Tech and Gadgets

March 3, 2025

Power On and Learn: Essential Vocabulary for Devices, Apps, and Everyday Tech Use

From classrooms to offices to everyday life, technology is everywhere—and so is the language that comes with it. Tech and gadgets vocabulary gives ESL students the essential tools to talk about devices, software, and digital tasks with clarity and confidence.

For many learners, understanding words like device, laptop, desktop, and monitor makes it easier to use and talk about the tools they interact with daily. Whether they’re filling out online forms, attending virtual classes, or working on a computer at their job, this vocabulary bridges the gap between what they use and what they can describe in English.

This pack also introduces essential input and output terms like keyboard, mouse, touchpad, print machine, and scanner. These are the kinds of words that often appear in tech support situations or digital learning instructions—making them extremely practical for both academic and professional settings.

Going deeper, the set helps students talk about what’s inside the machine. Words like software, hardware, operating system, program, and application let learners describe not just what they use, but how it works. This opens up conversations around digital literacy, troubleshooting, and even tech preferences—valuable for learners preparing for office or IT-related roles.

It doesn’t stop there: document, spreadsheet, database, file, slide show, and directory give learners the language to work in business environments, manage tasks, and present ideas. These terms are key for students entering higher education or professional training programs, where digital communication and organization are vital.

This is one of the most future-focused sets you can teach. It helps students become not just English users, but confident digital citizens.

If you have not added the ‘Tech and Gadgets’ pack, now is the time to plug it in. This pack supports academic achievement, workplace readiness, and everyday confidence in a digital world. Add it to your curriculum and help your students power up their English, one click at a time.

More Vocab Packs

Cities and Infrastructure

Built for Learning: Tools to Help Students Navigate the Urban World with Clarity and Confidence

Money and Finance

From Deposits to Dollars: Essential Language for Building Real-World Confidence in Money Matters

Time and Seasons

From Dawn to Dusk: Language That Helps Students Stay in Step with the World

Feelings and Emotions

Teach your students how to express emotions clearly, respond to others, and build emotional fluency in English

Culture and Traditions

An essential vocabulary set for teaching customs, celebrations, and how people connect across cultures

Shopping and Services

Smart Spending, Everyday English: Vocabulary for Stores, Sales, and Real-World Transactions

Log in to save this Vocab Pack

Pack	Vocab	Type	Definition	Usage
51	Device	Noun	An electronic device that processes data according to a set of instructions.	She uses her device to write documents and browse the internet. Devices are essential tools for work, education, and entertainment.
51	Laptop	Noun	A portable computer that can be used on your lap or a flat surface.	He carries his laptop to meetings for note-taking. Laptops are convenient for people who need computing power on the go.
51	Desktop	Noun	A computer that is designed to stay in one place, typically on a desk.	His desktop is powerful for video editing. Desktops are ideal for demanding tasks.
51	Monitor	Noun	A screen used to display information from a computer.	She connected a second monitor to her computer for a dual-screen setup. Monitors come in various sizes and resolutions, depending on the user’s needs.
51	Keyboard	Noun	A panel of keys that operate a computer or typewriter.	He typed the report using his computer keyboard. Keyboards can be mechanical or membrane, with different layouts for various languages.
51	Mouse	Noun	A handheld device used to control the cursor on a computer screen.	She used the mouse to scroll documents. A mouse helps navigate computer screens.
51	Touchpad	Noun	A flat control surface used to move the cursor on a laptop screen by sensing finger movements.	The touchpad on his laptop is very sensitive and easy to use. Touchpads often include multi-touch gestures for more advanced navigation.
51	Print machine	Noun	A device that transfers text and images from a computer onto paper.	She printed her resume using the office print machine. Print machines can be inkjet or laser, with options for color or monochrome printing.
51	Scanner	Noun	A device that converts images and text into digital data.	The scanner was used to digitize old photographs. Scanners are essential for converting paper documents into electronic files.
51	Software	Noun	The programs and other operating information used by a computer.	She installed new software on her computer to edit videos. Software can range from operating systems to specialized applications.
51	Hardware	Noun	The physical components of a computer system.	Upgrading the hardware can significantly improve computer performance. Hardware includes components like the CPU, memory, and storage devices.
51	Operating System	Noun	Software that manages a computer's basic functions.	Windows is one of the most popular operating systems for personal computers. The operating system manages both software and hardware resources.
51	Application	Noun	A software program that allows users to perform specific tasks on a computer or mobile device.	She downloaded a new application to manage her finances. Applications can be found on computers, smartphones, and tablets.
51	Program	Noun	A set of instructions that a computer executes to achieve a specific task.	He wrote a program to automate his daily tasks. Programs are written in various programming languages.
51	File	Noun	A collection of data or information that is stored on a computer.	She saved the file to her desktop for easy access. Files can contain text, images, videos, and other types of data.
51	Directory	Noun	A virtual location where files are stored on a computer.	She created a new directory to organize his project files. Directories help users keep their files organized and easy to find.
51	Document	Noun	A text file created and edited using a word processor.	She opened the document to review her essay. Documents can be text files, PDFs, or other formats that contain written content.
51	Spreadsheet	Noun	A digital document in which data is arranged in rows and columns, often used for calculations.	He entered the financial data into the spreadsheet for analysis. Spreadsheets are commonly used for accounting, data management, and calculations.
51	Slide show	Noun	A digital presentation of a series of images or information, often created with software like PowerPoint.	She prepared a slide show for the upcoming meeting. Slide shows are used in business, education, and many other fields to convey information visually.
51	Database	Noun	A structured set of data held in a computer, especially one that is accessible in various ways.	The customer information is stored in a secure database. Databases are used to organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of information.

Tech and Gadgets

Power On and Learn: Essential Vocabulary for Devices, Apps, and Everyday Tech Use