Don’t rush!
It will be much better, if in the end of a certain stage of learning you will know 500 or 1000 words very well, than 3000 — but badly. Do not allow to lead yourself to blind alley to teachers who will assure you that it is necessary to learn at first certain quantity of words to “be up on”. Only you can and should solve, whether that vocabulary which you have seized is sufficient for your purposes and interests.
Experience of studying of languages shows that nearby correctly chosen 400 words can cover to 90 % of that dictionary which is necessary for you for daily dialogue. To read, it is required more words, but many of them — are only passive. With knowledge of 1500 words you can already understand enough substantial texts.
It is better to master the most necessary and important words for you, than constantly to rush to learn the new. «The one who has pursued for too many, risks to miss all», — the Swedish proverb speaks. «You cannot kill the bird with two stones», — echoes Russian proverb.
Oral speech Lexicon
Nearby correctly chosen 40, high-frequency words will cover approximately 50 % of word usage in daily speech in any language;
— 200 words will cover about 80 %;
— 300 words — approximately 85 %;
— 400 words will cover already about 90 %;
— And 800-1000 words — about 95 % of what it will be necessary to tell or hear in the most usual situation.
Thus, correctly chosen lexicon helps to understand many at the modest efforts spent for cramming.
Having chosen correctly and having remembered well about 80 most frequency words, you will understand about 50 % of the plain text;
- 200 words will cover approximately 60 %;
- 300 words – 65 %;
- 400 words – 70 %;
- 800 words – approximately 80 %;
- 1500-2000 words – about 90 %;
- 3000-4000 – 95 %;
- 8000 words will cover about 99 % of the written text.
From 400 to 100.000
400-500 words —Active lexicon to speak the language on the basic (threshold) level.
800-1000 words — Active lexicon to be able to speak; Or passive lexicon for reading on the basic level.
1500-2000 words — Active lexicon, which is quite enough to provide daily dialogue during the whole day long; or a passive lexicon, sufficient for confident reading
3000-4000 words — In general, it is enough for almost free reading of newspapers or the literature on a specialty.
About 8000 words provide high-grade dialogue for the average European. Practically it is not necessary to know more words freely to communicate orally and in writing, and also to read the literature of any sort.
10.000-20.000 words — Active lexicon of an educated European (on his native language).
50.000-100.000 words— Passive lexicon of an educated European (on his native language).
The vocabulary in itself by no means does not provide free communication. At the same time, having learnt 1500 correctly chosen words, under condition of some additional training you can communicate almost freely.
Currently the world is much more open for communication than ever before. The borders of many countries are open allowing people to visit them. Besides, the Internet technologies provide us with a truly unique possibility to learn countries even without visiting them. But all this requires possessing foreign languages. Those who are searching materials on Spanish, are welcomed to visit this learn to speak Spanish site.
Remember there is no need to invest much cash to understand a foreign language. The Web network today is a great storeroom of materials. Search Google and other search engines for “free online Spanish lessons“. You might be surprised how many online courses and tutorials are available online. You don’t need to visit a class or hire an expensive tutor. You can learn to speak Spanish online at no cost.
