When do babies begin to talk?

Babies develop language skills at various stages, but most babies begin to talk at approximately 12 months of age. Babies usually coo and make sounds by six months of age, but recognizable words develop later, when a baby is exposed to words, languages and sounds.

The most common first words of a baby include "mama" and "dadda." Babies typically understand the meaning of these words at 12 months of age and can comprehend many words used by adults and siblings. Babies, on average, can say 10 simple words by 18 months of age and begin to point to objects and people while repeating sounds they hear.