If you want to learn a language, you should first build a mental “dictionary” of basic words – this applies whenyou want to learn english
Though it may sound boring at first, building a basic English dictionary in your head is the first step to learning enough English to have a conversation.
If you don't know enough basic English words for everyday use, you won't be able to ask questions and understand the answers.
They will also not be able to convey thoughts or emotions.
Tips for learning basic English words
A quick Google search should give you lists of meanings for everyday English words.
Review and memorize these 20 to 100English wordsfor Beginners will help you learn enough to build your vocabulary enough to hold a conversation.
Try to recite the words out loud to yourself over and over again.
However, one of the most efficient ways to learn English words for beginners has to be by looking at lists of basic English words with pictures.
Try finding picture books or other materials for children to learn basic English words.
To be able to see a picture of whatan English root wordis meant to mean is a great way to imprint it in your mind.
90 essential English words that every English learner should know
Here's our own list of some basic words you should know.
At the end there is also a downloadable PDF file with all these words waiting for you. Let's dive in!
1. Hallo
That is abasic greeting.
2. Goodbye
That's what you say when you leave.
3. And
This is a word you say when you agree with something someone said.
4. No
This is a word that means you disagree with something someone said.
5. Please
This is a polite way of getting someone's attention. When asking someone for a favor, you should say "please."
6. Thank you
When someone does something for you, this is the polite response.
7. Help
If you need someone to do something for you because you can't do it yourself, ask for help. If you are in trouble, you should yell "Help!"
8. Sorry
That's what you say when you've done something to someone. You can also use it to seek their attention or interrupt them.
9. Person and Persons
This is a word used when talking about people. A "person" is the singular form you use when referring to a person. "People" is what we call a group.
10. Man and men
A man is a person who is male. Meanwhile, a group of people who are male are men.
11. Woman and women
A woman is a person who is female. A group of people who are female are women.
12. He or Him
These are used to refer to a male person. The words "person" or "man" are nouns. "He" and "Him" are pronouns, which is a shorter word used in place of a noun.
13. You or her
These are pronouns used to refer to a female person. You can use this instead of "Ms."
14. You or you
These are gender-neutral pronouns that you can use to refer to people.
15. i
This is a pronoun that you can use to refer to yourself.
16. i
This is a word you can use to refer to yourself.
17. Mine
This is a word that indicates ownership. When you say something in "mine," you say it's yours.
18. From
This is a gender-neutral pronoun that you can use to refer to another person. This is usually what you use when speaking directly to someone.
19. We
This is a pronoun you can use to refer to yourself and other people as a group or collective.
20. Child and children
These are gender-neutral terms meaning a young person or person. A "child" is a young person, while "children" refers to a group of young people. If someone is underage or not yet of legal age, they are usually considered a child.
21. Teenager
When a young person is past the age of puberty, they are referred to as teenagers.
22nd boy
A male child or a teenager can be referred to as a boy.
23. Girl
A female child or teenager may be referred to as a girl.
24th parent
A parent is someone who takes care of a child. Often this is a blood relative of the child.
25. Father
A father is the male parent
26. Mutter
A mother is the female parent.
27. Sohn
male offspring.
28. Daughter
female offspring.
29. Brother
Someone who has the same parents as someone else. If there is more than one male offspring, they refer to each other as "brother".
30. Sister
Someone who has the same parents as someone else. If there is more than one female offspring, they refer to each other as "sisters"
31st thing
An object that is not alive.
32. Tier
A creature that is not human.
33. Plant
A creature that grows on earth.
34. This and that
These are pronouns used to refer to things. They can also be used to refer to living beings that are not human.
36. This and that
These are other pronouns used to refer to things. They can also be used to refer to living beings that are not human.
37. Es
Another pronoun that can be used to refer to things or beings that are not human.
38th time
This is a concept that means a measurable period of time during which an action takes place.
39 hour
This is a specific unit of time.
40. Tag
Can mean either 24 hours or the time the sun is in the sky.
41st night
The period when the sun is not in the sky.
