Basic Vocabulary for Learning Foreign Languages


Various sources claim that the first 50% of conversation in all languages consists of the first 100 words, which are largely consistent across languages. Therefore, if one uses the memory principles to learn the first 100 words in one's target language, one already has sufficient vocabulary to understand half of all one hears in that language. As an efficient means of getting a head-start in learning foreign languages, this has few betters...

The first 100 words

1 a, an 26 he 51 often 76 them
2 after 27 hello 52 on 77 then
3 again 28 here 53 one 78 there is / are
4 all 29 how 54 only 79 they
5 almost 30 I 55 or 80 thing
6 also 31 I am 56 other 81 [I] think
7 always 32 if 57 our 82 this
8 and 33 in 58 out 83 time
9 because 34 [I] know 59 over 84 to
10 before 35 last 60 people 85 under
11 big 36 [I] like 61 place 86 up
12 but 37 little 62 please 87 us
13 [I] can 38 [I] love 63 same 88 [I] use
14 [I] come 39 [I] make 64 [I] see 89 very
15 either/or 40 many 65 she 90 we
16 [I] find 41 me 66 so 91 what
17 first 42 more 67 some 92 when
18 for 43 most 68 sometimes 93 where
19 friend 44 much 69 still 94 which
20 from 45 my 70 such 95 who
21 [I] go 46 new 71 [I] tell 96 why
22 good 47 no 72 thank you 97 with
23 goodbye 48 not 73 that 98 yes
24 happy 49 now 74 the 99 you
25 [I] have 50 of 75 their 100 your

Italian

1 a, an un, uno, una 26 he egli, lui 51 often spesso 76 them essi, loro
2 after dopo 27 hello Allo, Pronto(telef) buon giorno 52 on in, incima (di) 77 then poi, allora, quindi
3 again ancora, di nuovo 28 here qui, qua 53 one uno, una 78 there is / are ci e', ci sono
4 all tutto/a/i/e 29 how come 54 only solo, unico 79 they essi, loro
5 almost quasi 30 I io 55 or o 80 thing cosa
6 also anche 31 I am sono 56 other altro/a/i/e 81 [I] think penso, credo
7 always sempre 32 if se 57 our nostro/a/i/e 82 this questo/a
8 and e, ed 33 in in, dentro 58 out fuori 83 time tempo, ora, volta
9 because perche' 34 [I] know so, conosco 59 over sopra, finito 84 to a, in
10 before prima (di) 35 last ultimo/a/i/e 60 people gente 85 under sotto
11 big grande 36 [I] like mi piace, mi piacciono 61 place luogo 86 up su
12 but ma, comunque 37 little piccolo/a/i/e 62 please piacere, per piacere, per favore, prego 87 us noi, ci
13 [I] can posso 38 [I] love amo, voglio bene 63 same stesso a paro 88 [I] use uso
14 [I] come vengo 39 [I] make faccio 64 [I] see vedo 89 very molto
15 either/or o/o 40 many molti/e 65 she ella, lei 90 we noi, ci
16 [I] find trovo 41 me me, mi 66 so cosi', quindi 91 what che, che cosa, cosa
17 first primo/a/i/e 42 more piu', ancora 67 some qualche 92 when quando
18 for per 43 most il piu' 68 sometimes qualche volta ogni tanto 93 where dove
19 friend amico/a 44 much molto/a/i/e 69 still ancora 94 which quale
20 from da, di 45 my mio/a/i/e 70 such tale, quanto 95 who chi, che
21 [I] go vado 46 new nuovo/a/i/e 71 [I] tell dico, parlo 96 why perche', come mai
22 good buono/a/i/e 47 no no 72 thank you grazie 97 with con
23 goodbye arrivederci addio 48 not non 73 that che, cio', quello/a 98 yes si'
24 happy felice contento/a/i/e 49 now adesso ora 74 the il, la, lo, i, le, gli, l' 99 you tu, voi, Lei, Loro
25 [I] have ho 50 of di 75 their suo, sua loro 100 your tuo/a/i/e, vostro/a/i/e Suo/a/i/e Loro