1LONGMAN COMMUNICATION 3000
Longman Communication 3000
The Longman Communication 3000 is a list of
the 3000 most frequent words in both spoken
and written English, based on statistical
analysis of the 390 million words contained
in the Longman Corpus Network – a group of
corpuses or databases of authentic English
language. The Longman Communication 3000
represents the core of the English language and
shows students of English which words are the
most important for them to learn and study
in order to communicate effectively in both
speech and writing.
Analysis of the Longman Corpus Network
shows that these 3000 most frequent words
in spoken and written English account for
86% of the language. This means that by
knowing this list of words, a learner of English
is in a position to understand 86% or more of
what he or she reads. Of course, “knowing”
a word involves more than simply being able
to recognise it and know a main meaning of
it. Many of the most frequent words have
a range of different meanings, a variety of
different grammatical patterns, and numerous
significant collocations. Nonetheless, a basic
understanding of the Longman Communication
3000 is a very powerful tool and will help
students develop good comprehension and
communication skills in English.
‘This [frequency] information is gold dust for
the language learner. LDOCE shows in graphic
and immediate form which words are really
worth learning and knowing how to use.’
Jeremy Harmer, ELT author
To ensure that users have access to the
appropriate information, the Longman
Dictionary of Contemporary English marks all
the words that are in the Longman
Communication 3000 in red accompanied by
special symbols: W1 , W2 , and W3 for words that
are in the top 1000, 2000 and 3000 most
frequent words in written English, and S1 , S2
and S3 for the top 1000, 2000 and 3000 most
frequent words in spoken English. Nowadays,
many learner’s dictionaries include information
about the most frequent words in English, but
Longman dictionaries are the only ones to
highlight the differences between spoken and
written frequency.
These frequency markers added to the
headwords in the dictionary give users access
to a wealth of information that can help the
selection of the appropriate word or phrase in
a variety of situations. Not only are the words
and meanings given descriptive labels, for
example formal or informal, AmE (American
English) or BrE (British English), humorous,
old-fashioned, but now they have the added
information about relative frequency in spoken
and written language.
Take for example the verb book (in the meaning
of book a table at a restaurant). It is marked
as S2 – one of the top 2000 words of spoken
English. Note that is has no marker for written
English because according to corpus analysis,
it is not part of the top 3000 most frequent
words in written English. However, the entry
also indicates that a synonym for book is reserve
which is in the top 3000 most frequent words
in written English. The conclusion to be drawn
from this is that in speaking (for instance when
phoning a hotel or restaurant), book is the most
appropriate verb to use when asking for a room
or table to be kept for you. In writing, however,
it would be more appropriate to use reserve.
‘There are two distinct modes of English:
thoughtful, accurate and more formal, reflected
mostly by written English; and spontaneous,
real-time, less formal language, typified by
spontaneous speech and some informal writing.’
Professor Geoffrey Leech,
Emeritus Professor of English Language
and Linguistics – University of Lancaster
Learning a language can be exciting, but
also sometimes difficult and frustrating
because there are so many things to learn
and it is difficult to know what to focus on.
The frequency markers that identify the
Longman Communication 3000 help students
see clearly which words are frequent in written
and spoken English, and enable them to focus
more attention on mastering the meanings,
grammatical patterns and collocations of
these words.
