Just 100 words comprise 50% of all words used in conversation in a
language. Learning this core 100 words gets you a long way towards
being able to speak in that language, albeit at a basic level.

The 100 basic words used in English conversation are shown behind the cut.

1. a, an
2. after
3. again
4. all
5. almost

6. also
7. always
8. and
9. because
10. before

11. big
12. but
13. (I) can
14. (I) come
15. either/or

16. (I) find
17. first
18. for
19. friend
20. from

21. (I) go
22. good
23. goodbye
24. happy
25. (I) have

26. he
27. hello
28. here
29. how
30. I

31. (I) am
32. if
33. in
34. (I) know
35. last

36. (I) like
37. little
38. (I) love
39. (I) make
40. many

41. one
42. more
43. most
44. much
45. my

46. new
47. no
48. not
49. now
50. of

51. often
52. on
53. one
54. only
55. or

56. other
57. our
58. out
59. over
60. people

61. place
62. please
63. same
64. (I) see
65. she

66. so
67. some
68. sometimes
69. still
70. such

71. (I) tell
72. thank you
73. that
74. the
75. their

76. them
77. then
78. there is
79. they
80. thing

81. (I) think
82. this
83. time
84. to
85. under

86. up
87. us
88. (I) use
89. very
90. we

91. what
92. when
93. where
94. which
95. who

96. why
97. with
98. yes
99. you
100. your