Top 100 Common English Words with Usage Guide

Understanding the most frequently used words in English is a foundational step toward achieving fluency. These 100 words constitute a significant portion of everyday conversations and written texts. By mastering them, learners can significantly improve their comprehension and communication skills.

🔤 The 100 Most Common English Words: Definitions and Examples

Below is a curated list of the top 100 English words, each accompanied by its part of speech, definition, and an example sentence to illustrate its usage.

the (article) – Denotes a specific item previously mentioned or known.
Example: The book on the table is mine.
be (verb) – Indicates existence or identity.
Example: I will be there at 5 PM.
to (preposition) – Expresses direction, place, or position.
Example: She went to the market.
of (preposition) – Indicates relationship or belonging.
Example: The cover of the book is torn.
and (conjunction) – Connects words or phrases.
Example: I bought apples and oranges.
a (article) – Denotes a non-specific item.
Example: I saw a bird in the sky.
in (preposition) – Indicates location or position within something.
Example: The keys are in the drawer.
that (conjunction/pronoun) – Introduces a clause or refers to a specific thing.
Example: I know that she is coming.
have (verb) – Possess or own something.
Example: They have a new car.
I (pronoun) – Refers to the speaker.
Example: I am learning English.

🧠 Words 11 to 40: Meanings, Pronunciations & Examples

11. it (pronoun) – Refers to a thing or idea previously mentioned.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɪt/
📘 Example: It is raining outside.

12. for (preposition) – Indicates purpose or benefit.

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːr/
📘 Example: This gift is for you.

13. not (adverb) – Shows negation.

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒt/
📘 Example: She is not coming today.

14. on (preposition) – Indicates position above a surface.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɒn/
📘 Example: The book is on the table.

15. with (preposition) – Indicates association or possession.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wɪð/
📘 Example: He came with his friend.

16. he (pronoun) – Refers to a male person.

🔊 Pronunciation: /hiː/
📘 Example: He is a good boy.

17. as (conjunction/preposition) – Used to compare or explain role.

🔊 Pronunciation: /æz/
📘 Example: He works as a teacher.

18. you (pronoun) – Refers to the person being spoken to.

🔊 Pronunciation: /juː/
📘 Example: You are very kind.

19. do (verb) – To perform an action.

🔊 Pronunciation: /duː/
📘 Example: I do my homework every day.

20. at (preposition) – Indicates location or time.

🔊 Pronunciation: /æt/
📘 Example: He is at the station.

21. this (pronoun/determiner) – Refers to a nearby object or idea.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðɪs/
📘 Example: This is my favorite song.

22. but (conjunction) – Introduces contrast or exception.

🔊 Pronunciation: /bʌt/
📘 Example: I like coffee but not tea.

23. his (pronoun/determiner) – Belonging to him.

🔊 Pronunciation: /hɪz/
📘 Example: That is his car.

24. by (preposition) – Indicates the agent or means.

🔊 Pronunciation: /baɪ/
📘 Example: The book was written by her.

25. from (preposition) – Indicates origin or point of departure.

🔊 Pronunciation: /frɒm/
📘 Example: She is from India.

26. they (pronoun) – Refers to multiple people or things.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðeɪ/
📘 Example: They are playing outside.

27. we (pronoun) – Refers to the speaker and others.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wiː/
📘 Example: We are going to the park.

28. say (verb) – To speak or express something verbally.

🔊 Pronunciation: /seɪ/
📘 Example: What did you say?

29. her (pronoun/determiner) – Refers to a female person.

🔊 Pronunciation: /hɜːr/
📘 Example: Give her the book.

30. she (pronoun) – Refers to a female person.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ʃiː/
📘 Example: She is my sister.

31. or (conjunction) – Used to offer choices or alternatives.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɔːr/
📘 Example: Would you like tea or coffee?

32. an (article) – Used before vowel sounds.

🔊 Pronunciation: /æn/
📘 Example: He ate an apple.

33. will (modal verb) – Indicates future action.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wɪl/
📘 Example: I will call you tomorrow.

34. my (possessive adjective) – Belonging to the speaker.

🔊 Pronunciation: /maɪ/
📘 Example: My phone is missing.

35. one (number/pronoun) – Represents the number 1.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wʌn/
📘 Example: I have one brother.

36. all (determiner/pronoun) – Refers to the whole quantity.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɔːl/
📘 Example: All students passed the test.

