🔌 Appliances

⏱ 13 min read

In this section you'll learn useful English vocabulary for common home appliances, electronics, and household devices, along with everyday expressions for using them and talking about problems or repairs. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Home Appliances

🧺 Washing machine
a machine that washes clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lavadora
🇫🇷 French: Machine à laver
🇩🇪 German: Waschmaschine
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavatrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Máquina de lavar
👕 Clothes dryer
a machine that dries wet clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Secadora
🇫🇷 French: Sèche-linge
🇩🇪 German: Wäschetrockner
🇮🇹 Italian: Asciugatrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Secadora
🧊 Refrigerator
a cold box that keeps food fresh
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Refrigerador
🇫🇷 French: Réfrigérateur
🇩🇪 German: Kühlschrank
🇮🇹 Italian: Frigorifero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Geladeira
🔥 Stove
the appliance with burners for cooking
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estufa
🇫🇷 French: Cuisinière
🇩🇪 German: Herd
🇮🇹 Italian: Fornello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fogão
♨️ Oven
a hot box for baking food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Horno
🇫🇷 French: Four
🇩🇪 German: Ofen
🇮🇹 Italian: Forno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Forno
🍽️ Dishwasher
a machine that washes dishes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lavavajillas
🇫🇷 French: Lave-vaisselle
🇩🇪 German: Geschirrspüler
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavastoviglie
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lava-louças
📺 Television
a screen for watching programs
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Televisión
🇫🇷 French: Télévision
🇩🇪 German: Fernseher
🇮🇹 Italian: Televisione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Televisão
💻 Computer
a machine for work, study, or the internet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Computadora
🇫🇷 French: Ordinateur
🇩🇪 German: Computer
🇮🇹 Italian: Computer
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Computador

🟡 Small Kitchen Appliances

☕ Coffee maker
a machine that makes coffee
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cafetera
🇫🇷 French: Cafetière
🇩🇪 German: Kaffeemaschine
🇮🇹 Italian: Macchina del caffè
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cafeteira
🍞 Toaster
a machine that toasts bread
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tostadora
🇫🇷 French: Grille-pain
🇩🇪 German: Toaster
🇮🇹 Italian: Tostapane
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Torradeira
🥤 Blender
a machine that mixes drinks or food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Licuadora
🇫🇷 French: Mixeur
🇩🇪 German: Mixer
🇮🇹 Italian: Frullatore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Liquidificador
🍲 Microwave
a small oven that heats food quickly
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Microondas
🇫🇷 French: Micro-ondes
🇩🇪 German: Mikrowelle
🇮🇹 Italian: Microonde
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Micro-ondas
🧊 Freezer
a very cold box for frozen food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Congelador
🇫🇷 French: Congélateur
🇩🇪 German: Gefrierschrank
🇮🇹 Italian: Congelatore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Freezer
🥪 Sandwich maker
a machine that toasts sandwiches
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Sandwichera
🇫🇷 French: Appareil à sandwichs
🇩🇪 German: Sandwichmaker
🇮🇹 Italian: Tostiera
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sanduicheira

🧹 Cleaning & Laundry Appliances

🧹 Vacuum cleaner
a machine that sucks up dirt from floors
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Aspiradora
🇫🇷 French: Aspirateur
🇩🇪 German: Staubsauger
🇮🇹 Italian: Aspirapolvere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aspirador de pó
👕 Iron
a hot tool that makes clothes smooth
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Plancha
🇫🇷 French: Fer à repasser
🇩🇪 German: Bügeleisen
🇮🇹 Italian: Ferro da stiro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ferro de passar
🧺 Washing machine
a machine that washes clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lavadora
🇫🇷 French: Machine à laver
🇩🇪 German: Waschmaschine
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavatrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Máquina de lavar
👚 Clothes dryer
a machine that dries wet clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Secadora
🇫🇷 French: Sèche-linge
🇩🇪 German: Wäschetrockner
🇮🇹 Italian: Asciugatrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Secadora

🌡️ Climate & Comfort Appliances

❄️ Air conditioner
a machine that cools a room
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Aire acondicionado
🇫🇷 French: Climatisation
🇩🇪 German: Klimaanlage
🇮🇹 Italian: Aria condizionata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ar-condicionado
🌀 Fan
a machine that moves air
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ventilador
🇫🇷 French: Ventilateur
🇩🇪 German: Ventilator
🇮🇹 Italian: Ventilatore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ventilador
🔥 Heater
a machine that warms a room
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Calefactor
🇫🇷 French: Radiateur / Chauffage
🇩🇪 German: Heizgerät
🇮🇹 Italian: Stufa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aquecedor
💧 Water heater
a machine that heats water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Calentador de agua
🇫🇷 French: Chauffe-eau
🇩🇪 German: Warmwasserbereiter
🇮🇹 Italian: Scaldabagno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aquecedor de água

