Few things cause as much quiet anxiety as a child who isn't talking when others their age seem to be chatting away. The range of normal is wider than most parents realise, but there are clear milestones that professionals use.
Rough timeline
12-18 months: first recognisable words, used inconsistently. 18-24 months: vocabulary grows to around 50 words, two-word combinations appear. 2-3 years: sentences of three to four words, a familiar adult should understand most of what they say. By 3: simple sentences, asking questions, following two-part instructions.
Understanding matters more than speaking
A toddler who follows instructions, points, and communicates through gesture is showing strong receptive language even if spoken words are limited. Understanding usually develops ahead of talking.
What genuinely helps
Talk throughout the day - narrate what you're doing. Repeat their attempts correctly without correcting them. Read together daily. Limit dummy use to sleep time after twelve months. Nursery rhymes with actions help tune into language patterns. Bilingual families: speak whichever language feels natural - the skills transfer across.