twin Peaks: 33.2% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.5 percentage points more than True Detective).
- Sherlock: 32.2% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (0.6 percentage points less than True Detective).
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 31.0% B2, C1, and rare vocabulary (1.7 percentage points less than True Detective).
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: