Receptive vocabulary is understood as the words a person knows when they:

Receptive vocabulary refers to the words that an individual understands and can recognize when they encounter them, particularly in auditory contexts. This means that when a person hears words in conversation, stories, or other spoken language, they are able to comprehend their meanings and relate them to their existing knowledge.

Hearing words in oral speech is a crucial aspect of developing and utilizing receptive vocabulary, as it allows individuals to process and interpret language in real-time communication. This understanding is essential for effective listening and for the development of overall language skills, as it forms the foundation for later expressive vocabulary, where individuals use words in their own speech.