Vocabulary Workshop: 1000 Most Common Words in English

in Alphabetical Order

This ESL vocabulary workshop includes a part of the 1000 most common words in English placed in alphabetical order. Click on
the links at the end of the page that lead to other pages that are included in this list of the 1000 most common words in English
for ESL EFL English learners and teachers.

While this list is helpful for a strong beginning, more advanced vocabulary building will help you quickly improve your English.

These vocabulary books

will further help you build your vocabulary, especially at advanced levels.

Rank Word

Reference

Rank Word

Reference

Definite and Indefinite
Articles

981

chick

The little chick was so
cute!

422

able

Adjective or Adverb?

829

chief

Adjective or Adverb?

about

Preposition Help

665

child

The three year old child
could walk and talk very
well.

307

above

Preposition Help

256

children

Can the children come
over a birthday party?

177

act

741

choose

168

add

962

chord

The C Major chord
finished the piece.

917

afraid

Adjective or Adverb?

525

circle

He drew a circle around
the best ideas.

111

after

Preposition Help

227

city

The city can be a
dangerous place, but it
offers so much to do.

191

again

899

claim

He made a claim on the
money.

383

against

Preposition Help

329

class

We're having a class on
phrasal verbs next week.

675

age

It's the age of technology.

719

clean

Adjective or Adverb?

481

ago

446

clear

Adjective or Adverb?

789

agree

683

climb

155

air

The air isn't very clean in the
city.

831

clock

Look at the clock on the
wall! I have to get out of
here!

all

245

841

allow

597

clothe

157

also

678

cloud

Doesn't that cloud look
like a woman?

264

always

632

coast

The west coast is
beautiful.

507

931

coat

Get your coat on and let's
get going.

500

among

Preposition Help

398

cold

It's very cold outside.

Definite and Indefinite
Articles

747

collect

and

930

colony

The French colony was a
paradise.

898

anger

You need to control your
anger better.

297

color

My favorite color is blue.

192

animal

The animal was ferocious.

886

column

The column in the middle
is the most important in
the chart.

208

answer

The answer is correct.

come

101

any

472

common

Adjective or Adverb?

391

appear

856

company

The company went
bankrupt last year.

927

apple

An apple a day keeps the
doctor away!

812

compare

are

333

complete

Adjective or Adverb?

335

area

I like the Seattle area.

940

condition

My first condition is that
you study hard.

513

arm

He hurt his arm playing
baseball.

959

connect

868

arrange

628

consider

950

arrive

667

consonant

V is a difficult consonant
to pronounce.

539

art

Art is one of the greatest
things in life.

428

contain

900

continent

Australia is the only
country that is also a
continent.

179

ask

850

continue

Preposition Help

749

control

The situation is under
control.

771

atom

Scientists used to believe
that the atom was the
smallest measurable unit.

619

cook

601

baby

We had a baby last year.

684

cool

Adjective or Adverb?

112

back

My back hurts!

633

copy

I'll make you a copy of
the report.

724

bad

Adjective or Adverb?

811

corn

I enjoy eating corn.

502

ball

Bounce that ball!

782

corner

The house is on the
corner.

934

band

I joined a band when I was
sixteen years old.

421

correct

Adjective or Adverb?

746

bank

I need to go to the bank to
get some money.

734

cost

972

bar

Let's grab a beer at the bar.

871

cotton

My shirt is made of
cotton.

291

base

The base of operations is in
Vienna.

could

944

basic

Adjective or Adverb?

534

count

808

bat

Hi picked up the bat and
went to hit.

206

country

This is a huge country.

454

course

The English course was
very difficult.

592

bear

I saw a bear on the trail
yesterday.

215

cover

Can you add another
cover to the bed.

646

beat

579

cow

Our cow produces 2
gallons of mild each day.

425

beauty

698

crease

There is no crease in my
trousers.

545

bed

I went to bed late last night.

805

create

been

777

crop

The corn crop was very
good this past year.

143

before

Preposition Help

229

cross

285

began

810

crowd

There was a huge crowd
at the concert.

257

begin

409

cry

445

behind

Preposition Help

847

current

550

believe

294

cut

815

bell

He rang the bell to begin
class.

968

dad

My dad went to school in
Oregon.

352

best

510

dance

354

better

794

danger

There is danger in
everything.

219

between

Preposition Help

410

dark

173

big

Adjective or Adverb?

day

Each day is a new day.

314

bird

He saw the bird fly away.

843

dead

Adjective or Adverb?

631

bit

860

deal

He made a great deal on
his new house.

326

black

982

dear

Adjective or Adverb?

