150+ Common Words in English

Common Words in English

The English language can be a vast and winding road, filled with perplexing grammar rules and an ever-expanding vocabulary. But fear not, intrepid language learner! By focusing on the most common words, you can unlock a surprising amount of understanding.

List of Common Words

Common Words with Meaning and Example

Here is the list with meanings and examples:

the (article)

• Meaning: Used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group.
• Example: The cat sat on the mat.

be (verb)

• Meaning: Exist; occur; take place.
• Example: I want to be a doctor.

to (preposition)

• Meaning: Expressing motion in the direction of a particular location.
• Example: She is going to the store.

of (preposition)

• Meaning: Expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.
• Example: He is a friend of mine.

and (conjunction)

• Meaning: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences.
• Example: I like apples and oranges.

a (article)

• Meaning: Used when referring to someone or something for the first time.
• Example: She has a cat.

in (preposition)

• Meaning: Expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed.
• Example: The keys are in the drawer.

that (conjunction)

• Meaning: Used to introduce a clause that is the subject or object of a verb.
• Example: I heard that you got a new job.

have (verb)

• Meaning: Possess, own, or hold.
• Example: They have three children.

I (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used by a speaker to refer to themselves.
• Example: I am going to the market.

it (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to a thing previously mentioned or easily identified.
• Example: It is raining outside.

for (preposition)

• Meaning: With the object or purpose of.
• Example: This gift is for you.

not (adverb)

• Meaning: Used with an auxiliary verb or “be” to form the negative.
• Example: I do not like spinach.

on (preposition)

• Meaning: Physically in contact with and supported by a surface.
• Example: The book is on the table.

with (preposition)

• Meaning: Accompanied by another person or thing.
• Example: I will go with you.

he (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to a man, boy, or male animal previously mentioned.
• Example: He is my brother.

as (conjunction)

• Meaning: Used to indicate that something happens during the time when something else is taking place.
• Example: She sings as she works.

you (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing.
• Example: You are very kind.

do (verb)

• Meaning: Perform an action, the precise nature of which is often unspecified.
• Example: What do you do for a living?

at (preposition)

• Meaning: Expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position.
• Example: She is at home.

this (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to identify a specific person or thing close at hand or being indicated.
• Example: This is my favorite book.

but (conjunction)

• Meaning: Used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned.
• Example: I want to go, but I have to work.

his (pronoun)

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with a male person previously mentioned or easily identified.
• Example: This is his car.

by (preposition)

• Meaning: Identifying the agent performing an action.
• Example: The book was written by her.

from (preposition)

• Meaning: Indicating the point in space at which a journey, motion, or action starts.
• Example: She is from Italy.

they (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
• Example: They are my friends.

we (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people considered together.
• Example: We are going to the park.

say (verb)

• Meaning: Utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling, or intention.
• Example: What did she say?

her (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person or animal previously mentioned.
• Example: I saw her at the store.

she (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to a woman, girl, or female animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
• Example: She is a doctor.

or (conjunction)

• Meaning: Used to link alternatives.
• Example: Would you like tea or coffee?

an (article)

• Meaning: Used when referring to someone or something for the first time.
• Example: She gave me an apple.

will (verb)

• Meaning: Expressing the future tense.
• Example: I will call you tomorrow.

my (pronoun)

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with the speaker.
• Example: This is my house.

one (number)

• Meaning: The lowest cardinal number; half of two.
• Example: There is one apple left.

all (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing.
• Example: All of the cookies are gone.

would (verb)

• Meaning: Past of will, indicating the future in the past.
• Example: I said I would help him.

there (adverb)

• Meaning: In, at, or to that place or position.
• Example: The book is over there.

their (pronoun)

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned.
• Example: This is their house.

what (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to ask for information specifying something.
• Example: What is your name?

so (conjunction)

• Meaning: To such a great extent.
• Example: She was so tired.

up (adverb)

• Meaning: Toward a higher place or position.
• Example: She climbed up the hill.

out (adverb)

• Meaning: Moving or appearing to move away from a particular place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden.
• Example: She went out of the room.

if (conjunction)

• Meaning: Introducing a conditional clause.
• Example: If it rains, we will stay indoors.

about (preposition)

• Meaning: On the subject of; concerning.
• Example: We talked about the movie.

who (pronoun)

• Meaning: What or which person or people.
• Example: Who is that man?

get (verb)

• Meaning: Come to have or hold (something); receive.
• Example: I will get some milk.

which (pronoun)

• Meaning: Asking for information specifying one or more people or things from a definite set.
• Example: Which book is yours?

go (verb)

• Meaning: Move from one place to another.
• Example: She will go to the store.

me (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition.
• Example: Can you help me?

when (adverb)

• Meaning: At what time.
• Example: When will you arrive?

