# First Phrases > Interactive app for learning English phrases through animation and voice recording. (iPhone/iPad app by Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id474146399 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/460288922) - Category: Education, Games - Price: $15.99 with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.67/5 from 15 App Store ratings · 15 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 601 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2011-12-02 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id474146399/reviews.md ## What is First Phrases? From SmartAppsforKids.com: "In my opinion, the full version is a must-have for parents of children working on increasing expressive vocabulary, as well as the therapists and teachers who support their learning. First Phrases is creative, utilizes the iPad’s features in effective ways, and is engaging for young children. Highly recommended." This interactive, beautifully illustrated and animated app for the iPHONE is perfect for the toddler or speech-delayed child who is learning how to put two or three words together or any child who is learning basic English phrases. It provides many opportunities to both hear (receptive), see, and say/record (expressive) 72 different verb + noun combinations, such as: eat the carrot, blow the bubble, ride the bike, throw the ball, sleep on the bed, put away the toys, and more. Check out our YouTube video for a demonstration of this app (iPad version) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXw4WPlrmwg With different characters performing them, there are 456 possible animations so your child will never be bored! PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A HUGE APP DUE TO THE MANY ANIMATIONS, PICTURES AND VOICE RECORDINGS CONTAINED IN IT. IT SHOULD BE DOWNLOADED THROUGH A DIRECT OR WI-FI CONNECTION. DOWNLOADING IT VIA A PHONE CONNECTION MAY RESULT IN AN INCOMPLETE INSTALLATION, WHICH MEANS IT WILL NOT WORK RIGHT. There are 17 simple verbs such as drink, eat, wash, and 12 verb + preposition forms such as jump on, take off or turn on. Each verb form is paired with various nouns to make a logical phrase. It is also a great way to teach the article “the” in a meaningful phrase context. In addition, it includes user settings for up to 15 children, making it an excellent choice for professional use by a speech-language pathologist or special needs classroom at a fraction of the cost of traditional educational software, with no additional “professional” version fees. How you play: Tell the cute animals what to do! By touching the illustrated parts of the phrases in order (verb+ object forms: “eat the carrot”) the child hears the pre-recorded spoken phrase modeled. The user has the option to repeat this action once, twice or three times in the settings for maximum auditory input. The child then watches the animal of their choice (bear, mouse or cat) perform the command to help associate the words with their meaning. Now it’s the child’s turn to say it and tell the animal what to do! Touch the microphone and record, listen again, and watch the animal follow your direction. Use the optional visual support to help your child remember what to say! This format is especially powerful for children with speech delays and autism spectrum disorders who need strong visual support with as little background clutter as possible, and for use in speech therapy sessions. The format also is a terrific way to support early literacy for left to right orientation, reading (with text on feature) and word boundaries. Options include text on/text off, recording feature on/off, girl or boy voice models, presentation of the phrase in 3 segments (verb + the + object) or 2 segments (verb + the object). PRIVACY POLICY: We do NOT collect personal data from our users and have no ads! Personal data regarding user performance on the tasks on this app are self-contained and not transmitted in any way. This app does include an in-app purchase. Developed by noted speech-language pathologist and author of Childhood Speech, Language & Listening Problems: What Every Parent Should Know, Patti Hamaguchi, M.A., CCC-SLP. To find out more about this app and our other upcoming projects, visit our website: www.hamaguchiapps.com ## Key features - Interactive animations - Voice recording and playback - 72 verb + noun combinations - User settings for up to 15 children - Visual support options - Text on/off feature ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: $15.99. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | In-app purchase | $3.