words

900words · the vocabulary coverage question

How many words do you need to get by?

Fewer than the dictionary suggests. Around 900, if they are the right ones. We checked the same 900 words in seven languages, and in each one they cover around 80% or more of the words in film and TV dialogue. Danish and German are ready to learn now with our unique word puzzle methodology.

The most common Danish word is det. One little word, 6% of everything said!

How much can 900 words cover in Danish?

≈ 87%

of the words in real Danish conversation. In film and TV dialogue: about 82%.

See the Danish answer →

How much can 900 words cover in German?

≈ 80%

of the words in German film and TV dialogue.

See the German answer →

How much can 900 words cover in English?

≈ 83%

of the words in English film and TV dialogue.

Coming later

How much can 900 words cover in French?

≈ 82%

of the words in French film and TV dialogue.

Coming later

How much can 900 words cover in Dutch?

≈ 81%

of the words in Dutch film and TV dialogue.

Coming later

How much can 900 words cover in Spanish?

≈ 80%

of the words in Spanish film and TV dialogue.

Coming later

How much can 900 words cover in Portuguese?

≈ 80%

of the words in Portuguese film and TV dialogue.

Coming later

How we measured it: Danish is measured on more than 900,000 recorded words of real conversation. Every language is also compared on its film and TV subtitles, counting the same 900 words against millions of lines of dialogue. German has a conversation measurement too, on its page.

Q&A

How many words do you need to speak Danish?
Around 900, if they are the right ones. Our shared 900-word list covers about 82% of the words in Danish film and TV dialogue. In recordings of real Danish conversation, a 900-word research list covered about 87%. See the Danish answer.
How many words do you need to speak German?
Around 900, if they are the right ones. Our shared 900-word list covers about 80% of the words in German film and TV dialogue. In a recording of real German conversation, the 900 German words and their small support words covered about 80% too. See the German answer.
What about English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese?
The same 900 words cover between 80% and 83% of the words in each language’s film and TV dialogue. Those courses are coming later. Danish and German are ready now.
How many words do you need to be fluent?
Fluency is more than a word count. Covering 80% of the words in a conversation is not the same as understanding 80% of it: coverage is the honest ceiling for what a vocabulary can touch, and listening and speaking still take practice. That is why we publish coverage and never promise fluency.
What are the most common Danish words?
Det (it), jeg (I), ja (yes), så (so) and er (is). The most common word alone is about 6% of everything said. The full lists are on the Danish page.
What is the fastest way to learn them?
We think it is connection puzzles: retrieving words by meaning instead of flipping flashcards. Try one round and judge for yourself.