BIP39 Word List: All 2048 Words

The BIP39 list, or Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39, is a standardized set of words used for generating mnemonic phrases, which are human-readable representations of cryptographic keys. These phrases are used to back up and restore cryptocurrency wallets securely. The BIP39 standard ensures interoperability across different wallets and platforms by providing a consistent word list and method for deriving seeds from the mnemonic phrases. The words are carefully chosen to minimize ambiguity and errors during manual entry, making it easier for users to manage their private keys without needing to handle complex hexadecimal strings.

BIP39 is generally considered safe when used correctly, as it provides a robust method for generating and recovering cryptocurrency wallets through mnemonic phrases. However, its safety depends on proper implementation and user practices, such as securely storing the mnemonic phrase offline and keeping it private. If the mnemonic is exposed, lost, or mishandled, the associated funds can be compromised or irrecoverable.

Because 2048 = 2^11, so each word stands for exactly 11 bits. A 12-word phrase holds 132 bits: 128 bits of randomness plus a 4-bit checksum. A 24-word phrase holds 264 bits: 256 bits of randomness plus an 8-bit checksum.

Both are in use. The official english.txt file has no numbers: wallets use each word's position as an 11-bit value from 0 (abandon) to 2047 (zoo). Lists made for people, including this page by default, count from 1, so abandon is word 1 and zoo is word 2048. The numbering switch above the list shows either form, plus binary and hex.

Yes. No two words in the English list share their first four letters, so the first four letters, or the whole word for the 103 three-letter words such as act or zoo, identify each word. Metal backups that stamp only four letters per word rely on this rule.

No. BIP39 has 10 official lists: English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, Italian, Czech and Portuguese. There is no Russian or German list, so Russian and German speakers use the English words; our Russian page gives the transcription and translation of each one, and the nine other official lists have their own pages.

Support varies. The standard defines 10 lists, but most wallets create and restore only English phrases, and a phrase restores the same wallet only in software that supports its language. If you hold a phrase in another language, check that your wallet lists that language before relying on it.