At what age should a child typically understand the word "no"?

A child typically begins to understand the word "no" around the age of 9 months. At this stage of development, infants are gaining cognitive and language skills rapidly. They start to recognize familiar words and phrases, particularly those that are commonly used in their environment, such as "no," "bye-bye," or their name.

When children reach 9 months, they are usually attentive to adult speech and can respond to simple commands or cues. They may not fully comprehend the implications of "no," but they can recognize it as a word associated with disapproval or restriction, helping them start to learn about boundaries and acceptable behaviors. This developmental milestone is essential as it signals the beginning of their ability to process social cues and understand the intentions behind language.

As children grow, their comprehension of language continues to develop, leading to a better understanding of context and meaning associated with commands, which is further solidified by the time they reach 1 year and beyond.