The English lexicon has approximately one million words . These words are the building blocks of phrases that become whole sentences and ultimately form your speech. Therefore, the more words you understand, the easier it becomes to express your thoughts and comprehend others when they speak, especially as a non-native speaker.
To help you build stronger communication skills, this guide will focus on some of the most common words in English. These common English words provide a great starting point for building a rich vocabulary that can help you confidently engage in professional or casual conversations .
Let's get to it!
1. Be /biː/ This verb means to exist in a state or condition. The word can be used in its unconjugated, infinitive form.
“I want to be a teacher when I grow up.”
2. And /ænd/ The word "and" is a conjunction used to connect words or phrases.
“I like apples and oranges.”
3. Of /əv/ "Of" expresses a relationship, origin, or a part of something. This word is also a preposition, and can be employed in a wide variety of contexts.
“She’s a friend of mine.”
4. Business /ˈbɪz.nɪs/ This word is a noun that refers to the practice of making a living or earning money by engaging in commerce.
She started her own business selling handmade crafts.”
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5. The /ðə / Pronounced with the tricky /ð/ or ‘th’ sound, this article refers to something specific or known, rather than something vague or lacking specificity.
“The cat is sleeping on the couch.”
6. Education /ˌɛdʒ.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/ "Education" is a noun that refers to the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.
"She pursued higher education to enhance her career prospects ."
7. To /tuː/; /tə/ This proposition is one of the most common English words used to indicate direction or purpose.
Notice that is has two pronunciations: /tuː/, the strong form, and /tə/, the weaker form, featuring a schwa sound . This concept is also known as vowel reduction.
Take a look at BoldVoice coach Ron explaining this concept of strong and weak forms of the word "to" in detail:
VIDEO
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8. Have /hæv/ To have something is a verb meaning to possess or own that thing.
"They have a new property ."
9. It /ɪt/ “It" is a pronoun referring to a non-human subject or object.
"It was raining all day."
10. Issue /ˈɪʃ.uː/ This noun refers to an important topic or problem for debate or discussion.
"The environmental issue needs urgent attention."
11. That /ðæt/ This word can be used as a pronoun or conjunction. It refers to a specific thing or introduces a clause. For example:
Pronoun: “Did you see that movie?” Conjuction: “He said that he would call later.”
Just like "the," this word uses the voiced version of the "th" sound.
12. For /fɔːr/; /fɚ/ "For" indicates the purpose or reason for something. It’s a preposition that, just like "to," has a strong form (/fɔːr/) and a weak form (/fɚ/).
"This gift is for passing your exams."
13. You /juː/ Use "you" to address the person you’re speaking to. It’s a second-person pronoun, which means you’re addressing the receiver directly.
"You are a great friend."
14. He /hiː/ Unlike "you," this word is a third-person pronoun that refers to a male person or animal.
“He is my brother.”
15. She /ʃiː/ This word is the female version of "he."
Interestingly enough, while "she" is used to refer to people or animals 99% of the time, English speakers also use "she" to refer to specific objects like boats.
“She is my sister.”
16. With /wɪθ/ This preposition is used to show connection.
“I’m going to the park with my dog.”
17. Kind /kaɪnd/ "Kind" describes having a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.
“It was very kind of you to help.”
18. Do /duː/ This verb is one of the most common words in English. It means to perform an action or task.
“I need to do my homework.”
19. Does /dʌz/ “Does” and “do” share the same meaning. However, “does” is the conjugated form of “do” and can only be used with third-person pronouns like he or she.
Both "does" and "do" are also used in an interrogative sense, to introduce a question.
"Does she like her new dress?" "Yes, she does."
20. This /ðɪs/ "This" is used as a determiner and pronoun to refer to something close by or recently mentioned.
"This is my favorite song."
It uses the voiced "th" sound, which BoldVoice Coach Eliza explains in this quick lesson:
VIDEO
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21. They /ðeɪ/ If you want to collectively name a group of people, animals, or things, use the word "they." It's a third-person pronoun.