make (verb)

• Meaning: Form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances.
• Example: I will make a cake.

can (verb)

• Meaning: Be able to.
• Example: She can swim very well.

like (preposition)

• Meaning: Having the same characteristics or qualities as; similar to.
• Example: He acts like his father.

time (noun)

• Meaning: The indefinite continued progress of existence and events.
• Example: What time is it?

no (adverb)

• Meaning: Not any.
• Example: There is no milk left.

just (adverb)

• Meaning: Exactly.
• Example: She arrived just in time.

him (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned.
• Example: I saw him at the park.

know (verb)

• Meaning: Be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.
• Example: Do you know the answer?

take (verb)

• Meaning: Lay hold of (something) with one’s hands.
• Example: Take an umbrella with you.

people (noun)

• Meaning: Human beings in general or considered collectively.
• Example: There were many people at the concert.

into (preposition)

• Meaning: Expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else.
• Example: She walked into the room.

year (noun)

• Meaning: The time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun.
• Example: She was born last year.

your (pronoun)

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing.
• Example: Is this your book?

good (adjective)

• Meaning: To be desired or approved of.
• Example: This is a good movie.

some (pronoun)

• Meaning: An unspecified amount or number of.
• Example: Can I have some water?

could (verb)

• Meaning: Used as the past tense of can, indicating possibility.
• Example: I could help you with that.

them (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned.
• Example: I saw them at the party.

see (verb)

• Meaning: Perceive with the eyes; discern visually.
• Example: Can you see the stars?

other (adjective)

• Meaning: Used to refer to a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already mentioned.
• Example: Do you have any other questions?

than (conjunction)

• Meaning: Introducing the second element in a comparison.
• Example: She is taller than her brother.

then (adverb)

• Meaning: At that time; at the time in question.
• Example: We were living in Canada then.

now (adverb)

• Meaning: At the present moment.
• Example: I am leaving now.

look (verb)

• Meaning: Direct one’s gaze toward someone or something or in a specified direction.
• Example: Look at the sky.

only (adverb)

• Meaning: And no one or nothing more besides; solely or exclusively.
• Example: She was the only person there.

come (verb)

• Meaning: Move or travel toward or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker.
• Example: Can you come here for a minute?

its (pronoun)

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned or easily identified.
• Example: The dog hurt its paw.

over (preposition)

• Meaning: Extending directly upward from.
• Example: The lamp is over the table.

think (verb)

• Meaning: Have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something.
• Example: I think it will rain today.

also (adverb)

• Meaning: In addition; too.
• Example: She is a writer and also a painter.

back (noun)

• Meaning: The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips.
• Example: He has a tattoo on his back.

after (preposition)

• Meaning: In the time following (an event or another period of time).
• Example: We went for a walk after dinner.

use (verb)

• Meaning: Take, hold, or deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a result.
• Example: Can I use your phone?

two (number)

• Meaning: Equivalent to the sum of one and one; one less than three; 2.
• Example: She has two cats.

how (adverb)

• Meaning: In what way or manner; by what means.
• Example: How do you make this recipe?

our (pronoun)

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people previously mentioned or easily identified.
• Example: This is our house.

work (verb)

• Meaning: Be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose or result, especially in one’s job.
• Example: She works at a bank.

first (adjective)

• Meaning: Coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.
• Example: She won first prize.

well (adverb)

• Meaning: In a good or satisfactory way.
• Example: He did well on the test.

way (noun)

• Meaning: A method, style, or manner of doing something.
• Example: Can you show me the way to the library?

even (adverb)

• Meaning: Used to emphasize something surprising or extreme.
• Example: She didn’t even call to say she was going to be late.

new (adjective)

• Meaning: Not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.
• Example: She bought a new car.

want (verb)

• Meaning: Have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for.
• Example: I want to go to the beach.

because (conjunction)

• Meaning: For the reason that; since.
• Example: I stayed home because it was raining.

any (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to refer to one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how much or many.
• Example: Do you have any sugar?

these (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used to identify a specific set of items close at hand or being indicated.
• Example: These are my books.

give (verb)

• Meaning: Freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone).
• Example: Please give me your hand.

day (noun)

• Meaning: Each of the twenty-four-hour periods, from midnight to midnight, into which a week, month, or year is divided, and corresponding to a rotation of the earth on its axis.
• Example: She works eight hours a day.

most (adverb)

• Meaning: To the greatest extent.
• Example: She is the most talented singer in the group.

us (pronoun)

• Meaning: Used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people as the object of a verb or preposition.
• Example: The teacher gave us homework.

is (verb)

• Meaning: Third person singular present of “be.”
• Example: She is happy.

are (verb)

• Meaning: Second person singular present and first, second, third person plural present of “be.”
• Example: They are friends.