a indefinite article,
determiner S1, W1
abandon v W3
ability n S2, W1
able adj S1, W1
about prep S1, W1
about adv S1, W1
above adv, prep S2, W1
above adj W3
abroad adv S2, W3
absence n S3, W2
absolute adj S2, W3
absolutely adv S1, W3
absorb v W3
abuse n S2, W3
academic adj W2
accept v S1, W1
acceptable adj S3, W3
access n S2, W1
accident n S2, W2
accommodation n S2, W2
accompany v W2
according to prep S2, W1
account n S1, W1
account v S3, W2
accurate adj S2, W3
accuse v W3
achieve v S2, W1
achievement n S3, W2
acid n W3
acknowledge v S3, W3
acquire v W2
across adv, prep S1, W1
act n S1, W1
act v S2, W1
action n S1, W1
active adj S2, W2
activist n S3
activity n S2, W1
actor n W3
actual adj S1, W2
actually adv S1, W1
ad n S3, W3
adapt v W3
add v S1, W1
addition n S3, W1
additional adj S3, W2
address n S2, W2
address v S2, W2
adequate adj S3, W3
adjust v W3
administration n S2, W2
administrative adj W3
admire v S3
admission n W3
admit v S2, W1
adopt v S3, W2
adult n S2, W2
adult adj W3
advance n S2, W2
advance v W3
advanced adj W3
advantage n S2, W1
advert n S3
advertise v S3, W3
advertisement n S3
advertising n W3
advice n S2, W2
advise v S2, W2
adviser n S3, W3
affair n S2, W1
affect v S2, W1
afford v S1, W3
afraid adj S1, W2
after prep, conj, adv S1, W1
afternoon n S1, W2
afterwards adv S2, W3
again adv S1, W1
against prep S1, W1
age n S1, W1
aged adj W3
agency n S3, W1
agent n S3, W2
aggressive adj S3
ago adv S1, W1
agree v S1, W1
agreement n S2, W1
agriculture n W2
ahead adv S1, W2
aid n S2, W2
aim n S2, W2
aim v S2, W2
air n S1, W1
aircraft n S2, W2
airline n S2, W3
airport n S3, W3
alarm n S2
album n S3, W3
alcohol n W3
alive adj S2, W3
all determiner,
predeterminer, pron
S1, W1
all adv S1, W1
allow v S1, W1
allowance n S2, W3
all right adj, adv,
interjection S1, W2
almost adv S1, W1
alone adj, adv S2, W1
along adv S1, W1
along prep S1, W1
alongside adv, prep W3
already adv S1, W1
also adv S1, W1
alter v S3, W3
alternative adj S2, W2
alternative n S2, W3
although conj S1, W1
altogether adv S2, W3
always adv S1, W1
amazing adj S2
ambition n W3
ambulance n S3
among prep S2, W1
amount n S1, W1
an indefinite article,
determiner S1, W1
analyse v W3
analysis n S3, W1
analyst n W2
ancient adj W2
and conj S1, W1
anger n W3
angle n S3, W3
angry adj S3, W3
animal n S1, W1
announce v S2, W1
announcement n S3, W3
annoy v S3
annual adj S2, W2
another determiner, pron
S1, W1
answer n S1, W1
answer v S1, W2
anticipate v S3
anxiety n S3, W3
anxious adj S3, W3
any determiner, pron S1,
W1
any adv S2
anybody pron S1, W3
anyhow adv S3
anyone pron S1, W1
anything pron S1, W1
anyway adv S1, W2
anywhere adv S1, W3
apart adv, adj S2, W1
apartment n S2, W3
apologize v S2
apology n S3
apparent adj W2
apparently adv S1, W2
appeal n S2, W1
appeal v S3, W3
appear v S2, W1
appearance n W2
apple n S2, W3
application n S1, W1
apply v S1, W1
appoint v S2, W2
appointment n S2, W2
appreciate v S2, W3
approach n S2, W1
approach v S2, W2
appropriate adj S2, W1
approval n S2, W3
approve v S3, W2
approximate adj S3, W3
architect n W3
architecture n S3, W3
area n S1, W1
argue v S2, W1
argument n S1, W1
arise v S3, W2
arm n S1, W1
