🧹 Chores

⏱ 13 min read

In this section you'll learn useful English vocabulary for household chores, cleaning, organizing the home, and talking about everyday responsibilities. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Everyday Household Chores

🧹 To clean
to make something not dirty
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Limpiar
🇫🇷 French: Nettoyer
🇩🇪 German: Putzen / Reinigen
🇮🇹 Italian: Pulire
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limpar
🛏️ To make the bed
to straighten the sheets and blankets
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hacer la cama
🇫🇷 French: Faire le lit
🇩🇪 German: Das Bett machen
🇮🇹 Italian: Fare il letto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fazer a cama
🗑️ To take out the trash
to carry the garbage outside
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Sacar la basura
🇫🇷 French: Sortir les poubelles
🇩🇪 German: Den Müll rausbringen
🇮🇹 Italian: Portare fuori la spazzatura
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tirar o lixo
🍽️ To wash the dishes
to clean plates, cups, and pans
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lavar los platos
🇫🇷 French: Faire la vaisselle
🇩🇪 German: Das Geschirr spülen
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavare i piatti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lavar a louça
🧸 To tidy up
to put things in order
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ordenar
🇫🇷 French: Ranger
🇩🇪 German: Aufräumen
🇮🇹 Italian: Riordinare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Arrumar
🧽 To clean the bathroom
to wash the toilet, sink, and shower
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Limpiar el baño
🇫🇷 French: Nettoyer la salle de bain
🇩🇪 German: Das Badezimmer putzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Pulire il bagno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limpar o banheiro
🍳 To clean the kitchen
to wash the kitchen after cooking
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Limpiar la cocina
🇫🇷 French: Nettoyer la cuisine
🇩🇪 German: Die Küche putzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Pulire la cucina
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limpar a cozinha
🪟 To clean the windows
to wash the glass so you can see through it
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Limpiar las ventanas
🇫🇷 French: Nettoyer les fenêtres
🇩🇪 German: Die Fenster putzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Pulire le finestre
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limpar as janelas

🟡 Cleaning the House

🧹 To sweep
to clean the floor with a broom
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Barrer
🇫🇷 French: Balayer
🇩🇪 German: Fegen
🇮🇹 Italian: Spazzare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Varrer
🪣 To mop
to wash the floor with water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Trapear / Fregar el suelo
🇫🇷 French: Passer la serpillière
🇩🇪 German: Wischen
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavare il pavimento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passar pano
🧹 To vacuum
to clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pasar la aspiradora
🇫🇷 French: Passer l'aspirateur
🇩🇪 German: Staubsaugen
🇮🇹 Italian: Passare l'aspirapolvere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passar o aspirador
🪶 To dust
to wipe dust off furniture
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quitar el polvo
🇫🇷 French: Faire la poussière
🇩🇪 German: Staub wischen
🇮🇹 Italian: Spolverare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tirar o pó
🧽 To scrub
to rub hard to clean something
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fregar
🇫🇷 French: Frotter
🇩🇪 German: Schrubben
🇮🇹 Italian: Strofinare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esfregar
🧴 To disinfect
to kill germs on a surface
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Desinfectar
🇫🇷 French: Désinfecter
🇩🇪 German: Desinfizieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Disinfettare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desinfetar

🏠 Other Household Responsibilities

🍳 To cook
to prepare food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cocinar
🇫🇷 French: Cuisiner
🇩🇪 German: Kochen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cucinare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cozinhar
🍽️ To set the table
to put plates and utensils on the table
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Poner la mesa
🇫🇷 French: Mettre la table
🇩🇪 German: Den Tisch decken
🇮🇹 Italian: Apparecchiare la tavola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pôr a mesa
🛒 To do the grocery shopping
to buy food at the store
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hacer la compra
🇫🇷 French: Faire les courses
🇩🇪 German: Einkaufen gehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Fare la spesa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fazer compras
🐕 To walk the dog
to take the dog outside for a walk
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pasear al perro
🇫🇷 French: Promener le chien
🇩🇪 German: Mit dem Hund spazieren gehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Portare a spasso il cane
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passear com o cachorro
🐾 To feed the pets
to give food to the animals
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Dar de comer a las mascotas
🇫🇷 French: Nourrir les animaux
🇩🇪 German: Die Haustiere füttern
🇮🇹 Italian: Dare da mangiare agli animali domestici
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dar comida aos animais de estimação
🌱 To water the plants
to give water to plants
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Regar las plantas
🇫🇷 French: Arroser les plantes
🇩🇪 German: Die Pflanzen gießen
🇮🇹 Italian: Annaffiare le piante
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Regar as plantas
🌿 To take care of the garden
to look after plants outside
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cuidar el jardín
🇫🇷 French: S'occuper du jardin
🇩🇪 German: Sich um den Garten kümmern
🇮🇹 Italian: Curare il giardino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cuidar do jardim
♻️ To recycle
to sort trash so it can be used again
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Reciclar
🇫🇷 French: Recycler
🇩🇪 German: Recyceln
🇮🇹 Italian: Riciclare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Reciclar