am (verb)

• Meaning: First person singular present of “be.”
• Example: I am a student.

was (verb)

• Meaning: First and third person singular past of “be.”
• Example: She was at the store.

were (verb)

• Meaning: Second person singular past, and first, second, third person plural past of “be.”
• Example: We were happy to help.

been (verb)

• Meaning: Past participle of “be.”
• Example: I have been to Paris.

had (verb)

• Meaning: Past of “have.”
• Example: She had a dog.

has (verb)

• Meaning: Third person singular present of “have.”
• Example: He has a new car.

does (verb)

• Meaning: Third person singular present of “do.”
• Example: She does her homework every day.

did (verb)

• Meaning: Past of “do.”
• Example: He did his best in the competition.

should (verb)

• Meaning: Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness.
• Example: You should brush your teeth twice a day.

must (verb)

• Meaning: Be obliged to; should (expressing necessity).
• Example: You must wear a seatbelt.

might (verb)

• Meaning: Used to indicate possibility or probability.
• Example: It might rain later.

shall (verb)

• Meaning: Used to indicate future action or a suggestion.
• Example: Shall we dance?

going (verb)

• Meaning: Present participle of “go.”
• Example: I am going to the market.

having (verb)

• Meaning: Present participle of “have.”
• Example: She is having a great time at the party.

doing (verb)

• Meaning: Present participle of “do.”
• Example: What are you doing?

being (verb)

• Meaning: Present participle of “be.”
• Example: He is being very quiet today.

many (adjective)

• Meaning: A large number of.
• Example: She has many friends.

such (adjective)

• Meaning: Of the kind or degree already described or implied.
• Example: He made such a mess.

much (adjective)

• Meaning: A large amount.
• Example: There is much to learn.

more (adjective)

• Meaning: A greater or additional amount or degree.
• Example: I need more time to finish.

each (pronoun)

• Meaning: Every one of two or more people or things, regarded and identified separately.
• Example: Each of the students has a book.

few (adjective)

• Meaning: A small number of.
• Example: There are few apples left.

under (preposition)

• Meaning: Extending or directly below.
• Example: The cat is under the table.

again (adverb)

• Meaning: Another time; once more.
• Example: She will sing again tonight.

home (noun)

• Meaning: The place where one lives permanently.
• Example: He is going home for the holidays.

life (noun)

• Meaning: The existence of an individual human being or animal.
• Example: She lived a long life.

little (adjective)

• Meaning: Small in size, amount, or degree.
• Example: The little girl is playing.

old (adjective)

• Meaning: Having lived for a long time; no longer young.
• Example: The old man walked slowly.

last (adjective)

• Meaning: Coming after all others in time or order.
• Example: She was the last person to leave.

long (adjective)

• Meaning: Measuring a great distance from end to end.
• Example: The bridge is very long.

great (adjective)

• Meaning: Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average.
• Example: He is a great leader.

same (adjective)

• Meaning: Identical; not different.
• Example: They wore the same dress.

set (verb)

• Meaning: Put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position.
• Example: She set the table for dinner.

right (adjective)

• Meaning: Morally good, justified, or acceptable.
• Example: She made the right decision.

still (adverb)

• Meaning: Up to and including the present or the time mentioned; even now (or then) as formerly.
• Example: She is still sleeping.

too (adverb)

• Meaning: To a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively.
• Example: It is too hot today.

may (verb)

• Meaning: Used to express possibility.
• Example: You may leave if you wish.

call (verb)

• Meaning: Cry out a word or words.
• Example: I will call you later.

read (verb)

• Meaning: Look at and comprehend the meaning of (written or printed matter).
• Example: She likes to read books.

man (noun)

• Meaning: An adult human male.
• Example: The man opened the door.

find (verb)

• Meaning: Discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly.
• Example: I can’t find my keys.

here (adverb)

• Meaning: In, at, or to this place or position.
• Example: Come here and sit down.

need (verb)

• Meaning: Require (something) because it is essential or very important.
• Example: I need a drink of water.

much (adjective)

• Meaning: A large amount.
• Example: There is much work to do.

should (verb)

• Meaning: Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness.
• Example: You should see a doctor.

start (verb)

• Meaning: Begin or set out on an activity or journey.
• Example: We will start the meeting at 10 AM.

show (verb)

• Meaning: Allow or cause (something) to be visible.
• Example: Can you show me the way?

end (noun)

• Meaning: A final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.
• Example: They lived happily ever after the end.

Common Words | Image

How Many Words Do I Need?

Studies suggest that understanding around 3,000 words grants comprehension of 90% of everyday English! This might seem like a lot, but focusing on high-frequency words makes the journey efficient.

Learning common words is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient, consistent, and celebrate your progress. As your vocabulary grows, so too will your confidence in using the English language!

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