The same fifteen words as the cards above, written out in full — easy to scan, search or print.

balloonA2noun

a bag filled with gas that floats in the air

Carl ties thousands of balloons to his house to make it fly.

houseA2noun

a building where people live

Carl has lived in the same house for his whole married life.

promiseA2noun

a statement that you will definitely do something

Carl made a promise to Ellie that he would take her to Paradise Falls.

adventureA2noun

an exciting or unusual experience

Ellie always dreamed of having a great adventure.

explorerB1noun

a person who travels to discover new places

Charles Muntz was Carl and Ellie’s childhood hero, a famous explorer.

wildernessB1noun

a wild, natural area with few or no people

Russell is desperate to earn his Wilderness Explorer badge.

griefB1noun

deep sadness, especially after a loss

Carl’s grief after Ellie’s death keeps him isolated for years.

companionB1noun

a person or animal who spends time with you

Dug becomes Carl’s loyal companion almost immediately.

vowB2noun

a solemn, serious promise

Carl’s vow to Ellie drives the entire adventure.

sacrificeB2verb

to give up something valuable for a greater goal

Carl must sacrifice his beloved house to save his new friends.

nostalgicB2adjective

feeling sentimental about the past

Old photographs make Carl deeply nostalgic for his youth.

tetherB2noun

a rope restraining something; to restrain with one

The garden hose becomes a makeshift tether keeping Carl’s house grounded.

wistfulC1adjective

full of vague yearning or gentle regret

Carl’s wistful glances at old photographs reveal how much he misses Ellie.

transcendC1verb

to go beyond ordinary or expected limits

The film’s ending suggests that love can transcend even death.

reverieC1noun

a state of pleasant daydreaming

Carl often slips into a reverie about the life he shared with Ellie.