Building a strong vocabulary is one of the most important aspects of mastering English. Whether you're aiming for fluency or just want to hold a basic conversation, the number of words you know makes a huge difference. Linguists say you need around 1,000 to 3,000 words to understand everyday English, while full fluency can require more than 10,000 words. That sounds like a lot, but the good news is that expanding your vocabulary doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, you can integrate it into your daily life with simple habits that will make learning fun and effective.

In this post, we’ll break down why Westerners rely on small talk, what topics are great to start with, what to avoid, and how these conversations can benefit you in the long run.