The 500 most common Japanese words

These are the first 500 of a graded list of 2500, in the order a corpus of everyday writing says you will actually meet them. Learning them in this order is the fastest route to understanding most of what you read.

Meanings are given in English on this page. In the app they appear in your own language, translated on your device.

#	Word	Type	Meaning
1	の	Particles	of, 's; one (nominalizer)
2	に	Particles	to, at, in; by (indirect object)
3	て	Particles	and then (joins verbs and clauses)
4	は	Particles	topic marker: as for, speaking of
5	が	Particles	subject marker; but, however
6	を	Particles	object marker
7	する	Verbs	to do
8	で	Particles	at, in (where); by, with (how)
9	と	Particles	and; with; that (quoting)
10	ない	Adjectives	not; there is no
11	だ	Particles	is, am, are (plain copula)
12	な	Particles	don't (prohibition); sentence-final feeling
13	も	Particles	too, also; even
14	か	Particles	question marker; or
15	いる	Verbs	to be, to exist (people and animals)
16	から	Particles	from; because
17	です	Particles	is, am, are (polite copula)
18	ある	Verbs	to be, to exist (things)
19	よ	Particles	you know (telling someone)
20	得る	Verbs	to get, acquire, gain, obtain, win, catch
21	こと	Nouns	a thing, occasion, circumstances, detail, particular
22	ね	Particles	isn't it?, right? (seeking agreement)
23	人	Nouns	a person, human
24	見る	Verbs	to see, to watch, to observe, to look at something
25	や	Particles	and, or (a partial list)
26	よく	Adverbs	well; often
27	日	Nouns	day; sun
28	いい	Adjectives	good
29	まし	Pronouns	汝: second person pronoun; you
30	この	Numbers	nine
31	そう	Adverbs	so, like that, in such a way, such
32	って	Particles	he/she/I/they/we said: a type of verbal quotation mark
33	たら	Particles	follows a past-tense subordinate clause of condition
34	ば	Particles	In Modern Japanese, attaches to the kateikei
35	じゃ	Conjunctions	so
36	けど	Conjunctions	informal form of けれども (keredomo)
37	できる	Verbs	to be able to do
38	これ	Pronouns	this one (near the speaker)
39	年	Nouns	a year
40	なる	Verbs	to become
41	その	Interjections	uh, umm, er
42	たい	Particles	sentence-ending particle indicating emphasis
43	だけ	Particles	only, just
44	まで	Particles	until, as far as
45	なら	Particles	A conditional particle appended to a noun or the plain
46	月	Nouns	the Moon
47	もの	Particles	indicates a reason or cause; because
48	中	Nouns	the middle, medium
49	それ	Pronouns	that (near the addressee)
50	でも	Conjunctions	but, however
51	何	Pronouns	what
52	私	Pronouns	first-person singular pronoun: I, me
53	ので	Particles	therefore, so, because
54	ため	Nouns	an advantage, benefit
55	わ	Particles	a particle used in the end of sentences to indicate
56	時	Nouns	time
57	へ	Particles	to
58	一	Numbers	one, 1
59	来る	Verbs	to come (toward the speaker)
60	あっ	Interjections	ah!, oh!
61	方	Nouns	direction, way, side
62	今	Adverbs	now
63	くれる	Verbs	to give to me, to us, or to someone close to me
64	き	Particles	indicates certainty, conviction, or emphasis
65	として	Particles	as (meaning a role)
66	思う	Verbs	to think, to deem, to imagine, ponder, to speculate
67	ませる	Verbs	to be mature for one's age
68	など	Particles	等: for example, things like, such as, etc., and so on
69	自分	Nouns	oneself
70	より	Particles	than; from
71	とか	Particles	something like, some kind of
72	前	Nouns	the front
73	出る	Verbs	to leave a place
74	気	Nouns	spirit, mood
75	時間	Nouns	time
76	どう	Adverbs	in what manner, how
77	知る	Verbs	to know, be aware of
78	良い	Adjectives	good
79	また	Conjunctions	and, also
80	もう	Adverbs	already
81	行く	Verbs	to go; to come to one's place
82	目	Nouns	目, 眼: eye
83	たり	Particles	used to list actions or states
84	なり	Particles	Used when giving an example
85	話	Nouns	talking, speaking, speech, conversation
86	立つ	Verbs	to stand, to stand up, to rise
87	入る	Verbs	to enter, to go into, to get into a place or a thing
88	言う	Verbs	to say, to tell somebody
89	かも	Particles	short for かも知れない (ka mo shirenai, “may, might, perhaps”)
90	分	Nouns	a tenth
91	家	Nouns	a house
