{
  "title": "Children's vocabulary growth by age: a reference dataset",
  "url": "https://materlu.com/en/knowledge/studies/vocabulary-growth-by-age/",
  "inLanguage": "en",
  "updated": "2026-07-12",
  "tables": [
    {
      "caption": "Approximate expressive vocabulary by age",
      "columns": [
        "Age",
        "Typical words used",
        "Note"
      ],
      "rows": [
        [
          "12 months",
          "1–3",
          "First words emerge"
        ],
        [
          "18 months",
          "~50",
          "Vocabulary spurt often begins"
        ],
        [
          "2 years",
          "200–300",
          "Two-word phrases"
        ],
        [
          "3 years",
          "~1,000",
          "Short sentences, many questions"
        ],
        [
          "4 years",
          "~1,500",
          "Longer sentences, storytelling"
        ],
        [
          "5 years",
          "2,000–2,500+",
          "Complex sentences"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "charts": [
    {
      "title": "Typical words used, by age (approx.)",
      "unit": "words",
      "data": [
        {
          "label": "12 mo",
          "value": 3
        },
        {
          "label": "18 mo",
          "value": 50
        },
        {
          "label": "2 yr",
          "value": 300
        },
        {
          "label": "3 yr",
          "value": 1000
        },
        {
          "label": "4 yr",
          "value": 1500
        },
        {
          "label": "5 yr",
          "value": 2500
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}