If you’re an English learner, knowing which words are most commonly used in the language can help you to improve your vocabulary skills and gain confidence in casual conversations.
Common English Words
All
Meaning: Everyone in a group.
Example: All the children did their homework.
And
Meaning: A conjunction that joins parts of speech together in a sentence.
Example: She jumped, jogged, and danced in gym class.
Book
Meaning: A long text of words that people read.
Example: The college student had to read a 1000-page book for English class.
Call
Meaning: To yell out or speak loudly; to contact someone by phone.
Example: The girl called out to her brother so he would wait for her.
Boy
Meaning: A male child.
Example: The little boy asked his mother if she would buy him candy.
Chair
Meaning: A piece of furniture that can hold one person.
Example: My mother is the only one allowed to sit in the big chair in the living room.
Car
Meaning: A four-wheeled vehicle that transports people from one place to another.
Example: He drove the car from school to work.
Children
Meaning: Young people who have not yet reached adulthood.
Example: The children didn’t listen to what their parents told them.
City
Meaning: A place where many people live.
Example: New York is the biggest city in the United States.
Dog
Meaning: An animal that many people have as a household pet.
Example: My dog likes to play with bones.
Door
Meaning: A passageway from which you can enter or exit a room or a building.
Example: The students rushed through the classroom door just before the bell rang.
Enemy
Meaning: The opposite of a friend. A competitor or rival.
Example: The hero of the story killed his enemy with a sword.
End
Meaning: To finish something or come to a conclusion.
Example: The end of the book was a happy one.
Enough
Meaning: To have more than one needs of something.
Example: Most Americans have enough food to eat, but that’s not true in other countries.
Eat
Meaning: To consume food.
Example: The children liked to eat apples and bananas after school.
Friend
Meaning: The opposite of an enemy. Someone on your side and with whom you enjoy spending time.
Example: The girl played with her friend in the yard until her mother told her to come inside.
Father
Meaning: A male parent.
Example: The father picked up his child when she started crying.
Go
Meaning: To travel to and from a location.
Example: We go to school every day.
Good
Meaning: To behave well or in a kind manner.
Example: My mother said that if I’m good and don’t hit my brother, she will take me to the movies.
Girl
Meaning: A female child.
Example: The girl dropped her schoolbooks on the ground.
Food
Meaning: An edible substance that people, animals, and plants eat to live.
Example: Starving people do not have enough food to eat and may die.
Hear
Meaning: To listen to something.
Example: I could hear my brother and sister arguing from the other room.
House
Meaning: A place where people, often families, live.
Example: My friend lives in the biggest house on the street.
Inside
Meaning: The internal part of something or to be located within something.
Example: The inside of the house was warm and cozy.
Laugh
Meaning: To express that you find something amusing.
Example: The children laughed after the clown made a joke.
Listen
Meaning: To hear something.
Example: We listen to music because we like to dance.
Man
Meaning: An adult male.
Example: The man was much taller than his son.
Name
Meaning: The title of a place, book, person, etc.
Example: I never liked my name growing up.
Never
Meaning: Not ever.
Example: I am never getting back together with my boyfriend.
Next
Meaning: The thing that happens after something else in a sequence; to be situated by something else.
Example: Let’s go to the next question.
New
Meaning: Something just created or unused or unopened.
Example: My mother bought me a new doll for Christmas. It was still in the package.
Noise
Meaning: Loud sounds, especially made by music or a group of people.
Example: There was so much noise at the party, the neighbors called the police.
Often
Meaning: To happen frequently.
Example: My teacher gets mad because I often forget my homework.
Pair
Meaning: Two things that go together.
Example: I like the new pair of shoes my sister bought me for my birthday.
Pick
Meaning: To choose or select.
Example: I picked the cupcake with vanilla frosting.
Play
Meaning: To have fun with someone or engage in an activity or sport.
Example: I like to play football with my brother.
Room
Meaning: A part of a home, building, office or another structure.
Example: The room at the end of the hall is the coldest in the building.
See
Meaning: To watch or observe something.
Example: I see clouds in the sky, which must mean it will rain soon.
Sell
Meaning: To offer a service or a good for a price.
Example: I am going to sell my surfboard for $50 because it’s time for a new one.
Sit
Meaning: To rest on a floor, chair, or another surface.
Example: The teacher told the children to sit on the carpet.
Speak
Meaning: To say something.
Example: I speak too loudly sometimes.
Smile
Meaning: To grin or show pleasure.
Example: I smile when my brother tells jokes.
Sister
Meaning: The opposite of brother. The female child in relation to other children of the same parents.
Example: My parents took my sister and me to the circus.
Think
Meaning: To contemplate something or have an idea or belief.
Example: I think all pets should have a home.
Then
Meaning: Something that comes after an event in a sequence.
Example: I opened the refrigerator. Then, I ate some food.
Walk
Meaning: To travel on foot.
Example: I walk home from school every day.
Water
Meaning: A substance plants, people, animals, and the earth need to survive.
Example: If animals don’t have enough water to drink, they will die.
Work
Meaning: To make a living, engage in an activity for pay, or to reach a goal.
Example: I work as a teacher because I like children.
Write
Meaning: To put something on paper with a pen or pencil. To use a computer to type text.
Example: I have to write three essays in English class this semester.
Woman
Meaning: A female adult.
Example: That woman was our new school principal.
Yes
Meaning: To answer affirmatively or respond to one’s name being called.
Example: “Yes, I’m here,” the student said when the teacher called her name.
Very nice and helpful words. So as a teacher I recommend all these words with easy meaning for beginners.