How many words can a child typically say by 18 months?

At 18 months, children typically have a vocabulary of around 7 to 10 words. This stage of language development marks a significant milestone in a child's ability to communicate. Between 12 to 18 months, many children begin to use single words to express their needs, feelings, and thoughts, leading to the increase in vocabulary during this critical period. While some children may articulate more words or fewer, the general expectation is that they will be able to say about 7 to 10 words, often including simple items that are familiar or important to them, such as "mama," "dada," or objects like "ball" and "dog." This foundational vocabulary paves the way for further language development as they approach their second birthday.