92	円	Nouns	a round or circular object; a circle; roundness
93	違う	Verbs	to be different; to differ (from something)
94	後	Conjunctions	afterwards, then
95	のに	Particles	even though, although (in spite of the fact that)
96	みたい	Adjectives	appended after the noun to mean -like, resembling
97	下さる	Verbs	to give
98	わかる	Verbs	分かる, 解る: to be understandable, to understand
99	二	Numbers	two, 2
100	好き	Adjectives	liked, likable
101	ここ	Pronouns	here
102	ぞ	Particles	a particle used at the end of sentences
103	上	Nouns	the above
104	回	Nouns	time, occasion
105	考え	Nouns	thought
106	感じ	Nouns	a feeling, sensation
107	数	Nouns	number; amount
108	解く	Verbs	to untie
109	必要	Adjectives	needed, necessary
110	子	Nouns	a child
111	ありがとう	Interjections	an expression of thankfulness: thank you
112	そんな	Adjectives	like that; that kind of
113	万	Adverbs	even if, never
114	ああ	Adverbs	in that other way
115	くらい	Adverbs	about, approximately
116	やる	Verbs	遣る, 行る: (colloquial) to do (something)
117	ちょっと	Adverbs	slightly, a little, a bit, somewhat
118	世界	Nouns	world
119	他	Nouns	another, other, some other, the rest
120	本	Classifiers	long cylindrical things such as glasses of drink
121	誰	Pronouns	interrogative personal pronoun: who, whom
122	つ	Classifiers	suffixed to Japanese numerals 「ひと～、ふた～、み～、… 、ここの～、」
123	本当	Adjectives	true, proper, real
124	しか	Particles	nothing but, only
125	仕事	Nouns	a job; an occupation; work
126	市	Nouns	a market, a marketplace
127	県	Nouns	a type of administrative district
128	同じ	Adverbs	anyhow, anyway
129	あなた	Pronouns	貴方, 貴女, 貴男: you (second-person pronoun)
130	おり	Nouns	folding
131	こんな	Adjectives	like this; this kind of
132	について	Particles	about (in concern with)
133	問題	Nouns	question, problem (on homework, as a puzzle, etc.)
134	度	Nouns	degree, extent
135	手	Nouns	a hand
136	みんな	Nouns	everyone, everybody
137	ゲーム	Nouns	game
138	書く	Verbs	to write
139	そして	Conjunctions	and, and then
140	情報	Nouns	information
141	緒	Nouns	string, cord, thong
142	三	Numbers	three, 3
143	関係	Nouns	relationship, relation
144	国	Nouns	a land, a large place
145	会	Nouns	meeting, gathering
146	たく	Nouns	卓: table, desk
147	ながら	Particles	while, during, while doing (verb)
148	僕	Pronouns	I; me
149	力	Nouns	physical strength
150	悪い	Adjectives	bad, wicked, evil
151	あ	Pronouns	distal demonstrative
152	打つ	Verbs	to hit, to beat, to strike
153	しかし	Conjunctions	but, however
154	今日	Nouns	today, this day
155	多い	Adjectives	there are many, there is much, there are numerous
156	見える	Verbs	to be seen; to be found
157	以上	Nouns	the aforementioned, the foregoing
158	可能	Adjectives	possible
159	場合	Nouns	case, occasion, circumstances, situation
160	車	Nouns	a car, a carriage, a cart, a vehicle
161	金	Nouns	gold (Au)
162	有	Nouns	existence
163	競る	Verbs	to compete (against someone)
164	あの	Interjections	similar to English er or umm
165	どこ	Pronouns	points to unknown or unspecified locations: where
166	男	Nouns	a male person
167	間	Nouns	interval
168	ただ	Conjunctions	唯, 只, 但, 惟: but, however, although, except that
169	なんか	Particles	何か
170	出来	Verbs	to occur, to take place
171	所	Nouns	a place, a scene, a site; an address
172	人間	Nouns	human, person, human being
173	名	Nouns	name
174	女	Nouns	a female person
175	様	Adjectives	be like, look like, seem like, as if
176	いく	Verbs	生く: to be alive; to come back to life
177	位	Classifiers	rank, place
178	次	Nouns	next, order, sequence, below
179	高い	Adjectives	high, tall
180	すごい	Adverbs	greatly, wonderfully
181	ほど	Particles	"as much as"; upper limit; degree
182	すぐ	Adverbs	直ぐ: immediately, right away, soon
183	わけ	Nouns	訳: conclusion
184	女性	Nouns	a woman (adult female person)
185	受ける	Verbs	to receive, to get, to be given, to undergo
186	意味	Nouns	a meaning; a significance; a point
187	そこ	Pronouns	That place, area, or part near you. (near the addressee)
188	一緒	Adjectives	combined, merged, unified
189	多く	Adverbs	largely; mostly
190	ござる	Verbs	to be
191	なぁ	Particles	Particle indicating emphasis, question, and reflection
