“More milk!” These simple word combinations feel magical after months of babbles. Parents often ask, how many words should an 18 month old say? Whether your 18 month old says one or two words, a few words, or mimics familiar words, each child develops at their own pace.

By 18 months, toddlers have a vocabulary size of 20–50 words, though there’s a huge range. Animal noises and action words may appear near a language explosion.

Concerned about a language delay in your child? Speech therapists can support your child’s language development. Activities like nursery rhymes, naming body parts, and encouraging new words help build spoken language and overall language skills.

Understanding Your Child’s Complete Communication Skills

Speech and language development at 18 months is about more than just how many words your child says. While most toddlers may only say a few words or one or two words, their child’s understanding often outpaces their spoken language. Many children can follow instructions like “bring the ball” or point to their high chair.

Animal noises and simple word combinations show early language skills. Your 18 month old might use gestures, sounds, or even short sentences. There’s a huge range in vocabulary and number of words, and every child progresses uniquely.

Wondering how many words should an 18 month old toddler say? Some kids have early words, others over fifty. If your toddler isn’t using single words, gestures, or showing intent to communicate, talk to your child’s pediatrician.

A delay may benefit from speech therapy. Speech therapists can assess your child’s language and suggest activities like first words to build speech skills, expressive vocabularies, and support child’s language development. With time and support, even late talkers can develop their own language and thrive into elementary school.

What About Word Combinations?

Around 18 months, a toddler may begin using simple word combinations. These two word phrases show how a child pairs one or two words—an important step in language development. Many toddlers reach this point closer to age two, as their vocabulary size grows.

First words often include familiar words like body parts, animal noises, or actions. It’s common for most toddlers to repeat new sounds and say just a few words. Some use short sentences or single words, while others may already say many words. Every toddler progresses at their own pace.

Language development happens through exposure to speech and language. Help grow your toddler’s spoken language by replying. If your 18 month old hasn’t said an early word or isn’t interested in talking, check with your child’s pediatrician.

A language delay may benefit from speech therapy. Speech therapists guide 18 month old children with nursery rhymes, modeling, and games that support speech skills. With help, even late talkers can build expressive vocabularies and their own language.

Whether your child says all the words or just a few first words, consistent encouragement supports growth. Every toddler deserves the chance to thrive.

Factors That Influence Speech Development in Families

Each child develops at their own pace, shaped by common factors.

Some kids are naturally chatty, while others prefer to observe before speaking. By 18 months, one toddler might use simple word combinations while another sticks to single words or says more words. This range is normal in child development and shows how a child begins to express meaning.

A young child when talking may mix familiar words, first words, or action words across languages. Though children use fewer words, their total vocabulary size still matches that of many children.

Health can affect spoken language—frequent ear infections may lead to a language delay. If your 18 month old child seems behind in communication skills or you’re wondering how many words should an 18 month old child say, consider speech therapy for your child.

Most toddlers this age say 5 to 50 words. Look for signs like pointing, naming body parts, and the child’s ability to follow instructions.

Speech therapy can support your child’s talking, speech and language development adding new words. Whether they use one word, two word phrases, word sentences, or short sentences, responding to new sounds help build strong language skills and expressive vocabularies.

When Parents Might Consider an Assessment

If your 18 month old says very few words, it may be time to ask how many words should an 18 month old child say and consider speech therapy. At this age, most toddlers use a first words, some real words, and may begin forming simple word combinations or short word languages.

Children with lack of communicative gestures like pointing or showing familiar words could suggest a delay in the child. Gaps in a child’s understanding or regression in speech and language—such as stopping talking—need quick attention.

By 18 months, many children say 10–50 first words, label body parts, and begin building speech vocabularies using two word phrases. A language explosion often follows, but late talkers still benefit from early speech support.

Whether your child says some words, conversations with speech therapists on a regular basis can improve communication skills. Every toddler develops, and with help, your young child can find their language.

Why Early Support Makes a Difference

Early speech therapy can support a child during language development. By 18 months, a child may say one word, word sentences, or word combinations. Some late talkers may be on the verge of a language explosion.

If your 18 month old child uses fewer than 10–15 words, consider speech therapy and consulting a speech therapist for your 18 month old child. While there’s a huge range, limited first words, missing familiar words, or no gestures may suggest a delay in a child.

Speech therapists help both the child and parents. As your child begins saying real words and using new sounds, their spoken language, language skills, and communication skills grow.

Support your child daily through short sentences and consistent talking. Whether your child says a few words or many words, monitoring the number of words helps ensure the child progresses toward success.

Practical Tips to Encourage Toddler’s Speech

There are many ways parents can foster their child’s speech and language development on a regular basis.