🧴 Cleaning Supplies

🧹 Broom
a tool for sweeping the floor
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Escoba
🇫🇷 French: Balai
🇩🇪 German: Besen
🇮🇹 Italian: Scopa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vassoura
🪣 Bucket
a container for water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cubo / Balde
🇫🇷 French: Seau
🇩🇪 German: Eimer
🇮🇹 Italian: Secchio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Balde
🧽 Sponge
a soft pad for washing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Esponja
🇫🇷 French: Éponge
🇩🇪 German: Schwamm
🇮🇹 Italian: Spugna
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esponja
🧹 Vacuum cleaner
a machine that sucks up dirt
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Aspiradora
🇫🇷 French: Aspirateur
🇩🇪 German: Staubsauger
🇮🇹 Italian: Aspirapolvere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aspirador de pó
🗑️ Trash bag
a bag for garbage
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Bolsa de basura
🇫🇷 French: Sac-poubelle
🇩🇪 German: Müllbeutel
🇮🇹 Italian: Sacco della spazzatura
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Saco de lixo
🧴 Cleaning product
soap or spray used for cleaning
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Producto de limpieza
🇫🇷 French: Produit de nettoyage
🇩🇪 German: Reinigungsmittel
🇮🇹 Italian: Prodotto per la pulizia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Produto de limpeza

🧠 Talking About Responsibilities

Have to + verb expresses an obligation.
have to = it is necessary
I have to clean the house.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo que limpiar la casa.
🇫🇷 Je dois nettoyer la maison.
🇩🇪 Ich muss das Haus putzen.
🇮🇹 Devo pulire la casa.
🇵🇹 Tenho que limpar a casa.
Need to + verb expresses something that is necessary.
The trash needs to be taken out.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Hay que sacar la basura.
🇫🇷 Il faut sortir les poubelles.
🇩🇪 Der Müll muss rausgebracht werden.
🇮🇹 Bisogna portare fuori la spazzatura.
🇵🇹 É preciso tirar o lixo.
Should + verb gives advice.
You should tidy your room.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Debes ordenar tu habitación.
🇫🇷 Tu devrais ranger ta chambre.
🇩🇪 Du solltest dein Zimmer aufräumen.
🇮🇹 Dovresti riordinare la tua camera.
🇵🇹 Você deveria arrumar seu quarto.
It's my turn to...
now I am the person who must do this
It's my turn to wash the dishes today.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Hoy me toca lavar los platos.
🇫🇷 Aujourd'hui, c'est mon tour de faire la vaisselle.
🇩🇪 Heute bin ich mit dem Geschirrspülen dran.
🇮🇹 Oggi tocca a me lavare i piatti.
🇵🇹 Hoje é minha vez de lavar a louça.

📅 How Often Do You Do Chores?

☀️ Every day
each day
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Todos los días
🇫🇷 Tous les jours
🇩🇪 Jeden Tag
🇮🇹 Tutti i giorni
🇵🇹 Todos os dias
📆 Once a week
one time each week
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Una vez por semana
🇫🇷 Une fois par semaine
🇩🇪 Einmal pro Woche
🇮🇹 Una volta alla settimana
🇵🇹 Uma vez por semana
📅 On weekends
on Saturday and Sunday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Los fines de semana
🇫🇷 Le week-end
🇩🇪 Am Wochenende
🇮🇹 Nei fine settimana
🇵🇹 Nos fins de semana
🔁 Sometimes
not always; now and then
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A veces
🇫🇷 Parfois
🇩🇪 Manchmal
🇮🇹 A volte
🇵🇹 Às vezes
⏰ Usually
most of the time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Normalmente
🇫🇷 Habituellement
🇩🇪 Normalerweise
🇮🇹 Di solito
🇵🇹 Normalmente
♾️ Always
every time; without stopping
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Siempre
🇫🇷 Toujours
🇩🇪 Immer
🇮🇹 Sempre
🇵🇹 Sempre

