This list includes 74 Simple words that start with W, from “wait” to “wrong”. They are mostly short, high-frequency words useful for early readers, ESL learners, and simple writing.
Simple words that start with W are everyday English words students learn early and use often. For example, “wait” and “wrong” appear across children’s books, songs, and classroom instructions.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Part of speech, Definition, and Etymology.
Word: Shows the simple word itself so you can scan and pick terms for teaching, reading, or writing tasks.
Part of speech: Identifies whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective, etc., so you know how to use it in sentences.
Definition: Provides a concise 10–20 word meaning that you can use directly in lesson plans or quick reference.
Etymology: Gives a short origin line so you see language roots and cultural background for vocabulary teaching.
Simple words that start with W
| Word | Part of speech | Syllables | Frequency per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| we | pronoun | 1 | 2,200 |
| was | verb | 1 | 3,500 |
| were | verb | 1 | 1,500 |
| will | verb | 1 | 2,800 |
| with | preposition | 1 | 3,200 |
| would | verb | 1 | 1,800 |
| want | verb | 1 | 900 |
| what | pronoun | 1 | 1,900 |
| when | adverb | 1 | 1,400 |
| where | adverb | 1 | 800 |
| who | pronoun | 1 | 1,000 |
| why | adverb | 1 | 500 |
| which | determiner | 1 | 700 |
| while | conjunction | 1 | 400 |
| white | adjective | 1 | 200 |
| whole | adjective | 1 | 120 |
| wide | adjective | 1 | 180 |
| wind | noun | 1 | 350 |
| window | noun | 2 | 300 |
| week | noun | 1 | 700 |
| wall | noun | 1 | 400 |
| water | noun | 2 | 900 |
| world | noun | 1 | 1,200 |
| word | noun | 1 | 700 |
| work | verb | 1 | 900 |
| watch | verb | 1 | 600 |
| watch | noun | 1 | 600 |
| walk | verb | 1 | 500 |
| wait | verb | 1 | 350 |
| win | verb | 1 | 300 |
| wash | verb | 1 | 250 |
| wish | verb | 1 | 220 |
| wake | verb | 1 | 150 |
| wear | verb | 1 | 200 |
| weigh | verb | 1 | 80 |
| wheel | noun | 1 | 140 |
| woman | noun | 2 | 350 |
| wonder | verb | 2 | 300 |
| wander | verb | 2 | 80 |
| warm | adjective | 1 | 260 |
| wet | adjective | 1 | 200 |
| wild | adjective | 1 | 180 |
| weak | adjective | 1 | 160 |
| worst | adjective | 1 | 150 |
| wrong | adjective | 1 | 220 |
| wow | interjection | 1 | 60 |
| whoa | interjection | 1 | 20 |
| web | noun | 1 | 180 |
| way | noun | 1 | 1,000 |
| wife | noun | 1 | 120 |
| wing | noun | 1 | 80 |
| wig | noun | 1 | 30 |
| wire | noun | 1 | 90 |
| wine | noun | 1 | 100 |
| wave | verb | 1 | 200 |
| weight | noun | 1 | 180 |
| whale | noun | 1 | 100 |
| whip | verb | 1 | 40 |
| whisper | verb | 2 | 120 |
| whistle | verb | 2 | 90 |
| wheelchair | noun | 2 | 30 |
| whom | pronoun | 1 | 15 |
| whose | determiner | 1 | 50 |
| whilst | conjunction | 1 | 10 |
| whilst | conjunction | 1 | 10 |
| whenever | conjunction | 3 | 30 |
| wherever | adverb | 3 | 40 |
| whichever | determiner | 3 | 25 |
| whoever | pronoun | 3 | 35 |
| won | verb | 1 | 400 |
| woke | verb | 1 | 150 |
| wax | verb | 1 | 40 |
| wane | verb | 1 | 30 |
| wane | verb | 1 | 30 |
Descriptions
we
Pronoun for the speaker together with other people. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
was
Past form of “be” used for one person or thing in the past. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
were
Past form of “be” used with you, we, they or plurals. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
will
Shows future action or strong intention; used to make future statements. Origin: Old English/Germanic.