37. would (modal verb) – Indicates imagined or future action.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wʊd/
📘 Example: I would love to help.

38. there (adverb/pronoun) – Indicates a place or existence.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðeə(r)/
📘 Example: There is a cat on the roof.

39. their (possessive adjective) – Belonging to them.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðeə(r)/
📘 Example: This is their house.

40. what (pronoun/question word) – Used to ask for information.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wɒt/
📘 Example: What is your name?

🧠 Words 41 to 70: Meanings, Pronunciations & Examples

41. so (conjunction/adverb) – Indicates result or degree.

🔊 Pronunciation: /səʊ/
📘 Example: I was tired, so I went to bed.

42. up (adverb/preposition) – Indicates movement or position higher.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ʌp/
📘 Example: She stood up quickly.

43. out (adverb/preposition) – Indicates movement away or outside.

🔊 Pronunciation: /aʊt/
📘 Example: He went out for a walk.

44. if (conjunction) – Indicates condition.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɪf/
📘 Example: If it rains, we’ll stay inside.

45. about (preposition/adverb) – Relates to topic or approximation.

🔊 Pronunciation: /əˈbaʊt/
📘 Example: Tell me about your trip.

46. who (pronoun) – Used to ask about a person.

🔊 Pronunciation: /huː/
📘 Example: Who is calling you?

47. get (verb) – To receive, obtain, or become.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɡet/
📘 Example: I got a message from her.

48. which (pronoun/determiner) – Used to specify one or more items.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wɪtʃ/
📘 Example: Which dress do you like?

49. go (verb) – To move from one place to another.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɡəʊ/
📘 Example: I go to school every day.

50. me (pronoun) – Refers to the speaker (object form of “I”).

🔊 Pronunciation: /miː/
📘 Example: Can you help me?

51. when (adverb/conjunction) – Refers to time.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wen/
📘 Example: When will you arrive?

52. make (verb) – To create or build something.

🔊 Pronunciation: /meɪk/
📘 Example: She made a cake.

53. can (modal verb) – Indicates ability or possibility.

🔊 Pronunciation: /kæn/
📘 Example: I can speak English.

54. like (verb/preposition/conjunction) – Shows preference or similarity.

🔊 Pronunciation: /laɪk/
📘 Example: I like chocolate.

55. time (noun) – A measure of duration or moment.

🔊 Pronunciation: /taɪm/
📘 Example: What time is it?

56. no (determiner/adverb) – A negative response or quantity.

🔊 Pronunciation: /nəʊ/
📘 Example: No, I haven’t seen it.

57. just (adverb) – Recently or exactly.

🔊 Pronunciation: /dʒʌst/
📘 Example: She just left.

58. him (pronoun) – Refers to a male (object form of “he”).

🔊 Pronunciation: /hɪm/
📘 Example: I saw him at the store.

59. know (verb) – To have knowledge or awareness.

🔊 Pronunciation: /nəʊ/
📘 Example: Do you know her name?

60. take (verb) – To carry or move something.

🔊 Pronunciation: /teɪk/
📘 Example: Take this book with you.

61. people (noun) – Human beings collectively.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈpiːpl/
📘 Example: Many people like pizza.

62. into (preposition) – Indicates movement toward the inside.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈɪntuː/
📘 Example: He walked into the room.

63. year (noun) – A unit of time (12 months).

🔊 Pronunciation: /jɪə(r)/
📘 Example: This year has been great.

64. your (possessive adjective) – Belongs to the person spoken to.

🔊 Pronunciation: /jɔː(r)/
📘 Example: Is this your pen?

65. good (adjective) – Of high quality.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɡʊd/
📘 Example: This is a good movie.

66. some (determiner/pronoun) – An unspecified quantity.

🔊 Pronunciation: /sʌm/
📘 Example: I need some water.

67. could (modal verb) – Indicates possibility or ability in the past.

🔊 Pronunciation: /kʊd/
📘 Example: I could run faster before.

68. them (pronoun) – Refers to other people or things.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðəm/
📘 Example: I saw them at the party.

69. see (verb) – To perceive with eyes.

🔊 Pronunciation: /siː/
📘 Example: Can you see the rainbow?

70. other (adjective/pronoun) – Refers to something different or additional.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈʌðə(r)/
📘 Example: I have other plans.

