This list includes 84 Simple words that start with B, from “baby” to “by”. Many are short, high-frequency words learners meet first in reading, speech, and writing.
Simple words that start with B are common, easy-to-read words usually learned early by children and ESL students. Several come from Old English or long-used everyday speech, showing language continuity.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Definition, and Etymology.
Word: The simple headword you see; you can use it for teaching, lists, or quick reference.
Definition: A short, clear meaning of the word so you can explain or recognize it in context.
Etymology: One-line origin note showing where the word comes from and any notable borrowings.
Simple words that start with B
| Word | Part of speech | Frequency (per million) | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| baby | noun | 20.5 | Unknown/modern English |
| back | noun | 150.0 | Old English |
| bad | adjective | 110.0 | Old English |
| bag | noun | 30.0 | Old English |
| bake | verb | 18.0 | Old English |
| ball | noun | 28.0 | Old English |
| banana | noun | 5.0 | Spanish/Portuguese via indigenous languages |
| band | noun | 12.0 | Old English |
| bank | noun | 40.0 | Old English |
| bar | noun | 45.0 | Old English/Old French |
| bark | verb | 15.0 | Old English |
| barn | noun | 8.0 | Old English |
| base | noun | 20.0 | Latin via Old French |
| bath | noun | 8.0 | Old English |
| bat | noun | 25.0 | Old English |
| be | verb | 6,800.0 | Old English |
| beach | noun | 22.0 | Old English |
| bear | verb | 25.0 | Old English |
| beat | verb | 40.0 | Old English |
| beauty | noun | 12.0 | Old French/Latin |
| bed | noun | 60.0 | Old English |
| bee | noun | 6.0 | Old English |
| beef | noun | 4.0 | Old English/Old French |
| bell | noun | 7.0 | Old English |
| belong | verb | 14.0 | Old English |
| below | preposition | 80.0 | Old English |
| bend | verb | 6.5 | Old English |
| best | adjective | 200.0 | Old English |
| better | adjective | 220.0 | Old English |
| between | preposition | 300.0 | Old English |
| big | adjective | 250.0 | Old English |
| bill | noun | 35.0 | Middle English |
| bird | noun | 18.0 | Old English |
| birth | noun | 6.0 | Old English |
| birthday | noun | 20.0 | Middle English |
| bite | verb | 9.0 | Old English |
| bit | noun | 28.0 | Old English |
| black | adjective | 90.0 | Old English |
| blank | adjective | 6.0 | Old English/Old French |
| blanket | noun | 15.0 | Old English |
| blind | adjective | 10.0 | Old English |
| block | noun | 12.0 | Old English |
| blood | noun | 25.0 | Old English |
| blow | verb | 8.0 | Old English |
| blue | adjective | 70.0 | Old English |
| board | noun | 40.0 | Old English |
| boat | noun | 25.0 | Old English |
| body | noun | 140.0 | Old English |
| bone | noun | 10.0 | Old English |
| book | noun | 300.0 | Old English |
| boot | noun | 6.0 | Old English |
| born | adjective | 30.0 | Old English |
| boss | noun | 15.0 | Middle English |
| both | pronoun | 400.0 | Old English |
| bottle | noun | 30.0 | Old French/Latin |
| bottom | noun | 35.0 | Old English |
| box | noun | 40.0 | Old English |
| boy | noun | 120.0 | Old English |
| brain | noun | 8.0 | Old English/Old French |
| branch | noun | 6.0 | Old English |
| brave | adjective | 5.0 | Old French/Latin |
| bread | noun | 25.0 | Old English |
| break | verb | 80.0 | Old English |
| breakfast | noun | 10.0 | Middle English |
| breath | noun | 25.0 | Old English |
| breathe | verb | 6.0 | Old English |
| bridge | noun | 12.0 | Old English |
| bright | adjective | 15.0 | Old English |
| bring | verb | 90.0 | Old English |
| brother | noun | 80.0 | Old English |
| brown | adjective | 30.0 | Old English |
| brush | verb | 8.0 | Old English |
| build | verb | 70.0 | Old English |
| building | noun | 60.0 | Old English |
| burn | verb | 15.0 | Old English |
| burst | verb | 2.0 | Middle English |
| bus | noun | 25.0 | Short for omnibus (Latin/French) |
| bush | noun | 3.0 | Old English |
| busy | adjective | 50.0 | Old English |
| but | conjunction | 1,800.0 | Old English |
| butter | noun | 20.0 | Old English/Old French |
| button | noun | 12.0 | Middle English |
| buy | verb | 50.0 | Old English |
| by | preposition | 2,000.0 | Old English |
Descriptions
baby
A very young child; used for infants and as a term of affection.
