English Vocabulary for Beginners

When you begin to learn a second language, one of the most difficult aspects is to express yourself correctly because you don’t know enough words. If you want to communicate more effectively, it’s a good idea to start by learning some basic English vocabulary that is commonly used so you can understand simple conversations and texts and express yourself in most situations.

So here is a list of English vocabulary for beginners which will help you.

Different ways of greeting someone in English

Learning different ways to greet someone is really useful for interacting with other people because they are always a part of any conversation. Let’s look at some common types of greeting:

Good morning – formal greeting used in the morning until 12 p.m.

Good afternoon – formal greeting used from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Good evening – formal greeting used after 6 p.m.

Good night – when you go to bed

Hello / Hi – used when you see someone

Bye – used when you leave

How are you?

Please – a polite word to add to a request

Thank you – a response to receiving something 

Have a nice day! – to wish someone well

Question Words

Here are some words that are used very frequently in English, starting with some question words that will really help you to ask and give information.

What – to ask about a thing (e.g. name)

Which – to ask about a choice between a limited number of things

Who – to ask about a person

How – to ask about the way to do something

When – to ask about a date or time

Where – to ask about location

Why – to ask the reason

For example:

•  What’s your name?
• Which is your jacket? This one?
• Who is your best friend?
• How do you get to work? By bus.
• When is your birthday?
• Where are you from?
• Why are you studying English? Because it’s important for my job.

This and That

Here are some useful words for describing things:

There – used to describe a place. For example: There is a post office near here.

This – to indicate a thing near you. For example: This is my office. 

That – to indicate a thing not near you. For example: That office over there belongs to my boss.

Common verbs in English

The most essential part of a phrase is the verb. Verbs allow you to describe movements, feelings, states and events. Here are the most common ones:

Come – move to this place

Do – complete an action

Go – move from one place to another

Have – possess something

Help – give assistance

Like – have a good opinion of a person or thing

Live – have your home

Need – have necessity 

Think – have an opinion

Can – be able / have an ability

For example:

• I can come tomorrow.
• We like our teacher.
• Where do you live?
• Can you help me with this exercise?
• I think you’re right.

Now that you know some English vocabulary, practice it during your next trips abroad. You can also try using these words:

Accommodation – the place where you stay e.g. a hotel 

Flight – a journey on a plane

Arrival – the moment of arriving at your destination

Departure – the moment of leaving  

Baggage allowance – how many kgs of luggage (bags) you can take 

Delay – when transport leaves later than scheduled

Passenger – a person travelling on transport

Destination – the place you are going to

Passport – the document you need to enter another country

Downtown – the center of a city

For example:

• My favorite type of accommodation on holiday is a B & B. It’s cheap and comfortable.
• The baggage allowance for this flight is 15 kgs.
• I missed my flight! I’ll have to get the next one.
• What is your destination today, Sir? I’m going to New York.
• I’ve got to go downtown later. Let’s meet for dinner.
• There was a long delay to our flight because of bad weather.

Knowing vocabulary is a fundamental part of being able to communicate in English. Perhaps you know some grammar but if you don’t know the word you need to ask a question or identify an object, you can easily be stuck! 

Start by learning this list of useful words above, then practice! Recognizing a word and being able to apply it during conversation is often quite different, so practicing is really important.

Our English course gives you the chance to learn and practice a lot of vocabulary gradually, through fun interactive games and by speaking in small classes with a teacher. 

This post has been adapted and translated from the original content by WSE Argentina here: ¡Vocabulario en inglés para principiantes que debes conocer!