1000 Most Common English Words
The 1,000 most common English words, ranked by frequency. Covers around 80% of spoken English per Nation (2006); the workhorse vocabulary every learner needs. 991 here, with swear words held back for their own chapter.
Source: Nation (2006) on top-1k coverage of spoken English.
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991 words
| # | Freq | Word |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | youThe person or people I am talking to. |
| 2 | 2 | IThe person who is speaking. |
| 3 | 3 | beFor describing people and things (happy, tall, at home). |
| 4 | 4 | theFor one thing or person we both know. |
| 5 | 5 | toTowards a place or person; for who gets something; after want or need, before the action. |
| 6 | 6 | aOne, any one; not one we both know. |
| 7 | 7 | itA thing or animal, not a person; for talking about the weather or the time. |
| 8 | 8 | doTo carry out a job or task; for asking questions and saying no. |
| 9 | 9 | thatFor a thing over there, not near me; for a thing we just talked about; joins what you say or think to the next part. |
| 10 | 10 | andJoins two things or ideas together. |
| 11 | 11 | ofBelonging to something; showing what something holds. |
| 12 | 12 | inInside a place or thing; during a month, year or season. |
| 13 | 13 | haveTo own or hold something; to eat or drink something; for something already done. |
| 14 | 14 | whatFor asking about a thing; the thing that. |
| 15 | 15 | weMe and other people, who do something. |
| 16 | 16 | meThe person speaking, when something happens to them. |
| 17 | 17 | thisPoints to a person or thing that is near, or the one you are talking about right now. |
| 18 | 18 | getTo receive or be given something; to become (cold, tired, better); to arrive somewhere. |
| 19 | 19 | heA man or boy who does something. |
| 20 | 20 | forMeant to go to someone; how long something lasts; because of something. |
| 21 | 21 | goTo move or travel from one place to another. |
| 22 | 22 | myBelonging to the person who is speaking. |
| 23 | 23 | onTouching the top or side of something; for days and dates. |
| 24 | 24 | yourBelonging to the person or people you are talking to. |
| 25 | 25 | knowTo have facts in your head; to have met someone before. |
| 26 | 26 | noNot any; the answer when you do not agree or do not want something. |
| 27 | 27 | notMakes what you say mean the opposite. |
| 28 | 28 | canTo be able to do something, or to be allowed to do it. |
| 29 | 29 | withTogether; using a tool or thing. |
| 30 | 30 | butJoins two ideas that are different or surprising. |
| 31 | 31 | allEvery one, the whole of something. |
| 32 | 32 | soFor that reason; very, very much. |
| 33 | 33 | justA very short time ago; only, nothing more. |
| 34 | 34 | thereIn or to that place; for saying what you can find in a place. |
| 35 | 35 | comeTo move towards the person speaking; to arrive. |
| 36 | 36 | hereIn, at, or to this place. |
| 37 | 37 | likeTo enjoy someone or something, or to find them nice; similar to, in the same way as. |
| 38 | 38 | theyTwo or more people or things that do something. |
| 39 | 39 | wantTo wish to have or do something. |
| 40 | 40 | sheA woman or girl who does something. |
| 41 | 41 | thinkTo use your mind; to have an idea that something is true. |
| 42 | 42 | ifOnly when something else happens or is true. |
| 43 | 43 | rightCorrect, true; on the side that is not left. |
| 44 | 44 | goodNice, the way you want it; able to do something well. |
| 45 | 45 | outAway from the inside; not burning any more. |
| 46 | 46 | aboutTelling of something, on the subject of; nearly, not exact. |
| 47 | 47 | seeTo take in with your eyes; to understand. |
| 48 | 48 | upTo a higher place; to standing. |
| 49 | 49 | atShows an exact place or an exact time. |
| 50 | 50 | himA man or boy that something happens to. |