Word List
Foundation Vocabulary List
Foundation learners need words that connect sounds to print and to meaning. Every word on this list is chosen to support early reading routines while keeping the language clear and encouraging.
Good for
Students beginning formal literacy learning and their teachers and families.
Focus
Letter-sound knowledge, decoding simple words, and early writing language.
Choose a print mode to keep a copy for offline study.
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001
Word
about
preposition
Meaning
Relating to a subject; on the topic of something.
#
002
Word
afternoon
noun
Meaning
the part of the day between the middle and the evening
#
003
Word
also
adverb
Meaning
In addition; as well.
#
004
Word
animal
noun
Meaning
a living creature that can move and breathe
#
005
Word
answer
noun
Meaning
what you say or write in response to a question
#
006
Word
arm
noun
Meaning
the part of your body between your shoulder and your hand
#
007
Word
ask
verb
Meaning
to say a question so someone can tell you the answer
#
008
Word
away
adverb
Meaning
To a distance from a place.
#
009
Word
back
noun
Meaning
the part of your body that is behind you, from neck to bottom
#
010
Word
bat
noun
Meaning
a stick used to hit a ball in sport
#
011
Word
beach
noun
Meaning
a place where land meets the sea, often covered in sand
#
012
Word
before
preposition
Meaning
Earlier in time; in front of.
#
013
Word
beg
verb
Meaning
to ask someone very strongly for something you really need
#
014
Word
better
adjective
Meaning
feeling more well than before; improved
#
015
Word
bin
noun
Meaning
a container where you put rubbish
#
016
Word
body
noun
Meaning
all the parts of a person or animal put together
#
017
Word
both
adjective
Meaning
The two; one as well as the other.
#
018
Word
brave
adjective
Meaning
able to face something scary without giving up
#
019
Word
break
verb
Meaning
to make something fall apart or stop working
#
020
Word
breakfast
noun
Meaning
the first meal you eat in the morning
#
021
Word
bridge
noun
Meaning
a structure built to allow crossing over a river or road
#
022
Word
bright
adjective
Meaning
giving off a lot of light; very clear
#
023
Word
bring
verb
Meaning
to carry something with you when you come somewhere
#
024
Word
brother
noun
Meaning
a boy or man who has the same parents as you
#
025
Word
build
verb
Meaning
to make something by putting parts together
#
026
Word
bush
noun
Meaning
an area of Australian land with native trees and shrubs
#
027
Word
button
noun
Meaning
a small round object on clothing used to fasten it
#
028
Word
cap
noun
Meaning
a hat with a stiff brim at the front
#
029
Word
care
verb
Meaning
to think about someone and want them to be well and happy
#
030
Word
careful
adjective
Meaning
thinking about what you do so you do not make mistakes
#
031
Word
carry
verb
Meaning
to hold something and take it somewhere
#
032
Word
chin
noun
Meaning
the bony part at the bottom of your face
#
033
Word
class
noun
Meaning
a group of children who learn together with a teacher
#
034
Word
cotton
noun
Meaning
a natural fibre used to make clothes and thread
#
035
Word
count
verb
Meaning
to say numbers in order to find out how many
#
036
Word
cut
verb
Meaning
to divide something into pieces using scissors or a blade
#
037
Word
dark
adjective
Meaning
with very little light; not bright
#
038
Word
day
noun
Meaning
the light time when the sun is in the sky
#
039
Word
deep
adjective
Meaning
going a long way down from the top
#
040
Word
desk
noun
Meaning
a table you sit at to do your work at school
#
041
Word
dig
verb
Meaning
to move soil or earth out of the ground
#
042
Word
dinner
noun
Meaning
the main meal you eat in the evening
#
043
Word
doctor
noun
Meaning
a person whose job is to help you when you are sick
#
044
Word
does
verb
Meaning
Third person present tense of do.
#
045
Word
done
verb
Meaning
Completed; finished.
#
046
Word
dream
noun
Meaning
pictures and stories your mind makes while you sleep, or something you really hope for
#
047
Word
drop
verb
Meaning
to let something fall out of your hand
#
048
Word
eight
noun
Meaning
The number 8; one more than seven.
#
049
Word
else
adverb
Meaning
Other than what is mentioned; additionally.
