Which languages have the most words in the world?

As a necessity for communication in any part of the world, language has become an integral part of an individual's identity. Often giving away where they come from or the cultures they belong to.

But have you ever wondered which language has the most words in the world? The answer isn't as straightforward as it might seem.

Counting words isn't just about flipping through a dictionary—different languages have unique structures, word formation systems, and ways of counting what even qualifies as a “word.”

Walk with us as we delve into some of the languages with the most words.

Korean

With over 1,000,000 words in common use, Korean has the largest vocabulary of any language. This language also has a unique writing system and grammar that distinguishes it from other languages.

Japanese

Japanese has a significant vocabulary, with around 500,000 words in common use. Japanese also has a complex writing system, with thousands of kanji characters that represent words or concepts.

Italian

Italian has around 260,000 words in common use, with a significant number of loanwords from other languages, particularly French and English.

English

With over 170,000 words in current use, English has one of the largest vocabularies of any language. This is due to its history of borrowing words from other languages, such as Latin, Greek, French, and numerous other languages that were incorporated into the English language during the British Empire.

Russian

Russian has an estimated 120,000 to 150,000 words, with a vast array of prefixes, suffixes, and compound words that contribute to its extensive vocabulary.

Spanish

Spanish has around 93,000 words in common use, with a significant number of loanwords from other languages, particularly Arabic and indigenous American languages.

Chinese

Chinese has a vast vocabulary with tens of thousands of characters, each representing a word or concept. Estimates vary, but Chinese has around 85,000 words in current use.