💬 Everyday Chore Phrases

🧹 I need to clean the house this weekend.
I must clean on Saturday or Sunday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito limpiar la casa este fin de semana.
🇫🇷 Je dois nettoyer la maison ce week-end.
🇩🇪 Ich muss dieses Wochenende das Haus putzen.
🇮🇹 Devo pulire la casa questo fine settimana.
🇵🇹 Preciso limpar a casa neste fim de semana.
🗑️ Can you take out the trash, please?
please carry the garbage outside
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Puedes sacar la basura, por favor?
🇫🇷 Peux-tu sortir les poubelles, s'il te plaît ?
🇩🇪 Kannst du bitte den Müll rausbringen?
🇮🇹 Puoi portare fuori la spazzatura, per favore?
🇵🇹 Você pode tirar o lixo, por favor?
🛏️ I still haven't made the bed.
the bed is not made yet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Todavía no he hecho la cama.
🇫🇷 Je n'ai pas encore fait le lit.
🇩🇪 Ich habe das Bett noch nicht gemacht.
🇮🇹 Non ho ancora rifatto il letto.
🇵🇹 Ainda não arrumei a cama.
🍽️ It's your turn to wash the dishes today.
you are the person who must wash dishes today
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Hoy te toca lavar los platos.
🇫🇷 Aujourd'hui, c'est ton tour de faire la vaisselle.
🇩🇪 Heute bist du mit dem Geschirrspülen dran.
🇮🇹 Oggi tocca a te lavare i piatti.
🇵🇹 Hoje é sua vez de lavar a louça.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Dividing the chores
deciding who does each job
A: Who's going to take out the trash?
B: I'll take it out. Can you wash the dishes?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Quién va a sacar la basura?
🇪🇸 B: Yo la saco. ¿Puedes tú lavar los platos?
Cleaning day
asking what needs to be cleaned
A: What do we have to clean today?
B: We need to clean the kitchen and vacuum.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué tenemos que limpiar hoy?
🇪🇸 B: Hay que limpiar la cocina y pasar la aspiradora.

📝 Example Sentences

🪣 She mops the kitchen floor.
she washes the kitchen floor with a mop
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Ella trapea el piso de la cocina.
🇫🇷 Elle passe la serpillière dans la cuisine.
🇩🇪 Sie wischt den Küchenboden.
🇮🇹 Lei lava il pavimento della cucina.
🇵🇹 Ela passa pano no chão da cozinha.
🧹 We vacuum once a week.
we use the vacuum cleaner one time each week
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Pasamos la aspiradora una vez por semana.
🇫🇷 Nous passons l'aspirateur une fois par semaine.
🇩🇪 Wir saugen einmal pro Woche Staub.
🇮🇹 Passiamo l'aspirapolvere una volta alla settimana.
🇵🇹 Passamos o aspirador uma vez por semana.
🌱 He waters the plants every morning.
he gives the plants water each morning
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Él riega las plantas todas las mañanas.
🇫🇷 Il arrose les plantes tous les matins.
🇩🇪 Er gießt jeden Morgen die Pflanzen.
🇮🇹 Lui annaffia le piante ogni mattina.
🇵🇹 Ele rega as plantas todas as manhãs.
🐕 I walk the dog after work.
I take the dog outside when work is finished
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Paseo al perro después del trabajo.
🇫🇷 Je promène le chien après le travail.
🇩🇪 Ich gehe nach der Arbeit mit dem Hund spazieren.
🇮🇹 Porto a spasso il cane dopo il lavoro.
🇵🇹 Passeio com o cachorro depois do trabalho.
🪶 We have to dust the furniture.
we must wipe dust off the furniture
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tenemos que quitar el polvo de los muebles.
🇫🇷 Nous devons faire la poussière sur les meubles.
🇩🇪 Wir müssen die Möbel abstauben.
🇮🇹 Dobbiamo spolverare i mobili.
🇵🇹 Temos que tirar o pó dos móveis.
♻️ At our house, we separate the trash for recycling.
we sort garbage so it can be recycled
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 En mi casa separamos la basura para reciclar.
🇫🇷 Chez nous, nous trions les déchets pour le recyclage.
🇩🇪 Bei uns trennen wir den Müll zum Recycling.
🇮🇹 A casa nostra separiamo i rifiuti per il riciclaggio.
🇵🇹 Em casa separamos o lixo para reciclagem.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

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