English words 1–300: the “First words” band
300 English words ranked 1–300 by frequency — the “First words” band. A learner who knows them can read texts pinned to this band with about 95% of the words already familiar.
- the
- to
- and
- of
- a
- in
- i
- is
- for
- that
- you
- it
- on
- with
- this
- was
- be
- as
- are
- have
- at
- he
- not
- by
- but
- from
- my
- or
- we
- an
- your
- all
- so
- his
- they
- me
- if
- one
- can
- will
- just
- like
- about
- up
- out
- what
- has
- when
- more
- do
- no
- were
- who
- had
- it's
- their
- there
- her
- which
- time
- get
- been
- would
- she
- new
- people
- how
- don't
- some
- also
- them
- now
- other
- i'm
- its
- our
- than
- good
- only
- after
- first
- him
- into
- know
- see
- two
- make
- over
- think
- any
- then
- could
- back
- these
- us
- want
- because
- go
- well
- said
- way
- 1
- 2
- most
- much
- very
- where
- even
- should
- may
- here
- need
- really
- did
- right
- work
- year
- years
- being
- day
- too
- going
- before
- off
- why
- made
- still
- take
- 3
- got
- many
- never
- those
- life
- say
- world
- down
- great
- through
- you're
- last
- s
- that's
- while
- best
- such
- love
- man
- home
- long
- look
- something
- use
- can't
- same
- used
- both
- every
- 4
- am
- come
- part
- state
- three
- around
- between
- always
- better
- find
- 5
- help
- high
- little
- old
- since
- another
- does
- own
- things
- under
- during
- game
- i've
- thing
- give
- house
- place
- school
- again
- next
- each
- mr
- without
- against
- didn't
- end
- found
- must
- show
- big
- feel
- sure
- team
- ever
- family
- keep
- might
- please
- put
- money
- free
- second
- someone
- away
- left
- number
- city
- days
- lot
- name
- night
- play
- until
- company
- doing
- few
- he's
- let
- real
- 6
- called
- different
- having
- set
- thought
- done
- however
- getting
- god
- government
- group
- looking
- public
- top
- women
- business
- care
- start
- system
- times
- week
- 7
- already
- anything
- case
- nothing
- person
- today
- change
- enough
- everything
- full
- live
- making
- point
- read
- there's
- told
- yet
- bad
- doesn't
- four
- hard
- mean
- once
- support
- tell
- including
- music
- power
- seen
- states
- stop
- water
- based
- believe
- call
- head
- men
- national
- small
- took
- white
- came
- far
- job
- side
- though
- try
- went
Other bands
Getting by (800) · Everyday (1,500) · Confident (3,000) · Fluent reader (5,000) · Advanced (8,000) · Near-native (12,000)
Read at this level
Graded English readings for the First words band — every text stays inside these words plus a few new ones.