Building a solid lexical foundation is a crucial step in the language learning process. For those who are just starting to learn English, mastering A1 vocabulary (A1-level vocabulary) serves as a necessary base, helping learners communicate in familiar, everyday situations. This article provides a detailed vocabulary system, presented in easy-to-follow tables, adhering to updated 2026 language standards to help you study effectively and structure your learning path.
What is the A1 CEFR level and its vocabulary requirements?
The A1 level, often referred to as “Breakthrough,” is the foundational stage in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At this stage, learners are generally expected to understand and use very simple everyday expressions and phrases aimed at the satisfaction of basic needs.
To achieve this communication goal, accumulating an a1 vocabulary list of approximately 500 to 700 core words is a practical requirement. This volume of vocabulary allows you to introduce yourself, ask for simple directions, go shopping, or describe immediate surroundings using short grammatical structures. Establishing this foundation provides a stepping stone for progressing to higher proficiency levels, such as A2 and B1, where sentence structures become more complex.
A1 vocabulary list by common everyday topics
Organizing words by thematic groups is an effective memorization method. This approach helps the brain connect words that belong to the same semantic field. Below are the categories of a1 vocabulary that frequently appear in real-life communication.
Personal Information & Family
When you first encounter English a1 vocabulary, conversations about introducing yourself and your family members are often the starting point. Understanding these terms helps you fill out basic forms and engage in introductory small talk.
| English Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Name | Noun | Tên | My name is Anna. |
| Age | Noun | Tuổi | What is your age? |
| Job | Noun | Công việc | I have a good job. |
| Mother | Noun | Mẹ | My mother is a teacher. |
| Father | Noun | Bố | His father works here. |
| Sibling | Noun | Anh/chị/em ruột | Do you have any siblings? |
| Married | Adjective | Đã kết hôn | They are married. |
| Single | Adjective | Độc thân | He is single. |
| Address | Noun | Địa chỉ | What is your address? |
| Friend | Noun | Bạn bè | She is my friend. |
Daily Routines and Activities
Describing repeated daily activities is a core requirement for beginners. This group of a1 vocabulary is frequently combined with the present simple tense to talk about habits and schedules.
| English Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Wake up | Verb | Thức giấc | I wake up at 6 AM. |
| Breakfast | Noun | Bữa sáng | I eat breakfast early. |
| Work | Verb/Noun | Làm việc/Công việc | She goes to work now. |
| Read | Verb | Đọc | I read a book every night. |
| Watch | Verb | Xem | We watch TV together. |
| Sleep | Verb | Ngủ | It is time to sleep. |
| Play | Verb | Chơi | They play football on Sunday. |
| Study | Verb | Học tập | I study English at home. |
| Listen | Verb | Lắng nghe | I listen to the radio. |
| Walk | Verb | Đi bộ | We walk in the park. |
Food & Drink
This vocabulary group is highly useful when you visit a supermarket, read a menu, or order food at a restaurant. Add these words to your a1 vocabulary list to navigate dining situations more easily.
| English Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Meat | Noun | Thịt | I do not eat meat often. |
| Fish | Noun | Cá | The fish is fresh today. |
| Rice | Noun | Cơm, gạo | We have rice for dinner. |
| Apple | Noun | Quả táo | I usually buy an apple. |
| Water | Noun | Nước | Please give me some water. |
| Coffee | Noun | Cà phê | He drinks hot coffee. |
| Milk | Noun | Sữa | She likes cold milk. |
| Bread | Noun | Bánh mì | I need to buy bread. |
| Chicken | Noun | Thịt gà | We cook chicken soup. |
| Vegetable | Noun | Rau củ | Vegetables are good for you. |
Places & Directions
Within the scope of all a1 vocabulary, words indicating public places and spatial directions help learners navigate physical spaces and ask for guidance when traveling or exploring a new city.
| English Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Hospital | Noun | Bệnh viện | The hospital is near. |
| School | Noun | Trường học | She is at school right now. |
| Park | Noun | Công viên | We walk in the local park. |
| Left | Noun/Adverb | Bên trái | Turn left at the corner. |
| Right | Noun/Adverb | Bên phải | Turn right, please. |
| Near | Preposition | Gần | The bank is near my house. |
| Far | Adjective/Adverb | Xa | Is the station far from here? |
| City | Noun | Thành phố | I live in a big city. |
| Street | Noun | Con đường | The street is very quiet. |
| Supermarket | Noun | Siêu thị | We go to the supermarket. |
Weather & Time
Words describing time units, days of the week, or weather conditions are regularly used in brief introductory conversations and are essential for making plans or scheduling appointments.
| English Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Monday | Noun | Thứ Hai | See you on Monday. |
| Month | Noun | Tháng | This month is quite hot. |
| Year | Noun | Năm | Next year we will travel. |
| Sunny | Adjective | Có nắng | The weather is sunny. |
| Rainy | Adjective | Có mưa | It is a rainy day today. |
| Cold | Adjective | Lạnh | I feel very cold outside. |
| Hot | Adjective | Nóng | The afternoon tea is hot. |
| Morning | Noun | Buổi sáng | Good morning to you. |
| Evening | Noun | Buổi tối | I relax in the evening. |
| Today | Noun/Adverb | Hôm nay | Today is a good day. |
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Categorizing english a1 vocabulary by parts of speech
Besides organizing words by topic, structuring your a1 vocabulary by grammatical function (Parts of Speech) supports accurate sentence construction. This prevents the common beginner mistake of placing words in the wrong order.
