🧺 Laundry

⏱ 12 min read

In this section you'll learn useful English vocabulary for doing laundry, caring for clothes, and talking about common laundry tasks. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Laundry Vocabulary

🧺 Laundry
clothes that need washing, or the washing itself
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La ropa / La ropa sucia
🇫🇷 French: Le linge
🇩🇪 German: Die Wäsche
🇮🇹 Italian: Il bucato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A roupa / A roupa suja
👕 Clothes
things you wear
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ropa
🇫🇷 French: Les vêtements
🇩🇪 German: Die Kleidung
🇮🇹 Italian: I vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roupas
🧼 Detergent
soap used to wash clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Detergente
🇫🇷 French: Détergent
🇩🇪 German: Waschmittel
🇮🇹 Italian: Detersivo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Detergente
🧴 Fabric softener
liquid that makes clothes feel softer
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Suavizante
🇫🇷 French: Assouplissant
🇩🇪 German: Weichspüler
🇮🇹 Italian: Ammorbidente
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Amaciante
🧺 Washing machine
a machine that washes clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lavadora
🇫🇷 French: Machine à laver
🇩🇪 German: Waschmaschine
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavatrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Máquina de lavar
🌬️ Dryer
a machine that dries wet clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Secadora
🇫🇷 French: Sèche-linge
🇩🇪 German: Wäschetrockner
🇮🇹 Italian: Asciugatrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Secadora
🧺 Laundry basket
a basket for dirty or clean clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cesto de la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Panier à linge
🇩🇪 German: Wäschekorb
🇮🇹 Italian: Cesto della biancheria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cesto de roupa
👔 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

🟡 Doing the Laundry

🫧 To wash clothes
to clean clothes with water and soap
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lavar la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Laver le linge
🇩🇪 German: Kleidung waschen
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavare i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lavar a roupa
🌞 To dry clothes
to make wet clothes dry
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Secar la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Sécher le linge
🇩🇪 German: Kleidung trocknen
🇮🇹 Italian: Asciugare i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Secar a roupa
👕 To fold clothes
to bend clothes neatly after washing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Doblar la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Plier le linge
🇩🇪 German: Kleidung zusammenlegen
🇮🇹 Italian: Piegare i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dobrar a roupa
👗 To hang up clothes
to put clothes on a hanger or hook
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Colgar la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Suspendre les vêtements
🇩🇪 German: Kleidung aufhängen
🇮🇹 Italian: Appendere i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pendurar a roupa
🌤️ To hang clothes out to dry
to put wet clothes outside or on a rack
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tender la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Étendre le linge
🇩🇪 German: Wäsche zum Trocknen aufhängen
🇮🇹 Italian: Stendere i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estender a roupa
🔥 To iron
to make clothes smooth with a hot iron
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Planchar
🇫🇷 French: Repasser
🇩🇪 German: Bügeln
🇮🇹 Italian: Stirare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passar a ferro
🗄️ To put clothes away
to put clean clothes in a closet or drawer
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Guardar la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Ranger les vêtements
🇩🇪 German: Kleidung wegräumen
🇮🇹 Italian: Mettere via i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Guardar a roupa
🎨 To separate the clothes
to sort clothes before washing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Separar la ropa
🇫🇷 French: Trier le linge
🇩🇪 German: Die Kleidung sortieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Separare i vestiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Separar a roupa

