At your one-year checkup, the question that catches most parents off guard isn’t about height or weight. It’s this: “How many words is your toddler saying?”
If your stomach just dropped a little — take a breath. You’re in exactly the right place.
I’m Alexa, a sensory play teacher and homeschool mom of two, and I’ve spent 20+ years helping little ones learn the way they’re actually built to: through play. (I taught this approach long before I had the certifications to back it up — including a stretch as Education Director at the Boys & Girls Club, where play-based learning helped raise 56 struggling kids’ grades, and later a feature on PBS Kids South Florida.) Teaching your one-year-old to talk has nothing to do with flashcards or pressure. It’s a handful of everyday words, repeated during the play you’re already doing.
This post gives you the full list of words to teach a 1 year old — grouped by type so it never feels overwhelming — plus the simple technique I use to get those words to actually stick. There’s a free printable checklist at the bottom you can stick on the fridge.
But before you read a single word on the list, there’s one thing I really want you to hear.
How many words should a 1 year old say? (Read this before you worry)
Around their first birthday, most toddlers say somewhere between one and three clear words. Over the next twelve months that grows fast — many children reach roughly 50 words by their second birthday, often with a noticeable “language explosion” between 18 and 24 months. Speech-language specialists often use about 20 words by 20 months as a general checkpoint, but every child moves on their own timeline.
Here’s the part that matters most, so I’ll say it plainly: your toddler understands far more than they can say. Long before the words come out, they’re soaking everything in.
Understanding comes before talking
At around 12 months, a child might only say two or three words but can already understand close to fifty. Pointing, signing, grunting, reaching, and babbling all count as communication — they’re stepping stones to words, not detours around them. If your child is signing or pointing well, keep encouraging it. You’re giving them tools to communicate while the spoken words catch up.
What if my 1 year old isn’t talking yet?
First: a quiet one-year-old is incredibly common and usually nothing to worry about. Keep talking, naming, reading, and playing — that’s the work.
That said, you know your child best. If you’re not hearing much by around 18–20 months, or your gut is telling you something feels off, it’s always okay to bring it up at your next checkup. Your pediatrician can connect you with early intervention, which is free in most states and works best the earlier it begins. Asking is never an overreaction. You can also try these speech games recommended by a speech pathologist in the meantime.
How to teach your 1 year old new words (the technique that actually works)
This is the part most word lists skip — and it’s the part that matters. A list of words does nothing on its own. What teaches the word is how you say it. Here’s the exact method I use in my classes and at home:
- Name it in the moment. Say the word when your child is looking at or holding the object. “Ball. Ball!” Context is everything at this age.
- Lead with the first sound. Point to the object and start the word for them — “buh… buh…” — so your toddler can fill in the rest. This little prompt works wonders.
- Repeat it more than feels normal. Repetition is the whole game. The more times a word is heard in context, the faster it clicks. Say “sit-sit” every time you want them to sit; “ball-ball” every time you point to one.
- Pair words with movement. Kids learn words attached to actions far faster — it’s exactly why animal sounds come so early. Wave on “bye,” reach up on “up.”
- Keep it light. No quizzing, no pressure, no testing them in front of grandma. Play first; the words follow.
Keep this in your back pocket as you go through the lists below. And please — don’t try to teach all of these at once. Pick five or six words that match your child’s daily world and weave them into the day. You can always add more.
Words to teach a 1 year old (the full checklist)
Here are the words, grouped by type so you can focus on one category at a time. You do not need to teach every word here. Start with the ones that show up in your child’s actual day — the foods they eat, the toys they reach for, the people they love — and build out from there.
Common nouns: the everyday objects
Toddlers usually name familiar objects first, somewhere between 12 and 18 months. Start with the things they see and touch every single day — mealtime and bath time are pure gold, because these words come up naturally several times a day.
Ball, Book, Train, Bike, Car, Truck, Boat, Plane, Baby, Bowl, Spoon, Sock, Shoe, Shirt, Pants, Hat, Star, House, Tree, Bath, Chair, Table, Bed, Blanket, Cookie, Cracker, Cheese, Apple, Banana, Milk, Juice, Water
Social words: the little phrases that build connection
These early “people words” help your toddler connect and ask for what they need — which, as a bonus, tends to cut down on frustration and tantrums. “More” and “all done” are often the most useful first words a toddler can have.
More, Please, Thank you, Hi (or hello), Bye-bye, Again, Sorry, Yes, No
Colors
Between about 12 and 16 months, toddlers start to recognize primary colors — often well before they can say them. Just name colors as you go: “red ball,” “blue cup.” You can start teaching colors gently right now without any pressure to get them “right.”
