Speak850: Basic English
Learn English in 22 languages
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Speak English with just 850 words.
Speak850 teaches you Basic English — the famous method created by linguist C. K. Ogden in 1930: a small, carefully chosen core of 850 words that can express almost any everyday idea. Master this core and you can communicate right away — then grow naturally toward full English.
Learn in your own language. Pick from 22 native languages and every word and example sentence is shown with a translation you understand, plus clear on-device audio.
WHAT YOU GET
• A complete 14-week course — all 852 Basic English words, grouped into clear topics (People, Actions, House & Home, The Body, and more).
• Smart flashcards with spaced repetition (SRS) that bring words back exactly when you're about to forget them.
• A daily review queue, study streak, daily goal, and an optional reminder to keep the habit.
• Listen and learn — natural pronunciation for every word and sentence.
PRO unlocks the full experience
• The complete course — every topic and all 852 words.
• Unlimited mixed practice: choose the meaning, pick the word, listen, and spell.
• Example Sentences — see every word in real context, with audio and a translation in your language.
• Word Combinations & Grammar guides — the heart of the method: how a few verbs plus direction words (get up, put on, take off, give up…) and a handful of simple rules let you say almost anything.
One-time purchase. No subscription. Free updates.
The first topics and a daily review are free, so you can feel the method before you decide.
Your progress is private — stored on your device and synced through your own iCloud. No accounts, no ads, no tracking.
Note: This app is an independent work that teaches the public-domain Basic English method. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by C. K. Ogden's estate or the Orthological Institute. All example sentences and translations are original.
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
• Lessons now hide words you've mastered by default — focus on what's left, and tap the eye button to show them anytime.
• Example sentences get a "Read along" button: each sentence is read slowly with the current word highlighted, so you can follow along and repeat.
The developer, YI LIU, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- YI LIU
- Size
- 4.7 MB
- Category
- Education
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 17.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 17.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 14.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Speak850 Pro $4.99
- Copyright
- © 2026 YI LIU