📺 Home Electronics

📺 Television
a screen for watching programs
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Televisión
🇫🇷 French: Télévision
🇩🇪 German: Fernseher
🇮🇹 Italian: Televisione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Televisão
💻 Computer
a machine for work, study, or the internet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Computadora
🇫🇷 French: Ordinateur
🇩🇪 German: Computer
🇮🇹 Italian: Computer
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Computador
🖨️ Printer
a machine that prints paper
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Impresora
🇫🇷 French: Imprimante
🇩🇪 German: Drucker
🇮🇹 Italian: Stampante
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Impressora
📡 Router
a device that gives Wi-Fi
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Router / Enrutador
🇫🇷 French: Routeur
🇩🇪 German: Router
🇮🇹 Italian: Router
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roteador
🔊 Speaker
a device that plays sound
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Altavoz
🇫🇷 French: Haut-parleur
🇩🇪 German: Lautsprecher
🇮🇹 Italian: Altoparlante
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Alto-falante
🎮 Video game console
a machine for playing video games
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Consola de videojuegos
🇫🇷 French: Console de jeux vidéo
🇩🇪 German: Spielkonsole
🇮🇹 Italian: Console per videogiochi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Console de videogame

⚡ Useful Appliance Actions

🟢 Turn on
to start a machine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Encender
🇫🇷 French: Allumer
🇩🇪 German: Einschalten
🇮🇹 Italian: Accendere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ligar
🔴 Turn off
to stop a machine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Apagar
🇫🇷 French: Éteindre
🇩🇪 German: Ausschalten
🇮🇹 Italian: Spegnere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desligar
🔌 Plug in
to connect a machine to electricity
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Enchufar
🇫🇷 French: Brancher
🇩🇪 German: Einstecken
🇮🇹 Italian: Collegare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Conectar
🔌 Unplug
to take a machine off electricity
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Desenchufar
🇫🇷 French: Débrancher
🇩🇪 German: Ausstecken
🇮🇹 Italian: Scollegare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desconectar
🛠️ Repair
to fix something that is broken
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Reparar
🇫🇷 French: Réparer
🇩🇪 German: Reparieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Riparare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Reparar
⚙️ Work / Function
to operate correctly
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Funcionar
🇫🇷 French: Fonctionner
🇩🇪 German: Funktionieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Funzionare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Funcionar

💡 Helpful English Tip

English appliance names do not have grammatical gender. Instead, learners should focus on using common verb combinations such as turn on, turn off, plug in, and unplug.
The washing machine is new.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La lavadora es nueva.
🇫🇷 La machine à laver est neuve.
🇩🇪 Die Waschmaschine ist neu.
🇮🇹 La lavatrice è nuova.
🇵🇹 A máquina de lavar é nova.
The oven is new.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 El horno es nuevo.
🇫🇷 Le four est neuf.
🇩🇪 Der Ofen ist neu.
🇮🇹 Il forno è nuovo.
🇵🇹 O forno é novo.

🌎 English Variations

🇺🇸 Refrigerator → Fridge
fridge is the short everyday word "Fridge" is the most common everyday word.
🇺🇸 Trash can → 🇬🇧 Bin
US: trash can; UK: bin American English usually says "trash can," while British English commonly says "bin."
🇬🇧 Cooker → 🇺🇸 Stove
UK cooker = US stove British English often uses "cooker" where American English uses "stove."

💬 Everyday Appliance Phrases

🧺 The washing machine isn't working.
the washing machine is broken or stopped
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La lavadora no funciona.
🇫🇷 French: La machine à laver ne fonctionne pas.
🇩🇪 German: Die Waschmaschine funktioniert nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: La lavatrice non funziona.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A máquina de lavar não está funcionando.
❄️ Can you turn on the air conditioner?
please start the air conditioner
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Puedes encender el aire acondicionado?
🇫🇷 French: Peux-tu allumer la climatisation ?
🇩🇪 German: Kannst du die Klimaanlage einschalten?
🇮🇹 Italian: Puoi accendere l'aria condizionata?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você pode ligar o ar-condicionado?
🔌 Don't forget to unplug the iron.
take the iron off the electricity
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: No olvides desenchufar la plancha.
🇫🇷 French: N'oublie pas de débrancher le fer à repasser.
🇩🇪 German: Vergiss nicht, das Bügeleisen auszustecken.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non dimenticare di scollegare il ferro da stiro.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não se esqueça de desligar o ferro da tomada.
📺 Turn off the television before leaving.
stop the TV before you go out
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Apaga la televisión antes de salir.
🇫🇷 French: Éteins la télévision avant de partir.
🇩🇪 German: Schalte den Fernseher aus, bevor du gehst.
🇮🇹 Italian: Spegni la televisione prima di uscire.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desligue a televisão antes de sair.