Red, Blue, Yellow, Green
Action words (verbs)
Action words unlock everything. Once your toddler has a few verbs, they can start combining words into little phrases — “more milk,” “go up,” “all done.” Say each one right as the action happens.
Eat, Drink, Go, Stop, Walk, Sleep / night-night, Wash, Kiss, Open, Close, Broken, Play, Want, Hug, Give (“gimme”), All done, Help, Shake, Look, Sit, Blow, Cry, Throw, Come (“c’mon”)
Location words (prepositions)
Tiny words, big impact. These help your toddler tell you where things are or where they want to go — “up” during a diaper change, “off” when the shoes come off.
Up, Down, On, Off
Describing words (adjectives & adverbs)
Describing words add color to everything your toddler already knows. Narrate as you play: “the blanket is soft,” “careful — hot!”, “that’s a big truck.”
Big, Little, Hot, Cold, Funny, Dirty, Clean, Gentle, Wet, Soft, Fast, Slow
Quantity words & first numbers
Counting starts as a song long before it means anything — count the stairs, count the snacks, count their toes. Sign language helps a lot here too, because signs are easier to copy and can reduce frustration during the toddler years.
All, None, More, Numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Pronouns
“Mine” tends to arrive with a vengeance around this age — and yes, that counts as a language win, even when it’s loud.
Me, Mine, My, I, You
Animal names
Animals are usually a toddler’s favorite words, and for good reason: the sounds are simple and irresistible to copy. Start with the sound (“moo”), then connect it to the name (“cow”). This is exactly how our One-Year-Old Learning Binder teaches them — pairing each animal sound with its name and a hands-on, interactive game so the word sticks, not just the noise.
Dog, Cat, Fish, Bird, Duck, Cow, Horse, Bunny, Bear, Pig, Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Monkey, Chicken, Bee, Frog
Turn the checklist into a daily rhythm (so it actually happens)
Here’s the truth nobody tells you: the hard part isn’t knowing which words to teach. It’s remembering to do it on a tired Tuesday when you’ve already said “no” forty times and dinner is burning.
That’s why I build everything around a gentle weekly rhythm instead of one more thing on your to-do list. If you’d like the words above folded into simple, day-by-day play — no prep, no worksheets, no Pinterest spiral — my free month-by-month curriculum for one-year-olds does exactly that, and it’s completely free.
| One word at a time is great. A whole plan is easier. Start the Free 1-Year-Old Curriculum → |
Frequently asked questions
How many words should a 1 year old say?
Most one-year-olds say between one and three clear words around their first birthday. By age two, many reach roughly 50 words and start combining them. Every child develops at their own pace, so use these as gentle guideposts, not a pass-or-fail test.
What words can a 1 year old understand?
Far more than they can say. At about 12 months, a toddler may only speak two or three words but can understand close to 50. Comprehension always comes before speech — the words are going in long before they come out.
What are the first words to teach a 1 year old?
Start with the everyday objects and people in your child’s world — ball, book, milk, water, mama, dada — plus a few high-value social words like “more” and “all done.” These come up many times a day, so they’re the fastest to stick.
What is a late talker?
A “late talker” generally describes a toddler who understands well and is developing typically in other areas but is slower to use spoken words — often flagged when a child has fewer than about 20 words by 20 months. If you’re concerned, your pediatrician can refer you to early intervention, which is free in most states.
How can I encourage my 1 year old to talk?
Name objects in the moment, lead with the first sound of the word, repeat it more than feels natural, pair words with movement, and keep it playful with zero pressure. Reading together daily and narrating your day are two of the most powerful things you can do.
Should I use sign language with my 1 year old?
Yes — simple signs like “more,” “all done,” and “milk” are easy for toddlers to copy and give them a way to communicate before speech arrives. Pair the sign with the spoken word so they learn both together. It tends to reduce frustration rather than delay talking.
Get the free printable checklist
Ready to make this easy? Grab the printable Words to Teach a 1 Year Old checklist, stick it on the fridge, and check off words as they come. It’s the same list above, organized so you can see your toddler’s progress at a glance — and watching those boxes fill in is genuinely one of the best feelings of the toddler year.
| ⬇ Download the printable checklist. Get the Words to Teach a 1 Year Old Checklist → |
What to read next
Wondering if your child is on track with their milestones — and what to teach this year to give them a head start before PreK? Start with the one-year-old learning checklist. And if your toddler isn’t talking as much as you’d hoped, these speech games from a speech pathologist are a gentle, play-based place to begin.