192	君	Pronouns	second-person personal pronoun: you, thou
193	射る	Verbs	shoot
194	もっと	Adverbs	more
195	使用	Verbs	use, utilize
196	店	Nouns	a commercial building; a store; a shop
197	新	Nouns	a novelty
198	生	Pronouns	I or me, the first person singular (used by males)
199	結果	Nouns	the result, effect, consequence
200	食べ	Verbs	imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of 食べる
201	物	Nouns	thing (concrete, tangible)
202	しまう	Verbs	to close
203	可愛い	Adjectives	embarrassed
204	安い	Adjectives	inexpensive
205	いや	Interjections	Exclamation of surprise in contrast to expectations
206	ぜ	Particles	sentence-ending particle signifying emphasis
207	先	Nouns	before, previous
208	内	Pronouns	I, me
209	写真	Nouns	photograph
210	参加	Verbs	to participate, to join, to enter
211	感	Nouns	feeling; sense
212	顔	Nouns	a person's face
213	持つ	Verbs	to hold, to carry something
214	お願い	Verbs	to ask for a favor, to request
215	だって	Conjunctions	used to make an argument or give an excuse while
216	やつ	Pronouns	he, she, (singular) they
217	会社	Nouns	a company
218	声	Nouns	a voice
219	最近	Adverbs	nowadays
220	用	Nouns	use
221	言える	Verbs	be accurate to say, indeed be so
222	頭	Nouns	head (body part)
223	ま	Nouns	the space between two (physical) things
224	十	Numbers	ten, 10
225	少し	Adverbs	a little; slightly
226	時代	Nouns	age, era, period (of time)
227	早い	Adjectives	early
228	いつも	Adverbs	always, invariably, all the time
229	こ	Pronouns	此: (derogatory) you
230	代	Nouns	price
231	子供	Nouns	child
232	彼	Pronouns	distal demonstrative
233	心	Nouns	mind, heart, spirit, soul; thoughts, ideas
234	高	Nouns	maximum, the limit
235	探す	Verbs	to look for; to search for; to seek
236	こちら	Pronouns	this direction, this way
237	アニメ	Nouns	anime, Japanese animation
238	サイト	Nouns	site
239	名前	Nouns	a name
240	無料	Nouns	free; at no cost
241	神	Nouns	a spirit or an essence present in all things
242	等	Adverbs	et cetera
243	続ける	Verbs	to continue
244	別	Nouns	difference
245	漫画	Nouns	a drawing or painting made as one pleases without
246	つけ	Nouns	bill
247	下	Nouns	the lower portion, end
248	元	Adverbs	before; previously
249	場所	Nouns	place, location
250	最後	Nouns	last, end, conclusion
251	部	Nouns	division, divide, a part
252	強い	Adjectives	strong, durable, powerful
253	すれ	Verbs	hypothetical of する (suru, “to do”)
254	一番	Adverbs	most, -est, -most
255	出し	Nouns	dashi, broth
256	大丈夫	Adjectives	all right; okay; in good health; uninjured
257	町	Nouns	a town, a city
258	言葉	Nouns	a word, a term
259	作る	Verbs	to make; to create
260	映画	Nouns	movie, film
261	氏	Nouns	a family, a clan
262	点	Nouns	spot, dot
263	社会	Nouns	society (group of people sharing culture)
264	相手	Nouns	other person
265	聞く	Verbs	聞く, 聴く: to hear, to listen (to)
266	方法	Nouns	way; method; manner
267	最初	Adverbs	firstly
268	理由	Nouns	a reason
269	止める	Verbs	to stop (to cause to cease)
270	とても	Adverbs	very, exceedingly, awfully
271	体	Nouns	the body (e.g., of a human or animal)
272	作品	Nouns	a work, especially a work of art such as a performance
273	動画	Nouns	a movie (motion picture)
274	型	Nouns	a style, a type
275	始め	Nouns	beginning, the start of an activity or time period
276	駅	Nouns	station (train, underground/subway)
277	番	Nouns	one's turn (as in a game, etc.)
278	はず	Nouns	nock
279	下さい	Verbs	please give (me or us)
280	企業	Nouns	enterprise; undertaking; corporation; business
281	利用	Verbs	use, utilize
282	存在	Nouns	existence
283	曲	Nouns	a piece of music
284	無理	Adjectives	cannot, impossible, incapable
285	現在	Adverbs	now, at present
286	す	Nouns	酢, 醋, 酸: vinegar (condiment)
287	ちゃ	Conjunctions	contraction of ては (-te wa)
288	以外	Prepositions	apart from; excepting (something)
289	水	Nouns	water (sometimes cold and/or fresh)
290	行き	Nouns	going
291	忘れる	Verbs	to forget
292	やはり	Adverbs	as I thought; as expected; after all (is said and done)
293	買う	Verbs	to buy
294	なに	Pronouns	何: interrogative pronoun; what
295	事件	Nouns	event, incident
296	普通	Adjectives	common, ordinary
297	通り	Nouns	street
