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Basic Vocabulary and Pronunciation

Your First English Words

Every language is built from words. We'll start with three basic types: nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Think of them as the building blocks for your first sentences. Getting these down is the first step to speaking and understanding English.

Nouns are words for people, places, and things. They are the subjects of our sentences.

WordWhat it isPronunciation
mana person/mæn/
housea place/haʊs/
booka thing/bʊk/
watera thing/ˈwɔtər/
citya place/ˈsɪti/
frienda person/frɛnd/

Next up are verbs. Verbs are action words. They tell you what the noun is doing. Without a verb, a sentence is just a list of things.

Verbs describe actions or states of being. They bring your sentences to life.

WordWhat it meansPronunciation
goto move/ɡoʊ/
eatto consume food/it/
seeto look at/si/
wantto desire/wɑnt/
liketo enjoy/laɪk/
sayto speak/seɪ/

Finally, let's add some color with adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe nouns. They give us more detail and make language more interesting. Is the house big or small? Is the food good or bad? Adjectives give us the answer.

Adjectives add detail. They describe how something looks, feels, or seems.

WordWhat it describesPronunciation
goodquality/ɡʊd/
badquality/bæd/
bigsize/bɪɡ/
smallsize/smɔl/
happyfeeling/ˈhæpi/
redcolor/rɛd/

Sounding It Out

Knowing the words is only half the battle. You also need to know how to say them. English spelling can be tricky, so the way a word looks isn't always how it sounds. This is where pronunciation comes in.

pronunciation

noun

The way in which a word or a language is spoken.

The best way to improve your pronunciation is to listen and repeat. Listen to how native speakers say a word, and then try to copy the sound yourself. Don't worry about getting it perfect right away. The goal is to be understood.

Try this exercise: Pick five words from the tables above. Say each one out loud three times. Listen to yourself. Does it sound like the pronunciation guide? This simple practice will build your confidence.

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Ready to test what you've learned? This quiz will help you check your understanding of these first words.

Quiz Questions 1/5

Which of the following words is a verb?

Quiz Questions 2/5

An adjective is a word that ______ a noun.

Keep practicing these words. They are the foundation of everything you'll learn next.