#
050
Word
even
adverb
Meaning
Used to show something is surprising or extreme.
#
051
Word
evening
noun
Meaning
the part of the day just before night-time
#
052
Word
ever
adverb
Meaning
At any time; always.
#
053
Word
face
noun
Meaning
the front of your head, where your eyes and mouth are
#
054
Word
fall
verb
Meaning
To drop down quickly under the force of gravity.
#
055
Word
family
noun
Meaning
the people related to you who love and care for each other
#
056
Word
far
adjective
Meaning
a long distance away; not close
#
057
Word
father
noun
Meaning
the man who is your parent and looks after you
#
058
Word
feel
verb
Meaning
to notice what something is like when you touch it, or how you are inside
#
059
Word
finger
noun
Meaning
one of the five long parts at the end of your hand
#
060
Word
first
adjective
Meaning
coming before all others; number one in order
#
061
Word
five
noun
Meaning
The number 5; one more than four.
#
062
Word
fix
verb
Meaning
to repair something that is broken
#
063
Word
flat
adjective
Meaning
smooth and level with no bumps
#
064
Word
fog
noun
Meaning
thick cloud close to the ground that makes it hard to see
#
065
Word
forest
noun
Meaning
a very large area of land covered with trees
#
066
Word
four
noun
Meaning
The number 4; one more than three.
#
067
Word
from
preposition
Meaning
Indicating a starting point.
#
068
Word
fruit
noun
Meaning
a sweet food that grows on plants, like apples or oranges
#
069
Word
funny
adjective
Meaning
making you laugh or smile
#
070
Word
garden
noun
Meaning
a place where flowers, vegetables, or grass grow near a home
#
071
Word
gave
verb
Meaning
Past tense of give; handed something to someone.
#
072
Word
gentle
adjective
Meaning
being soft and careful, not rough
#
073
Word
glue
noun
Meaning
a sticky liquid used to join things together
#
074
Word
goes
verb
Meaning
Moves from one place to another; travels.
#
075
Word
gone
adjective
Meaning
Away; having departed.
#
076
Word
good
adjective
Meaning
pleasant and right; better than average
#
077
Word
ground
noun
Meaning
the solid surface under your feet outside
#
078
Word
group
noun
Meaning
a number of people or things together
#
079
Word
ham
noun
Meaning
cooked meat from a pig, often in sandwiches
#
080
Word
healthy
adjective
Meaning
good for your body; keeping you well and strong
#
081
Word
heavy
adjective
Meaning
weighing a lot; hard to lift
#
082
Word
hide
verb
Meaning
to go to a place where others cannot see you
#
083
Word
hole
noun
Meaning
an empty space or opening in something
#
084
Word
home
noun
Meaning
the place where you live with your family
#
085
Word
hospital
noun
Meaning
a large building where sick or injured people are cared for by doctors and nurses
#
086
Word
into
preposition
Meaning
Moving to the inside of something; entering.
#
087
Word
jam
noun
Meaning
a sweet spread made from fruit, put on bread
#
088
Word
just
adverb
Meaning
A very short time ago; only.
#
089
Word
keep
verb
Meaning
To hold onto something; not give it away.
#
090
Word
kind
adjective
Meaning
being friendly and caring to others
#
091
Word
knee
noun
Meaning
the joint in the middle of your leg that bends
#
092
Word
knew
verb
Meaning
Past tense of know; had knowledge of something.
#
093
Word
know
verb
Meaning
to have information about something in your mind
#
094
Word
last
adjective
Meaning
coming after all others; at the very end
#
095
Word
leaf
noun
Meaning
a thin flat green part that grows on a plant or tree
#
096
Word
learn
verb
Meaning
to find out something new
#
097
Word
leg
noun
Meaning
the part of your body you use to stand and walk
#
098
Word
letter
noun
Meaning
one of the symbols of the alphabet used to make words
#
099
Word
library
noun
Meaning
a place where you can borrow books to read at home
#
100
Word
lid
noun
Meaning
a cover you put on top of a container
#
101
Word
light
adjective
Meaning
not heavy; easy to lift
#
102
Word
lip
noun
Meaning
one of the two soft parts around the edge of your mouth
#
103
Word
listen
verb
Meaning
to pay attention to sounds or words using your ears
#
104
Word
little
adjective
Meaning
very small in size
#
105
Word
live
verb
Meaning
To have your home in a place; to be alive.