Talk to your child throughout the day. This constant exposure to speech and language builds your child’s understanding and vocabulary, even if your 18-month-old child is still only saying a few words.

Read together daily. Libraries offer wonderful toddler story times that expose your child to new words in a fun, engaging setting. Whether your child is 12 months old, after their first birthday, or 24 months old, hearing stories helps grow their vocabulary.

Sing nursery rhymes and play simple games with your child. These playful moments with your 18-month-old child aren’t just fun—they’re building blocks for a child’s language.

Limit screen time, as excessive media consumption can reduce valuable face-to-face interactions that build the 18 month old child’s language skills. Instead, visit kid-friendly spots where your child starts to interact with peers.

Respond to your child’s attempts at communication, even if they’re using their own language of sounds rather than a number of words. For a 17-month-old child, pointing and babbling might be the beginning sounds of asking for something. When you respond, your child starts to understand that their voice matters.

Repeat and expand on what your child says. If they say “car,” you might respond, “Yes, that’s a big red car!” This gives your 18-month-old child more words to absorb the meaning of while reinforcing what your child already said.

Keep talking, singing, and connecting. Every word helps the child build strong speaking skills and supports healthy child development.

Common Questions from Parents

My 18-month-old only says about 5-7 words. Should I be worried?

Not necessarily. While toddlers have at least 10–20 words by 18 months old, some developing children have only a few words. Consider your child’s overall communication—does your child understand the meaning of what you say? Does your child use gestures? Does your child engage with you? If your child is making sounds and responding to your words, they may be on track for their age even if they aren’t talking much yet.

My toddler seems to understand everything but isn’t talking much. Is this a problem?

Strong receptive language (understanding) is an excellent sign. Many children understand far more than they can say at this age. This gap between understanding and speaking is normal. However, if your child understands very little, that would warrant further assessment.

My neighbor’s 18-month-old speaks in sentences, but my child only uses single words. Are we behind?

Comparing children can cause unnecessary worry. The range of normal is wide. Some children begin with fewer words, while others have many words. All these patterns can be normal variations in how a toddler builds vocabulary and learns the meaning behind sounds.

Is it too early to see a speech therapist if I’m concerned?

It’s never too early for a consultation. Many parents appreciate a professional perspective even if their child is developing. A professional can either reassure you that your child is on track or identify issues. You gain peace of mind and strategies that support your toddler’s talking and vocabulary development at a critical age.

Can bilingual exposure delay my child’s speech?

Children in bilingual households may appear to have smaller vocabularies, but the child’s total vocabulary across both languages is typically comparable to monolingual peers. Bilingualism is a tremendous asset that doesn’t cause language delays, though the pattern of acquisition might look different. Many kids use words from both languages and often mix them as they learn—this is how a toddler learns new words, their meanings, and talking in context.

Whether your toddler is saying a few words, imitating sounds, or not yet talking much, it’s important to consider the whole picture. Look at how your child responds, how they attempt to communicate, and how their vocabulary is growing. Every child talks, and while one toddler may say full phrases, another may just be discovering the meaning of their first few sounds. Both are learning and growing.

Supporting Your Child’s Journey

Language development follows a timeline. Some toddlers say only a few words at 18 months, then a child experiences a vocabulary burst soon after.

What matters most is steady a child’s speech progress. If your child is trying to communicate, they’re on the right path. Your responses help build your child’s understanding of meaning and boost their talking skills.

Our local speech therapy practice offers support for toddlers at any age. Experienced speech therapists work with each child’s needs.

If you’re concerned about your toddler’s vocabulary, talking, or use of sounds, a consultation can provide clarity. Our goal is not to label but to support your child’s development in the most positive way—helping every sound grow into meaningful communication.

Take the Next Step

If you’re wondering about how many words your 18-month-old toddler should know and their speech and language development, we’re here to help. Schedule an evaluation with speech therapists who specialize in early childhood development. Whether your toddler is just starting to use sounds or already talking in short phrases, we can assess vocabulary growth, sound development, and how your child is attaching meaning to words.

Call us or visit our website to learn more about supporting your child’s communication journey. We welcome every toddler at any age and stage of talking, from early sounds to forming words with clear meaning.

Our convenient location near downtown Forney makes it easy to access professional support for your child from specialists who understand our community’s families. Whether your child is struggling to form sounds, use age-appropriate vocabulary, or understand the meaning behind everyday words, we’re here to help.

Early intervention is always the most effective approach, and we’re here to make that process positive. Every toddler deserves the chance to be heard—and every sound your child makes is a step toward stronger speech, communication and more confident talking.