🧠 Words 71 to 100: Meanings, Pronunciations & Examples

71. than (conjunction/preposition) – Used for comparisons.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðæn/
📘 Example: She is taller than me.

72. then (adverb) – Indicates time or consequence.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðen/
📘 Example: Finish your work, then take a break.

73. now (adverb) – Refers to the present moment.

🔊 Pronunciation: /naʊ/
📘 Example: I am working now.

74. look (verb) – To direct eyes at something.

🔊 Pronunciation: /lʊk/
📘 Example: Look at that bird!

75. only (adverb/adjective) – No more than; exclusively.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈəʊnli/
📘 Example: I have only one pen.

76. come (verb) – To arrive or approach.

🔊 Pronunciation: /kʌm/
📘 Example: Will you come to the party?

77. its (possessive pronoun) – Belonging to it.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɪts/
📘 Example: The cat licked its paw.

78. over (preposition/adverb) – Above or across.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈəʊvə(r)/
📘 Example: The plane flew over the house.

79. think (verb) – To believe or have an opinion.

🔊 Pronunciation: /θɪŋk/
📘 Example: I think it’s a great idea.

80. also (adverb) – In addition; too.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈɔːlsəʊ/
📘 Example: She also came to the event.

81. back (adverb/noun) – Return or rear side.

🔊 Pronunciation: /bæk/
📘 Example: He came back late.

82. after (preposition/conjunction) – Later in time.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈɑːftə(r)/
📘 Example: We’ll go shopping after lunch.

83. use (verb/noun) – To employ something for a purpose.

🔊 Pronunciation: /juːz/ (verb), /juːs/ (noun)
📘 Example: Use a pen to write. (verb)

84. two (number) – The number 2.

🔊 Pronunciation: /tuː/
📘 Example: I have two sisters.

85. how (adverb) – In what way.

🔊 Pronunciation: /haʊ/
📘 Example: How do you cook rice?

86. our (possessive pronoun) – Belonging to us.

🔊 Pronunciation: /aʊə(r)/
📘 Example: This is our house.

87. work (verb/noun) – To do a job or activity.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wɜːk/
📘 Example: I work from home.

88. first (adjective/adverb) – Before all others.

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɜːst/
📘 Example: She came first in the race.

89. well (adverb/adjective) – In a good way; healthy.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wel/
📘 Example: He speaks English very well.

90. way (noun) – Method or route.

🔊 Pronunciation: /weɪ/
📘 Example: This is the best way to do it.

91. even (adverb) – Emphasizes something surprising.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈiːvən/
📘 Example: Even she didn’t know the answer.

92. new (adjective) – Recently made or introduced.

🔊 Pronunciation: /njuː/
📘 Example: I bought a new phone.

93. want (verb) – To desire or wish for.

🔊 Pronunciation: /wɒnt/
📘 Example: I want to learn English.

94. because (conjunction) – Gives a reason.

🔊 Pronunciation: /bɪˈkɒz/
📘 Example: I stayed home because it rained.

95. any (determiner/pronoun) – One or more (not specific).

🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈeni/
📘 Example: Do you have any sugar?

96. these (determiner/pronoun) – Plural of “this”.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ðiːz/
📘 Example: These are my books.

97. give (verb) – To hand over something.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ɡɪv/
📘 Example: Please give me the file.

98. day (noun) – A 24-hour period.

🔊 Pronunciation: /deɪ/
📘 Example: Today is a beautiful day.

99. most (adverb/adjective) – Greatest in amount or degree.

🔊 Pronunciation: /məʊst/
📘 Example: Most people like music.

100. us (pronoun) – Object form of “we”.

🔊 Pronunciation: /ʌs/
📘 Example: Can you help us?

📝 Conclusion: Your Journey to English Fluency Begins Here!

Mastering the Top 100 Most Common English Words is a powerful first step toward becoming a confident English speaker. These words are the building blocks of everyday conversation, reading, and writing. By understanding their meanings, pronunciations, and usage, you not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your listening and speaking fluency.

Remember — practice is key! Use these words in daily life, form your own sentences, read aloud, and most importantly, speak without fear. The more you use them, the more natural they will become in your speech.

🔥 And don’t forget to subscribe to Guruji English Classes YouTube Channel for fun, easy, and effective English lessons every day. Learn grammar, spoken English, pronunciation, and IELTS — all with Guruji’s special style! 🎓✨

Let your English journey be full of confidence, clarity, and joy. 🚀