What are active and passive vocabularies?
Active vocabulary is made up of terms already in use and understood by an individual in speech and writing. These are used on a regular basis and are fundamental to a person's address. A person can use them with no noticeable effort. The active vocabulary words in an adult is estimated as
20,000 words.
Passive vocabulary refers to terms that learners understand but are not able to use. They are words stored in the verbal memory and are partially understood, but not well enough for active use. Passive vocabulary is usually more than the active one and is estimated to be
40,000 words for an adult.
It is also proven that the first 25 words are used in 33% of everyday writing, first 100 words in 50% of adult and student writing and the first 1,000 words in 89% of daily writing and speaking.
Source : Ask Me How Mardon's Blog | IELTS
