COCA · one billion words
The 100 Most Common English Nouns
Nouns are what English sentences are about. These are the 100 most frequent in a one-billion-word corpus of real American English — the things, people and ideas the language keeps coming back to.
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The list, ranked by frequency
- 1
timeA12,032.91
what is measured in minutes, hours and years; also an occasion
We spent a lot of time waiting.
noun · #54 in the corpus overall · 2,032.91 times per million words
- 2
peopleA11,812.85
human beings in general; the plural of person
Thousands of people came to the march.
noun · #62 in the corpus overall · 1,812.85 times per million words
- 3
yearA11,742.14
a period of twelve months
She turns thirty next year.
noun · #64 in the corpus overall · 1,742.14 times per million words
- 4
wayA11,268.86
a method of doing something, or a route
There must be a better way to do this.
noun · #82 in the corpus overall · 1,268.86 times per million words
- 5
thingA11,210.45
an object, idea or event you do not name precisely
Take your things off the table.
noun · #86 in the corpus overall · 1,210.45 times per million words
- 6
manA11,099.05
an adult male human being
An older man answered the door.
noun · #95 in the corpus overall · 1,099.05 times per million words
- 7
dayA11,076.41
a period of twenty-four hours, or the hours of light
It rained every day of the trip.
noun · #96 in the corpus overall · 1,076.41 times per million words
- 8
lifeA1858.25
the state of being alive, or the time you are alive
He has lived here all his life.
noun · #116 in the corpus overall · 858.25 times per million words
- 9
womanA1765.16
an adult female human being
The woman in front of me dropped her ticket.
noun · #126 in the corpus overall · 765.16 times per million words
- 10
worldA1737.66
the earth and everyone on it
She wants to travel the world.
noun · #134 in the corpus overall · 737.66 times per million words
- 11
childA1690.24
a young human being; a son or daughter of any age
Every child in the class got a book.
noun · #140 in the corpus overall · 690.24 times per million words
- 12
schoolA1664.83
a place where children are taught
My son walks to school on his own now.
noun · #146 in the corpus overall · 664.83 times per million words
- 13
stateA2642.49
a region of a country with its own government, or a condition something is in
Texas is the second-largest state.
noun · #147 in the corpus overall · 642.49 times per million words
- 14
familyA1548.35
a group of people related to each other
The whole family came for dinner.
noun · #171 in the corpus overall · 548.35 times per million words
- 15
presidentA2542.1
the elected head of a country or organisation
The president gave a short speech.
noun · #173 in the corpus overall · 542.1 times per million words
- 16
houseA1540.81
a building people live in
They bought a small house near the sea.
noun · #176 in the corpus overall · 540.81 times per million words
- 17
studentA1533.92
a person who is studying at a school or university
Each student hands in an essay.
noun · #179 in the corpus overall · 533.92 times per million words
- 18
partA1521.33
a piece of something bigger
This is the hardest part of the job.
noun · #183 in the corpus overall · 521.33 times per million words
- 19
placeA1512.38
a location or position
This café is my favourite place to read.
noun · #186 in the corpus overall · 512.38 times per million words
- 20
problemA1507.72
a difficulty that needs to be solved
We ran into a problem with the booking.
noun · #187 in the corpus overall · 507.72 times per million words
- 21
countryA1502.88
a nation with its own government
She has worked in six different countries.
noun · #190 in the corpus overall · 502.88 times per million words
- 22
weekA1488.24
a period of seven days
I'll call you next week.
noun · #192 in the corpus overall · 488.24 times per million words
- 23
pointA2487.5
an idea in an argument, a moment in time, or a mark in a game
That's a fair point.
noun · #193 in the corpus overall · 487.5 times per million words
- 24
handA1484.71
the part of the body at the end of the arm
He held the cup in both hands.
noun · #194 in the corpus overall · 484.71 times per million words
- 25
groupA1474.28
several people or things together
A group of tourists blocked the entrance.
noun · #199 in the corpus overall · 474.28 times per million words
- 26
guyA2467.34
an informal word for a man; in the plural, for any group of people
Some guy left this on your desk.
noun · #203 in the corpus overall · 467.34 times per million words
- 27
caseA2461.6
a particular situation, or a matter dealt with by police or a court
In that case, we should leave earlier.
noun · #205 in the corpus overall · 461.6 times per million words
- 28
questionA1460.51
something you ask in order to get information
Does anyone have a question?