👕 Clothing Care Vocabulary

✨ Clean
not dirty
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Limpio / Limpia
🇫🇷 French: Propre
🇩🇪 German: Sauber
🇮🇹 Italian: Pulito / Pulita
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limpo / Limpa
🧦 Dirty
not clean; needs washing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Sucio / Sucia
🇫🇷 French: Sale
🇩🇪 German: Schmutzig
🇮🇹 Italian: Sporco / Sporca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sujo / Suja
💧 Wet
full of water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mojado / Mojada
🇫🇷 French: Mouillé / Mouillée
🇩🇪 German: Nass
🇮🇹 Italian: Bagnato / Bagnata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Molhado / Molhada
☀️ Dry
not wet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Seco / Seca
🇫🇷 French: Sec / Sèche
🇩🇪 German: Trocken
🇮🇹 Italian: Asciutto / Asciutta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Seco / Seca
🫗 Stain
a dirty mark on clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mancha
🇫🇷 French: Tache
🇩🇪 German: Fleck
🇮🇹 Italian: Macchia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mancha
✨ Stain remover
a product that helps take stains out
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quitamanchas
🇫🇷 French: Détachant
🇩🇪 German: Fleckenentferner
🇮🇹 Italian: Smacchiatore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tira-manchas
👔 Wrinkled
full of folds; not smooth
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Arrugado / Arrugada
🇫🇷 French: Froissé / Froissée
🇩🇪 German: Zerknittert
🇮🇹 Italian: Stropicciato / Stropicciata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Amarrotado / Amarrotada
🌤️ Clothesline / Drying rack
a line or stand for drying clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tendedero
🇫🇷 French: Étendoir
🇩🇪 German: Wäscheständer
🇮🇹 Italian: Stendibiancheria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Varal

🫧 Washing & Drying Options

🎨 Colored clothes
clothes that are not white
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ropa de color
🇫🇷 French: Linge de couleur
🇩🇪 German: Bunte Wäsche
🇮🇹 Italian: Bucato colorato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roupa colorida
⚪ White clothes
clothes that are white
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ropa blanca
🇫🇷 French: Linge blanc
🇩🇪 German: Weiße Wäsche
🇮🇹 Italian: Bucato bianco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roupa branca
🧶 Delicate clothes
clothes that need gentle washing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ropa delicada
🇫🇷 French: Linge délicat
🇩🇪 German: Feinwäsche
🇮🇹 Italian: Bucato delicato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Roupa delicada
❄️ Cold water
water that is not warm
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Agua fría
🇫🇷 French: Eau froide
🇩🇪 German: Kaltes Wasser
🇮🇹 Italian: Acqua fredda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Água fria
♨️ Hot water
water that is very warm
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Agua caliente
🇫🇷 French: Eau chaude
🇩🇪 German: Heißes Wasser
🇮🇹 Italian: Acqua calda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Água quente
🔄 Wash cycle
one complete wash on the machine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ciclo de lavado
🇫🇷 French: Cycle de lavage
🇩🇪 German: Waschgang
🇮🇹 Italian: Ciclo di lavaggio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ciclo de lavagem
🫧 To rinse
to wash soap off with water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Enjuagar
🇫🇷 French: Rincer
🇩🇪 German: Spülen
🇮🇹 Italian: Risciacquare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Enxaguar
🌀 To spin
to spin clothes to remove water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Centrifugar
🇫🇷 French: Essorer
🇩🇪 German: Schleudern
🇮🇹 Italian: Centrifugare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Centrifugar

🧠 Useful English Tip

English commonly uses have to + verb to talk about chores and responsibilities.
have to = it is necessary
I have to do the laundry.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo que lavar la ropa.
🇫🇷 Je dois faire la lessive.
🇩🇪 Ich muss die Wäsche machen.
🇮🇹 Devo fare il bucato.
🇵🇹 Tenho que lavar a roupa.
I have to fold the shirts.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo que doblar las camisas.
🇫🇷 Je dois plier les chemises.
🇩🇪 Ich muss die Hemden zusammenlegen.
🇮🇹 Devo piegare le camicie.
🇵🇹 Tenho que dobrar as camisas.
Use need to + verb when something is necessary.
I need to wash this shirt.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito lavar esta camisa.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin de laver cette chemise.
🇩🇪 Ich muss dieses Hemd waschen.
🇮🇹 Devo lavare questa camicia.
🇵🇹 Preciso lavar esta camisa.