armed adj S3, W3
army n S1, W1
around adv, prep S1, W1
arrange v S2, W2
arrangement n S2, W2
arrest v W3
arrival n W3
arrive v S2, W1
art n S1, W1
article n S2, W1
artificial adj S3
artist n S3, W2
as conj S1, W1
as prep, adv S1, W1
ashamed adj S3
aside adv S3, W3
ask v S1, W1
asleep adj S2
aspect n S2, W1
assess v S2, W2
assessment n S3, W2
assignment n S2
assist v S3, W3
assistance n S3, W2
assistant n S3
associate v S3, W2
association n S3, W1
assume v S2, W1
assumption n S2, W2
assure v S2, W3
at prep S1, W1
atmosphere n S3, W2
attach v S2, W2
attack n S2, W2
attack v S3, W2
attempt n S2, W1
attempt v S2, W2
attend v S2, W2
attention n S2, W1
attitude n S2, W1
attorney n S2, W3
attract v S2, W2
2 LONGMAN COMMUNICATION 3000
S1 = one of the 1000 most frequent words in Spoken English; W1 = one of the 1000 most frequent words in Written English
S2 = one of the 2000 most frequent words in Spoken English; W2 = one of the 2000 most frequent words in Written English
S3 = one of the 3000 most frequent words in Spoken English; W3 = one of the 3000 most frequent words in Written English
Longman Communication 3000
attraction n W3
attractive adj S2, W2
audience n S2, W2
aunt n S3, W3
author n W2
authority n W1
automatic adj S3
automatically adv S3, W3
autumn n W3
available adj S1, W1
average adj S2, W2
average n S2
avoid v S2, W1
awake adj S3
award n S3, W2
award v W3
aware adj S1, W1
awareness n W3
away adv S1, W1
awful adj S1
awkward adj S3
baby n S1, W1
back adv S1, W1
back n S1, W1
back v S2, W3
back adj S2, W3
background n S2, W2
backwards adv S3
bacon n S3
bad adj S1, W1
badly adv S3, W3
bag n S1, W2
bake v S3
balance n S2, W2
balance v S3
ball n S1, W2
ban n W3
band n S2, W2
bang v S3
bang n S3
bank n S1, W1
bar n S1, W1
barrier n W3
base v S1, W1
base n S2, W2
baseball n S3, W2
basic adj S2, W1
basically adv S1
basis n S2, W1
basket n S3
bat n S3
bath n S2, W3
bathroom n S2, W3
battery n S2
battle n W2
be auxiliary S1, W1
be v S1, W1
beach n S2, W2
bean n S2
bear v S2, W2
beard n S3
beat v S2, W2
beat n S3
beautiful adj S1, W2
beauty n S3, W2
because conj S1, W1
because prep S1, W1
become v S1, W1
bed n S1, W1
bedroom n S1, W2
beef n S3
beer n S2, W3
before adv S1, W1
before conj S1, W1
before prep S1, W1
beforehand adv S3
begin v S1, W1
beginning n S1, W2
behalf n S3, W3
behave v S3, W3
behaviour n S2, W1
behind prep, adv S1, W1
being n S2, W3
belief n S3, W2
believe v S1, W1
bell n S2, W3
belong v S2, W2
below adv, prep S2, W2
belt n S2, W3
bench n S2, W3
bend v S3, W3
beneath adv, prep W2
benefit n S2, W1
benefit v S2, W3
beside prep S3, W2
best adj S1, W1
best adv S1, W2
bet v S1
bet n S3
better adj S1, W1
better adv S1, W1
between adv, prep S1, W1
beyond prep, adv S2, W1
bicycle n W3
bid n W3
big adj S1, W1
bike n S2
bill n S1, W1
bin n S2
bird n S2, W2
birth n S2, W2
birthday n S1, W3
biscuit n S2
bit adv, pron S1, W1
bit n S1, W1
bite v S2
bite n S3
bitter adj S3, W3
black adj S1, W1
blade n S3
blame v S2, W3
blank adj S3
bless v S3
blind adj S2, W3
block n S2, W2
block v S3
bloke n S2
blonde adj S3
blood n S2, W1
blow v S2, W3
blow n S3, W3
blue adj S1, W2
board n S1, W1
boat n S1, W2
body n S1, W1