noun · #206 in the corpus overall · 460.51 times per million words
- 29
workA1459.37
a job, or the activity of doing it
She leaves for work at seven.
noun · #207 in the corpus overall · 459.37 times per million words
- 30
nightA1455.27
the dark part of the day
We drove through the night.
noun · #208 in the corpus overall · 455.27 times per million words
- 31
gameA1448.28
an activity with rules that people play to win or for fun
The game ended in a draw.
noun · #210 in the corpus overall · 448.28 times per million words
- 32
numberA1447.53
a word or symbol for a quantity, e.g. 5 or 200
Give me a number between one and ten.
noun · #211 in the corpus overall · 447.53 times per million words
- 33
moneyA1440.66
coins and notes used to buy things
I don't carry much money with me.
noun · #215 in the corpus overall · 440.66 times per million words
- 34
lotA1440.62
a large amount or number (usually 'a lot of')
There's a lot of traffic this morning.
noun · #216 in the corpus overall · 440.62 times per million words
- 35
bookA1438.45
a set of printed pages bound together
I finished the book in two evenings.
noun · #218 in the corpus overall · 438.45 times per million words
- 36
systemA2438.36
a set of connected parts or rules that work together
The heating system broke down again.
noun · #219 in the corpus overall · 438.36 times per million words
- 37
governmentA2435.48
the group of people who run a country
The government announced new rules.
noun · #220 in the corpus overall · 435.48 times per million words
- 38
cityA1436.89
a large town
Lisbon is a beautiful city.
noun · #222 in the corpus overall · 436.89 times per million words
- 39
companyA2435.51
a business that makes or sells things
She works for a small design company.
noun · #223 in the corpus overall · 435.51 times per million words
- 40
storyA1435.22
an account of real or imagined events
He told us the whole story.
noun · #224 in the corpus overall · 435.22 times per million words
- 41
jobA1434.02
the work someone does to earn money
She started a new job in March.
noun · #226 in the corpus overall · 434.02 times per million words
- 42
friendA1426.73
someone you like and enjoy spending time with
An old friend is visiting this weekend.
noun · #230 in the corpus overall · 426.73 times per million words
- 43
wordA1405.04
a unit of language with a meaning
I couldn't understand a single word.
noun · #241 in the corpus overall · 405.04 times per million words
- 44
factA2402.38
something known to be true
That's a fact, not an opinion.
noun · #242 in the corpus overall · 402.38 times per million words
- 45
rightB1392.65
something you are morally or legally allowed to have or do
Everyone has the right to an education.
noun · #243 in the corpus overall · 392.65 times per million words
- 46
monthA1384.52
one of the twelve parts of a year
We moved here three months ago.
noun · #249 in the corpus overall · 384.52 times per million words
- 47
programA2378.35
a planned set of activities, or software on a computer
The council runs a reading program for children.
noun · #250 in the corpus overall · 378.35 times per million words
- 48
businessA2376.37
buying and selling, or a company that does it
They run a small family business.
noun · #254 in the corpus overall · 376.37 times per million words
- 49
homeA1373.36
the place where you live
I left my keys at home.
noun · #255 in the corpus overall · 373.36 times per million words
- 50
kindA1370.17
a type or sort of something
What kind of music do you like?
noun · #256 in the corpus overall · 370.17 times per million words
- 51
studyB1367.48
a piece of research, or the act of learning about something
A recent study found the opposite.
noun · #259 in the corpus overall · 367.48 times per million words
- 52
issueB1364.68
an important topic, or a problem
Housing is the biggest issue here.
noun · #261 in the corpus overall · 364.68 times per million words
- 53
nameA1364.46
what a person or thing is called
I've forgotten her name.
noun · #262 in the corpus overall · 364.46 times per million words
- 54
ideaA1360.52
a thought or plan
That's a great idea.
noun · #263 in the corpus overall · 360.52 times per million words
- 55
roomA1360.2
a separate space inside a building; also space in general
The room was too small for all of us.
noun · #264 in the corpus overall · 360.2 times per million words
- 56
percentA2360.03
one part in every hundred
Almost sixty percent of the class agreed.
noun · #265 in the corpus overall · 360.03 times per million words
- 57
lawA2357.45
a rule made by a government
The new law takes effect in June.
noun · #268 in the corpus overall · 357.45 times per million words
- 58
powerB1353.95
control over others, or energy that makes machines work
The storm cut the power for two days.
noun · #274 in the corpus overall · 353.95 times per million words
- 59
kidA1353.92
an informal word for a child
The kids are still at the park.