💬 Common Laundry Phrases

🧺 I need to do the laundry this afternoon.
I must wash clothes later today
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito lavar la ropa esta tarde.
🇫🇷 Je dois faire la lessive cet après-midi.
🇩🇪 Ich muss heute Nachmittag Wäsche waschen.
🇮🇹 Devo fare il bucato questo pomeriggio.
🇵🇹 Preciso lavar a roupa esta tarde.
👕 I'm going to separate the whites from the colored clothes.
I will sort white clothes and colored clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Voy a separar la ropa blanca de la ropa de color.
🇫🇷 Je vais séparer le linge blanc du linge de couleur.
🇩🇪 Ich werde die weiße von der bunten Wäsche trennen.
🇮🇹 Dividerò il bucato bianco da quello colorato.
🇵🇹 Vou separar a roupa branca da colorida.
🌞 I'm going to hang the clothes outside to dry.
I will put the wet clothes outside
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Voy a tender la ropa afuera.
🇫🇷 Je vais étendre le linge dehors.
🇩🇪 Ich werde die Wäsche draußen aufhängen.
🇮🇹 Stenderò i vestiti fuori.
🇵🇹 Vou estender a roupa lá fora.
🫗 This shirt has a stain.
there is a dirty mark on this shirt
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Esta camisa tiene una mancha.
🇫🇷 Cette chemise a une tache.
🇩🇪 Dieses Hemd hat einen Fleck.
🇮🇹 Questa camicia ha una macchia.
🇵🇹 Esta camisa tem uma mancha.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Doing the laundry
asking if the laundry is finished
A: Did you do the laundry already?
B: Yes, but I still have to fold it.
At the laundromat
asking where the laundry place is
A: Where is the laundromat?
B: It's at the end of the street.
Washing clothes
asking if a shirt can go with the whites
A: Can I wash this shirt with the white clothes?
B: No, it's better to wash it with the colored clothes.

📝 Example Sentences

🧦 The clothes are already clean and dry.
the washing is finished and dry
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La ropa ya está limpia y seca.
🇫🇷 Le linge est déjà propre et sec.
🇩🇪 Die Wäsche ist schon sauber und trocken.
🇮🇹 Il bucato è già pulito e asciutto.
🇵🇹 A roupa já está limpa e seca.
🌞 I prefer to dry clothes outside.
I like to hang clothes outdoors
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Prefiero secar la ropa al aire libre.
🇫🇷 Je préfère faire sécher le linge dehors.
🇩🇪 Ich trockne die Wäsche lieber draußen.
🇮🇹 Preferisco asciugare i vestiti all'aperto.
🇵🇹 Prefiro secar a roupa ao ar livre.
👕 I'm going to fold the clothes and put them away in the closet.
I will fold the clothes and put them in the closet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Voy a doblar la ropa y guardarla en el armario.
🇫🇷 Je vais plier le linge et le ranger dans l'armoire.
🇩🇪 Ich werde die Wäsche zusammenlegen und in den Schrank räumen.
🇮🇹 Piegherò i vestiti e li metterò nell'armadio.
🇵🇹 Vou dobrar a roupa e guardá-la no armário.
🫗 I need to remove this stain before washing the shirt.
I should take the stain out first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito quitar esta mancha antes de lavar la camisa.
🇫🇷 Je dois enlever cette tache avant de laver la chemise.
🇩🇪 Ich muss diesen Fleck entfernen, bevor ich das Hemd wasche.
🇮🇹 Devo togliere questa macchia prima di lavare la camicia.
🇵🇹 Preciso tirar esta mancha antes de lavar a camisa.
💧 The clothes are still wet.
the clothes are not dry yet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La ropa todavía está mojada.
🇫🇷 Le linge est encore mouillé.
🇩🇪 Die Wäsche ist noch nass.
🇮🇹 I vestiti sono ancora bagnati.
🇵🇹 A roupa ainda está molhada.
👔 This shirt is wrinkled and I need to iron it.
the shirt is not smooth, so I must iron it
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Esta camisa está arrugada y necesito plancharla.
🇫🇷 Cette chemise est froissée et je dois la repasser.
🇩🇪 Dieses Hemd ist zerknittert und ich muss es bügeln.
🇮🇹 Questa camicia è stropicciata e devo stirarla.
🇵🇹 Esta camisa está amarrotada e preciso passá-la.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

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