When starting to learn English, it’s important to begin with the basics. The following list of essential English words for beginners will help you build a solid foundation in the language. Each word is accompanied by a definition and an example sentence to illustrate its usage in everyday conversations.
Hello – a greeting used when meeting someone.
“Hello, how are you today?”
Goodbye – a farewell or a way to express parting.
“It was nice seeing you, goodbye!”
Please – a polite expression used when asking for something.
“Could you please pass the salt?”
Thank you – a polite expression used to show gratitude.
“Thank you for helping me with my homework.”
Sorry – an apology.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
Yes – a positive response or agreement.
“Yes, I would like some coffee.”
No – a negative response or disagreement.
“No, I don’t like mushrooms.”
Man – an adult male human.
“The man at the store was very helpful.”
Woman – an adult female human.
“That woman over there is my teacher.”
Child – a young human, boy or girl.
“The child is playing in the park.”
Family – a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit.
“We’re having dinner with my family tonight.”
Friend – a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
“She is my best friend.”
Water – a clear liquid that is essential for most forms of life.
“Could I have a glass of water, please?”
Food – any nutritious substance that people eat or drink to maintain life and growth.
“We need to buy more food for the party.”
House – a building for human habitation.
“They live in a big house.”
School – an institution for educating children.
“My kids go to the local school.”
Store – a place where merchandise is sold, usually a market or a shop.
“We need to go to the store to buy some groceries.”
Office – a room or set of rooms where business, professional, or administrative work is done.
“He’s at the office right now.”
Car – a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine.
“We’re taking my car to the trip.”
Street – a public road in a city or town, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides.
“The restaurant is just down the street.”
Money – a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes.
“Do you have enough money for the tickets?”
Love – an intense feeling of deep affection.
“I love my family very much.”
Happy – feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
“She looks so happy with her new toy.”
Sad – feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy.
“He was sad after hearing the bad news.”
Big – of considerable size, extent, or intensity.
“Look at that big mountain!”
Small – of a size that is less than normal or usual.
“The kitten is very small.”
Hot – having a high degree of heat or a high temperature.
“Be careful, the soup is very hot.”
Cold – of or at a low or relatively low temperature.
“It’s very cold outside today, wear a coat.”
These fundamental words are just the beginning of your journey into English language learning. Understanding and using these words will help you in daily conversations and set the stage for further vocabulary expansion.