boil v S3
boiler n S3
boiling adj S3
bomb n S3, W3
bone n S2, W2
bonus n S2
book n S1, W1
book v S2
boom n S3
boot n S2, W3
border n S3, W2
bored adj S3
boring adj S2
born v S1, W2
borrow v S2, W3
boss n S2, W3
both determiner,
predeterminer, pron
S1, W1
bother v S1, W3
bottle n S1, W2
bottom adj S1, W3
bottom n S1, W3
bounce v S3
bound adj S2, W3
bowl n S2, W3
box n S1, W1
boy n S1, W1
boyfriend n S3
brain n S2, W2
branch n S2, W2
brave adj S3
bread n S2, W3
break n S2, W2
break v S1, W1
breakfast n S2, W2
breast n S3
breath n S3, W2
breathe v S3, W3
brick n S2, W3
bridge n S2, W2
brief adj S2, W2
briefly adv S2, W3
bright adj S2, W2
brilliant adj S2, W3
bring v S1, W1
broad adj S2, W2
brother n S1, W1
brown adj S2, W2
brush n S3
brush v S3
buck n S1
bucket n S2
buddy n S3
budget n S1, W2
bug n S3
build v S1, W1
builder n S3
building n S1, W1
bump v S3
bunch n S2
burn v S2, W3
burn n S3
burst v W3
bury v W3
bus n S1, W2
business n S1, W1
busy adj S1, W2
but conj S1, W1
but prep S2, W3
but adv S2, W3
butcher n S3
butter n S2
button n S2
buy v S1, W1
buyer n S3, W3
by adv S1, W1
by prep S1, W1
bye interjection S1
bye n S3
cabinet n S2, W2
cable n W3
cake n S2, W3
calculate v S2, W3
calculation n S2
calculator n S3
calendar n S3
call n S1, W1
call v S1, W1
calm adj S3, W3
camera n S2, W3
camp n S3, W3
campaign n S2, W1
can modal S1, W1
can n S2
cancel v S2
cancer n S2, W2
candidate n W2
candle n S3
candy n S3
cap n S3
capable adj S2, W2
capacity n S3, W2
capital n S3, W1
capital adj S2, W3
captain n W3
capture v W3
car n S1, W1
card n S1, W2
care n S1, W1
care v S1, W2
career n S2, W2
careful adj S1, W2
carefully adv S2, W2
carpet n S2, W3
3LONGMAN COMMUNICATION 3000
carrot n S3
carry v S1, W1
cartoon n S3
case n S1, W1
cash n S2, W2
cash v S3
cast v W3
castle n W3
cat n S1, W3
catalogue n W3
catch v S1, W1
category n S2, W2
cause v S1, W1
cause n S2, W1
CD n S3, W3
cease v W3
ceiling n S3, W3
celebrate v W3
celebration n S3
cell n S3, W2
cellphone n S2, W3
cent n S1, W1
centimetre n S3, W3
central adj S1, W1
centre n S1, W1
century n S2, W1
cereal n S3
certain adj S1, W1
certainly adv S1, W1
certificate n S3, W3
chain n S3, W2
chair n S1, W2
chairman n S3, W1
challenge n S2, W2
challenge v S3, W3
champion n W3
championship n W3
chance n S1, W1
change n S1, W1
change v S1, W1
channel n S3, W2
chap n S2
chapter n S3, W1
character n S1, W1
characteristic n S3, W2
characterize v W3
charge n S1, W1
charge v S1, W2
charity n S3, W3
chart n S3, W3
chase v S3
chat n S2
cheap adj S1, W2
cheat v S3
check v S1, W2
check n S1, W3
cheek n W3
cheese n S2, W3
chemical adj W3
chemical n S3, W3
chemist n S3
chemistry n S2
cheque n S2
cherry n S3
chest n S2, W3
chicken n S2
chief adj S2, W2
chief n W3
child n S1, W1
childhood n W3
chip n S2, W3
chocolate n S2
choice n S1, W1
choose v S1, W1
chop v S3
chuck v S3
church n S1, W1
cigarette n S2, W3
cinema n S3
circle n S2, W2
circuit n W3
circumstance n S2, W1
citizen n S2, W2
city n S1, W1
civil adj S3, W2
claim n S2, W1
claim v S1, W1
class n S1, W1
classic adj W3
classical adj W3
classroom n S3, W3
clean adj S2, W2
clean v S1, W3
cleaner n S3
clear adj S1, W1
clear v S1, W2
