A1 English Vocabulary: The 500 Words Beginners Need First [2026]

A1 is the starting line, and its vocabulary is small enough to learn on purpose rather than by slow exposure. That is the good news for a beginner: you are not facing an ocean of words, but a manageable core of around 500 that cover the situations you meet every day. Choosing the right 500 matters far more than chasing volume.

A1 is where many learners first measure themselves. In our test data it is the result for about 7% of everyone who completes the English level test, out of 193,751 completed tests, and among people who sit our dedicated A1 test, 56% reach the level. So it is a real threshold with a real pass rate, not just a label. This guide groups the core A1 words into the everyday categories where you will really use them.

People and family

The first words most learners need, because they describe who is around you.

• family words: mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter. This is my sister.
• people words: man, woman, child, friend, name. What is your name?
• basic descriptions: tall, short, old, young, happy. My father is tall.

Food and drink

The vocabulary of the table, and of the shop.

• food: bread, rice, egg, meat, fish, fruit. I eat bread every morning.
• drink: water, tea, coffee, milk, juice. A glass of water, please.
• meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. We have dinner at seven.

Numbers, days and time

The words that let you arrange your life.

• numbers: one to a hundred, plus first and second. I have two brothers.
• days: Monday to Sunday, today, tomorrow. See you on Friday.
• time: hour, minute, morning, night, o'clock. It is nine o'clock.

Everyday verbs

The small set of verbs that does most of the work at A1.

• be, have, do: I am a student. I have a car. I do my homework.
• movement: go, come, walk, sit, stand. I go to work by bus.
• daily actions: eat, drink, sleep, work, like. I like coffee.

Getting around and asking questions

The words that let you cope in a new place.

• places: house, shop, school, station, street. The shop is near the station.
• question words: what, where, when, who, how. Where is the station?
• useful phrases: please, thank you, sorry, excuse me. Excuse me, where is the exit?

Where A1 leads

A1 vocabulary is not meant to be impressive; it is meant to be reliable. If you can name the things around you, count, tell the time and ask a simple question, you are working at A1, and the next step is A2, where words for opinions and past events begin.

To see how A1 fits into the wider picture, our guide to the English levels from A1 to C2 sets out what each stage looks like, so you can tell whether A1 is behind you or still worth consolidating and what the next step holds.