What percentage of a 2-year-old's speech is generally understood by parents?

For a 2-year-old, it is commonly understood that around 50% of their speech is intelligible to parents and caregivers. At this age, children's language skills are rapidly developing, and they are starting to produce more words and simple sentences. However, their pronunciation and clarity may still be inconsistent, which can make a significant portion of their speech difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the child’s speech patterns or vocabulary.

As children approach three years of age, their speech typically becomes clearer and more coherent, leading to a higher percentage of intelligible speech. Thus, the understanding of approximately 50% at age two aligns well with developmental milestones for speech and language skills at this stage.