851

block

The house is one block away.

903

death

Death is a part of life.

727

blood

You've got blood on your
face. Did you cut yourself?

461

decide

725

blow

750

decimal

Calculate the decimal as
well.

459

blue

463

deep

Adjective or Adverb?

569

board

He wrote the answer on the
board.

979

degree

471

boat

I got on the boat and rowed
away.

816

depend

316

body

It's important to keep your
body in shape.

618

describe

785

bone

The bone was showing after
the accident.

845

desert

I went out ot the desert
last weekend.

278

book

I bought a new book last
weekend.

685

design

He submitted a new
design for the home.

872

born

873

determine

267

both

437

develop

689

bottom

The water was so clear I
could see the bottom of the
lake.

669

dictionary

Look up the word in the
dictionary.

928

bought

did

417

box

He opened the box.

709

die

146

boy

The boy ran home after
school.

138

differ

912

branch

The branch on the tree had
snow on it.

756

difficult

Adjective or Adverb?

969

bread

I eat bread every day.

319

direct

Adjective or Adverb?

720

break

921

discuss

587

bright

Adjective or Adverb?

495

distant

Adjective or Adverb?

493

bring

528

divide

893

broad

Adjective or Adverb?

955

division

There was a major
division between the
partners.

654

broke

546

brother

My brother lives in Seattle.

757

doctor

You can see the doctor
now.

489

brought

151

does

736

brown

317

dog

My daughter really wants
a dog.

197

build

921

dollar

One dollar isn't worth
much anymore.

623

burn

242

don't

468

busy

Adjective or Adverb?

424

done

but

324

door

Can you open the door?

606

buy

948

double

Preposition Help

down

Preposition Help

call

238

draw

118

came

938

dream

I had a strange dream
last night.

869

camp

Did you go to camp last
summer?

677

dress

She bought a new dress
yesterday.

can

985

drink

791

capital

Venture capital is hard to
come by.

426

drive

753

captain

The captain ordered the ship
return.

505

drop

274

car

I'd like to buy a new car.

477

dry

933

card

I sent the card to my aunt.

976

duck

Have you ever eaten
duck?

276

care

356

during

279

carry

each

655

case

The case was put back two
weeks.

651

ear

You need a good ear to
play music well.

626

cat

My cat's name is Judy.

361

early

565

catch

199

earth

The Earth is round.

766

caught

261

ease

140

cause

497

east

549

cell

Each cell is important.

282

eat

730

cent

It costs one cent.

581

edge

The edge of the knife is
very sharp.

386

center

774

effect

627

century

Last century was extremely
violent.

547

egg

I'd like an egg for
breakfast.

405

certain

Adjective or Adverb?

602

eight

793

chair

The chair is made of wood.

621

either

879

chance

Did that happen by chance?

775

electric

Adjective or Adverb?

181

change

779

element

One element you need to
consider is bandwidth.

764

character

He has quite a kind
character.

652

else

970

charge

160

end

The end is near.

852

chart

The chart showed the growth
of the company.

983

enemy

Do you have an enemy?

483

check

542

energy

The world needs more
and more energy.

Rank

Word

Reference

Rank

Word

Reference

511

engine

616

held

301

enough

Adjective or Adverb?

135

help

834

enter

her

739

equal

Adjective or Adverb?

171

here

486

equate

174

high

Adjective or Adverb?

915

especially

Adjective or Adverb?

624

hill

169

even

him

939

evening

his

858

event

773

history

308

ever

780

hit

120

every

362

hold

707

exact

Adjective or Adverb?

699

hole

260

example

162

home

713

except

595

hope

647

excite

293

horse

563

exercise

hot

Adjective or Adverb?

776

expect

487

hot

Adjective or Adverb?

925

experience

353

hour

688

experiment

187

house

222

eye

how

298

face

918

huge

Adjective or Adverb?

449

fact

772

human

745

fair

Adjective or Adverb?

357

hundred

407

fall

543

hunt

318

family

828

hurry

820

famous

Adjective or Adverb?

236

far

Adjective or Adverb?

523

ice

230

farm

286

idea

367

fast

Adjective or Adverb?

963

fat

Adjective or Adverb?

787

imagine

200

father

Preposition Help

958

favor

451

inch

823

fear

527

include

941

feed

768

indicate

312

feel

642

industry

275

feet

765

insect

742

fell

977

instant

530

felt

575

instrument

249

few

365

interest

419

field

870

invent

916

fig

691

iron

644

fight

415

figure

465

island

496

fill

432

final

580

job

100

find

717

join

404

fine

570

joy

641

finger

600

jump

593

finish

129

just

339

fire

221

keep

first

576

kept

287

fish

690

key

743

fit

657

kill

358

five

184

kind

Adjective or Adverb?

