Interstellar Vocabulary Lists: Essential Space and Science Terms for English Learners

Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (2014) is a stunning exploration of space, time, and human resilience. With its gripping story about saving humanity by venturing into the cosmos, it’s a great resource for learning English vocabulary related to science, emotions, and adventure. Below, you’ll find an exhaustive list of terms to help you dive into the language of this iconic movie. Before you start, watch the Interstellar trailer on YouTube and explore the IMDb page here. And here are the vocabulary lists for Interstellar.
Space and Astronomy Vocabulary for Interstellar
- Spacecraft /ˈspeɪsˌkræft/
A vehicle designed for travel or operation in outer space.
Example: The astronauts boarded the spacecraft to begin their mission. - Black Hole /blæk hoʊl/
A region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
Example: The crew feared being pulled into the black hole. - Wormhole /ˈwɝːmˌhoʊl/
A hypothetical tunnel connecting distant points in space-time.
Example: They used a wormhole to travel to another galaxy. - Orbit /ˈɔːr.bɪt/
The curved path of an object around a star, planet, or moon.
Example: The spacecraft entered orbit around the planet. - Astronaut /ˈæstrəˌnɔt/
A person trained to travel and work in space.
Example: The astronauts wore specialized suits to protect themselves. - Gravity /ˈɡræv.ɪ.ti/
The force that attracts objects toward the center of a planet or other celestial body.
Example: Gravity on Earth keeps everything grounded. - Cosmos /ˈkɑz.moʊs/
The universe seen as a well-ordered whole.
Example: Interstellar explores the vastness of the cosmos. - Exoplanet /ˈɛk.soʊˌplæn.ɪt/
A planet located outside our solar system.
Example: They landed on an exoplanet to search for signs of life.

Science and Technology Vocabulary for Interstellar
- Singularity /ˌsɪŋ.ɡjəˈlær.ə.ti/
A point in space where density and gravity become infinite.
Example: A black hole’s center is a singularity. - Quantum Mechanics /ˈkwɑn.təm məˈkæn.ɪks/
The branch of physics that deals with phenomena on very small scales, such as atoms.
Example: Quantum mechanics helps explain how wormholes might work. - Algorithm /ˈæl.ɡəˌrɪð.əm/
A step-by-step procedure for solving problems or calculations.
Example: The robot used an algorithm to navigate the terrain. - Cryosleep /ˈkraɪ.oʊˌsliːp/
A state of suspended animation using extremely low temperatures.
Example: The astronauts entered cryosleep for the long journey. - Tesseract /ˈtɛs.ər.ækt/
A theoretical four-dimensional cube.
Example: Cooper discovered the tesseract inside the black hole.

Emotional and Human Themes Vocabulary
- Sacrifice /ˈsæk.rəˌfaɪs/
The act of giving up something valuable for the sake of others.
Example: The crew made great sacrifices to save humanity. - Hope /hoʊp/
A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
Example: They clung to hope as they searched for a new home. - Despair /dɪˈspɛr/
A complete loss of hope.
Example: The failing crops led to widespread despair on Earth. - Love /lʌv/
A deep affection or care for someone or something.
Example: Cooper’s love for his daughter drove him to survive. - Resilience /rɪˈzɪl.jəns/
The ability to recover quickly from challenges.
Example: Humanity’s resilience was key to their survival.

Environmental and Earth Vocabulary
- Drought /draʊt/
A prolonged period with little or no rainfall.
Example: The Earth was suffering from a severe drought. - Blight /blaɪt/
A plant disease that causes damage to crops.
Example: The blight destroyed the planet’s food supply. - Dust Storm /dʌst stɔːrm/
A strong wind carrying dust across a large area.
Example: The family took shelter during the dust storm. - Ecosystem /ˈiː.koʊˌsɪs.təm/
A biological community of interacting organisms and their environment.
Example: The ecosystem on Earth was collapsing. - Sustainability /səˌsteɪ.nəˈbɪl.ə.ti/
The ability to maintain ecological balance.
Example: Scientists focused on sustainability to ensure survival.
Practice Makes Perfect
Watching Interstellar with this vocabulary list is a fantastic way to improve your English. Try pausing the movie when you hear a new word, and practice using it in your own sentences. Discuss the themes and your favorite scenes with friends to deepen your understanding.
What’s your favorite scene in Interstellar? Share in the comments below!
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