298	起きる	Verbs	to wake up
299	ほしい	Adjectives	欲しい: wanted, desired, needed
300	絶対	Adverbs	absolutely, definitely, certainly
301	つい	Adverbs	just now; quite near
302	チャッ	Interjections	A sharp metallic sound, such as a blade being unsheathed
303	女子	Nouns	a female child; girl
304	学校	Nouns	school (institution dedicated to teaching and learning)
305	最高	Adjectives	highest; greatest
306	状態	Nouns	the state or condition
307	画像	Nouns	a portrait, one's likeness
308	発売	Nouns	sale, the selling of something
309	簡単	Adjectives	easy
310	約	Adverbs	about, approximately
311	大きい	Adjectives	big
312	楽	Adjectives	comfortable, enjoying
313	いいえ	Interjections	no
314	ばかり	Particles	just; only; nothing but
315	新しい	Adjectives	new, novel
316	ほう	Interjections	indication of excitement, surprise, astonishment
317	まあ	Interjections	oh! dear! (expression of surprise)
318	中国	Nouns	the central part of a country, historically
319	側	Nouns	side
320	先生	Nouns	an elder
321	実際	Adverbs	indeed, in fact, actually
322	気持ち	Adverbs	a little, a bit
323	確認	Verbs	to confirm, to make sure, to check, to verify
324	開催	Verbs	to hold an event
325	まま	Particles	as it is; remaining in a certain state; while still
326	今回	Nouns	this time, this
327	全部	Adverbs	all, entirely, totally, completely
328	夜	Nouns	the night, evening
329	音	Nouns	sound
330	生きる	Verbs	to live; to exist
331	勢	Nouns	force
332	法	Nouns	principle
333	テレビ	Nouns	clipping of テレビジョン (terebijon, “television”): a TV
334	個人	Nouns	individual
335	外	Nouns	outside
336	教え	Verbs	imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of 教える
337	枚	Classifiers	counter for flat and thin objects, such as sheets
338	機	Nouns	a machine, a device; a contraption
339	結婚	Verbs	get married
340	ずっと	Adverbs	by far; much (better, etc.)
341	一つ	Nouns	one thing
342	初めて	Adverbs	for the first time, first
343	友達	Nouns	friend
344	場	Nouns	a place
345	生活	Verbs	live a life
346	色	Nouns	color
347	やら	Particles	marks indefiniteness
348	かなり	Adverbs	quite; rather; considerably; fairly
349	どんな	Adjectives	how?; like what?; what kind of...?
350	にて	Particles	formal version of で (de)
351	により	Conjunctions	alternative form of によって (ni yotte)
352	のみ	Particles	only, limited to
353	人気	Nouns	popularity
354	公開	Verbs	to open to the public, to release, to put on exhibit
355	初	Adjectives	innocent
356	区	Nouns	ward, section, district
357	理解	Verbs	to understand; to comprehend
358	寝る	Verbs	to sleep
359	あげる	Verbs	上げる, 挙げる: to raise
360	こう	Adverbs	like this, in this way, so, thus
361	なぜ	Adverbs	why ... ?, how ... ?
362	全て	Adverbs	entirely, completely; all
363	内容	Nouns	contents (something inside a container)
364	向け	Verbs	imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of 向ける
365	女の子	Nouns	a child that is female; a girl
366	対応	Nouns	correspondence to
367	放送	Verbs	to broadcast
368	活動	Nouns	activity, work, operation
369	状況	Nouns	situation (position vis-à-vis surroundings) of
370	登場	Verbs	appear in a performance, for a character to enter
371	販売	Verbs	sell
372	確か	Adverbs	if I remember correctly, in my memory, as I recall
373	こそ	Particles	emphatic particle used for emphasis: it is ... that
374	とも	Particles	of course
375	ネット	Nouns	a net (mesh of string, cord or rope)
376	全	Nouns	entire, complete, overall
377	夢	Nouns	a dream
378	大変	Adverbs	very, greatly
379	完全	Nouns	completeness
380	技術	Nouns	technology
381	特に	Adverbs	specially
382	研究	Verbs	to research, to study
383	説明	Verbs	to explain
384	話す	Verbs	to talk (about something); to speak (on a subject)
385	面白い	Adjectives	interesting; amusing
386	終わる	Verbs	to end, to finish, to quit
387	蹴る	Verbs	to kick (something)
388	く	Verbs	消: disappear
389	式	Nouns	type, style
390	発表	Verbs	announce, present, publish, screen
391	道	Nouns	a way, a street, a road, an alley, a path
392	風	Nouns	wind (movement of air)
393	増える	Verbs	to increase (in numbers, quantity, or volume)
394	しろ	Verbs	no matter; regardless of
395	死ぬ	Verbs	to die
396	変える	Verbs	to change, to make different