694

flat

Adjective or Adverb?

349

king

620

floor

344

knew

744

flow

know

596

flower

721

lady

406

fly

659

lake

176

170

land

216

food

499

language

466

foot

166

large

Adjective or Adverb?

for

224

last

Adjective or Adverb?

458

force

240

late

Adjective or Adverb?

552

forest

479

laugh

130

form

630

law

922

forward

382

lay

207

found

408

lead

218

four

213

learn

551

fraction

710

least

440

free

Adjective or Adverb?

321

leave

836

fresh

Adjective or Adverb?

929

led

284

friend

239

left

from

Preposition Help

562

leg

429

front

537

length

795

fruit

374

less

457

full

Adjective or Adverb?

225

let

586

fun

Adjective or Adverb?

270

letter

484

game

878

level

738

garden

645

lie

588

gas

248

life

880

gather

848

lift

433

gave

183

light

522

general

Adjective or Adverb?

751

gentle

Adjective or Adverb?

137

line

106

get

994

liquid

303

girl

310

list

123

give

370

listen

964

glad

Adjective or Adverb?

113

little

577

glass

109

live

762

locate

473

gold

995

log

599

gone

561

lone

Adjective or Adverb?

121

good

Adjective or Adverb?

long

Adjective or Adverb?

258

got

look

396

govern

735

lost

501

grand

Adjective or Adverb?

687

lot

578

grass

662

loud

Adjective or Adverb?

890

gray

387

love

132

great

Adjective or Adverb?

136

low

Adjective or Adverb?

434

green

411

machine

729

grew

108

made

364

ground

909

magnet

263

group

300

main

Adjective or Adverb?

210

grow

835

major

Adjective or Adverb?

801

guess

make

924

guide

116

man

840

gun

many

had

393

map

617

hair

268

mark

336

half

978

market

164

hand

932

mass

332

happen

951

master

594

happy

Adjective or Adverb?

913

match

231

hard

Adjective or Adverb?

516

material

has

524

matter

853

hat

may

have

122

142

mean

201

head

996

meant

292

hear

323

measure

351

heard

817

meat

506

heart

604

meet

490

heat

701

melody

509

heavy

Adjective or Adverb?

180

men

Rank

Word

Reference

Rank

Word

Reference

609

metal

320

pose

672

method

512

position

656

middle

474

possible

233

might

960

post

272

mile

423

pound

670

milk

402

power

591

million

754

practice

444

mind

894

prepare

832

mine

508

present

441

minute

244

press

488

miss

904

pretty

Adjective or Adverb?

731

mix

842

778

modern

Adjective or Adverb?

544

probable

Adjective or Adverb?

887

molecule

341

problem

660

moment

799

process

389

money

448

produce

590

month

325

product

464

moon

971

proper

Adjective or Adverb?

885

property

375

morning

759

protect

most

560

prove

194

mother

788

provide

992

motion

397

pull

566

mount

611

push

288

mountain

161

put

706

mouth

874

quart

144

move

331

question

141

much

436

quick

Adjective or Adverb?

452

multiply

680

quiet

Adjective or Adverb?

265

music

653

quite

172

must

997

quotient

554

race

126

name

769

radio

668

nation

786

rail

648

natural

Adjective or Adverb?

394

rain

989

nature

607

raise

196

near

Preposition Help

482

ran

802

necessary

Adjective or Adverb?

990

range

1000

neck

809

rather

186

need

366

reach

806

neighbor

163

read

223

never

306

ready

102

new

247

real

Adjective or Adverb?

254

536

reason

246

night

704

receive

875

nine

470

record

309

red

877

noise

541

region

760

noon

359

remember

947

nor

891

repeat

250

north

984

896

nose

538

represent

412

note

892

require

453

nothing

420

rest

399

notice

622

result

418

noun

796

rich

Adjective or Adverb?

now

548

ride

number

145

right

328

numeral

763

ring

460

object

723

rise

664

observe

273

river

986

occur

392

road

438

ocean

337

rock

Preposition Help

639

roll

185

off

Preposition Help

283

room

973

offer

605

root

703

office

935

rope

269

often

840

rose

435

115

round

Adjective or Adverb?

726

oil

705

row

147

old

Adjective or Adverb?

818

rub

Preposition Help

395

rule

290

once

241

run

one

625

safe

Adjective or Adverb?

114

only

said

251

open

Adjective or Adverb?

