Baby's first words: Your guide to first words and milestones

If you're eagerly awaiting the moment your baby starts talking to you, you'll find all the information you need about when babies say their first words in our guide below. Plus, we asked Emma Ahern, a specialist speech and language therapist from Zeebra Therapy and The Nook Clinic for her expert advice about this magical milestone, including the factors that influence when babies start talking, how you can encourage their language development and what to do if you encounter speech delays.

At what age do babies say their first word?

Most babies say their first word around 11 to 12 months of age, with around 75% of children having said their first word by their first birthday. However, there is a wide range of what is considered "normal", and some children may speak as early as 8 months or as late as 18 months. Currently, around 13 - 20% of two-year-olds are considered late talkers with boys being three times more likely to fall into this group.

Common first words often include “mama,” “dada,” or simple nouns like “ball” or “cat”. Remember that it's very unlikely your baby will just wake up one day and say their first word clearly and eloquently. There may be a few weeks or even months of babbling and gurgling sounds that lead up to a more distinct sound that you can recognise as a word.

"Babbling usually begins around 4-6 months, starting with simple sounds like "ba," "da," and "ma", says specialist speech and language therapist Emma Ahern. "This is an exciting milestone as your baby experiments with the sounds they hear from you. Responding to these early attempts — by mimicking their sounds and adding simple words — reinforces the joy of communication.

You can usually tell an attempt at a word when your baby makes eye contact with, or points at, an object or person first. And, if your baby regularly uses a sound for an object even if it's different to the actual word, this is their symbol for that object and can be considered a "word".

Speech milestones for your baby

It's pretty incredible to think that just 12 months after they are born babies can understand basic conversation and start to get involved in family interactions. However, talking and word comprehension doesn't just happen overnight and there are many smaller milestones to look out for en route to hearing that first fully formed word.

Here are some of the milestones you can expect to see along the way:

• Birth to 4 months: A baby's first form of communication is crying. Whether they need milk, a nappy change or to go to sleep they'll let you know by crying. When they're not crying though, babies are listening to all the sounds around them and are learning to associate certain sounds with people and objects. Around 4 months of age, they may start to make gurgles, babbles and vowel sounds such as "oo" and "aa", which are the first steps towards speaking.
• 4 to 6 months: When baby is approaching the half-year mark you'll notice an increase in babbling sounds and the introduction of some consonant sounds. A baby of this age may start to make early attempts at saying "mama", "dada" or their own name.
• 7 to 12 months: During these months you'll want to keep your ears peeled as it's often the period when babies say their first word. For many babies, it will be some form of "dada" or "mama" (depending on what you call yourselves or which language you speak), but it may also be a word your baby hears every day, such as their sibling's name. At this age, your baby will also understand a lot more of what you are saying to them and will tell you what they want by making gestures such as pointing and using sounds to get your attention.
• 13 to 18 months: If your baby has said their first word at this point they'll start trying to add some other simple words to their vocabulary. If not, this may be the time you get to hear your baby's first utterance! At this stage, the words will come slowly with babies only adding a few new words to their vocabulary each month. You'll mostly get single words like "no", "yum" and "book".
• 18 months to 3 years: Around 18 to 20 months, most children have a sudden language explosion and you'll notice a real flurry of new words from your toddler. In fact, at this age, it is thought some children can learn as many as 10 - 20 new words a day! During this word spurt, and by the time they reach 2 years of age, they may also be stringing words together in little sentences. It's an adorable phase when you can expect to hear funny grammar mistakes and their own unique combinations of words. Get your camera ready to record these moments because it doesn't last long – by 3 years of age many children will be able to tell long and complicated stories using up to 300 words at a time (and you may wonder why you ever wished for them to speak in the first place!).

Factors that influence when babies start talking

"Every child is unique, and their speech development is influenced by multiple factors," says Emma. "Genetics, exposure to language, and even personality can all play a role.

"Opportunities for interaction are key. Babies thrive on responsive communication — when they coo or babble, respond with smiles, sounds, and words. This back-and-forth builds the foundation for speech. Access to books, songs, and meaningful conversations also helps enrich a child’s language environment."

Here are some of the common factors that influence when a child says their first word...

Biological Factors

• Gender: Boys are statistically more likely to experience speech delays compared to girls. Nearly one in six boys struggle to learn to talk, compared to one in eight girls.
• Hearing and Neural Development: Babies with hearing impairments or neural disorders, such as childhood apraxia of speech, may face delays in verbal milestones. "Hearing loss, ear infections, or developmental conditions may affect when a child starts to talk," says Emma. "It’s important to keep an eye out for signs of delayed development and seek advice if needed."
• Cognitive Development: Babies begin to associate words with meaning as early as six months, but their ability to vocalise this understanding varies.

Environmental Factors

• Interaction and Communication: Babies exposed to more verbal interaction tend to develop speech earlier. Talking, singing, and reading to babies can significantly boost language skills.
• Siblings: Younger siblings sometimes speak later because their older siblings may speak on their behalf, reducing the need for verbal communication.
• Background Noise: Constant background noise, such as a television, can interfere with a baby’s ability to focus on and process spoken words.