397	一般	Adjectives	general, common, ordinary
398	お金	Nouns	money
399	イベント	Nouns	event (social event)
400	システム	Nouns	system
401	件	Nouns	case
402	攻撃	Verbs	to attack
403	無	Nouns	nothing, nothingness
404	自身	Nouns	self
405	部分	Nouns	part, section, segment, portion
406	電話	Nouns	telephone
407	居り	Verbs	Classical Japanese form of おる (oru): to exist, to be
408	行う	Verbs	to perform; to do; to conduct oneself; to carry out
409	もらう	Verbs	to receive
410	嬉しい	Adjectives	happy, glad
411	ちゃんと	Adverbs	as one should
412	ニュース	Nouns	news (reports of current events)
413	マジ	Adjectives	serious, for real
414	予定	Nouns	schedule
415	全員	Nouns	everybody; all members
416	口	Classifiers	used to count people
417	愛	Nouns	love
418	戦争	Nouns	war (conflict involving organized use of arms)
419	明日	Nouns	tomorrow
420	登録	Verbs	to register
421	紹介	Verbs	introduce
422	花	Nouns	a flower
423	うん	Adverbs	strainingly, with a grunt
424	地	Nouns	earth, land, ground
425	いつ	Pronouns	when
426	すべて	Verbs	conjunctive form of 統べる (suberu)
427	号	Nouns	number
428	機能	Verbs	function (as something), work
429	計画	Verbs	to plan, to make a plan, to plot, to lay out
430	設定	Nouns	setup; establishment; creation
431	調査	Verbs	to investigate, to examine, to inspect, to inquire
432	重要	Adjectives	important, significant
433	使える	Verbs	be usable (e.g. a coupon at a cash register)
434	怖い	Adjectives	frightening, scary, terrifying
435	とる	Verbs	取る: to take
436	楽しい	Adjectives	pleasant, delightful, fun, enjoyable
437	付く	Verbs	to attach itself to, to stick (to), to adhere (to)
438	これから	Adverbs	from now on; from this point on; from now
439	チーム	Nouns	team
440	人生	Nouns	life
441	使う	Verbs	to use
442	員	Nouns	member
443	屋	Nouns	house
444	形	Nouns	the shape or form of something
445	昔	Adverbs	once (in the indeterminate past)
446	朝	Nouns	the morning
447	目的	Nouns	a purpose; a goal; an objective
448	自由	Nouns	freedom, liberty
449	記事	Nouns	an article, a written news story
450	過ぎ	Nouns	past, after
451	開始	Verbs	to start; to begin; to initiate
452	開発	Verbs	to develop or exploit resources
453	際	Nouns	edge, verge, boundary
454	楽しむ	Verbs	to enjoy oneself
455	百	Nouns	hundred
456	ねぇ	Adjectives	alternative form of ない (nai, “no”)
457	まい	Adjectives	no good
458	家族	Nouns	a family, a household
459	影響	Verbs	to influence, to have an effect upon
460	政府	Nouns	government
461	男性	Nouns	man, boy, male person
462	部屋	Nouns	room (of a house or hotel), chamber, apartment, flat
463	限定	Verbs	limit, restrict
464	正しい	Adjectives	true, straight, unwarped, unskewed, proper
465	長い	Adjectives	long
466	だから	Conjunctions	Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see だ, から
467	おい	Interjections	said to get someone's attention; hey!; oi!
468	地域	Nouns	area, district, particular geographic region
469	基本	Nouns	basis, foundation
470	夏	Nouns	summer (season)
471	姿	Nouns	figure, appearance, form, aspect, shape
472	期間	Nouns	duration, period
473	注意	Verbs	to warn
474	管理	Verbs	to control, to manage, to administer
475	英語	Nouns	the English language
476	求める	Verbs	to find; to seek; to look for
477	付ける	Verbs	to attach, to affix, to stick, to fasten, to add
478	め	Nouns	芽: bud, sprout, shoot
479	カード	Nouns	card
480	大学	Nouns	a university; a college
481	室	Nouns	cellar, storage chamber
482	撮影	Verbs	to shoot (a film), to photograph
483	質問	Verbs	to ask a question
484	長	Nouns	chief, head, leader
485	覚える	Verbs	覚える, 憶える: to recall, to remember
486	アプリケーション	Nouns	an application
487	致す	Verbs	to deliver; to send
488	以前	Nouns	before, formerly, ago
489	似	Verbs	肖: imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of 似る
490	安全	Adjectives	safe; secure
491	戦	Nouns	a battle, conflict, fight, war
492	決定	Verbs	to decide
493	為	Nouns	the twelfth string on a 箏 (koto, “Japanese zither”)
494	王	Nouns	a king
495	記念	Verbs	commemorate, celebrate, mark
496	足	Nouns	foot
497	軍	Nouns	an army, corps
498	連絡	Verbs	connect with, get a hold of, get in touch with
499	掛かる	Verbs	to hang
500	会う	Verbs	to meet with, see, meet again or for the first time