515

sail

800

operate

895

salt

863

opposite

149

same

637

sand

338

order

572

sat

673

organ

748

save

965

original

Adjective or Adverb?

235

saw

other

134

say

124

our

661

scale

out

Preposition Help

209

school

over

Preposition Help

281

science

203

own

926

score

901

oxygen

237

sea

204

page

837

498

paint

907

season

526

pair

949

seat

262

paper

277

second

613

paragraph

676

section

953

parent

see

104

part

715

seed

859

particular

Adjective or Adverb?

252

seem

783

party

974

segment

345

pass

888

select

584

past

198

self

993

path

854

sell

384

pattern

838

send

674

pay

650

sense

people

740

sent

531

perhaps

131

sentence

767

period

755

separate

Adjective or Adverb?

388

person

390

serve

634

phrase

152

set

532

pick

519

settle

188

picture

612

seven

342

piece

378

several

930

pitch

615

shall

107

place

485

shape

302

plain

Adjective or Adverb?

966

414

plan

803

sharp

475

plane

she

827

planet

956

sheet

214

plant

999

shell

158

play

884

shine

758

please

334

ship

897

plural

865

shoe

813

poem

881

shop

193

point

954

shore

686

poor

Adjective or Adverb?

327

short

Adjective or Adverb?

980

populate

205

should

165

port

866

shoulder

Rank

Word

Reference

Rank

Word

Reference

712

shout

614

third

119

show

this

side

266

those

284

sight

311

though

Preposition Help

582

sign

226

thought

635

silent

Adjective or Adverb?

480

thousand

910

silver

153

three

923

similar

Adjective or Adverb?

128

through

377

simple

883

throw

346

since

790

thus

369

sing

833

tie

692

single

Adjective or Adverb?

time

919

sister

682

tiny

Adjective or Adverb?

553

sit

492

tire

371

six

Preposition Help

517

size

253

together

905

skill

343

told

696

skin

716

tone

568

sky

148

too

975

slave

280

took

559

sleep

942

tool

936

slip

347

top

385

slow

943

total

159

small

Adjective or Adverb?

728

touch

945

smell

380

toward

697

smile

403

town

491

snow

952

track

700

trade

585

soft

Adjective or Adverb?

558

train

638

soil

373

travel

798

soldier

228

tree

908

solution

826

triangle

608

solve

702

trip

some

711

trouble

658

son

876

truck

322

song

355

true

315

soon

189

try

sound

819

tube

340

south

139

turn

350

space

695

twenty

520

speak

two

443

special

Adjective or Adverb?

629

type

988

speech

125

under

Preposition Help

671

speed

401

unit

167

spell

271

until

Preposition Help

961

spend

Preposition Help

770

spoke

190

844

spot

use

867

spread

304

usual

Adjective or Adverb?

663

spring

946

valley

535

square

643

value

202

stand

518

vary

416

star

368

verb

232

start

127

very

220

state

649

view

967

station

603

village

455

stay

583

visit

476

stead

400

voice

991

steam

379

vowel

920

steel

413

wait

360

step

259

walk

693

stick

564

wall

212

still

154

want

681

stone

381

war

427

stood

439

warm

289

stop

was

556

store

807

wash

234

story

296

watch

666

straight

Adjective or Adverb?

water

598

strange

Adjective or Adverb?

504

wave

822

stream

way

450

street

882

stretch

737

wear

814

string

589

weather

442

strong

Adjective or Adverb?

431

week

781

student

521

weight

211

study

156

well

540

subject

182

went

957

substance

were

857

subtract

363

west

855

success

what

175

such

456

wheel

533

sudden

Adjective or Adverb?

when

914

suffix

110

where

902

sugar

610

whether

718

suggest

which

846

suit

243

while

557

summer

255

white

217

sun

who

784

supply

348

whole

987

support

761

whose

295

sure

178

why

462

surface

514

wide

Adjective or Adverb?

679

surprise

864

wife

961

swim

574

wild

529

syllable

will

708

symbol

937

win

467

system

330

wind

372

table

555

window

447

tail

804

wing

105

take

571

winter

313

talk

733

wire

636

tall

Adjective or Adverb?

567

wish

430

teach

with

Preposition Help

732

team

752

woman

998

teeth

906

women

150

tell

792

won't

640

temperat
ure

478

wonder

376

ten

299

wood

862

term

word

469

test

103

work

than

195

world

911

thank

would

that

write

the

Definite and Indefinite
Articles

573

written

their

889

wrong

them

714

wrote

then

722

yard

there

117

year

these

839

yellow

they

494

yes