with
Shows being together or using something together. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
would
Shows a polite request, imagined situation, or repeated past action. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
want
To wish for or desire something. Origin: Old Norse/Old English influence.
what
Asks about things, asking for information or specification. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
when
Asks or refers to time; at what time something happens. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
where
Asks or points to a place or location. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
who
Asks about a person or identifies someone. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
why
Asks for a reason or purpose. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
which
Asks for one or more choices from a set. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
while
Shows that two things happen at the same time; during that time. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
white
A color like snow or milk; very light in color. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whole
Complete; not missing any parts. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wide
Having a large distance from one side to the other. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wind
Air that moves outside, often felt as a breeze. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
window
An opening in a wall for light and seeing outside, with glass. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
week
A period of seven days. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wall
A vertical structure that divides or supports a building or area. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
water
A clear liquid we drink and use every day. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
world
The planet Earth and all people and places on it. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
word
A single unit of language used to name or talk about things. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
work
To do a job or task; also a place where you do tasks. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
watch
To look at something carefully or for a period of time. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
watch
A small timepiece worn on the wrist. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
walk
To move along on foot at a normal speed. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wait
To stay in one place until something happens or someone comes. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
win
To succeed in a game or competition; to get victory. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wash
To clean something using water and often soap. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wish
To want something to happen or to desire something. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wake
To stop sleeping or to cause someone to stop sleeping. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wear
To have clothing or accessories on your body. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
weigh
To measure how heavy something is. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wheel
A round object that turns to help something move. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
woman
An adult female human being. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wonder
To think about something with curiosity or surprise. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wander
To move around slowly without a fixed direction. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
warm
A little hot in a pleasant or comfortable way. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wet
Covered or soaked with water or liquid. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wild
Living in nature, not tamed; uncontrolled. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
weak
Not strong or lacking physical or mental strength. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
worst
The most bad or unfavorable in a group or situation. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wrong
Not correct, or not morally right. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wow
A quick word showing strong surprise or admiration. Origin: Informal English, echoic.
whoa
A word used to tell someone or an animal to stop or slow. Origin: Imitative, dialectal.
web
A net-like structure made by spiders or the World Wide Web. Origin: Old English (spider web).
way
A method, direction, or road to get somewhere. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wife
A married woman in relation to her partner. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wing
A part of a bird or plane used for flying. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wig
An artificial covering of hair worn on the head. Origin: Middle English, from Medieval Latin.
wire
A thin metal thread used for electricity or tying things. Origin: Old English/Old French.
wine
An alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes. Origin: Old English, Germanic via Latin.
wave
To move your hand to say hello or to move back and forth. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
weight
How heavy something is; a measure of heaviness. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whale
A very large sea mammal that lives in the ocean. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whip
To move quickly or beat something with a thin object. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whisper
To speak very quietly so others nearby can hear. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whistle
To make a high sound by breathing or blowing air. Origin: Middle English, Germanic.
wheelchair
A chair with wheels for people who cannot walk. Origin: compound of wheel + chair, Modern English.
whom
Used to ask or refer to the object of a verb (formal). Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whose
Asks who owns or has something; shows possession. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
whilst
Alternative of “while” mainly used in British English. Origin: Middle English.
whilst
Alternative of “while” mainly used in British English. Origin: Middle English.
whenever
At any time when something happens; every time that. Origin: Middle English, Germanic.
wherever
In or at any place; wherever something happens or is. Origin: Middle English, Germanic.
whichever
Any one or ones from a known group of choices. Origin: Middle English, Germanic.
whoever
Any person who; used to refer to an unknown person. Origin: Middle English, Germanic.
won
Past of “win”; to have been successful in a contest. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
woke
Past of “wake”; informal past of awaken or become aware. Origin: Old English (past form).
wax
To increase gradually; also to apply wax. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wane
To decrease in size or intensity, like the moon. Origin: Old English, Germanic.
wane
To decrease in size or intensity, like the moon. Origin: Old English, Germanic.