Native English speakers hit 21,600 words by 60; C1 learners stall at 9,700
randal_olson · x · 2026-10-14
Data from 46,140 test sessions on myvocab.info shows native English speakers know 11,300 word families at age 12, growing to a median of 21,600 by age 60 (17,700 at 30, 15,200 at 20). Among learners, C1 speakers median 9,700 words—still short of a typical native 12-year-old—while proficient C2 learners reach 14,000, roughly the vocabulary of a native teenager. The chart compares vocabulary distributions across CEFR levels A1–C2 and age groups.
Related event: 46,000-test study: native English speakers reach 21,600 words by age 60(2 posts)→
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