Genres are categories that describe the style or type of creative work. Learning genre vocabulary helps you talk about your favorite music, books, movies, and other art forms.
Music Genres
Here are some common music genres you’ll see in English.
| Genre | Description | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Pop | Popular music with catchy melodies. | I like listening to pop music on the radio. |
| Rock | Music with strong beats and guitars. | Classic rock is still very popular. |
| Jazz | A genre with improvisation and swing rhythms. | Jazz concerts are very relaxing. |
| Hip-hop | Music with rhythmic speech (rap) and beats. | Hip-hop started in New York City. |
| Classical | Traditional orchestral music. | She plays classical piano. |
| Country | Music with storytelling, often about rural life. | Country songs are popular in the southern US. |
| Electronic | Music made with synthesizers and computers. | Electronic dance music is great for parties. |
| Reggae | Music from Jamaica with a strong offbeat rhythm. | Bob Marley is a famous reggae artist. |
| Blues | Music expressing deep emotion, with a repeating pattern. | The blues originated in the American South. |
| Metal | Loud, aggressive rock music with heavy guitars. | Metal bands often wear dark clothing. |
Literature Genres
These genres help you describe different types of books and stories.
| Genre | Description | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | Stories created from imagination. | I enjoy reading fiction novels. |
| Non-fiction | Books based on facts and real events. | This is a non-fiction book about history. |
| Mystery | Stories about solving crimes or secrets. | She loves reading mystery novels. |
| Fantasy | Stories with magic and imaginary worlds. | The fantasy genre includes wizards and dragons. |
| Science fiction | Stories about the future, space, or technology. | Sci-fi movies often show robots and aliens. |
| Romance | Stories about love and relationships. | That romance novel was very touching. |
| Thriller | Exciting, suspenseful stories. | The thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. |
| Biography | The life story of a real person. | I read a biography of Marie Curie. |
| Poetry | Literature written in verse and rhythm. | She writes beautiful poetry. |
| Historical fiction | Stories set in the past with fictional characters. | This historical fiction takes place during World War II. |
Which genre goes here? I read a _____ of Marie Curie.
biography
A biography is the life story of a real person, written by someone else.
Movie Genres
Use these to talk about films in English.
| Genre | Description | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Films with lots of physical activity and stunts. | The action movie had amazing fight scenes. |
| Comedy | Movies made to make you laugh. | We watched a comedy last night. |
| Drama | Serious stories about real-life problems. | The drama was very emotional. |
| Horror | Films designed to scare you. | Horror movies are popular on Halloween. |
| Romance | Love stories on screen. | They starred in a romantic movie together. |
| Science fiction | Movies about the future, space, or technology. | The sci-fi film had incredible special effects. |
| Fantasy | Movies with magic and mythical creatures. | That fantasy movie had unicorns and wizards. |
| Thriller | Suspenseful films with twists. | The thriller kept me guessing until the end. |
| Documentary | Non-fiction films about real topics. | We watched a documentary about the ocean. |
| Animation | Movies made with drawings or computer graphics. | Animated films are great for kids. |
Which genre fits here? We watched a _____ last night and laughed a lot.
comedy
Comedies are movies made to make you laugh.
Video Game Genres
These genres describe different types of video games.
| Genre | Description | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Fast-paced games with combat or challenges. | I like playing action games on my console. |
| Adventure | Games focused on exploration and story. | The adventure game has a mysterious island. |
| Role-playing (RPG) | Players take on character roles and level up. | RPGs let you create your own hero. |
| Shooter | Games about using weapons and aiming. | First-person shooter games are very popular. |
| Puzzle | Games that require problem-solving. | I enjoy puzzle games on my phone. |
| Strategy | Games that involve planning and tactics. | Strategy games can be very challenging. |
| Sports | Games based on real sports like soccer or basketball. | The sports video game has realistic graphics. |
| Simulation | Games that mimic real-life activities. | Flight simulators teach you how to fly planes. |
| Horror | Scary games that create tension and fear. | Horror games often have dark environments. |
| Multiplayer | Games you can play online with others. | Multiplayer games let you team up with friends. |
Genre vocabulary helps you describe your interests and understand recommendations in English.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
