What is the typical age for a child to say their first real word?

Saying the first real word is a significant developmental milestone in a child's language acquisition. Typically, children begin to utter meaningful words around the age of 12 months. At this stage, they are not just babbling, but actually using words to convey meaning, such as "mama" or "dada," often in a context that makes sense to them and to their caregivers.

This milestone reflects the child's understanding of language and their ability to form connections between sounds and the objects or people those sounds represent. By the end of the first year, many children have been exposed to a rich linguistic environment, reinforcing their ability to mimic and produce words they hear consistently.

As children progress beyond this age, they often continue to expand their vocabulary rapidly, typically adding a few more words every month. While some children may say their first words slightly earlier or later, the 12-month mark is generally recognized as the standard age for this important achievement.