noun · #275 in the corpus overall · 353.92 times per million words
- 60
warA2353.04
armed fighting between countries or groups
The country was rebuilt after the war.
noun · #276 in the corpus overall · 353.04 times per million words
- 61
headA1351.11
the top part of the body, or the person in charge
He hit his head on the shelf.
noun · #278 in the corpus overall · 351.11 times per million words
- 62
motherA1350.92
a female parent
Her mother taught her to cook.
noun · #279 in the corpus overall · 350.92 times per million words
- 63
teamA1350.51
a group who play or work together
Our team won on Saturday.
noun · #282 in the corpus overall · 350.51 times per million words
- 64
eyeA1349.59
the part of the body you see with
She has very dark eyes.
noun · #283 in the corpus overall · 349.59 times per million words
- 65
sideA2345.25
one of the surfaces or edges of something; a position in an argument
Park on the other side of the road.
noun · #286 in the corpus overall · 345.25 times per million words
- 66
waterA1344.98
the clear liquid we drink
Could I have a glass of water?
noun · #287 in the corpus overall · 344.98 times per million words
- 67
serviceB1334.65
work done for customers, or a system that meets a public need
The service at that restaurant is slow.
noun · #295 in the corpus overall · 334.65 times per million words
- 68
areaA2334.2
a part of a place, or the size of a surface
This area floods every winter.
noun · #296 in the corpus overall · 334.2 times per million words
- 69
personA1333.31
one human being
She's the only person who knows.
noun · #298 in the corpus overall · 333.31 times per million words
- 70
endA1331.01
the last part or final point of something
Wait until the end of the film.
noun · #303 in the corpus overall · 331.01 times per million words
- 71
hourA1326.28
a period of sixty minutes
The journey takes about an hour.
noun · #308 in the corpus overall · 326.28 times per million words
- 72
lineA2321.74
a long thin mark, a row of people, or a phone connection
Draw a straight line here.
noun · #312 in the corpus overall · 321.74 times per million words
- 73
girlA1321.36
a female child or young woman
A little girl waved at us.
noun · #313 in the corpus overall · 321.36 times per million words
- 74
fatherA1320.41
a male parent
His father drove him to the airport.
noun · #317 in the corpus overall · 320.41 times per million words
- 75
informationA2316.55
facts or details about something
I need more information before deciding.
noun · #320 in the corpus overall · 316.55 times per million words
- 76
carA1315.64
a road vehicle for a small number of people
We left the car at the station.
noun · #321 in the corpus overall · 315.64 times per million words
- 77
minuteA1308.19
sixty seconds
I'll be ready in five minutes.
noun · #326 in the corpus overall · 308.19 times per million words
- 78
partyA1306.46
a social event, or a political organisation
They're having a party on Friday.
noun · #327 in the corpus overall · 306.46 times per million words
- 79
backA2304.51
the rear part of something, or the rear of the body
There are seats free at the back.
noun · #331 in the corpus overall · 304.51 times per million words
- 80
healthA2302.37
the condition of your body and mind
Her health improved after the move.
noun · #333 in the corpus overall · 302.37 times per million words
- 81
reasonA2297.65
why something happens or is done
There's no reason to worry.
noun · #336 in the corpus overall · 297.65 times per million words
- 82
memberA2294.65
a person belonging to a group or organisation
Every member pays a small fee.
noun · #341 in the corpus overall · 294.65 times per million words
- 83
communityB1292.53
the people living in one area, or a group with something in common
The whole community helped rebuild it.
noun · #342 in the corpus overall · 292.53 times per million words
- 84
newsA1291.21
reports of recent events
I heard the news on the radio.
noun · #345 in the corpus overall · 291.21 times per million words
- 85
bodyA1289.84
the whole physical structure of a person or animal
Exercise is good for the body.
noun · #348 in the corpus overall · 289.84 times per million words
- 86
levelA2281.74
a position on a scale of amount or ability
Her English is at an advanced level.
noun · #354 in the corpus overall · 281.74 times per million words
- 87
boyA1281.25
a male child or young man
The boy next door feeds our cat.
noun · #358 in the corpus overall · 281.25 times per million words
- 88
universityA1281.09
a place of higher education after school
She studied law at university.
noun · #359 in the corpus overall · 281.09 times per million words
- 89
changeA2276.06
the act of becoming different; also coins
There's been a change to the timetable.
noun · #364 in the corpus overall · 276.06 times per million words
- 90
centerA2270.71
the middle of something, or a building for an activity
The hotel is right in the center of town.