All 500 A1 words are on this page, free, with no sign-up.

The rest of the list

A2A2 Beginner: 500 more words大事 · はい · エロ · シリーズ · ライブ
B1B1 Intermediate: 750 more words読む · 賞 · 通信 · 都 · 頂く
B2B2 Upper intermediate: 750 more words書籍 · 株 · 次元 · 無視 · 章

A2 to B2 are part of Oqou Pro, in the app, where you can also send any word straight into spaced review and meet it again on the day you are about to forget it.

Where this comes from

The order is measured: it comes from how often each word appears in a large corpus, counted across all the forms of a word rather than each form separately, so a verb is ranked where you really meet it. The band edges are a convention rather than a measurement. Nothing says word 501 is harder than word 500; the levels are cut where established graded reader series cut theirs.

wordfreq 3.1 (frequency order) + en.wiktionary via kaikki.org (part of speech, gender, gloss). Corpus read on 2026-09-16.

Questions

Where does the order come from?

From how often each word appears in a large corpus of everyday writing. Frequency is counted across all the forms of a word and attributed to the dictionary form, so a verb is ranked where a reader really meets it rather than being spread thinly over a dozen endings.

Why are these lists shorter than the ones with 5,000 or 10,000 words?

Because past about 2,500 a frequency rank stops meaning much. Rank 6,000 in a web corpus is not a harder word, it is a word that happens to be common in journalism. Established graded reader series top out near 2,500 headwords for the same reason.

Is every word in the list a real dictionary word?

Yes. Every headword is checked against the language's own Wiktionary entry, which is where the part of speech, the gender and the meaning come from. That check is what removes the proper nouns, single letters and corpus noise that raw frequency lists are full of.

Do I need the app?

Not for this page. The A1 list is free here and free in the app. A2 to B2 are part of Oqou Pro, and the app is also where a word can go from a list into a review queue, which is the part a page cannot do.

Has a native speaker checked these?

Not yet. The frequency order and the part of speech are mechanical, and the meanings come from a dictionary rather than being written by hand, but nothing here has been through native review. If you spot a meaning that is technically right and practically useless, we would like to hear about it.