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Why learn English?
English is the world's most widely spoken language, with around 1.5 billion speakers, and the default language of business, science, and the internet. Its large vocabulary and flexible grammar reward steady, frequency-based study.
English is written in the Latin script. English belongs to the Indo-European (Germanic) family - if you enjoy it, a natural next step is German, Dutch or Swedish.
The 50 most common English words
Start with the words you will actually meet: learn these and you will recognize something in almost every English sentence.
| # | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | the | thuh | the (definite article) |
| 2 | of | uhv | of |
| 3 | and | and | and |
| 4 | a | uh | a (indefinite article) |
| 5 | to | too | to |
| 6 | in | in | in |
| 7 | is | iz | is |
| 8 | you | yoo | you |
| 9 | that | that | that |
| 10 | it | it | it |
| 11 | he | hee | he |
| 12 | was | wuhz | was |
| 13 | for | for | for |
| 14 | on | on | on |
| 15 | are | ar | are |
| 16 | as | az | as |
| 17 | with | with | with |
| 18 | I | eye | I |
| 19 | his | hiz | his |
| 20 | they | thay | they |
| 21 | be | bee | be |
| 22 | at | at | at |
| 23 | one | wuhn | one |
| 24 | have | hav | have |
| 25 | this | this | this |
| 26 | from | fruhm | from |
| 27 | or | or | or |
| 28 | had | had | had |
| 29 | by | bye | by |
| 30 | but | buht | but |
| 31 | some | suhm | some |
| 32 | what | wuht | what |
| 33 | there | thair | there |
| 34 | we | wee | we |
| 35 | can | kan | can |
| 36 | out | owt | out |
| 37 | other | UH-ther | other |
| 38 | were | wur | were |
| 39 | all | awl | all |
| 40 | your | yor | your |
| 41 | when | wen | when |
| 42 | up | uhp | up |
| 43 | use | yooz | use |
| 44 | word | wurd | word |
| 45 | how | how | how |
| 46 | said | sed | said |
| 47 | name | naym | name |
| 48 | each | eech | each |
| 49 | she | shee | she |
| 50 | which | wich | which |
Useful phrases in English
- Hello · heh-LOH · Hello / Good day
- How are you? · how arr yoo · How are you?
- Thank you · thank yoo · Thank you
- Please · pleez · Please
- My name is... · my naym iz · My name is...
- Where is...? · wair iz · Where is...?
- Goodbye · gud-BYE · Goodbye
- Excuse me · ik-SKYOOZ mee · Excuse me
- I don't understand · eye dohnt un-der-STAND · I don't understand
- Can you help me? · kan yoo HELP mee · Can you help me?
- How much is it? · how MUCH iz it · How much is it?
- See you tomorrow! · see yoo tuh-MOR-oh · See you tomorrow!
Learn English with comprehensive language resources
- Pronunciation
- Numbers
- Verbs and adjectives
- Frequency dictionaries
- Basic sentences
- Thematic dictionaries
- Politeness
- Idioms
Learn English, wherever you are
- AI-powered spaced repetition learning system on the go
- Audio processing for pronunciation
- Creation of visual language flash cards with images
- Search for speaking practice partners
- Frequency and thematic dictionaries for any language
- Alert system with exercise reminders
- Live video and messaging to facilitate learning
Join our global English learning community
Collaborate with native English speakers and fellow learners: exchange messages, correct each other's cards, and practice real conversation.
Send friend requests to the speakers you click with and build your own friends list - many practice partners become real friends.
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Frequently asked questions about learning English
How difficult is it to learn English?
English has simple grammar with no genders or case endings, and a vast amount of vocabulary shared with many other languages. Spelling and pronunciation are the main early hurdles because they aren't always consistent, but exposure makes them familiar quickly.
What should I learn first to reach a basic level in English?
Start with the 100-500 most frequent words (free in our apps) and the thematic dictionaries most relevant to your daily life. Set clear goals and practise a few minutes every day - consistency is what produces results. Then connect with other learners to build confidence at your new basic level.
How long does it take to learn English?
Most learners reach a comfortable conversational level within 6-12 months of consistent daily study. Practising vocabulary with spaced repetition and speaking regularly speeds this up considerably. About 1500 million people across 59 countries speak English, so you will never run short of practice partners.
How do I improve my English vocabulary?
Use the spaced-repetition and flashcard systems in the app. You can set daily, weekly, or yearly goals in our mobile apps and steadily reach the vocabulary size you’re aiming for.
Is English pronunciation hard?
English spelling doesn't always match its sounds, so pronunciation takes some listening practice. The good news is there are no tones, and regular exposure to speech matters more than memorising rules.
How do I get Free English speaking practice?
Open the Practice or Friends page in the app, send practice requests, and start real conversations with other learners - don’t be shy! You can also mention that you want speaking practice when you create your account, and the platform will help match you with suitable partners.
Do I need to learn the English alphabet first?
English uses the 26-letter Latin alphabet, which you may already know. On Lingocard you'll find every alphabet, with example words, free - handy if you're coming from a different script.