“They are all going to the concert.”
22. Information /ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃən/ "Information" is a noun that refers to facts or details about a subject.
"The brochure provides useful information about local attractions ."
23. But /bʌt/ You can use this conjunction to introduce a contrast or exception in a sentence.
“I would have loved to go with you, but I’m too tired.”
24. We /wiː/ This pronoun refers to a group of people, including the speaker.
"We are going on vacation."
25. His /hɪz/ When you use this word, you’re saying something belongs to a person or animal who is a male.
"That’s his car over there.”
26. Her /hɜːr/ This word means the same thing as "his" and is used in the same way, to denote possession. The only difference is that "her" refers to a female person or animal.
“The car is hers.”
"From" is used in many ways to indicate the origin or starting point.
"She's from Brazil. "
28. Not /nɑːt/ "Not" is an adverb generally used for negation in a statement.
It's frequently used in contractions, like "don't" (do not), "can't" (cannot) and "won't" (will not).
“I’m not going to the party.”
29. By /baɪ/ This preposition indicates the means through which an action happens.
“The cake was made by my mom."
Be careful—"by" is a homophone with "bye," used to end an interaction. While there are over 50 ways to say goodbye to someone in English, "by" is not one of them.
30. Or /ɔːr/ “Or” is a conjunction that offers a choice between available options.
“Do you want coffee or tea?”
31. Power /ˈpaʊ.ər/ This term is a noun that refers to the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way.
“The government has the power to change laws.”
32. What /wɑːt/ You can use this pronoun to ask for information about something or to refer to something unknown.
“What time is the meeting?”
33. Go /ɡoʊ/ This unconjugated verb means to move or travel from one place to another. It is one of the most common English words, pronounced with the diphthong /oʊ/.
“I need to go to the store.”
34. Their /ðeər/ When something belongs to multiple people, we say it is theirs. This word is a pronoun, and it can also be used to refer to someone's possession when you're not sure of the possessor's gender.
“That’s their house over there.”
35. Can /kæn/ This modal verb expresses the ability to do something.
“she can play the piano very well.”
36. Get /ɡɛt/ Simply put, this verb means to obtain or receive something.
“I hope I get the job.”
37. If /ɪf/ This word is a conjunction used to introduce a conditional clause. It expresses a situation or condition that must be met for something else to happen.
"Call me if you need help.”
38. Would /wʊd/ “Would” is a modal verb that shows willingness or possibility.
“I would go if I had the time.”
39. All /ɑːl/ "All" is a determiner that describes the whole quantity of something.
“All the tickets are sold out.”
40. My /maɪ/ When speaking, you can use this first-person pronoun to establish that something belongs to you.
"That is my phone on the table.”
41. Make /meɪk/ “Make” is an infinitive or conjugated (third-person plural) verb that means to create or produce something. Use this word when the object performs the action.
"Every year, they make a cake for his birthday.”
42. About /əˈbaʊt/ This proposition indicates that something relates to another thing.
“The book is about history.”
43. Know /noʊ/ If you’re aware of something, then you know it.
Be careful—the "k" is silent!
Unlike certain other languages like Spanish and French , English only has one version of the verb "to know."
“Do you know the answer to the question?”
44. Will /wɪl/ "Will," when used as a verb, expresses future intention.
“I will call you later.”
45. Up /ʌp/ You can use this word either as a preposition or adverb to mean advancing toward a higher position. For example,
Adverb: "Please turn up the volume." Preposition: “The cat jumped up the tree.”
46. One /wʌn/ One is the first number, referring to a single person or thing.
“I have one brother."
47. Time /taɪm/ The word “time” is a noun that captures the period at which something occurs.
“What time is the meeting, please?”
It's pronounced with the diphthong /aɪ/. Watch as BoldVoice Coach Ron describes how to pronounce this sound:
VIDEO
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48. There /ðɛr/ An adverb of place, “there” describes a position where something happens.
“The restaurant is over there.”
