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A collection of 3000 most common English words categorized by topics

By mastering just 3000 most common words in English, you can understand up to 95% of typical everyday conversations. Below is a comprehensive list of the 3000 most common English vocabulary words organized by topic, with concrete examples compiled by PREP. Save it to start learning right away!

Below, PREP has compiled 3000 most common English words, categorized by topic for your reference!

I. 3000 most common English words categorized by topics

Below is a list of common English words divided by topics. Please take a note!

1. Family

3000 high-frequency English words about family are as follows:

List of the 3000 Most Common English Words

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Family	/ˈfæməli/	a group consisting of one or two parents and their children	My family has three generations.
Parent	/ˈperənt/	a person’s father or mother	My parents are self-employed.
Sibling	/ˈsɪblɪŋ/	a brother or sister	Siblings will often be influenced by each other’s personalities.
Grandparent	/ˈɡrændˌperənt/	the father or mother of your father or mother	My grandparents live in a small village.
Cousin	/ˈkʌzən/	a child of your aunt or uncle	My cousins live far away from each other.
In-law	/ɪn lɔ/	a parent of your husband or wife or a member of his or her family	My in-laws are kind people who help me unconditionally.
Nephew/Niece	/ˈnefjuː/	a son/daughter of your sister or brother, or a son/daughter of the sister or brother of your husband or wife	My nephew was just born.

2. Friends

3000 most common English words about friends are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Friend	/frend/	a person you know well and like, and who is not usually a member of your family	I have very good friends.
Acquaintance	/əˈkweɪntəns/	a person that you know but who is not a close friend	He is my acquaintance.
Companion	/kəmˈpænjən/	a person or an animal that travels with you or spends a lot of time with you	You should find a long-term companion.
Confidant	/ˈkɒnfɪdænt/	a person that you trust and who you talk to about private or secret things	She is my confidant.
Peer	/pɪr/	a person who is the same age or who has the same social status as you	We are peers.
Ally	/ˈælaɪ/	a country that has agreed to help and support another country, especially in case of a war	He is my ally.

3. Hometown

3000 most common English words about home town are as follows. Please take a note:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Homeland	/ˈhoʊmlænd/	the country where a person was born	I’ve just returned to my homeland after 5 years studying abroad.
Hometown	/ˈhoʊmtaʊn/	the place where you were born or lived as a child	Hometown is always a peaceful place to return.
Province	/ˈprɒvɪns/	one of the areas that some countries are divided into with its own local government	My hometown is Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam.
Village	/ˈvɪlɪdʒ/	a very small town located in a country area	My village is increasingly changing.

4. Travelling

3000 most common English words about travelling are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Travel	/ˈtrævəl/	to go from one place to another, especially over a long distance	I travel twice a year.
Vacation	/vəˈkeɪʃən/	A period of time spent travelling or resting away from home	This time my vacation lasts 4 days.
Tourist	/ˈtʊrɪst/	a person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure	10,000 tourists have just visited Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Destination	/ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən/	a place to which somebody/something is going or being sent	The final destination of this journey is Singapore.
Adventure	/ədˈvɛnʧər/	an unusual, exciting or dangerous experience, journey or series of events	I really like adventure travel but I’m not healthy enough.
Souvenir	/ˌsuːvəˈnɪr/	a thing that you buy and/or keep to remind yourself of a place, an occasion or a holiday; something that you bring back for other people when you have been on holiday	Buy souvenirs for your parents after each trip.
Getaway	/ˈɡɛtəˌweɪ/	an escape from a difficult situation, especially after committing a crime	A getaway trip will help you heal your soul.

5. Work

3000 most common English words about work are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Job	/dʒɒb/	work for which you receive regular payment	I’m looking for a job.
Occupation	/ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən/	a job or profession	Occupation speaks of a person’s personality.
Career	/kəˈrɪər/	the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes	Invest in your career, it’s more important than love.
Profession	/prəˈfɛʃən/	a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education	Each profession has its own excitement.
Workplace	/ˈwɜːrkˌpleɪs/	the office, factory, etc. where people work	A comfortable workplace helps create excitement and work efficiency.
Colleague	/ˈkɒliːɡ/	a person that you work with, especially in a profession or a business	My colleagues are very good.
Boss	/bɒs/	a person who is in charge of other people at work and tells them what to do	I have a great boss.
Deadline	/ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/	a point in time by which something must be done	The deadline for this job is tonight, so I’m trying to complete it.
Promotion	/prəˈməʊʃən/	a move to a more important job or rank in a company or an organization	Promotion makes employees work harder.
Salary	/ˈsæləri/	money that employees receive for doing their job, especially professional employees or people working in an office, usually paid every month	Aland gets a basic salary plus a commission.