42. If
This is a question word, a word that asks a question. When you ask "when" you want to know a specific unit of time.
43. Wer
This is an interrogative pronoun. The answer to the question "Who" refers to a specific person.
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44. Was
This is an interrogative pronoun. When you ask "what," you're asking about a specific thing.
45. Why
This is an interrogative pronoun. When you ask "why," you're questioning the reason for a particular action.
46. Platz
This means a place or address where you are, where another person or object is, or where an action or event is taking place.
47. Wo
This is an interrogative pronoun. When you ask "where," you're asking about a specific location. Often the answer is a specific place at a specific time and date.
48. Here
This refers to the current location. When you are "here" it refers to where you are right now.
49. Now
This is a word meaning the present. When you say you are somewhere “now,” that is your current location.
50. Later
This word refers to a future time. When you say you'll be somewhere later, you're referring to your location in the near future.
51. Von
When you say something comes "from" somewhere, you're talking about where it was before it got to its present location.
52. Building
This is an artificial structure that usually consists of walls, a floor and a roof.
53. Home
This is a building used as a residence by a person or a group of people. Where they eat and sleep daily.
54. Laden
This is a building where goods and services are offered for sale.
55. Restaurant
This is a building where meals are for sale. Meals can be taken there.
56. Essen
This is the act of ingesting or eating.
57. Drink
This is the absorption of liquids.
58. Breakfast
This is a meal taken in the morning. Breakfast is usually the first meal of the day.
59. Lunch
This is the meal that is usually eaten around noon.
60. Dinner
This is a meal taken in the evening. It's usually the last meal of the day.
61. Before
This is a word related to the past.
62. After
This is a word that refers to a period of time that occurs after an event.
63. To
This is a word related to movement. When you go to something, you move closer to it.
64. School
This is a building where education takes place. People gather in a school either to teach or to learn lessons.
65th student
This refers to someone who goes to school to learn. Gender neutral and can be used to refer to an adult, child, or teen.
66. Lehrer
This is someone who goes to school to teach students. Gender neutral and usually refers to an adult.
67. Have
This is a verb that is an action word. "Have" means something you possess.
68. Go
This is a different verb. When you or someone 'walk', you are moving toward something.
69. Again
This is a verb. When you "do" something, you are performing an action.
70. Received
This is a verb. When you or someone else "gets" something, move toward it and hold it.
71. See
This is a verb related to seeing. If you see something, see it.
72. Smell
This is a verb related to smell. When you smell something, you use your nose.
73. Ton
This is a verb related to hearing. you hear a noise
74. Taste
If you taste something, you know its taste.
75. Touch
When you touch something, you feel it. Usually with your hands, but if something almost touches your skin, you'll feel its "touch."
76. Knowledge
If you "know" something, you understand it.
77. Make
This is a verb related to creation. When you "make" something, you create it.
78. Come
This is a verb that refers to a future action. When you say you will “come,” you are saying you will be at a venue by a specific time, usually sometime in the near future.
79. Use
If you take an action with something, use it.
80. With
When you are with someone or something, they are physically with you. You are in the same place at the same time.
81. Want
If you want something, you want it.
82. For
When you say something for someone, you indicate that they own it.
83. Kaufen
When you buy something, you give money to someone else to own it.
84. Sell
This refers to someone willing to take money for an item they own.
85. Injured
This refers to feeling nauseous or in pain due to an accident.
86. Sick
This refers to feeling bad and possibly pain due to illness
87. Doctor
This is someone to go to when you are feeling ill.
89. Hospital
This is a building where you will find a doctor and where you will be taken if you are injured in an accident.
90. Police
This is a government mandated entity to maintain peace and security. If you need help, you can call the police.
Diploma
While it is possibleexpand your vocabularyIf you memorize lists like these, you still need to know how to use them properly in a conversation. To do this, you need to practice putting the words together and saying them to a native speaker.
Here and why you need to find a good native English teacher.
Download the PDF of 90 Basic English Words below:
90_Basic_English_Words_PDF_List