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Words and reading

Word knowledge dey increase as person dey grow?

One online study estimate say median number of English word root forms wey people fit recognize na 42,000 when dem dey age 20 and 48,200 when dem dey age 60. This comparison between age groups suggest say adults fit continue to learn more words, but e no measure how each person dey learn. Study

Test yourself (English)
One open book with blue ball wey dey float and one white puzzle piece.

Na the Helibrain team write amLast time dem check am

Main evidence and numbers

AgeEstimated median number of word root forms wey dem recognizeScope
2042,000People wey speak American English as dem first language.
6048,200Na the same study and counting method.

Source: table of original estimates. The complete data get 221,268 people; the study no provide the exact number of people for each age group together with the estimates.

Wetin dey affect am?

Age and education affect how well people recognize words. The authors suggest say plenty years of contact with language fit explain the pattern. Dem compare different generations, so the pattern no show how fast one person dey learn. Study

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Test for how many words you know

Test yourself: word knowledge (English). When you dey compare results, notice the language of the test and the instructions.

Test yourself (English)

Common questions

Everybody dey gain more words at the same speed?

The study no show how fast one person dey learn. The numbers na estimates for groups of people.

If I recognize word, e mean say I fit use am correctly?

No. To know say word dey exist different from to explain am or use am.

I fit compare total number of words across languages?

Different word lists and ways to count words make am hard to compare totals directly. Use evidence wey concern the language wey dem test.

Sources

Cite dis page: Word knowledge dey increase as person dey grow?. Helibrain. 2026. https://helibrain.com/pcm/answers/does-vocabulary-increase-with-age. CC BY 4.0.

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