back
The rear part of the body or something; also means returning to a previous place or state.
bad
Not good, harmful, or unpleasant; common descriptive word for negative quality.
bag
A flexible container used to carry things; common everyday item.
bake
To cook in an oven or over heat; often used for bread and cakes.
ball
A round object used in many games and sports.
banana
A long yellow fruit, soft and sweet inside.
band
A group of people or a strip of material; used for music groups and ties.
bank
A financial institution or the land beside a river.
bar
A long rigid piece or a place serving drinks; also a law/legal term.
bark
The sharp sound a dog makes; also the outer covering of a tree.
barn
A farm building for storing grain or housing animals.
base
The bottom or foundation of something; basic starting point.
bath
An act of washing the body; a tub for washing.
bat
A stick used in sports or a small flying mammal.
be
A core verb meaning to exist or link subject and description.
beach
Sandy or pebbly shore beside a sea, lake, or river.
bear
To carry, endure, or give birth; also a large animal (noun).
beat
To strike repeatedly, win against, or produce rhythm with sound.
beauty
The quality that pleases the senses or mind; used for attractiveness.
bed
A piece of furniture for sleeping or resting.
bee
A flying insect that makes honey and pollinates flowers.
beef
Meat from cattle; also a complaint in slang.
bell
A hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck.
belong
To be the property of or to fit as a member of a group.
below
Under or lower than something else; used for position.
bend
To curve or change direction; also to incline part of the body.
best
Of the highest quality or most suitable among choices.
better
Comparative of good; more desirable or of improved quality.
between
In the space separating two things or among a group.
big
Large in size, amount, or importance.
bill
A statement of money owed or a proposed law; also a bird’s beak.
bird
A feathered, winged animal that usually flies and lays eggs.
birth
The act or process of being born; beginning of life.
birthday
The anniversary of the day someone was born.
bite
To cut or grip with the teeth; can mean a small amount to eat.
bit
A small piece or amount; also a part of a tool or harness.
black
Very dark color; used literally or to describe mood or reputation.
blank
Empty, without writing or expression.
blanket
A large warm cover used on a bed or for warmth.
blind
Unable to see; also used metaphorically for lack of knowledge.
block
A solid piece of material or an obstacle in movement or progress.
blood
The red fluid in bodies that transports nutrients and oxygen.
blow
To move air or be moved by air; also to hit with force.
blue
A color like the sky; used also to describe mood.
board
A flat piece of wood or a group that manages an organization.
boat
A small vessel for travel on water.
body
The physical structure of a person or animal.
bone
A hard part of the skeleton that supports the body.
book
A set of written or printed pages bound together; used for reading.
boot
A type of sturdy shoe that covers the ankle or higher.
born
Having come into life; used in phrases like “born in.”
boss
A person in charge of others at work.
both
Refers to two things together; used to include both items.
bottle
A container with a narrow neck for liquids.
bottom
The lowest part or area of something.
box
A container with flat sides used for storage or shipping.
boy
A male child or young man.
brain
The organ in the head that controls thought and movement.
branch
A limb of a tree or a division of an organization.
brave
Showing courage; willing to face danger or difficulty.
bread
A staple baked food made from flour and water.
break
To separate into pieces or stop functioning; also a pause.
breakfast
The first meal of the day, usually in the morning.
breath
Air taken into or expelled from the lungs; used literally and figuratively.
breathe
To take air into and expel it; essential for life.
bridge
A structure built to cross obstacles like rivers or roads.
bright
Giving off light, vivid, or intelligent.
bring
To carry something toward a place or person.
brother
A male sibling or close male associate.
brown
A common color between red and yellow, like wood or dirt.
brush
To clean or arrange with a brush; also a small plant area (noun).
build
To make by putting parts or materials together.
building
A structure with walls and a roof like a house or office.
burn
To be on fire or damaged by heat; can be literal or figurative.
burst
To break open suddenly from pressure.
bus
A large vehicle for carrying many passengers.
bush
A low, thick plant with many branches.
busy
Actively engaged or occupied with tasks.
but
Used to introduce contrast or exception.
butter
A dairy product made from churning cream.
button
A small fastener used on clothing.
buy
To get something in exchange for money.
by
Indicates position, time, or means; very common small word