The A1 level presents the most confusion. At this point, the whole language is foreign and incomprehensible. However, you can move on to the A2 and B1 levels within a short amount of time if you study the right things. Don’t learn animal names, don’t learn names for meats.
First things first, we need to learn the most frequently used words. In this article, we’ll go over the 20 most common verbs, nouns, adjectives - and basic phrases that you need to know to get you started on this journey.
Without any further ado, let’s jump into the full guide to learning A1 English vocabulary!
What Does It Mean To Have An A1 Level In English?
According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an English learner with an A1 level has very basic capabilities. They should be able to introduce themselves in a basic way, understand and be able to reproduce basic expressions, understand the basic grammar of the English language, and have a vocabulary of about 500 words.
How Long Does It Take To Reach The A1 Level?
In general, it takes about 100-150 hours to reach the A1 level for a complete beginner. Below you’ll see how long you must study per day to reach your desired goals.
Study Time Per Day | Amount Of Days Until You Reach A1 |
30 Min | 200-300 day |
1 Hour | 100-150 days |
1.5 Hours | 66.6-100 days |
2 Hours | 50-75 days |
Remember that these are averages. You can easily finish you goals quicker if you choose great materials to learn from, stay very motivated, and especially if your native language uses the Latin Script.
Contents Of This A1 English Vocabulary List
In this A1 English vocabulary list, I’ll provide you with some of the language’s most important verbs, adjectives, nouns, and phrases to get you off to a great start.
After providing the vocabulary needed to master A1 English, I’ll give you some resources that you can use to master this information.
A1 English Vocabulary: Most Important Verbs
To Be: This verb is fundamental for expressing existence, and identity, and describing characteristics.
Example: "I am happy." "She is a teacher." "They are my friends."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | am |
You | are |
He/She | is |
We | are |
They | are |
2. To Have: Used for possession and relationships.
Example: "I have a book." "She has a cat."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | have |
You | have |
He/She | has |
We | have |
They | have |
3. To Do: Used for actions and forming questions and negatives.
Example: "I do my homework." "Does he like pizza?"
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | do |
You | do |
He/She | does |
We | do |
They | do |
4. To Want: Used to express desires.
Example: "I want some water."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | want |
You | want |
He/She | wants |
We | want |
They | want |
5. To Like/Dislike: Used to express preferences.
Example: "I like music." "She dislikes broccoli."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | like/dislike |
You | like/dislike |
He/She | likes/dislikes |
We | like/dislike |
They | like/dislike |
6. To Go: Describing movement from one place to another.
Example: "I go to school." "They go to the park."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | go |
You | go |
He/She | goes |
We | go |
They | go |
7. To Eat: Describing the action of consuming food.
Example: "I eat breakfast." "She eats vegetables."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | eat |
You | eat |
He/She | eats |
We | eat |
They | eat |
8. To Drink: Describing the action of consuming liquids.
Example: "I drink coffee." "He drinks tea."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | drink |
You | drink |
He/She | drinks |
We | drink |
They | drink |
9. To Live: Describing the place where someone resides.
Example: "I live in London." "They live in an apartment."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | live |
You | live |
He/She | lives |
We | live |
They | live |
10. To Work: Describing the action of performing a job or task.
Example: "I work as a teacher." "He works in an office."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | work |
You | work |
He/She | works |
We | work |
They | work |
11. To Need: Expressing necessity or requirement.
Example: "I need help." "She needs money."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | need |
You | need |
He/She | needs |
We | need |
They | need |
12. To Be Able To: Expressing ability or permission.
Example: "I can swim." "He can go now."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | can |
You | can |
He/She | can |
We | can |
They | can |
13. To Play: Describing engaging in recreational activities.
Example: "I play soccer." "She plays the guitar."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | play |
You | play |
He/She | plays |
We | play |
They | play |
14. To See: Describing the action of perceiving with the eyes.
Example: "I see you." "They see the birds."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | see |
You | see |
He/She | sees |
We | see |
They | see |
15. To Watch: Describing the action of observing something.
Example: "I watch TV." "He watches movies."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | watch |
You | watch |
He/She | watches |
We | watch |
They | watch |
16. To Read: Describing the action of understanding written text.
Example: "I read books." "She reads newspapers."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | read |