6. Culture

Trong 3000 most common English words about culture is as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Culture	/ˈkʌltʃər/	the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group	The children are taught to respect different cultures.
Tradition	/trəˈdɪʃən/	a belief, custom or way of doing something that has existed for a long time among a particular group of people; a set of these beliefs or customs	Tradition is what belongs to the fine customs and traditions of the nation.
Heritage	/ˈherɪtɪdʒ/	the history, traditions, buildings and objects that a country or society has had for many years and that are considered an important part of its character	Cultural heritage is the spiritual beauty of each country.
Art	/ɑːrt/	the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture	Art makes us love life more.
Literature	/ˈlɪtərətʃər/	pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and poems (in contrast to technical books and newspapers, magazines, etc.)	Literature is my favorite subject.
Music	/ˈmjuːzɪk/	sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. People sing music or play it on instruments.	I don’t like studying music.
Cuisine	/kwɪˈziːn/	a style of cooking	We sampled the local cuisine.
Custom	/ˈkʌstəm/	an accepted way of behaving or of doing things in a society or a community	The custom died out in the nineteenth century.

7. Weather

3000 most common English words about weather are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Weather	/ˈwɛðər/	the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as the temperature, and if there is wind, rain, sun, etc.	The weather forecast for today is rainy.
Temperature	/ˈtɛmpərətʃər/	the measurement in degrees of how hot or cold a thing or place is	Winter temperatures fluctuate around 26 and 28 degrees.
Sunny	/ˈsʌni/	with a lot of bright light from the sun	It’s sunny today.
Cloudy	/ˈklaʊdi/	(of the sky or the weather) covered with clouds; with a lot of clouds	The weather is very cloudy.
Snowy	/ˈsnoʊ/	covered with snow	Snowy weather makes the air colder.
Windy	/ˈwɪndi/	(of weather, etc.) with a lot of wind	It’s windy today.
Stormy	/ˈstɔːrmi/	with strong winds and heavy rain or snow	It’s very stormy.
Foggy	/ˈfɒɡi/	not clear because of fog	It’s foggy outside, be careful when moving.
Humid	/ˈhjuːmɪd/	(of the air or climate) warm and slightly wet	It is humid in the rainy season.

8. Festivals

3000 most common English words about festivals are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Festival	/ˈfɛstɪvəl/	a series of performances of music, plays, films, etc., usually organized in the same place once a year; a series of public events connected with a particular activity or idea	It’s festival season in my hometown.
Celebration	/ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/	a special event that people organize in order to celebrate something	They planned a special celebration for their wedding.
Costume	/ˈkɒstjuːm/	the clothes worn by people from a particular place or during a particular historical period	I’ve just rented a costume for the concert tomorrow afternoon.
Fireworks	/ˈfaɪərwɜːrks/	a small device containing powder that burns or explodes and produces bright coloured lights and loud noises, used especially at celebrations	Peter and Linda set off fireworks in their back garden.
Street fair	/striːt fɛr/	booths used to sell goods	The street fair is very crowded.

9. Health

3000 most common English words about health are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Health	/hɛlθ/	the condition of a person’s body or mind	Take good care of your own health.
Fitness	/ˈfɪtnɪs/	the state of being physically healthy and strong	Exercise helps to improve fitness.
Medical check-up	/ˈmɛdɪkl ˈʧɛkˌʌp/	a medical examination to test your general state of health	Get a medical check-up once a month.
Doctor	/ˈdɒktər/	a person who has been trained in medical science, whose job is to treat people who are ill or injured	My family has its own doctor.
Patient	/ˈpeɪʃənt/	a person who is receiving medical treatment, especially in a hospital	The patient needs someone to take care of him.
Treatment	/ˈtriːtmənt/	something that is done to cure an illness or injury, or to make somebody look and feel good	She received long-term treatment.

10. Food

3000 most common English words about food are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Food	/fuːd/	things that people or animals eat	The food at this restaurant is not to my taste.
Dish	/dɪʃ/	a flat shallow container for cooking food in or serving it from	The dishes are being served.
Cuisine	/kwɪˈziːn/	a style of cooking	I love to explore the cuisine of different countries.
Recipe	/ˈrɛsəpi/	a set of instructions that tells you how to cook something and the ingredients (= items of food) you need for it	I have a habit of recording recipes.
Ingredient	/ɪnˈɡriːdiənt/	one of the things from which something is made, especially one of the foods that are used together to make a particular dish	We need to prepare ingredients before cooking.
Flavor	/ˈfleɪvər/	how food or drink tastes	The tomatoes give extra flavour to the sauce.
Spicy	/ˈspaɪsi/	(of food) having a strong taste because spices have been added to it	My teacher doesn’t like spicy food.
Sweet	/swiːt/	containing, or tasting as if it contains, a lot of sugar	Coconut candy is too sweet.
Appetizer	/ˈæpɪtaɪzər/	a small amount of food or a drink that you have before a meal	I love eating appetizers at this restaurant.