clearly adv S1, W1
clerk n S3
clever adj S2
click v S3
client n S2, W1
climate n W3
climb v W2
clock n S2, W3
close adj S1, W1
close adv S2, W2
close v S1, W1
closed adj S3
closely adv S3, W2
closet n S3
cloth n S3
clothes n S2, W2
cloud n S3, W3
club n S1, W1
clue n S2
coach n S3, W2
coal n S2, W2
coast n S3, W2
coat n S2, W3
code n S2, W2
coffee n S1, W2
coin n S3
cold adj S1, W1
collapse v S3
collar n S3
colleague n S2, W2
collect v S1, W2
collection n S2, W1
college n S1, W2
colour n S1, W1
column n S3, W2
combination n S3, W2
combine v S3, W2
come v S1, W1
comfort n W3
comfortable adj S2, W3
command n W3
comment n S1, W2
comment v S3, W3
commercial adj S3, W2
commission n S3, W2
commit v S2, W2
commitment n S2, W2
committee n S3, W1
common adj S1, W1
communicate v S3, W3
communication n S2, W1
community n S1, W1
company n S1, W1
compare v S1, W1
comparison n S3, W2
compete v S3, W3
competition n S2, W1
competitive adj S3, W3
complain v S2, W3
complaint n S3, W3
complete adj S2, W1
complete v S2, W1
completely adv S1, W2
complex adj S3, W2
complicated adj S2
component n W2
comprehensive adj W3
comprise v W3
computer n S1, W1
concentrate v S2, W2
concentration n S3, W2
concept n S3, W2
concern n S1, W1
concern v W3
concerned adj S1, W1
concerning prep W3
concert n S3, W3
conclude v S3, W2
conclusion n S3, W2
condition n S2, W1
conduct n W3
conduct v W2
conference n S2, W1
confidence n S2, W2
confident adj S3, W3
confine v W3
confirm v S2, W2
conflict n S3, W2
confused adj S3
confusing adj S3
confusion n S3, W3
congratulation n S3
connect v S2, W2
connection n S3, W2
conscious adj S2, W3
consciousness n W3
consent n W3
consequence n S3, W2
consider v S1, W1
considerable adj S3, W1
considerably adv S3
consideration n S2, W2
consist v W3
consistent adj S3, W3
constant adj S3, W3
constantly adv S3, W3
constitute v W3
construct v W3
construction n S3, W2
consult v S3, W3
consumer n S3, W2
consumption n W3
contact n S2, W2
contact v S2, W2
contain v S2, W1
contemporary adj W2
content n S3, W2
contest n W3
context n S2, W2
continue v S1, W1
continuous adj S3, W3
contract n S1, W1
contrast n W2
contribute v S3, W2
contribution n S2, W2
control n S1, W1
control v S2, W1
convenient adj S3
convention n W2
conventional adj W3
conversation n S1, W2
convert v W3
conviction n W3
convince v S3, W3
cook v S1, W3
cooker n S3
cookie n S3, W3
cool adj S2, W3
cool v S2
cooperation n S3, W3
cope v S2, W3
copy n S1, W2
copy v S2
core n W3
corn n S3
corner n S1, W2
correct adj S1, W2
correct v S3
corridor n S3, W3
cost n S1, W1
cost v S1, W2
cottage n S3, W3
cotton n W3
could modal S1, W1
council n S2, W2
count v S2, W3
4 LONGMAN COMMUNICATION 3000
counter n S3
country n S1, W1
countryside n S3, W3
county n W2
couple n S1, W1
courage n S3
course n S1, W1
court n S1, W1
cousin n S2
cover n S1, W2
cover v S1, W1
cow n S2
crack v S3
craft n W3
crash n S3
crazy adj S2
create v S2, W1
creation n W2
creative adj W3
creature n W3
credit n S2, W2
credit card n S3, W3
crew n S3, W3
crime n S2, W2
criminal adj S3, W2
crisis n S3, W2
criterion n W2
critic n W3
critical adj S3, W2
criticism n S3, W2
criticize v W3
crop n W3
cross adj S2
