Tools and Equipment

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Knowing the names of common tools and equipment is helpful in many everyday situations. This reference introduces essential tools and equipment in English, helping you expand your vocabulary and communicate more confidently at home, at work, and in daily life.

Tools and Equipment Vocabulary

Tools and equipment vocabulary with common household, office, and work tools

Cleaning and Laundry Items

  • Dish towel
  • Cloth
  • Sponge
  • Scrub brush
  • Rubber gloves
  • Broom
  • Dustpan
  • Mop
  • Bucket
  • Trash can
  • Laundry basket
  • Laundry detergent
  • Bleach
  • Iron
  • Ironing board
  • Washing machine

Household Appliances

  • Refrigerator
  • Oven
  • Stove
  • Microwave
  • Dishwasher
  • Rice cooker
  • Pressure cooker
  • Electric kettle
  • Coffee maker
  • Blender
  • Mixer
  • Toaster
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Washing machine
  • Clothes dryer
  • Electric fan
  • Air conditioner
  • Water purifier
  • Television

Household Devices and Equipment

  • Clock
  • Lamp
  • Light bulb
  • Wall lantern
  • Sewing machine
  • Remote control
  • Telephone
  • Water cooler
  • Stepladder
  • Treadmill

Laboratory Equipment

  • Beaker
  • Test tube
  • Test tube rack
  • Erlenmeyer flask
  • Pipette
  • Dropper
  • Graduated cylinder
  • Bunsen burner
  • Thermometer
  • Microscope
  • Telescope
  • Magnifier
  • Balance scale
  • Magnet
  • Stopwatch
  • Barometer

Stationery and Office Supplies

  • Pen
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Marker
  • Highlighter
  • Paper clip
  • Stapler
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Notebook
  • Envelope
  • Clipboard
  • Calculator
  • Desk
  • Swivel chair
  • Filing cabinet
  • Computer
  • Keyboard
  • Monitor

Technological Gadgets

  • Laptop
  • Desktop computer
  • Mouse
  • Printer
  • Router
  • Webcam
  • Microphone
  • Headphones
  • Digital camera
  • Memory card
  • USB flash drive

Hand Tools

  • Hammer
  • Claw hammer
  • Sledgehammer
  • Screwdriver
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Wrench
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Pipe wrench
  • Pliers
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Slip-joint pliers
  • Diagonal pliers
  • Handsaw
  • Hacksaw
  • Coping saw
  • Backsaw
  • Chainsaw
  • Electric drill
  • Cordless drill
  • Brace (hand drill)
  • Tape measure
  • Spirit level
  • Utility knife
  • Box cutter
  • Chisel
  • Mallet
  • Crowbar
  • Pry bar
  • Caulking gun
  • Putty knife
  • File
  • Rasp
  • Clamp
  • C-clamp
  • Workbench
  • Toolbox
  • Stepladder
  • Safety goggles
  • Work gloves

Musical Instruments

  • Piano
  • Guitar
  • Bass guitar
  • Violin
  • Cello
  • Double bass
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Saxophone
  • Clarinet
  • Flute
  • Drums
  • Snare drum
  • Bass drum
  • Xylophone
  • Harmonica

Photography Equipment

Types of Cameras

  • Digital camera
  • SLR camera
  • Instant camera

Camera Parts

  • Lens
  • Lens cap
  • Tripod
  • Zoom lens
  • Flash unit

Gardening Tools and Equipment

  • Garden hose
  • Watering can
  • Shovel
  • Rake
  • Garden fork
  • Garden trowel
  • Pruning shears
  • Pruning saw
  • Hedge shears
  • Lawn mower
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Plant pot
  • Flowerpot
  • Gardening gloves
  • Fertilizer

Common Tools Vocabulary (IPA – US)

Tool IPA (US)
Hammer /ˈhæmər/
Claw hammer /ˈklɔː ˌhæmər/
Sledgehammer /ˈslɛdʒˌhæmər/
Screwdriver /ˈskruːˌdraɪvər/
Flathead screwdriver /ˈflætˌhɛd ˈskruːˌdraɪvər/
Phillips screwdriver /ˈfɪlɪps ˈskruːˌdraɪvər/
Wrench /rɛntʃ/
Adjustable wrench /əˈdʒʌstəbəl rɛntʃ/
Pipe wrench /ˈpaɪp rɛntʃ/
Pliers /ˈplaɪərz/
Needle-nose pliers /ˈniːdəl noʊz ˈplaɪərz/
Slip-joint pliers /ˈslɪp ˌdʒɔɪnt ˈplaɪərz/
Diagonal pliers /daɪˈæɡənəl ˈplaɪərz/
Handsaw /ˈhændˌsɔː/
Hacksaw /ˈhækˌsɔː/
Coping saw /ˈkoʊpɪŋ sɔː/
Backsaw /ˈbækˌsɔː/
Chainsaw /ˈtʃeɪnˌsɔː/
Electric drill /ɪˈlɛktrɪk drɪl/
Cordless drill /ˈkɔːrdləs drɪl/
Brace (hand drill) /breɪs/
Tape measure /ˈteɪp ˌmɛʒər/
Spirit level /ˈspɪrɪt ˌlɛvəl/
Utility knife /juːˈtɪləti naɪf/
Box cutter /ˈbɑːks ˌkʌtər/
Chisel /ˈtʃɪzəl/
Mallet /ˈmælɪt/
Crowbar /ˈkroʊˌbɑːr/
Pry bar /ˈpraɪ ˌbɑːr/
Caulking gun /ˈkɔːkɪŋ ɡʌn/
Putty knife /ˈpʌti naɪf/
File /faɪl/
Rasp /ræsp/
Clamp /klæmp/
C-clamp /ˈsiː klæmp/
Workbench /ˈwɜːrkˌbɛntʃ/
Toolbox /ˈtuːlˌbɑːks/
Stepladder /ˈstɛpˌlædər/
Safety goggles /ˈseɪfti ˈɡɑːɡəlz/
Work gloves /wɜːrk ɡlʌvz/
mixed Knowledge Check · 5 questions

Tools and Equipment Practice Quiz (A1-B1)

1 / 5
Q1

Question 1: You cut paper with ___.

Question 1 options
Scissors is correct because scissors are a common cutting tool used for paper. A knife cuts but is not typically used for paper. A ruler measures length. A brush is used for painting.
Q2

Question 2: A gardener uses a ___ to dig the soil.

Question 2 options
Spade is correct because a spade is a digging tool with a flat blade used for turning soil. A rake gathers leaves. A hose delivers water. A wheelbarrow carries materials.
Q3

Question 3: She used a ___ to make the wooden table smooth.

Question 3 options
Sandpaper is correct because sandpaper is an abrasive sheet used to smooth wood surfaces. A lever lifts objects. A nail joins pieces. A bolt fastens parts together with a nut.
Q4

Question 4: The plumber used a ___ to stop the water leak under the sink.

Question 4 options
Pipe wrench is correct because a pipe wrench is a specialized tool plumbers use to grip and turn pipes. A spirit level checks if surfaces are flat. An Allen key turns hexagonal bolts. A mallet is a type of hammer.
Q5

Question 5: The carpenter checked whether the shelf was straight by placing a ___ on top of it.

Question 5 options
Spirit level (also called a bubble level) is the correct tool for checking if a surface is perfectly horizontal. A hacksaw cuts metal. A soldering iron joins metal with solder. A utility knife cuts materials.

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