At what age do children commonly start combining words into short sentences?

Children commonly start combining words into short sentences around the age of 2 years. By this age, most children have developed a vocabulary that enables them to string together two or more words to express simple ideas or actions, such as “want cookie” or “go play.” This stage marks a significant development in language skills and reflects their growing ability to communicate needs and thoughts.

At around 12 months, children are typically beginning to say single words and often engage in vocal play, but they have not yet combined words into sentences. By 18 months, many may have a vocabulary of 10 to 25 words, but they generally have not yet started forming two-word phrases consistently. By the age of 3 years, children expand their language further, using more complex sentences and grammatical structures. Therefore, the age of 2 years is the most accurate point at which children begin to combine words into short sentences.