List of Most Common Nouns in English

Nouns are the basic building blocks of every English sentence. Mastering common nouns will not only help you understand most everyday conversations, but it is also the key to communicating and writing confidently and fluently. This article will summarize the most common English nouns, classified into groups for you to learn and remember easily.

#VocabularyWord typeExamplePreview
1ability
/əˈbɪlɪti/
nounMy ability to learn new languages is constantly improving
2absence
/ˈabs(ə)ns/
nounThe coach felt the teams absence in the locker room
3abuse
/əˈbjuːz/
verb/nounThe tragic situation exemplified the abuse of power
4access
/ˈaksɛs/
nounTo access the internet, you need a reliable connection
5accident
/ˈaksɪd(ə)nt/
nounThe car accident was a result of icy road conditions
6accommodation
/əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃn/
noun The hotel offered comfortable accommodations with scenic views
7account
/əˈkaʊnt/
nounPlease provide me with an email address to which I can send the account information
8acid
/ˈasɪd/
nounThe rain was so acidic it ate away at the stone statues
9act
/akt/
verb/noun The actor acted convincingly on stage
10action
/ˈakʃn/
nounThe quick action saved the day
11addition
/əˈdɪʃn/
nounAdding is a basic math operation called addition
12address
/əˈdrɛs/
noun/verbPlease write your full name and address on this form
13adult
/ˈadʌlt/
nounThe adult cat gracefully stretched before resuming its nap
14advance
/ədˈvɑːns/
verb/nounThey made an advance on the enemy position
15advantage
/ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/
nounHer experience abroad gave her a significant advantage in the job market
16advice
/ədˈvʌɪs/
nounPlease take my advice and study harder for the exam
17afternoon
/ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/
nounWe enjoyed a leisurely stroll in the park during the warm afternoon
18age
/eɪdʒ/
nounHis age was difficult to determine due to the lack of reliable records
19agency
/ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/
nounThe marketing agency launched a new campaign to boost sales
20agent
/ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/
nounThe real estate agent helped us find our dream home

1. Nouns Referring to People

This group includes nouns used to describe specific individuals, roles, or relationships:

  • Family: man, woman, child, boy, girl, father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son, daughter, friend.
  • Professions/Roles: teacher, student, doctor, nurse, engineer, worker, boss, police, artist, singer, actor, writer.
  • General Terms: person, people, human, stranger, customer, client, neighbor.

List of Most Common Nouns in English

2. Nouns Referring to Things/Objects

These nouns name tangible items or objects we commonly encounter:

  • Personal Items: phone, computer, book, pen, paper, clothes, shoes, bag, watch, glasses.
  • Household Items: table, chair, bed, lamp, TV, refrigerator, stove, plate, cup, spoon, knife, fork.
  • Vehicles: car, bike, bus, train, plane, boat, truck.

List of Most Common Nouns in English

3. Nouns Referring to Places

These nouns describe specific spaces, locations, or areas:

  • Buildings/Locations: house, home, room, office, school, hospital, store, supermarket, restaurant, cafe, bank, post office, library, park, church, mosque, temple.
  • Geographical Features: city, town, village, country, street, road, bridge, mountain, river, lake, ocean, beach, forest, farm.

List of Most Common Nouns in English

4. Nouns Referring to Time

This group includes nouns related to time concepts:

  • Units of Time: second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, decade, century.
  • Specific Times/Periods: morning, afternoon, evening, night, today, tomorrow, yesterday, weekend, weekday, holiday, season.
  • Seasons: spring, summer, autumn (fall), winter.

List of Most Common Nouns in English

5. Nouns Referring to Phenomena, Events, and Abstract Concepts

These nouns name events, occurrences, or intangible ideas and emotions:

  • Natural Phenomena: rain, snow, wind, sun, moon, star, sky, cloud, storm, earthquake, fire, water, air.
  • Events/Activities: meeting, party, event, game, concert, trip, work, study, lesson, class, project.
  • Abstract Concepts: love, happiness, sadness, hope, dream, idea, information, knowledge, freedom, peace, truth, beauty, time, money, life, death, problem, solution, opportunity, challenge.

List of Most Common Nouns in English

6. Nouns Referring to Units and Quantities

These nouns denote measurements or quantities:

  • Measurements: meter, kilogram, liter, dollar, pound, degree.
  • Quantities/Groups: piece, bit, group, team, pair, lot, number, amount.

List of Most Common Nouns in English

Familiarizing yourself with these nouns and practicing their use in real-life contexts will help you build a strong foundation in English. Try practicing daily to make these nouns a natural part of your vocabulary! Would you like to explore how to use these nouns in sentences in more detail?

Some useful English topics

tests.grammar_test

Comment ()