At what age do children typically start using two-word utterances?

Children typically start using two-word utterances around the age of two years. At this stage in their language development, they begin to combine words, which allows for a greater expression of thoughts and ideas. This milestone indicates a significant progression in cognitive ability and speech development, as children can start to convey more complex meanings through their language.

At around eighteen months, children often exhibit a large vocabulary but are primarily using single words. The ability to form two-word phrases represents a transition to more complex language syntax. By two years, children commonly express simple sentences such as “want cookie” or “mommy go," showcasing their understanding of how words can be combined to express more nuanced meanings.

The ages of one year and three years also reflect different stages in language acquisition; at one year, children are usually just beginning to say single words, while by three years, they are moving into longer and more elaborated sentences. Thus, two years is the key age at which two-word utterances become typical in speech development.