🛠️ Problems & Repairs

⚠️ It's broken.
it does not work anymore
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Está roto / rota.
🇫🇷 French: C'est cassé.
🇩🇪 German: Es ist kaputt.
🇮🇹 Italian: È rotto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Está quebrado.
🔌 It won't turn on.
it will not start
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: No enciende.
🇫🇷 French: Il ne s'allume pas.
🇩🇪 German: Es lässt sich nicht einschalten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non si accende.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não liga.
⚙️ It isn't working properly.
it works, but not well
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: No funciona correctamente.
🇫🇷 French: Il ne fonctionne pas correctement.
🇩🇪 German: Es funktioniert nicht richtig.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non funziona correttamente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não está funcionando corretamente.
🛠️ I need to call a technician.
I need a repair person
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito llamar a un técnico.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai besoin d'appeler un technicien.
🇩🇪 German: Ich muss einen Techniker anrufen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Devo chiamare un tecnico.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso chamar um técnico.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Problem with an appliance
talking about a broken washing machine
A: What's wrong with the washing machine?
B: It won't turn on. I think it's broken.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué le pasa a la lavadora?
🇪🇸 B: No enciende. Creo que está rota.

🇫🇷 A: Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas avec la machine à laver ?
🇫🇷 B: Elle ne s'allume pas. Je pense qu'elle est cassée.

🇩🇪 A: Was ist mit der Waschmaschine los?
🇩🇪 B: Sie lässt sich nicht einschalten. Ich glaube, sie ist kaputt.

🇮🇹 A: Che cosa c'è che non va con la lavatrice?
🇮🇹 B: Non si accende. Penso che sia rotta.

🇵🇹 A: O que aconteceu com a máquina de lavar?
🇵🇹 B: Ela não liga. Acho que está quebrada.
At home
asking someone to stop the fan
A: Can you turn off the fan?
B: Sure, right now.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Puedes apagar el ventilador?
🇪🇸 B: Claro, ahora mismo.

🇫🇷 A: Peux-tu éteindre le ventilateur ?
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr, tout de suite.

🇩🇪 A: Kannst du den Ventilator ausschalten?
🇩🇪 B: Klar, sofort.

🇮🇹 A: Puoi spegnere il ventilatore?
🇮🇹 B: Certo, subito.

🇵🇹 A: Você pode desligar o ventilador?
🇵🇹 B: Claro, agora mesmo.

📝 Example Sentences

🧹 I use the vacuum cleaner to clean the living room.
I vacuum the living room
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Uso la aspiradora para limpiar la sala.
🇫🇷 French: J'utilise l'aspirateur pour nettoyer le salon.
🇩🇪 German: Ich benutze den Staubsauger, um das Wohnzimmer zu reinigen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Uso l'aspirapolvere per pulire il soggiorno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Uso o aspirador para limpar a sala.
🧺 The clothes dryer is still running.
the dryer is still on
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La secadora todavía está funcionando.
🇫🇷 French: Le sèche-linge fonctionne encore.
🇩🇪 German: Der Wäschetrockner läuft noch.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'asciugatrice è ancora in funzione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A secadora ainda está funcionando.
🌀 We turned on the fan because it was very hot.
we started the fan in the heat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Encendimos el ventilador porque hacía mucho calor.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons allumé le ventilateur parce qu'il faisait très chaud.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben den Ventilator eingeschaltet, weil es sehr heiß war.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo acceso il ventilatore perché faceva molto caldo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ligamos o ventilador porque estava muito quente.
🖨️ The printer needs more paper.
the printer is out of paper
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La impresora necesita más papel.
🇫🇷 French: L'imprimante a besoin de plus de papier.
🇩🇪 German: Der Drucker braucht mehr Papier.
🇮🇹 Italian: La stampante ha bisogno di altra carta.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A impressora precisa de mais papel.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the word or phrase that fits best. Do not pick a close machine if a more precise one is on the page.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%