At what age do 90% of children typically say their first word?

The age at which 90% of children typically say their first word is around 12 months. Most children begin to produce their first words between 10 to 14 months, with the average being around 12 months. This milestone is critical in language development, as saying a first word signifies the child's ability to communicate meaningfully and establish connections with their environment and caregivers. By this age, children also have developed the necessary cognitive and motor skills to produce coordinated speech sounds, which enables them to express thoughts and needs verbally. Recognizing this timeline helps parents and educators monitor language development and identify any potential delays early on.