cross n S3, W3
cross v S2, W2
crowd n S3, W2
crown n W3
crucial adj W2
cruel adj S3
cry n W3
cry v S2, W2
cultural adj W2
culture n S2, W1
cup n S1, W1
cupboard n S2
curious adj S3
currency n W2
current adj S2, W2
current n W3
currently adv S2, W2
curtain n S3, W3
curve n S3, W3
cushion n S3
custom n W3
customer n S1, W1
cut n S2, W2
cut v S1, W1
cute adj S2
cycle n S3, W3
dad n S1, W3
daddy n S1
daft adj S3
daily adj S3, W2
damage n S3, W2
damage v S3, W3
dance n S2, W3
dance v S2, W3
danger n S2, W2
dangerous adj S2, W2
dare v S3, W3
dark adj S2, W1
darkness n W3
darling n S2
data n S1, W1
database n S3, W3
date n S1, W1
date v S3, W3
daughter n S1, W1
day n S1, W1
dead adj S1, W1
dead adv S3
deaf adj W3
deal n S1, W1
deal v S1, W1
dealer n W3
dear adj S2, W2
dear interjection S1
dear n S2
death n S1, W1
debate n S2, W2
debt n S3, W2
decade n W2
decent adj S3
decide v S1, W1
decision n S1, W1
declare v W2
decline n W2
decline v W3
deep adj S2, W1
deep adv W3
deeply adv W3
defeat n W3
defeat v W3
defence n S2, W1
defend v S3, W3
define v S2, W2
definite adj S3
definitely adv S1
definition n S2, W2
degree n S2, W1
delay n W3
delay v W3
deliberately adv S3
deliver v S2, W2
delivery n S3, W3
demand n S2, W1
demand v W2
democracy n W2
democratic adj W2
demonstrate v S3, W2
demonstration n W3
dentist n S3
deny v S3, W2
department n S2, W1
departure n W3
depend v S1, W2
dependent adj W3
deposit n S3, W3
depression n W3
depth n S3, W3
derive v W3
describe v S2, W1
description n S2, W2
desert n W3
deserve v S3, W3
design n S2, W1
design v S3, W1
designer n W3
desire n W2
desk n S2, W2
desperate adj S3, W3
despite prep S3, W1
destroy v S2, W2
destruction n W3
detail n S2, W1
detailed adj W2
detect v W3
determination n W3
determine v W2
determined adj W3
develop v S2, W1
development n S1, W1
device n S3, W2
devil n S3
diagram n S3
diamond n S3
diary n S3
die v S1, W1
diet n S3, W2
differ v W3
difference n S1, W1
different adj S1, W1
difficult adj S1, W1
difficulty n S2, W1
dig v S2
dimension n W3
dinner n S1, W2
direct adj S2, W1
direct v S3, W2
direction n S1, W1
directly adv S2, W2
director n S2, W1
directory n S3
dirt n S3
dirty adj S2, W3
disabled adj S3, W3
disagree v S3
disappear v S2, W2
disappoint v W3
disappointed adj S3, W3
disaster n S3, W3
disc n S2, W3
discipline n S3, W3
discount n S3
discover v S2, W1
discovery n W3
discuss v S2, W1
discussion n S2, W1
disease n S3, W1
disgusting adj S2
dish n S2, W3
disk n S2, W3
dismiss v W3
display n S3, W2
display v W2
dispute n W2
distance n S2, W2
distant adj W3
distinct adj W3
distinction n W3
distinguish v S3, W3
distribute v W2
distribution n W2
district n S3, W2
disturb v W3
divide v S2, W2
division n S3, W1
divorce n S3
do auxiliary S1, W1
do v S1, W1
doctor n S1, W1
document n S2, W2
dog n S1, W1
dollar n S1, W2
domestic adj W2
dominant adj W3
dominate v W3
door n S1, W1
dot n S2
double adj S1, W2
double v S3
doubt n S1, W1
doubt v S2
down adv, prep, adj S1, W1
downstairs adv S2
downtown adv S3, W3
dozen number S2, W3
draft n S2, W3
drag v S3, W3
drama n W3
dramatic adj W3
draw n S3
draw v S1, W1
drawer n S3
drawing n S3, W3
dream n S2, W2
drea