# When should my toddler start talking? | Clever Mum > Rough guide: first words around 12 months, 20+ words by 18 months, two-word phrases ("more milk") by age 2, and strangers understanding most speech by 3–4. The * [ Home ](/) * › [ Mum Answers ](/answers) * › When should my toddler start talking? Toddler # When should my toddler start talking? Quick answer — When should my toddler start talking? Rough guide: first words around 12 months, 20+ words by 18 months, two-word phrases ("more milk") by age 2, and strangers understanding most speech by 3–4. The range is wide, but don’t wait-and-see alone: if there are few words at 18–24 months, ask your health visitor about a hearing check and speech support — early help works. ## The typical trajectory * **Around 12 months:** first meaningful words — used consistently for the same thing, even if only family recognises them. * **By 18 months:** roughly 20+ words, and understanding far ahead of speech — following simple instructions matters as much as talking. * **By age 2:** two-word combinations ("more milk", "daddy gone"). * **By 3–4:** strangers understand most of what they say. The range around each marker is genuinely wide, and late talking alone often resolves — but "often" is doing careful work in that sentence, which is why the next section matters. ## Don't wait-and-see alone If your toddler has few words at 18–24 months, two moves beat waiting: * **Book a hearing test.** Glue ear — fluid behind the eardrum after colds — is one of the most common and most fixable causes of speech delay, and it's invisible from the outside. * **Tell your health visitor** and ask about local speech and language therapy drop-ins; self-referral is possible in many areas, and early support improves outcomes whatever the cause turns out to be. Meanwhile, flood daily life with low-pressure language: narrate what you're doing, pause to leave space, offer choices ("apple or banana?") rather than quizzes ("say apple!"). **Go deeper:** [My child isn’t talking yet — Autism Parent Guide (our sister site)](https://autismparentguide.org/communication/nonverbal) ## More Toddler questions * [When should my toddler move from cot to bed?](/answers/when-move-cot-to-bed/) * [My toddler refuses vegetables — should I worry?](/answers/toddler-wont-eat-vegetables/) * [My toddler isn’t talking yet — what should I do first?](/answers/toddler-not-talking-first-steps/) * [Is it a tantrum or a sensory meltdown?](/answers/tantrum-or-sensory-meltdown/) * [What are picture communication cards, and can they help my toddler?](/answers/what-are-communication-cards/) [Browse every question we answer →](/answers/) Health answers describe NHS guidance and are not medical advice — for anything urgent, call 111 (or 999 in an emergency). Spotted something out of date? Email [editors@clevermum.co.uk](mailto:editors@clevermum.co.uk).