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What is first words in speech therapy?

A child's earliest meaningful words, typically appearing around 12 months. Common first words include "mama," "dada," "ball," "car," and "more." Most children have 1-3 words by their first birthday. Example: "Mama," "dada," "ball," "car," or "more."

📈Developmental Milestones

First Words

What is first words in speech therapy?

A child's earliest meaningful words, typically appearing around 12 months. Common first words include "mama," "dada," "ball," "car," and "more." Most children have 1-3 words by their first birthday.

Example

"Mama," "dada," "ball," "car," or "more."

🔊 A toddler's first vehicle word

How can I help my child with first words?

Vehicle words like "car," "bus," and "truck" are often among children's first words.

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About this guide: This glossary is designed to help parents understand speech therapy terminology. Definitions are simplified for clarity and informed by resources from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Not medical advice: This information is educational only. For concerns about your child's speech development, consult a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).Find an SLP near you →

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Parents Also Ask

When should my child say their first word?▼

Most children say their first word around 12 months, but anywhere from 10-14 months is typical. By 18 months, most children have at least 10-20 words. If no words by 18 months, consult your pediatrician.

What counts as a first word?▼

A first word is any consistent sound your child uses to mean something specific. "Ba" for ball counts! It doesn't need to be pronounced perfectly. Approximations like "ca" for car are real words.

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Related Terms

Babbling

When babies make repetitive sounds like "ba-ba-ba" or "da-da-da." Starts around 6 months and is a crucial stepping stone to first words. No babbling by 9 months is a red flag.

Vocabulary

All the words your child knows—both words they understand (receptive) and words they say (expressive). By age 2, most children have 200-300 words. Vocabulary size is one of the best predictors of later reading success.

More Developmental Milestones

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BabblingTwo-Word CombinationsIntelligibilityTwo-Word CombinationsIntelligibilityMLU (Mean Length of Utterance)

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Support Your Child's Speech Development

Little Wheels apps use vehicle-based learning to make speech practice engaging and fun. Perfect for home practice between therapy sessions.

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