#
106
Word
log
noun
Meaning
a thick piece cut from a tree trunk
#
107
Word
lunch
noun
Meaning
the meal you eat in the middle of the day
#
108
Word
many
adjective
Meaning
A large number of; a lot of.
#
109
Word
map
noun
Meaning
a drawing that shows where places are
#
110
Word
mat
noun
Meaning
a flat piece of material you stand or wipe your feet on
#
111
Word
messy
adjective
Meaning
untidy and not well organised
#
112
Word
might
verb
Meaning
Used to say something is possible; may.
#
113
Word
mop
noun
Meaning
a long-handled tool used to clean floors with water
#
114
Word
most
adjective
Meaning
The greatest in amount or degree.
#
115
Word
mother
noun
Meaning
the woman who gave birth to you and looks after you
#
116
Word
mountain
noun
Meaning
a very big hill that goes very high up
#
117
Word
move
verb
Meaning
to go from one place to another
#
118
Word
much
adjective
Meaning
A large amount of something.
#
119
Word
mud
noun
Meaning
wet, soft earth that sticks to your shoes
#
120
Word
name
noun
Meaning
the word used to call a person, place, or thing
#
121
Word
near
preposition
Meaning
not far away; close to something
#
122
Word
neat
adjective
Meaning
Tidy and in good order.
#
123
Word
neck
noun
Meaning
the part of your body between your head and your shoulders
#
124
Word
need
verb
Meaning
To require something because it is essential.
#
125
Word
needle
noun
Meaning
a thin pointed tool used for sewing
#
126
Word
neighbour
noun
Meaning
a person who lives close to your house
#
127
Word
net
noun
Meaning
a mesh of string with holes used to catch things
#
128
Word
never
adverb
Meaning
Not at any time; not ever.
#
129
Word
next
adjective
Meaning
coming right after this one
#
130
Word
number
noun
Meaning
a symbol like 1, 2, or 3 used for counting and measuring things
#
131
Word
nurse
noun
Meaning
a person who helps look after sick people in hospital
#
132
Word
often
adverb
Meaning
Many times; frequently.
#
133
Word
only
adverb
Meaning
No more than; just one.
#
134
Word
outside
adverb
Meaning
in the open air; beyond the walls of a building
#
135
Word
pair
noun
Meaning
two things or people that go together
#
136
Word
paper
noun
Meaning
a flat white sheet you write or draw on
#
137
Word
park
noun
Meaning
an open area of grass and trees where people go to enjoy themselves
#
138
Word
path
noun
Meaning
a narrow track you walk along
#
139
Word
pen
noun
Meaning
a tool you use to write with ink
#
140
Word
pencil
noun
Meaning
a thin stick you use to draw or write
#
141
Word
pet
noun
Meaning
an animal you keep at home and love, like a cat or dog
#
142
Word
pick
verb
Meaning
to choose something; or to lift something up with your fingers
#
143
Word
pin
noun
Meaning
a very thin, sharp metal stick used to hold things together
#
144
Word
noun
Meaning
a small pouch sewn into clothing to put things in
#
145
Word
point
verb
Meaning
to stretch your finger toward something to say "look there"
#
146
Word
polite
adjective
Meaning
having good manners; being kind and respectful
#
147
Word
pond
noun
Meaning
a small area of still water where frogs and ducks live
#
148
Word
pop
verb
Meaning
to make a small bang, like a balloon bursting
#
149
Word
post
noun
Meaning
letters and parcels delivered to your home by a postal worker
#
150
Word
pour
verb
Meaning
To make liquid flow from a container.
#
151
Word
pretty
adjective
Meaning
nice to look at; pleasant
#
152
Word
proud
adjective
Meaning
feeling very good about something you did well
#
153
Word
question
noun
Meaning
something you ask to find out information
#
154
Word
read
verb
Meaning
to look at written words and understand them
#
155
Word
river
noun
Meaning
a long strip of water that flows across the land to the sea
#
156
Word
road
noun
Meaning
a hard, flat surface that vehicles travel on
#
157
Word
rough
adjective
Meaning
having an uneven or bumpy surface; not smooth
#
158
Word
rule
noun
Meaning
something everyone must do or must not do
#
159
Word
safe
adjective
Meaning
free from danger or harm
#
160
Word
school
noun
Meaning
a place where children go to learn
#
161
Word
seed
noun
Meaning
the small part of a plant that grows into a new plant
#
162
Word
seven
noun
Meaning
The number 7; one more than six.
