How Many Words Do You Know? A Look at Vocabulary Size Across Ages

Have you ever wondered how many words the average person knows? It’s a fascinating question that gives us a peek into how we learn language, how our brains develop, and our amazing ability to store information throughout our lives. Research on vocabulary size shows that we learn words in complex ways, and it doesn’t stop when we finish school. Our vocabulary continues to grow based on our experiences, culture, and careers.

Vocabulary size changes a lot as we age. Most adults know 20,000-35,000 words and keep learning new ones through reading and life experiences.

To answer the question, "How many words does the average person know?" we need to understand a few things. There’s a difference between the words we actively use (active vocabulary) and the words we recognize (passive vocabulary). There’s also a difference between general words and specialized jargon. These details make measuring vocabulary a bit tricky but also very meaningful.

The way researchers measure vocabulary has gotten a lot better over the years. Modern studies show that we learn new words our whole lives, and the average vocabulary is much larger than we used to think. Of course, it varies a lot from person to person based on things like education, how much we read, and what we do for a living.

This article dives into the research on vocabulary size at different ages and explores the factors that shape our word knowledge as we grow.

What Modern Research Says About Adult Vocabulary

Thanks to new testing methods, we have a much clearer picture of how many words adults know.

The TestYourVocab.com Study

One of the biggest recent studies on English vocabulary came from TestYourVocab.com, which analyzed data from over a million people.

What they found for native English speakers: A report in The Economist based on this data showed that most adult native English speakers know between 20,000 and 35,000 words. This number can vary a lot depending on education and reading habits.

How vocabulary grows with age: The study found that adults learn about one new word per day until they reach middle age. This shows that our vocabularies don’t just stop growing after we finish school.

When it stops growing: According to the research, vocabulary growth tends to stop around middle age. This might be due to the way the test was designed, but it suggests that our learning patterns change as we get older.

The impact of college: People with a college education consistently had larger vocabularies, which shows how much formal learning can boost our word knowledge.

Newer, Higher Estimates

More recent studies have come up with even higher numbers, suggesting that past research may have underestimated our vocabulary size.

A 2016 UPI study: A study reported by UPI.com found that most U.S. adults know more than 42,000 words. This is a big jump from earlier estimates.

Vocabulary growth over a lifetime: This study also suggested that native English speakers in the U.S. know about 42,000 words by age 20 and around 48,000 by age 60. This points to continued, steady growth throughout our adult lives.

Why the numbers are going up: Better testing methods, larger groups of people being tested, and improved analysis are giving us a more accurate picture. It’s also possible that in the digital age, we’re exposed to more words and have more opportunities to learn.

Active vs. Passive Vocabulary

It’s important to know the difference between the words we use and the words we just know.

Active Vocabulary: These are the words you use when you speak and write. Lexicographer Susie Dent estimates that the average adult’s active vocabulary is about 20,000 words.

Passive Vocabulary: These are the words you recognize when you read or hear them, but you might not use them yourself. Dent suggests that this is around 40,000 words for the average adult.

Think of it this way: you probably recognize more words than you can pull out of your head to use in a conversation. This is normal, and it’s how we all learn.

We know more words than we use. Our passive vocabulary (words we recognize) is much larger than our active vocabulary (words we use every day).

How Vocabulary Develops as We Age

We learn words in predictable patterns throughout our lives.

Early Childhood

This is where it all begins. The first few years of life are a vocabulary explosion.

Age 1: According to research, a one-year-old can recognize about 50 words.

Age 3: By age three, that number jumps to about 1,000 words. This is a critical period for language development.

Age 5: A typical five-year-old recognizes about 10,000 words, which gives them the foundation they need for school.

Kids learn new words at an incredible rate, often several per day, just by being exposed to language.

School-Age Years

Formal education has a huge impact on our vocabulary.

Elementary School: The TestYourVocab.com study found that 8-year-olds know about 10,000 words.

Middle and High School: As students read more complex books and study different subjects, their vocabularies continue to grow, preparing them for college and their future careers.

The quality of education and the emphasis on reading can make a big difference in how quickly a child’s vocabulary develops.

Adulthood

As adults, we keep learning new words through our jobs, hobbies, and reading habits.

Early Adulthood: Research suggests we continue to learn about one new word a day.

Career Influence: Many professions have their own specialized language, which can add thousands of words to our vocabulary.

Reading Habits: Adults who read a lot have larger vocabularies. It’s one of the best ways to keep learning new words.

Life Experiences: Traveling, exploring new cultures, and meeting new people can also introduce us to new words and phrases.

Middle Age and Beyond

Research suggests that our vocabulary growth slows down in middle age, but that doesn’t mean we stop learning.

A Shift in Learning: We might not be actively learning as many new general words, but we’re still maintaining and using our extensive professional vocabularies.

Changing Habits: As our lifestyles and priorities change, so do our reading habits, which can affect how many new words we’re exposed to.