You | read |
He/She | reads |
We | read |
They | read |
17. To Sleep: Describing the action of resting in a state of unconsciousness.
Example: "I sleep at night." "They sleep in beds."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | sleep |
You | sleep |
He/She | sleeps |
We | sleep |
They | sleep |
18. To Listen: Describing the action of hearing and paying attention to sound.
Example: "I listen to music." "She listens to the radio."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | listen |
You | listen |
He/She | listens |
We | listen |
They | listen |
19. To Speak: Describing the action of verbal communication.
Example: "I speak English." "He speaks French."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | speak |
You | speak |
He/She | speaks |
We | speak |
They | speak |
20. To Understand: Describing the action of comprehending or grasping something.
Example: "I understand the lesson." "She understands the instructions."
Subject | Conjugation (Present Tense) |
I | understand |
You | understand |
He/She | understands |
We | understand |
They | understand |
A1 English Vocabulary: Best Adjectives To Learn
In this section we'll go over the most common adjectives that every English learner with an A1 level should know. After each adjective is a simple example sentence using the adjective.
Happy: "I’m very happy today."
Sad: "Why does she look sad?"
Big: "That is a big house."
Small: "She has a small cat."
Tired: "He feels tired after work."
Hungry: "I'm hungry. Let's eat."
Thirsty: "She's thirsty. Can I get her some water?"
Cold: "It's cold outside. Wear a jacket."
Hot: "The tea is hot. Be careful."
Fast: "The car is fast."
Slow: "The turtle is slow."
Angry: "He gets angry when he loses."
Beautiful: "The flowers are beautiful."
Ugly: "That is an ugly painting."
Good: "This cake tastes good."
Bad: "That movie was bad."
New: "I got a new phone."
Old: "This is an old book."
Young: "She's young and energetic."
A1 English Vocabulary: Essential Nouns To Learn
Now let's take a look at some essential nouns for beginner English learners. These 20 nouns show up in the everyday conversations of almost every native speaker - so make sure you know them all.
Friend: "She is my friend."
Family: "My family lives in that house."
School: "I go to school every day."
House: "We live in a big house."
Food: "I love Italian food."
Water: "Please give me a glass of water."
Car: "He drives a red car."
Book: "I like reading books."
Dog: "She has a cute dog."
Cat: "He has a black cat."
Money: "I need some money to buy a gift."
Job: "He has a new job."
City: "New York is a big city."
Time: "What time is it?"
Day: "Today is a sunny day."
Week: "We have a holiday next week."
Month: "My birthday is in the month of May."
Year: "What year were you born?"
Doctor: "She is a doctor."
Teacher: "He is a teacher at my school."
A1 English Phrases You Must Know
These A1 English phrases will help you in every basic conversation that you have. Remember how I mentioned at the top that a person with an A1 level can introduce themselves in a basic way? Those phrases and more will be found in this section,
Hello: "Hello, how are you?"
Goodbye: "Goodbye, see you later."
Please: "Can you pass me the salt, please?"
Thank you: "Thank you for helping me."
You're welcome: "You're welcome to join us."
Excuse me: "Excuse me, do you have the time?"
I'm sorry: "I'm sorry for being late."
Yes: "Yes, I would like some coffee."
No: "No, I don't have any money."
I don't understand: "I don't understand this question."
How are you?: "How are you today?"
I'm fine, thank you: "I'm fine, thank you for asking."
What's your name?: "What's your name, sir?"
My name is...: "My name is John."
Where are you from?: "Where are you from originally?"
I am from...: "I am from France."
How much is this?: "How much is this shirt?"
Can you help me, please?: "Can you help me carry these bags, please?"
I need...: "I need some help with my homework."
Where is the bathroom?: "Excuse me, where is the bathroom?"
How To Reach A1 English Vocabulary Easily
Reaching the A1 level in English should only take a couple months if you're studying consistently. While there’s no magic trick to reach this level quicker - somebody as smart as you can reach this level in 1 month if you study the right content. Below, I’m going to recommend some resources and methods that you can use to study vocabulary and reach the A1 level in no time.
Conclusion: A1 Level In English
The A1 English level can be reached within 2 months easily as long as you study consistently. Use simple learning methods like my music Language Learning Technique, Learning Series on YouTube, and Flashcards to get you to the finish line. If you have any other suggestions for other English learners - leave them in the comments. Good luck on your language-learning journey!