#
163
Word
shall
verb
Meaning
Used to talk about something that will happen in the future.
#
164
Word
sharp
adjective
Meaning
having a fine point or edge that can cut easily
#
165
Word
shop
noun
Meaning
a place where you can go to buy things
#
166
Word
shoulder
noun
Meaning
the part of your body where your arm joins the rest of you
#
167
Word
show
verb
Meaning
to let someone see something
#
168
Word
shy
adjective
Meaning
feeling nervous or uncomfortable around people you do not know
#
169
Word
sick
adjective
Meaning
feeling unwell in your body
#
170
Word
sister
noun
Meaning
a girl or woman who has the same parents as you
#
171
Word
smile
verb
Meaning
to make a happy expression by curving your mouth upward
#
172
Word
smooth
adjective
Meaning
flat and even, without bumps or rough parts
#
173
Word
sorry
interjection
Meaning
a word you say when you have done something wrong
#
174
Word
sound
noun
Meaning
something you can hear, made by a vibration in the air
#
175
Word
start
verb
Meaning
to begin doing something
#
176
Word
stay
verb
Meaning
To remain in a place and not leave.
#
177
Word
stick
noun
Meaning
a thin piece of wood that has fallen from a tree
#
178
Word
stomach
noun
Meaning
the part inside your body where food is digested
#
179
Word
story
noun
Meaning
a sequence of events that is told or written for others
#
180
Word
sweet
adjective
Meaning
tasting like sugar or honey
#
181
Word
talk
verb
Meaning
to use words to tell someone something
#
182
Word
taste
verb
Meaning
to find out how something flavours your mouth
#
183
Word
thank
verb
Meaning
to tell someone you are grateful for what they did
#
184
Word
their
pronoun
Meaning
Belonging to them.
#
185
Word
thick
adjective
Meaning
having a lot of distance from one side to the other
#
186
Word
thin
adjective
Meaning
not wide; not fat; having little width
#
187
Word
think
verb
Meaning
to use your mind to form ideas or solve problems
#
188
Word
thirsty
adjective
Meaning
feeling like you need water or a drink
#
189
Word
thumb
noun
Meaning
the short, thick finger on the inside of your hand
#
190
Word
tidy
adjective
Meaning
neat and organised, not messy
#
191
Word
tomorrow
noun
Meaning
the day that comes after today
#
192
Word
touch
verb
Meaning
to put your fingers or hand on something
#
193
Word
town
noun
Meaning
a place where many people live, bigger than a village
#
194
Word
try
verb
Meaning
to make an effort to do something
#
195
Word
upon
preposition
Meaning
On top of; on.
#
196
Word
vegetable
noun
Meaning
a healthy food that grows in the ground or on plants
#
197
Word
wait
verb
Meaning
to stay still until something happens
#
198
Word
walk
verb
Meaning
to move forward one foot at a time
#
199
Word
warm
adjective
Meaning
Slightly hot; having or giving off a moderate amount of heat.
#
200
Word
week
noun
Meaning
seven days all together
#
201
Word
welcome
adjective
Meaning
a word that means you are happy someone came or that someone need not say thank you
#
202
Word
were
verb
Meaning
Past tense of are; used to describe what was happening before.
#
203
Word
which
pronoun
Meaning
Used to ask about a choice between things.
#
204
Word
while
conjunction
Meaning
During the time that something else is happening.
#
205
Word
wish
verb
Meaning
to hope very much that something will happen
#
206
Word
wonder
verb
Meaning
to ask yourself about something and want to find out
#
207
Word
work
verb
Meaning
To do a task or job that takes effort.
#
208
Word
write
verb
Meaning
to make letters and words on paper
#
209
Word
year
noun
Meaning
the time it takes for Earth to go around the sun — 12 months
#
210
Word
yesterday
noun
Meaning
the day that happened before today
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