noun · #367 in the corpus overall · 270.71 times per million words
- 91
faceA1268.33
the front of the head
I recognised her face immediately.
noun · #369 in the corpus overall · 268.33 times per million words
- 92
foodA1264.54
what people and animals eat
The food at that place is excellent.
noun · #372 in the corpus overall · 264.54 times per million words
- 93
historyA2262.88
events of the past, or the study of them
This building has a strange history.
noun · #374 in the corpus overall · 262.88 times per million words
- 94
resultA2261.79
what happens because of something else
We're still waiting for the results.
noun · #376 in the corpus overall · 261.79 times per million words
- 95
morningA1260.95
the early part of the day, before noon
I run every morning before work.
noun · #377 in the corpus overall · 260.95 times per million words
- 96
parentA1260
a mother or father
Both her parents are teachers.
noun · #379 in the corpus overall · 260 times per million words
- 97
officeA1259.97
a room or building where people do desk work
The office closes at six.
noun · #380 in the corpus overall · 259.97 times per million words
- 98
researchB1256.92
careful study done to discover new facts
Her research focuses on sleep.
noun · #383 in the corpus overall · 256.92 times per million words
- 99
doorA1254.4
the part of a building or room you open to go through
Please close the door behind you.
noun · #385 in the corpus overall · 254.4 times per million words
- 100
courtB1252.65
the place where legal cases are decided; also a sports area
The case goes to court in October.
noun · #388 in the corpus overall · 252.65 times per million words
Test yourself
Reading a list is not the same as knowing it. Answer 10 questions drawn at random from these 100 words and find out which ones you only recognise.
Why these 100 nouns first
The list is ordered by raw corpus frequency, not by theme. That is why it looks nothing like the vocabulary sets in a coursebook: there is no food chapter and no travel chapter, because the nouns English actually repeats are abstract and general — time, way, thing, part, point.
Concrete, picturable nouns turn out to be surprisingly rare at the top. You have to go a long way down before reaching anything you could photograph. That gap between what is easy to illustrate and what is genuinely frequent is one of the most useful things a frequency list can show a learner.
Common English nouns explained
Nouns make up the largest word class in English by far — hundreds of thousands of them — which means no individual noun can be as frequent as a word like 'the'. What the top of this list shows instead is which nouns escaped that dilution: the handful general enough to appear in almost any sentence, on any subject.
Look at the first twenty and a pattern appears. Time, people, year, way, thing, man, day, life. Almost none of them name a physical object. They name units of time, categories of person, and abstractions so broad they are nearly grammatical. 'Thing' in particular functions less as a noun than as a placeholder for one — which is exactly why it earns its rank.
This has a practical consequence for study. Picture-based vocabulary learning works well for concrete nouns and badly for these, because there is nothing to draw. The words at the top of this list are learned through use — through the phrases they live in, like 'at the same time', 'in a way', 'the thing is'. That is why every entry here carries an example sentence rather than an image.
Treat the ranking as a diagnostic. Most learners recognise all hundred of these words and can still only use half of them precisely. Tick the ones you could produce correctly in a sentence of your own, not the ones you have merely seen before — the gap between those two numbers is the honest measure of where you are.
Frequently asked questions
How were these 100 nouns chosen?
They are the 100 highest-ranked nouns in the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), a one-billion-word corpus. We filtered the corpus frequency list down to entries tagged as nouns and took the top 100 in order — nothing was hand-picked.
Why are so many of these words abstract?
Because abstract nouns are reusable. 'Time', 'way' and 'thing' fit almost any topic, so they appear constantly, while a concrete noun like 'spoon' only turns up when someone is talking about cutlery. Frequency rewards words that work everywhere.
Some words here are also verbs. Which one is being counted?
Only the noun. Words like work, study, change and point are common as both, and the corpus counts each part of speech separately. The figure shown is the noun's frequency alone, which is why a word can appear on more than one ranking with different numbers.
Are plurals counted separately?
No. Each entry is a lemma, so 'child' covers children and 'person' covers people where they share a headword. You learn one entry and get its forms with it.
Is this enough vocabulary to read a newspaper?
Not on its own, but it is the right foundation. These nouns plus the top verbs and adjectives cover the skeleton of most texts; the rest is topic vocabulary you pick up faster once the skeleton is solid.
Practise these words
Other rankings
Frequency data from www.wordfrequency.info, derived from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). wordfrequency.info