49. Year /jɪr/ The regular calendar year is a period of 12 months.
“I graduated last year.
50. So /soʊ/ You can use this word to show reason or great extent.
“I’m so tired today.”
51. Think /θɪŋk/ To think is to have an opinion or idea about something.
Note that the "n" in this word is actually pronounced as the nasal consonant /ŋ/ as it transitions into the /k/ sound.
“I think this is the best solution.”
52. When /wɛn/ This adverb introduces a clause that specifies the time something happens.
“Call me when you arrive.”
53. Which /wɪtʃ/ Use this word when you want to make a selection from a known set.
"Which dress should I wear?”
54. Them /ðɛm/ "Them" refers to people or things previously mentioned, generally as a plural.
“I’ll call them later.”
55. Some /sʌm/ "Some" can be a determiner or pronoun. Either way, it describes an unspecified amount or number.
“I have some money left.”
Note that "some" is a homophone with "sum" which, despite also referring to numbers, has a distinct meaning and should not be confused.
56. Communication /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ This noun refers to the process of exchanging information by speaking, writing, or using other methods. Here, factors like tone , emotion, and body language could impact how your listener receives information within interpersonal communication.
"Effective communication is essential in a team environment."
57. People /piːpəl/ "People" is a collective noun that describes a group of humans.
“Many people attended the concert.”
58. Take /teɪk/ When you "take," you grasp, carry, or move something.
“Please take this to your room.”
59. Out /aʊt/ As a preposition, this word indicates movement away from the inside of a place or container.
If you travel across the United States, you might notice that this word is pronounced many different ways based on the speaker's regional accent . In the General American accent , it's pronounced /aʊt/ .
For example, “I’m going out for a walk.”
60. Into /ɪntuː/ Unlike "out," this word indicates movement toward the inside of something.
“She walked into the room.”
Interestingly, it can also be used to say that one person has a crush on another person , or ever that someone is involved in a particular hobby or passion.
"I've been really into sewing lately."
61. Just /dʒʌst/ This adverb describes something that has happened very recently.
“I just finished my homework.”
62. See /siː/ Seeing is a verb that means becoming aware of something through your eyes.
"Did you see that bird?”
63. Look /lʊk/ When you see something and fixate your gaze on it, you "look" at it.
“Look at that beautiful sunset."
"Look" can also be used as a noun, as in, "The look on her face told me she was scared."
64. Who /huː/ “Who” is another one of the most common words in English used to ask about a person.
“Who is coming to the party?”
Although it's spelled with a "w", this word actually features the /h/ sound, which can be notoriously tricky. Check out BoldVoice Coach Ron explaining the /h/ sound pronunciation:
VIDEO
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65. Now /naʊ/ Something happening at the present moment is happening "now." This is an adverb used to denote time.
“I need to leave now.”
66. Only /oʊnli/ This adverb refers to one, very few, or no more than a specified amount.
“She’s the only one who completed the project.”
67. Come /kʌm/ "Come" is a verb meaning to move or travel toward a person, place, or point.
“Can you come to my office?”
68. Its /ɪts/ The word "its" is a possessive pronoun used to show that something belongs to or is related to a thing or animal.
"The cat licked its paws. "
It is important to note that sometimes this word is misspelled as it's," which is a contraction for "it is" or "it has." These words sound alike, making them homophones , but they mean different things.
69. Over /oʊvər/ Whether as a preposition or adverb, this word means to be above or to cover something.
“The plane flew over the city.”
70. Good /ɡʊd/ "Good" is an adjective used all the time by native speakers to describe something or someone in a positive, pleasing manner.
"I hope you have a good day!"
71. Also /ˈɑːl.soʊ/ This word acts as a conjunction, signalling an addition to an existing point.
"She’s not only smart, but also kind.”
72. Back /bæk/ As a noun, "back" refers to the rear side of something. But as an adverb, it means to return.
Adverb: “I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Noun: “I put the book at the back of the shelf. ”
73. After /æftər/ This preposition indicates that something happens following an event or time.
“Let’s meet after lunch.”