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 15) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id474146399/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great app! *2012-11-14, version 1.2* My daughter loves this app a little better than the lite version. She plays it for hours. She likes when she tells the animals to do something and they do it. It is like she is their mom she says. Not many games keep her interest for more than 20 min. This one does. ### 5/5 — Awesome! *2012-11-06, version 1.2* The kids love being able to pick their animals and after telling it what to do then watch it happen! Being able to customize the settings for up to 15 users is invaluable! Thank you Hamaguchi!! ### 5/5 — First Phrases (IPhone) *2012-11-01, version 1.2* By: Papadiz I really like the upgrade from the lite version, with additional characters to keep the child's interest. Lots of functionality in this app. Good for therapists and care providers, as well as the child. ### 5/5 — Fun learning how to follow directions *2012-10-17, version 1.2* This is a great app and very good for children on ASD that need both verbal and visual support in following a direction. This app has such a large bank of nouns and verbs that kids don't get bored. As always Hamaguchi offers great options in the settings as far as customizing to your own children's needs. Thank you Hamaguchi!! ### 5/5 — Excellent app!! *2012-10-15, version 1.2* Love this app and all the features! This full version offers so many possibilities! I love that I can choose all the verbs, or only specific ones. I really like this app and it's versatility. I would like to see some kind of record for each user entered, but really, I could keep track of that on my own. My children like the app because of the characters and positive reinforcements offered when complete. Great voices available, even without the upgrade. ### 5/5 — Love this app *2012-10-14, version 1.2* This app is great for increasing length of utterance in kids. The animations are cute and motivating. The animations put actions with the words and increases vocabulary and receptive language. Great product!! ### 4/5 — First phrase fun *2012-10-14, version 1.2* Great app for increasing phrase usage. Kids will enjoy the interactive reinforcement. ### 5/5 — Fun with Phrases *2012-10-14, version 1.2* Great app for teaching young or speech delayed children to put phrases together. The cute characters and lively animations are sure to keep children engaged. I love that the app can be used with several users and that it can be customized to fit individual needs. ### 4/5 — Lots of fun and easy to use *2012-10-14, version 1.2* Put the words together to make sentences. Work fast and easy to use. The animations are helpful and not obtrusive. This app would be useful at home and school. Toby Price @jedipadmaster on twitter ### 5/5 — Wonderful! *2012-10-12, version 1.2* Wonderful little app for those who need help or are learning to put words together to form phrases or sentences. This app is fun and engaging. The visual cues are just enough without being too overbearing and help when they go to record their phrases. ## Frequently asked questions about First Phrases ### What is First Phrases? First Phrases is an interactive educational app designed to help young children and those with speech delays learn basic English phrases. It utilizes animations and voice recording to teach verb + noun combinations. ### What age is First Phrases recommended for? First Phrases is recommended for children aged 4 and up. It is particularly beneficial for toddlers and children working on expressive vocabulary or speech development. ### How does First Phrases help with speech development? The app provides opportunities to hear, see, and say/record phrases, reinforcing word association and pronunciation. It offers visual support and repetition to aid children with speech delays and autism spectrum disorders. ### Can multiple children use First Phrases? Yes, First Phrases supports user settings for up to 15 children. This makes it suitable for families with multiple children or for professional use by therapists and educators. ### What is the cost of First Phrases? First Phrases is a paid app, priced at $15.99. This one-time purchase provides full access to all features without additional professional version fees. ### Does First Phrases have ads? No, First Phrases does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted learning experience for children. ### What devices is First Phrases compatible with? First Phrases is designed for iPhone and iPod devices. It is a large app due to its extensive animations and recordings, so a direct or Wi-Fi connection is recommended for download. ### How often is First Phrases updated? The latest version of First Phrases is 1.5, last updated on January 24, 2018. While updates may not be frequent, the app's core functionality remains robust for its intended educational purpose. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.5 — 2018-01-24 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. iOS 11 optimization ### 1.4 — 2013-10-25 iOS7 compatibility ### 1.3 — 2013-08-05 - More animations - Able to play completed verbs again - Minor enhancements ### 1.2 — 2012-05-07 We've added optional visual support to the recording page, created a more user-friendly Settings page, taken out the ability to pause an animation by touching the animation and improved the recording responsiveness. ### 1.1 — 2012-03-27 1. Fixed the can't launch issue in iOS 5.1 2. 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User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*