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- Devices include the laptop, smartphone, tablet and router.
- Common tech verbs: download, upload, install, update, log in.
- Internet vocabulary: browser, website, Wi-Fi, password.
- Social media verbs include post, share, like and follow.
- Many tech terms are used as both nouns and verbs (e.g. email, text).
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Technology and the internet are part of daily life, so learners need vocabulary for devices, software, the internet and social media, along with the common verbs that describe what we do with them, such as download, update and log in. This guide groups the most useful tech vocabulary by theme and shows you how to use it naturally.
Devices and Hardware
Start with the everyday devices and their parts.
Devices
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| laptop | a portable computer |
| smartphone | a phone with internet and apps |
| tablet | a flat touchscreen device |
| router | device that provides internet access |
| charger | device for charging a battery |
Internet Vocabulary
Key words for going online include browser (the program you use to view websites), website, Wi-Fi (wireless internet), password and link.
I couldn't connect to the Wi-Fi.
Click the link to open the website.
Common Tech Verbs
These verbs describe everyday actions with technology.
download a file, upload a photo
install / update an app
log in / log out, sign up
Software and Apps
An app (application) is a program, especially on a phone. A software update improves or fixes a program. The cloud means storing data on the internet rather than only on your device. Back up your files means to save a copy in case of loss.
Social Media
Social media has its own active vocabulary.
Social Media Verbs
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| post | publish content online |
| share | pass content to others |
| like | show approval |
| follow | subscribe to someone's updates |
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing download and upload, which go in opposite directions. Another is treating software as countable; it is uncountable, so we say some software, not a software (use a program or an app instead). Learners also mix up log in (verb) and login (noun). Learning these terms in context, especially the verbs, keeps your usage accurate.
Talking About a Tech Problem
Much everyday technology vocabulary comes up when something goes wrong and we try to fix it. The exchange below shows the common verbs and nouns in a realistic situation.
A: I can't connect to the Wi-Fi, and the app keeps crashing.
B: Have you tried to restart the router and update the app?
A: I'll download the latest version and back up my files first, just in case.
Notice how the verbs — connect, restart, update, download, back up — do most of the work, while the nouns name the devices and programs involved. Because these problems are so common, the same vocabulary appears again and again, which makes it well worth learning thoroughly. Practise by describing, in English, the last time you fixed a device or installed an app; this turns abstract word lists into language you can actually use when technology misbehaves.
Technology vocabulary also moves quickly, so it pays to keep learning new terms as they appear. Words like streaming, the cloud, smart home and two-factor authentication were rare a generation ago and are now part of everyday speech. A good habit is to notice unfamiliar tech words when you read instructions or app menus in English, look them up, and add them to your personal list with a short example. Because you already understand the underlying ideas from using technology every day, this vocabulary tends to stick fast — and staying current with it keeps your English useful in exactly the situations where you are most likely to need it.
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