11. Education

3000 English words about education are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Education	/ˌɛdʒʊˈkeɪʃən/	a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools, colleges or universities, to improve knowledge and develop skills	Countries should invest in education because it is the basis for national development.
School	/skuːl/	a place where children go to be educated	I go to school at 7 am.
Student	/ˈstuːdənt/	a person who is studying at a university or college	Students must wear uniforms when going to school.
Teacher	/ˈtiːʧər/	a person whose job is teaching, especially in a school	My teacher is sick, so I have no school today.
Classroom	/ˈklæsruːm/	a room where a class of children or students is taught	My classroom has just added tables and chairs.
Curriculum	/kəˈrɪkjələm/	the subjects that are included in a course of study or taught in a school, college, etc.	My university curriculum is quite heavy.
Knowledge	/ˈnɒlɪdʒ/	the information, understanding and skills that you gain through education or experience	Knowledge is limitless, so we must keep learning.
Lecture	/ˈlɛkʧər/	a talk that is given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject, often as part of a university or college course	Lectures have been prepared by teachers.
Homework	/ˈhoʊmwɜːrk/	work that is given by teachers for students to do at home	I don’t have homework today so I’ll watch a movie. work that is given by teachers for students to do at home

12. Accommodation

3000 most common English words about accommodation are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Residence	/ˈrɛzɪdəns/	a house, especially a large or impressive one	I got a new residence to stay away from the city center.
Apartment	/əˈpɑːrtmənt/	a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building	I share an apartment with two friends.
Villa	/ˈvɪlə/	a house where people stay on holiday, especially in southern Europe	Opposite my house is a very beautiful large villa.
Dormitory	/ˈdɔːrmɪtɔːri/	a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or other institution	I lived in the dormitory for all four years of college.
Bungalow	/ˈbʌŋɡəloʊ/	a house built all on one level, without stairs	I like small bungalows because they are friendly to nature.

13. Human characteristics

3000 most common English words about human characteristics are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Personality	/ˌpɜːrsəˈnæləti/	the various aspects of a person’s character that combine to make them different from other people	Personality is reflected in the lifestyle of each person.
Behavior	/bɪˈheɪvjər/	the way that somebody behaves, especially towards other people	She has very strange behavior.
Temperament	/ˈtɛmpərəmənt/	a person’s or an animal’s nature as shown in the way they behave or react to situations or people	His temperament is very hot-tempered.
Attitude	/ˈætɪtjuːd/	the way that you think and feel about somebody/something; the way that you behave towards somebody/something that shows how you think and feel	She has a bad attitude towards the elderly.
Introvert	/ˈɪntrəvɜːrt/	a quiet person who is more interested in their own thoughts and feelings than in spending time with other people	I’m an introvert, so I don’t like crowded places.
Extrovert	/ˈekstrəvɜːrt/	a lively and confident person who enjoys being with other people	Extroverts usually find it very easy to make friends.
Optimistic	/ˌɑːptɪˈmɪstɪk/	expecting good things to happen or something to be successful; showing this feeling	She is optimistic in every situation.
Pessimistic	/ˌpesɪˈmɪstɪk/	expecting bad things to happen or something not to be successful; showing this	He is a pessimistic person who has no faith in life.

14. Information technology

3000 most common English words about information technology are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Information Technology	/ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən ˌtɛknɒlədʒi/	the study or use of electronic equipment, especially computers, for storing, accessing, analysing and sending information	My boyfriend works in the information technology field.
Computer	/kəmˈpjuːtər/	an electronic machine that can store, organize and find information, do processes with numbers and other data, and control other machines	I would love to buy this computer but I don’t have enough money.
Software	/ˈsɒftweər/	the programs used by a computer for doing particular jobs	He is the one who created this software.
Hardware	/ˈhɑːrdweər/	the machines and electronic parts in a computer or other electronic system	I just replaced the hardware on this computer but it still doesn’t work.
Programming	/ˈproʊˌɡræmɪŋ/	the process of writing and testing computer programs	Programming is a very difficult thing, something I cannot do.
Cloud computing	/klaʊd kəmˈpjuːtɪŋ/	a way of using computers in which data and software are stored or managed on a network of servers (= computers that control or supply information to other computers), to which users have access over the internet	Cloud computing is where big data is stored.

