TOEFL Vocabulary: Messages and conversation 40 easy-tier words, each with a short plain-English definition, followed by a quick quiz to check what stuck.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 1, 2026
Words about communication itself: notices, reminders, feedback and the verbs clarify, mention, inform and respond. They help you identify what kind of text or talk you are dealing with, and what a speaker is trying to do with it.
Most useful for: Read in Daily Life · Listen and Choose a Response · Listen to an Announcement · Write an Email .
Messages and conversation is one of the easy themes in our
TOEFL vocabulary list , where you can also find how the tiers work.
The 40 words Messages and conversation — Easy tier # Word Meaning Tier 1 message information sent from one person to another Easy 2 email a message sent electronically Easy 3 letter a written message sent to someone Easy 4 notice a public or formal announcement Easy 5 announcement a statement making news known Easy 6 reminder a message that helps someone remember Easy 7 instruction a direction telling someone what to do Easy 8 guide information that helps someone complete a task Easy 9 conversation an exchange of spoken ideas Easy 10 interview a meeting in which questions are asked Easy 11 meeting a gathering to discuss or decide something Easy 12 presentation a talk given to an audience Easy 13 report an account of facts or findings Easy 14 speech words spoken to an audience Easy 15 call a conversation by telephone or video Easy 16 questionnaire a set of questions used to collect information Easy 17 comment a spoken or written opinion Easy 18 feedback comments intended to improve work Easy 19 opinion a personal judgment about something Easy 20 fact information that can be checked Easy 21 reason an explanation for an action or belief Easy 22 purpose the aim of an action Easy 23 meaning the idea expressed by a word or action Easy 24 clarify to make something easier to understand Easy 25 repeat to say or do something again Easy 26 mention to refer to something briefly Easy 27 state to express something clearly Easy 28 tell to give information in words Easy 29 say to express something aloud Easy 30 speak to communicate with spoken words Easy 31 listen to pay attention to sounds Easy 32 hear to notice a sound Easy 33 read to understand written words Easy 34 write to put words into visible form Easy 35 spell to name or write the letters of a word Easy 36 translate to express meaning in another language Easy 37 communicate to exchange information or ideas Easy 38 inform to give someone information Easy 39 respond to answer or react to something Easy 40 announce to make information known publicly Easy
Self-check: match the meaning Cover the table above. Here are 8 of the 40 messages and conversation words, starting with message : choose the word each definition describes.
information sent from one person to another message speech tell spell Show answer A. message
a message that helps someone remember opinion reminder read announce Show answer B. reminder
a gathering to discuss or decide something clarify inform meeting announcement Show answer C. meeting
a set of questions used to collect information say letter interview questionnaire Show answer D. questionnaire
an explanation for an action or belief reason write guide call Show answer A. reason
to refer to something briefly respond mention report fact Show answer B. mention
to pay attention to sounds notice feedback listen repeat Show answer C. listen
to express meaning in another language conversation meaning speak translate Show answer D. translate
Using messages and conversation words on the test In Read in Daily Life, words like notice and meeting tell you what a notice or email wants you to do, so read them as clues to the writer's purpose. In Listen to an Announcement, feedback and repeat tend to mark the key change or instruction, so note them when you hear them. In Listen and Choose a Response you hear each line once, so say hear and respond aloud until you recognize them at speaking speed. In Write an Email, use reminder or report only where it states your request or point exactly. Other easy themes
Previous ← People and teamwork Next Problems and solutions → Frequently Asked Questions How many words are in the messages and conversation list? + 40, from message to announce, all in the easy tier of our TOEFL list. The self-check quiz on this page tests 8 of them, beginning with message.
Where do messages and conversation words appear on the TOEFL? + Language like this is most useful in Read in Daily Life, Listen to an Announcement, Listen and Choose a Response and Write an Email. These are everyday words worth being able to use, not just recognize.
Which messages and conversation words should I learn first? + Start with reminder (a message that helps someone remember); questionnaire (a set of questions used to collect information); mention (to refer to something briefly). In Read in Daily Life, words like notice and meeting tell you what a notice or email wants you to do, so read them as clues to the writer's purpose.