74. Use /juːz/ The word "use" is a verb that means to apply something for a purpose.
“Can I use your phone for a quick call?”
75. How /haʊ/ The manner in which you do something is known as the "how." A native English speaker would use this adverb to begin a question, or to explain the way in which something occurs.
“How do you solve this problem?”
76. Our /aʊər/ When something belongs to a speaker as well as other people, we use the "our" pronoun.
“That’s our car parked outside.”
Keep in mind that "our" is a homophone with "hour," despite having different meanings.
77. Work /wɜːrk/ You can use the word “work” as a verb to mean performing a task, or a noun to refer to effort. As both a noun and a verb, the word "work" can be used to refer to one's occupation .
Verb: “I work from home on Fridays.”
Noun: “She has a lot of work to do.”
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78. First /fɜːrst/ This adverb and adjective of time describes coming before all others in time or order.
“I was the first person to arrive.”
79. Well /wɛl/ When something is done in a good or satisfactory manner, it is done well. While "good" is an adjective, "well" is the corresponding adverb.
"He performed well in the competition.”
80. Group /ɡruːp/ This noun describes a collection of individuals gathered together for a common purpose. It can also be used as a verb, to describe the action of forming a collection of people or things.
"The employees were grouped based on their skillsets."
81. Even /iːvən/ Use this word to emphasize something, especially when it is extreme.
“She didn’t just finish the marathon; she even set a new personal record!”
82. New /nuː/ "New" is an adjective that describes something recently made or discovered.
“I bought a new phone yesterday.”
83. Want /wɑːnt/ This verb means to desire something.
“I really want to travel to Japan soon.”
84. Because /bɪˈkɔːz/ The word "because" is a conjunction that justifies a statement.
"I'm so sorry, I was late because there was an accident on the highway."
85. Any /ɛni/ "Any" is a determiner that refers to one or more, no matter how much or many.
“Do you have any questions?”
86. These /ðiːz/ This pronoun refers to people or things close to the speaker.
“These are my favorite shoes.”
87. Those /ðoʊz/ The opposite of "these" is "those," and it refers to people or things further away from the speaker, relative to "these."
“Those are my roommate's shoes.”
88. Give /ɡɪv/ When you transfer something to someone, you "give" it to them.
“I'll give you the report sometime tomorrow.”
89. Member /ˈmɛmbər/ This noun describes a person belonging to a group. You could be a "member" of a local book club or company.
"I just signed up to become a member of my local gym."
90. Most /moʊst/ This word refers to the majority of something.
“Most students have completed the assignment.”
91. Friend /frɛnd/ A "friend" is a noun that describes a person with whom you have a bond of mutual platonic affection .
“She is my best friend from childhood.”
92. Tell /tɛl/ This verb means to communicate information to someone.
“Can you tell me the time?”
93. Each /iːtʃ/ "Each" can function as a determiner, a pronoun, or an adverb, to describe every individual or object in a group.
“Each student needs to bring a notebook.”
94. Very /ˈvɛri/ This adverb is one of the most common words in English, used to emphasize the degree of something.
"The movie was very interesting, but very long."
95. High /haɪ/ An adjective or adverb, this word emphasizes something situated above the normal level.
"The plane flew at a high altitude.”
96. School /skuːl/ A school is a place where students are educated.
“I have been attending this school for three years.”
97. Still /stɪl/ This adverb describes a continuing action that happens without change.
“I’m still waiting for my package to arrive.”
When used as an adjective, "still" refers to something that isn't moving.
"The water was still, without even a single wave."
98. Last /læst/ This adjective is used to describe the final person or thing in a group or series.
"I was the last person to leave the office."
99. Law /lɑː/ This noun describes a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions.
“Everyone must obey the law .”
Learn New Words in English with BoldVoice This English language vocabulary list only scrapes the surface, meaning there are thousands upon thousands more words to learn in English.
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