Bilingualism

"Children in bilingual households may start talking slightly later as they navigate two languages simultaneously, but this is entirely normal and should not cause concern," says Emma.

How to encourage language development

It's pretty simple really, the more words a child hears and the more their parent interacts with them, the better their vocabulary and speech is likely to be. You can start this process from day 1.

"Speech and language development begins the moment a baby is born, and as parents, we play a vital role in fostering these skills," says Emma. "Simple, everyday interactions are the foundation. Talking to your baby during routines such as nappy changes, feeding, and playtime helps immerse them in language. Narrate your day, label objects, and use short, simple sentences. For instance, instead of asking, "What's this?" (a mistake my husband once made, leading our daughter to amusingly call everything “this” for a while), model language by naming items directly: "It’s a boat. Boat."

Remember newborns can't see that well so when you're talking to them bring your face in close and pause to let your baby "reply" during babbling sessions to encourage turn-taking. Studies have also shown that gently tickling your baby while saying specific words can help them associate touch with language, improving word recognition.

"Reading daily is incredibly impactful," says Emma. "Start with 2-3 books and rotate them every couple of weeks to match your child’s attention span and interests. Go beyond the words on the page by describing pictures, making animal sounds, or playing games like "I spy." Singing nursery rhymes with actions, such as using Makaton or watching Singing Hands, is another engaging way to encourage language. Incorporate familiar key words such as "finish," "more," and "go" into daily routines, building connections between words and actions."

Try to minimise background noise. Turn off the television or radio and reduce other distractions when interacting with your baby. Babies struggle to differentiate spoken words from other sounds in noisy environments. If you're in a noisy house try and make time to talk with your baby without interference from siblings. This allows them to practice communicating directly with you.

As your child starts to speak and tries out simple sentences don't draw attention to any mistakes and instead just repeat the sentence back to them correctly. "If they attempt to communicate through gestures, babbling, or pointing, respond warmly and model the correct words without pressure to repeat," says Emma. "Celebrate every attempt, no matter how small, to foster their confidence in communication."

At this stage, you can help to expand their vocabulary by offering them choices in questions and using synonyms for words they already know. Rhyming games are also thought to be very helpful in encouraging children to speak and understand different sounds.

You can see how much your toddler understands and help build comprehension by asking them simple questions or giving them simple instructions like" where is your nose?" and "can you put this toy in the box?" Repetition is also key – it is thought that babies need to hear a word 50 - 57 times in context before they learn it and say a word around 20 -30 times in order to remember it. Even though it might sound a little odd they and use a word over and over to help your child for example: "Here's a yellow banana. This banana is yummy. Would you like to eat this banana?"

Understanding speech delays in babies and toddlers

If your child has not spoken their first word by 18 to 24 months or shows difficulty understanding basic commands, consult a health professional. Factors such as difficulty responding to their name, hearing issues, or lack of babbling could indicate the need for speech therapy or further evaluation.

"While every child develops at their own pace, there are some signs to watch for," says Emma. "If your baby isn’t babbling by 9 months, hasn’t said their first word by 18 months, or struggles to combine words by age 2, it’s worth seeking advice. Other indicators include difficulty following simple instructions, a lack of interest in communicating, or speech that is hard to understand by age 3.

"All communication is valid, from gestures and pointing to showing objects. If these forms of communication are absent or seem limited, consider consulting a professional. Trust your instincts — if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to reach out.

"Late talking doesn’t always indicate future learning difficulties. Many late talkers catch up by the time they enter school, especially with the right support. However, if a language delay persists and is accompanied by other developmental concerns, it may signal an underlying condition such as developmental language disorder (DLD) or autism.

"It’s reassuring to know that early intervention can make a significant difference. For my daughter, identifying her language delay early allowed us to implement strategies that supported her strengths. Today, she’s thriving, especially in literacy, demonstrating that with the right approach, late talkers can achieve remarkable outcomes."

When is a child considered a late talker?

"A child is typically considered a late talker if, by around 18-24 months, they have a limited vocabulary (fewer than 50 words) and are not combining two words together" says Emma. "Late talking doesn’t necessarily mean a child will face long-term challenges, but early intervention can make a big difference. If you’re concerned, reach out to your GP or health visitor for guidance.

There is also a register of independent speech and language therapists available on ASLTIP. Speech and Language UK also offer free support to parents with concerns regarding their child's communication.

Remember that encouraging speech development is an ongoing process that requires patience and active participation. Celebrate every milestone, and keep in mind that each baby develops at their own pace.

Read more:

• When do babies start to walk?
• Baby's first laugh: what to expect
• When do babies sit up?

References:

^{1. Hearing a child's first word is best moment in life, poll finds, independent.co.uk
RCSLT Early Years Factsheet
McCormack, J., et al. (2015). Influence of early communication on language development
Speech and Language UK: Ages and Stages Resources
Paul, R. (1998). Risk and protective factors in early child development
ASHA: Factors Affecting Speech and Language Development}

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