15. Business

Some common English words related to business are as follows:

3000 most common English words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Business	/ˈbɪznɪs/	the activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money	I like business but I don’t have enough experience.
Entrepreneur	/ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr/	a person who makes money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves taking financial risks	My boyfriend is a successful entrepreneur.
Company	/ˈkʌmpəni/	a business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services	My company is going to change its office address.
Startup	/ˈstɑːrtʌp/	a company that is just beginning to operate	I am working for a startup.
Investment	/ɪnˈvɛstmənt/	the act of investing money in something	Our investment in real estate brings very high profits.
Profit	/ˈprɒfɪt/	the money that you make in business or by selling things, especially after paying the costs involved	My company’s profit this month increased by 50% compared to last month.
Loss	/lɒs/	the state of no longer having something or as much of something; the process that leads to this	My company suffered heavy losses at the time of the covid-19 outbreak.
Competition	/ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən/	an event in which people compete with each other to find out who is the best at something	Competition is the driving force for businesses to develop.

II. Tips for effectively memorizing and applying the vocabulary

Here are some effective ways to learn 3000 most common English words:

1. Learn by a clear roadmap from basic to advanced levels

Study the words step-by-step according to a well-defined progression, starting from basic levels and gradually advancing to more difficult words. Prioritize everyday words and themes that are familiar and relevant to your daily life. After mastering the foundational vocabulary, you can expand your knowledge to more advanced academic terms.

For example, with a school-related vocabulary list, start with basic words describing classroom and school objects before moving on to names of academic subjects and school policies. Learning in a structured way from easy to hard ensures the highest retention of the words.

2. Regularly read books, newspapers and watch videos

English books, newspapers, and short video clips are extremely useful learning resources that should be utilized. Spend around 30 minutes daily reading news articles and watching videos in English. This helps improve your listening, pronunciation, and ability to recall 3000 most common English words more effectively over time. Some recommended news and video sources include:

English newspaper channels: ABC News, Channel News Asia, The Times in Plain English…
English video channels: BBC Learning English, TEDx talks, VOA learning English…

3. Take note the vocabulary scientifically

To learn vocabulary effectively, taking notes is very helpful. It improves memory retention. Record any difficult words that are easily confused in your notebook or flashcards to study anytime.

4. Apply blocked learning, repetitive learning

Another effective way to learn 3000 most common English words is through repetition. For example, study 10 new family-related words today, and 5 new health-related words tomorrow, then review 5 family words and 5 health words the following day. This spaced repetition style of intermittent review helps embed the vocabulary into long-term memory so you remember the words better over time instead of forgetting them if you don’t refer back regularly.

5. Learn through mind maps

Learning 3000 English words can feel overwhelming due to the large volume. To approach it most effectively scientifically, apply the mind mapping method for vocabulary learning. You can break down each topic into sub-branches, and further develop the content with pronunciations, examples, images, and so on. Here is a sample mind map for a "School" vocabulary topic that you can reference:

Học 3000 từ vựng tiếng Anh thông dụng hiệu quả qua sơ đồ tư duy — Learn 3000 most common English words effectively through mind maps

6. Learn from reputable books

There are many effective English vocabulary textbooks available that learners can utilize. These books not only cover diverse vocabulary topics but also guide learning methods. Here are some textbook recommendations:

English Vocabulary in Use
30 Topics of English Vocabulary
Mind Map English Vocabulary

7. Learn vocabulary with Prep

Prep's vocabulary courses are designed with a clear progression from beginning to advanced levels. Students will be provided vocabulary themes and instructed in the most effective learning approaches. The basic content of Prep's vocabulary programs includes:

Course	Content
Foundation vocabulary	The 10 lessons at this level cover the following main themes: introduction, natural world, daily activities, family, home, health, student life, leisure time, work and colleagues, technology.
Intermediate vocabulary	The 17 lessons are on topics such as: appearance, personality and social relationships, events, celebrations, housing, weather and climate, emotions, opinions, shopping, food, health, arts sports, jobs, education, films and media, places and transportation.
Advanced vocabulary	The 18 lessons include lectures on effective vocabulary learning methods, relationships in life, food entertainment, culture and travel, housing and construction, social media, politics and war, crime and punishment, education, environment and related issues, science and technology, occupations and economics, and infrastructure.

II. From Beginner to Band 7+

This article has provided 3000 most common English words that you can save to gradually review over time. If Band 7+ is your goal, our expert strategies will get you there - check our course below:

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Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.