Generational Gaps: Technology and culture change so fast that there can be a vocabulary gap between generations.

What Factors Influence Your Vocabulary Size?

Vocabulary size varies a lot from person to person. Here are some of the biggest factors.

Education

This is one of the strongest predictors of vocabulary size.

Formal Schooling: The more education you have, the larger your vocabulary is likely to be.

Reading-Heavy Fields: If you studied a subject that required a lot of reading, like literature or history, you probably have a larger vocabulary.

Advanced Degrees: Graduate school and other advanced training expose you to a lot of specialized and academic language.

Lifelong Learning: Adults who continue to take classes or learn new things throughout their lives tend to have larger vocabularies.

Reading Habits

Reading is the number one way adults learn new words.

How Much You Read: People who read a lot have bigger vocabularies. It’s that simple.

What You Read: Reading a variety of genres and subjects will expose you to a wider range of words.

The Quality of What You Read: Challenging texts with complex vocabulary will do more for your word knowledge than simple material.

Your Career

Your job can have a huge impact on your vocabulary.

Industry Jargon: Many professions have their own specialized language that can include thousands of technical terms.

Communication-Heavy Jobs: If your job involves a lot of writing or speaking, you’ll likely develop a larger general vocabulary.

Leadership Roles: Moving up in your career often requires a more sophisticated vocabulary to communicate effectively.

Culture and Background

Your upbringing and environment also play a role.

Socioeconomic Status: People from backgrounds with more access to books and educational resources tend to have larger vocabularies.

Family and Community: If you grew up in a community that valued reading and education, you likely had more opportunities to learn new words.

Being Multilingual: People who speak more than one language may have different vocabulary patterns, with some cognitive advantages.

Your education, reading habits, career, and cultural background all play a big role in the size of your vocabulary.

How We Use the Words We Know

It’s not just about how many words you know, but how you use them.

The Most Common Words

Research shows that a small number of words do most of the heavy lifting in our daily communication.

The Core Vocabulary: According to research cited by The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists, the first 25 words are used in 33% of everyday writing.

Expanding Coverage: The first 100 words cover 50% of what we write, and the first 1,000 words cover 89%.

This means you can communicate effectively with a relatively small vocabulary, but a larger one gives you more precision and sophistication.

How Do You Compare to Shakespeare?

It’s fun to compare our own vocabulary to one of the greatest writers in history.

Shakespeare’s Vocabulary: It’s estimated that Shakespeare used about 25,000-30,000 unique words in his plays and poems.

A Modern Comparison: Since modern research suggests that many adults know over 40,000 words, it’s possible that the average person today knows more words than Shakespeare did. However, he was a master at using the words he knew.

A Different Time: The English language has grown a lot since Shakespeare’s time, so we have access to many words that didn’t exist back then.

Specialized Vocabularies

Beyond our general vocabulary, we all have specialized word lists related to our jobs, hobbies, and interests.

Professional Jargon: A doctor, a lawyer, and a computer programmer will all have thousands of technical terms in their vocabularies that others wouldn’t know.

Hobbies and Interests: Whether you’re into gardening, video games, or knitting, you have a specialized vocabulary for your hobbies.

What Does This All Mean for You?

Understanding how vocabulary works can help you in your education, career, and personal development.

For Students and Educators

This research can help us create better learning strategies.

Setting Realistic Goals: Knowing the typical vocabulary size for different ages can help educators set achievable goals and identify students who need extra help.

The Importance of Reading: This research confirms that reading a wide variety of texts is one of the best ways to build vocabulary.

For Your Personal Growth

This research can guide you in your own efforts to improve your communication skills.

Strategic Learning: You can focus on learning the most common words first to get the biggest bang for your buck.

The Power of Reading: Make reading a regular habit to keep your vocabulary growing throughout your life.

Tech Tools to Help

Modern technology offers some great tools for building your vocabulary.

Vocabulary Apps: Apps like Anki and Memrise use smart techniques to help you learn and remember new words.

E-Readers: Many e-readers have built-in dictionaries that make it easy to look up words as you read.

Word Counter Tools: These can help you analyze your own writing and see what words you use most often.

The Limits of the Research

It’s important to remember that measuring vocabulary is a complex process.

What Does It Mean to "Know" a Word? Researchers have to make decisions about what counts as knowing a word, and these decisions can affect the results.

Who Is Being Tested? Many of these studies rely on people who volunteer online, so they might not represent the entire population.

A Changing Language: The way we communicate is always changing, especially in the digital age. Social media and texting are creating new words and new ways of using old ones.

Understanding the size of our vocabulary gives us a fascinating glimpse into the power of the human mind. The research shows that most adults know between 20,000 and 48,000 words, and that we are all lifelong learners.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just a curious person, this research highlights the importance of reading, learning, and staying engaged with the world around you. The more you do, the more your vocabulary will grow, giving you the tools you need to express yourself with clarity and confidence.