Basic Verbs Table
Verbs act as the core action or state in a sentence. The verbs belonging to the english a1 vocabulary group mostly consist of fundamental action verbs and modal verbs.
| Verb | Meaning (Vietnamese) | Common Usage / Structure |
| Be (am/is/are) | Thì, là, ở | Subject + to be + Noun/Adjective |
| Have | Có | Have a meeting / Have a car |
| Do | Làm | Do homework / Do the dishes |
| Go | Đi | Go to school / Go home |
| Make | Tạo ra, làm ra | Make a cake / Make some tea |
| See | Nhìn thấy | See a doctor / See a bird |
| Can | Có thể | Can + Base Verb (e.g., Can swim) |
Essential Adjectives Table
Adjectives make descriptive sentences clearer and more specific. At the foundational level, focusing on pairs of opposite adjectives from your all a1 vocabulary list can increase memory retention.
| Adjective | Meaning (Vietnamese) | Opposite Adjective |
| Good | Tốt, hay | Bad (Xấu, tồi tệ) |
| Big | To, lớn | Small (Nhỏ bé) |
| Happy | Vui vẻ | Sad (Buồn bã) |
| Beautiful | Xinh đẹp | Ugly (Xấu xí) |
| New | Mới mẻ | Old (Cũ kỹ) |
| Easy | Dễ dàng | Difficult (Khó khăn) |
Pronouns & Prepositions Table
Although these are short words, they perform the crucial function of linking sentence components together, creating necessary logical coherence in everyday speech.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning / Usage Context |
| I, You, He, She, It | Personal Pronoun | Acts as the subject of a sentence |
| My, Your, His, Her | Possessive Pronoun | Placed before a noun to show ownership |
| In | Preposition | Inside spaces, months, years |
| On | Preposition | On surfaces, days of the week |
| At | Preposition | At specific locations, exact times |
| Under | Preposition | Located below or beneath something |
Effective methods for remembering all a1 vocabulary
Memorizing an extensive list of all a1 vocabulary can be challenging if learners do not apply structured approaches. Reading and copying words repetitively without context often leads to quick forgetting. The following suggestions can help you retain vocabulary over the long term.
- Learn vocabulary through chunks: Instead of studying isolated words and struggling to combine them later, it is practical to learn phrases. Memorizing a whole phrase helps the brain store a1 vocabulary along with its specific context. For example, memorize the entire phrase “listen to music” rather than learning “listen” separately from “music”.
- Utilize Spaced Repetition systems: Applying digital flashcards combined with spaced repetition algorithms is a viable solution for transferring vocabulary into long-term memory. Many modern educational tools have features that remind you to review words right at the moment you are likely to forget them.
- Integrate a1 vocabulary into daily life: You can create an environment to use english a1 vocabulary by placing sticky notes on household items. Alternatively, practice writing short journal entries (about 3-5 sentences) every evening, making an effort to use the new words you have recently acquired.
Building proficiency in a new language requires patience and consistent effort. Categorizing words by topic, recognizing their grammatical functions, and applying structured review methods can make the process of memorizing all a1 vocabulary much more straightforward. Start organizing your personal a1 vocabulary list today and maintain a daily practice routine to steadily improve your language skills.
Frequently asked questions
1. How much time does it generally take to master an a1 vocabulary list?
Learning time depends on individual retention capacity and practice frequency. By maintaining a habit of dedicating 30 to 45 minutes a day to consistent practice, a beginner can grasp the majority of the core a1 vocabulary list within a period of 1 to 3 months.
2. Does learning foundational A1 vocabulary support academic exams like IELTS or TOEIC?
It provides substantial support. All English proficiency certificates require learners to have a stable foundational base. Even in advanced tests, the language structure always includes familiar communicative words. A1 vocabulary serves as a stepping stone to progress toward higher score bands.
3. What are reliable resources for studying english a1 vocabulary?
Learners should consult materials from established educational publishers such as Cambridge or Oxford, or coursebooks aligned with the CEFR framework like English File Beginner. Using accurate resource materials ensures the practical applicability of the vocabulary in real-life communication.
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