intruder
8×a person who enters a place without permission
Sitcom · American English
The Big Bang Theory: English level and how hard it is to understand
Short sitcom episodes, but with the lowest share of common words of any show we measured, because the characters are scientists and use technical words for fun.
Updated
Short answer
The Big Bang Theory is best for B2 to C1 learners. In 12 episodes we measured, a B1 learner knows about 95.3% of the words, and the characters speak at about 154 words per minute (average).
The Big Bang Theory in numbers
- Recommended level
- B2 to C1
- Speaking speed
- 154 words / min
- Words per episode
- 2,183
- Known at B1
- 95.31%
- Known at B2
- 96.87%
- Different words
- 4,144 in 12 episodes
Difficulty rank: 9 of 11 in our TV shows by English level list (science words in a sitcom).
Beyond the numbers
What makes The Big Bang Theory hard (or easy)?
- Science and geek vocabulary appears in almost every scene.
- Many jokes depend on understanding why a technical word is funny in context.
- Pop culture references: comics, films, games.
The Big Bang Theory is mostly American English. Accent and speed matter as much as vocabulary: if you know the words but can’t catch them, turn on English subtitles and slow down.
Learn these first
Useful words from The Big Bang Theory
B2–C2 words that came up again and again in the episodes we analysed. Counts are for the 12 episodes.
comics
5×picture-story magazines
roommate
5×a person you share a flat with
centrifuge
4×a machine that spins very fast (lab equipment)
oatmeal
4×porridge made from oats
lactose
3×the sugar in milk (“lactose intolerant”)
ungodly
3דan ungodly hour”: very early or late
embarrass
3×make someone feel ashamed or awkward
Spoken forms you will hear constantly
okay ×145yeah ×97hey ×52gonna ×37uh ×33um ×22
gonna = going to · wanna = want to · gotta = got to / have to. Textbooks rarely teach them, but TV uses them all the time.
Vocabulary profile
How common are the words in The Big Bang Theory?
Share of all spoken words in each frequency band (A1 = the 5,000 most common words).
A186.29%
A25.57%
B13.45%
B21.56%
C10.63%
C20.83%
Unlisted1.68%
Watching plan
How to learn English with The Big Bang Theory
- Don’t try to learn every science word. Learn the ones that come back.
- Watch Sheldon’s long speeches twice. They are a good test of listening.
- Laughter tracks tell you where the jokes are, which helps you notice what you missed.
In TeakReader you can import the subtitles of any episode, see the words you don’t know yet, and study them as flashcards before you press play. How it works
How we measured it
We took English subtitles for 12 episodes spread across the first seasons (S1E1, S1E6, S1E11, S1E16, S2E5, S2E10, S2E15, S2E20, S3E3, S3E8, S3E13, S3E18), removed sound descriptions, speaker labels, and character names, and matched each of the 26,192 spoken words to the same frequency list we use for classic book levels. Speaking speed is spoken words divided by the time the subtitles are on screen. Only statistics and single words are shown here.
The recommended level is our estimate from vocabulary, speed, and style, not an official CEFR rating. Later seasons can be easier or harder.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is The Big Bang Theory good for learning English?
The Big Bang Theory has the lowest B1 coverage of the shows we measured (about 95%) because of its scientific vocabulary. It is short and fun, but it is a B2 show, and the science jokes land best at C1. We recommend it from B2 to C1.
How fast do they speak in The Big Bang Theory?
About 154 words per minute of dialogue, which is average for TV. Everyday conversation is often around 150 words per minute.
How many words do I need to understand The Big Bang Theory?
A learner who knows the most common 20,000 English word forms (our B1 band) knows about 95.3% of the words spoken. Research on listening suggests that knowing about 95% of the words is enough to follow most of what is said, so subtitles help until you reach that point.
How did you measure this?
We analysed the English subtitles of 12 episodes from the first seasons (26,192 words), removed sound notes, speaker labels, and character names, and matched every word to the same frequency list we use for book levels. The level is our estimate, not an official CEFR rating.
Can I study the vocabulary of The Big Bang Theory before watching?
Yes. In TeakReader, search for the show, import an episode’s subtitles, and you get a list of its words you don’t know yet, with meanings and flashcards.
Ready to read
Learn the words from The Big Bang Theory before you watch.
Import any episode’s subtitles in TeakReader and get its unknown words with meanings and flashcards. Free on iPhone, iPad, and Android.