Primary 6 Vocabulary Words: 35 Meanings, Examples and Usage Notes
This is the main indexed learning page for this historical 35-word eduKate bank. The list began as vocabulary extracted from a 2019 Primary 6 comprehension resource; it has now been rebuilt so each word carries enough information to be understood, retrieved and used.
This is an eduKate learning list, not a claim that these 35 words form an official prescribed PSLE list. The useful question is not “Have I memorised the list?” but “Can I explain the word, recognise it in context, distinguish it from nearby alternatives and use it naturally?”
35-Word Vocabulary Table
| Word | Word class | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| figure | noun / verb | a person’s visible form; a number; an important person; or, as a verb, to understand or calculate | A dark figure stood near the gate. |
| forlornly | adverb | in a lonely, sad or abandoned-looking manner | He stared forlornly at the empty playground. |
| active | adjective | energetic or regularly involved in activity | She remains active in several school clubs. |
| astute | adjective | quick to understand situations and make good judgements | His astute observation revealed the flaw in the plan. |
| dazed | adjective | confused or unable to think clearly, often after shock or injury | She looked dazed after the sudden collision. |
| chores | plural noun | regular small jobs, especially around the home | He finished his chores before meeting his friends. |
| caregiver | noun | a person who provides care and support to someone who needs it | The caregiver helped the elderly man prepare his meal. |
| perked up | phrasal verb | became more cheerful, alert or energetic | The puppy perked up when it heard its owner’s voice. |
| transfixed | adjective / past participle | so absorbed, shocked or frightened that one seems unable to move or look away | The audience was transfixed by the final performance. |
| stylish | adjective | fashionable or attractively designed | She chose a simple but stylish jacket. |
| perched | verb / adjective | sat or rested on a narrow, high or unusual support | The bird perched on the railing. |
| reprimanded | verb | seriously or officially told off for wrongdoing | The pupil was reprimanded for ignoring the safety rule. |
| severe | adjective | very serious, harsh or intense | The storm caused severe damage to the coast. |
| practically | adverb | almost or nearly; in another sense, in a practical way | The hall was practically empty. |
| disciplinarian | noun | a person who strongly expects rules and discipline to be followed | The coach was a strict disciplinarian but explained every rule clearly. |
| retired | adjective / verb | having stopped regular employment | Her retired grandfather now spends more time gardening. |
| inseparable | adjective | so close that people or things are rarely apart | The two friends were inseparable throughout Primary school. |
| jeered | verb | mocked someone with insulting remarks or shouts | A few spectators jeered when the player missed the shot. |
| snorted | verb | made a sudden sound through the nose, sometimes showing amusement, disbelief or irritation | She snorted in disbelief at the ridiculous excuse. |
| conversation | noun | an exchange of spoken ideas between people | The conversation shifted from school to weekend plans. |
| coincidence | noun | a notable correspondence between events without an obvious planned connection | It was a coincidence that both families arrived on the same flight. |
| occurred | verb | happened | The incident occurred shortly after noon. |
| discovered | verb | found or learned something previously unknown to the person | She discovered the missing note beneath the desk. |
| incident | noun | an event, especially one that is unusual or noteworthy | The teacher recorded the incident before speaking to the pupils. |
| thrilled | adjective / verb | very excited and pleased | He was thrilled to learn that his team had qualified. |
| roared | verb | made a very loud, deep sound | The engine roared to life. |
| swerved | verb | changed direction suddenly, often to avoid something | The cyclist swerved around the fallen branch. |
| indelible | adjective | impossible to remove, erase or forget | The journey left an indelible impression on her. |
| forbidden | adjective / past participle | not allowed | Entry beyond the barrier was forbidden. |
| licence | noun | official permission or a document granting permission | He applied for a driving licence. |
| interrupted | verb | stopped someone or something temporarily before completion | The announcement interrupted our conversation. |
| familiar | adjective | known from previous experience or recognition | The melody sounded familiar, but she could not name it. |
| swiftly | adverb | quickly and smoothly | The medic moved swiftly towards the injured runner. |
| gleaming | adjective / participle | shining with reflected light | A gleaming trophy stood inside the cabinet. |
| speechless | adjective | temporarily unable to speak because of strong emotion or surprise | The unexpected award left her speechless with delight. |
High-Value Semantic Distinctions
- dazed / transfixed: dazed suggests confusion; transfixed suggests intense attention, shock or fascination.
- incident / coincidence: an incident is an event; a coincidence is a surprising correspondence between events.
- active / astute: active concerns energy or participation; astute concerns judgement and perception.
- reprimanded / forbidden: a person is reprimanded after wrongdoing; an action or place can be forbidden by a rule.
- gleaming / stylish: gleaming concerns light; stylish concerns fashionable or attractive design.
- thrilled / speechless: thrilled names an emotion; speechless describes a reaction that can result from many emotions.
Word Form and Spelling Notes
- occur → occurred: the past-tense form has two rs.
- forlorn → forlornly: adjective to adverb.
- swift → swiftly: adjective to adverb.
- active → actively / activity: useful members of the same word family.
- licence / license: in Singapore/British English, licence is the noun and license the verb.
How to Learn the List
- Meaning: explain the word in your own words.
- Word class: know whether it is a noun, verb, adjective, adverb or phrase.
- Context: notice the words it naturally combines with.
- Contrast: compare it with one nearby but non-identical word.
- Retrieval: hide the list and recall the word from a clue.
- Application: use it in a new sentence unrelated to the original comprehension passage.
- Delayed review: return later and retrieve it again.
Mini Retrieval Check
- Which word means sharp and perceptive in judgement?
- Which word describes a sudden change in direction?
- Which word means impossible to erase or forget?
- Which word means a person who strongly enforces discipline?
- Which phrase means became more cheerful or alert?
- Which word means temporarily unable to speak because of strong emotion?
Answers: astute; swerved; indelible; disciplinarian; perked up; speechless.
Companion Resources
- Vocabulary for Primary 6 — semantic groups and retrieval
- Primary 6 English Vocabulary — word forms, spelling and collocations
- Primary 6 Vocabulary Worksheet
- 2019 passage-specific glossary
- eduKate Vocabulary Lists hub
Historical Source
The original 2019 bank was extracted from an ACS Primary 6 SA2 comprehension resource and later expanded into individual word pages. The vocabulary is retained here with corrected spelling and modern learning structure.
