IELTS > IELTS Vocabulary > Computer Vocabulary : Lists Of Basics Words You Should Know
Computer Vocabulary : Lists Of Basics Words You Should Know
Nowadays English is becoming more and more required in many credentials, studies and jobs. Therefore, being able to speak English fluently represents a big advantage for any individual. Which is why in this article we are going to be giving you the best vocabulary words related to technology and computer terms.
Start reading and improve your English vocabulary!
Whether you wish to take the IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, CAE, FCE, BRIDGE, BULATS (Linguaskill) or even the BRIGHT ENGLISH, you need to enhance your English vocabulary in order to prepare for your test and enhance your English skills. We have have made a long list of vocabulary worksheets:
- Anthropology Vocabulary
- Chemistry Vocabulary
- Stock Market Vocabulary
- Real Estate Vocabulary
- Purchase Vocabulary
- Product Vocabulary
- Research Vocabulary
- Phone Vocabulary
- Payment Vocabulary
- Office Supplies Vocabulary
- Management Vocabulary
- Law Vocabulary
- Human Resources Vocabulary
- The Factory Vocabulary
- Vocabulary List: Bank and Finance
- Marketing Vocabulary
- Social Media Vocabulary
- Meteorology Vocabulary
- Culture Vocabulary List
- Architecture Vocabulary
- Sociology Vocabulary
Computer Vocabulary: List of Basic & Common Words to Know
We are going to go over the most common vocabulary words, starting with the easiest words and finishing with the hardest ones.7
🡺 Bus : Contains volume of information expressed in bits. It is transmitted simultaneously according to a numbered wire-cable.
example : To record and edit my song, I now use a 32 bits bus.
🡺 Computer : An electronic device with programmed instructions to store, process and receive data, which, among other things, enables you to navigate on the web.
example : Nowadays we have access to any information by using a computer.
A PC (Portable computer) is also very common.
🡺 Disk player : It is a device incorporated in your computer which enables you to play a disk and visualise its content on your computer’s screen.
example : I put all my souvenirs on a disk so I need my disk player to see them.
🡺 Fan (computer) : A device with a heat sink to refresh the components inside the tower and prevent them from overheating.
example : My computer makes a weird sound. I think the fan needs some cleaning.
🡺 Hard drive : It stores all the information on your computer. With the motherboard, it’s a major component of your computer but if it crashes, it can be replaced.
example : Allo of my family photos are stored on my computer’s hard drive.
A second list to more vocabulary :
🡺 Headphones : A device you put on your ears allowing you to listen to music and other sounds coming from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
example : With my headphones, I can listen to loud music without disturbing the people around me.
🡺 Internet modem : A modem that allows you to connect an internet service provider to its clients, so they can access the Internet and its associated services, via ADSL, fiber or cable.
example : Thanks to my internet modem, I have phone and television services included as well.
🡺 Key : One of the buttons displayed on a keyboard; mainly alphabetical letters, numbers and other symbols.
example : I am not familiar with the £ key and I lose a lot of time when I have to type english money.
🡺 Keyboard : It is an item that replaces the old typescript and enables you to write on a virtual document you can visualise and store in your computer.
example : Using a keyboard is easier for me than using a traditional pen.
🡺 Microprocessor : The main integrated microchip which controls a computer’s most important functions.
example : I have a computer with an Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 (Tigerlake) microprocessor, do you think it’s good enough to play video games ?
🡺 Monitor : The output device that generates images coming from your computer’s graphic card.
example : I am very happy with my 18 inch LCD monitor, I really love watching my favorite series with great images and bright colors.
🡺 Motherboard : A device within the computer where modules are installed in sockets. It provides communication for information processing.
example : The motherboard is one of the most important components of my computer, if it crashes, that’s the end, I’ll have to buy another computer.
🡺 Mouse : A mouse-shaped device that you control with your hand which enables you to position yourself on the screen and to choose what you are going to do.
example : Grandma, you won’t be able to see this image in full-screen if you don’t double-click the mouse!
🡺 Power supply : The complex appliance intended to supply electricity via an electrical network to your computer, which allows it to work.
example : I found out that my computer’s power supply is out, that’s why I couldn’t turn it on.
🡺 Printer : The device used to print virtual data on a piece of paper.
example : Nowadays, we can print ourselves our photos, there are lots of low prices and high quality printers.
🡺 Random access memory (RAM) : It is the place within your computer where data is located during processing. Not to be confused with computer memory.
example : This video-game will not work unless your computer has 16 GO of ram.
🡺 Scanner : A program often incorporated inside your printer, which enables you to capture writings or images from a real material like a sheet of paper.
example : Today when I need to send documents, I don’t have to go to the post office, I use my scanner and send them by mail.
🡺 Screen : The output device displaying the images generated by the computer graphic cards. It’s an extension of the monitor, it gives the impression of movement and enables you for instance to watch movies or capture texts.
example : With a high resolution screen, you’ll watch your films with great pleasure.
🡺 Wireless mouse : A mouse without the cable, it works by capturing the waves thanks to the receptor in the USB port via the transmitter in the mouse.
example : With my new wireless mouse, I don’t anymore stumble with the cable on the floor.
🡺 Application : A program or a set of softwares performing a set of tasks in the same fields via operating system services.
example : I have to drive to an address I never went to before. My tomtom application will be very useful to find the place.
🡺 Backup : An application to store copies of your data in order to prevent their loss.
example : If you don’t want to have problems with your website, you better have a backup on such an application as dropbox.
🡺Bug : A fault that causes a program failure in your computer.
example : I can’t open my Word file, maybe there is a bug!
🡺 Bookmark : A place where you store the URL of the web pages you want to keep in order to view them later on.
example : If you don’t have time to read this article right now, you’d better bookmark it!
🡺 Browser : The program on your computer you use to navigate on the world wide web www.
example : I think google chrome is the most popular browser in the world.
🡺 Cookie : A small piece of data a web site keeps and uses to remind you of your activities.
example : Thanks to cookies, I easily find the sites I visited yesterday.
🡺 Data : A category of information of the same type that would be processed by your computer.
example : People should be careful in using personal data, it’s a very sensitive subject!
🡺 Download : Take a file or a program from a given site in order to transfer it to your computer and to an external drive.
example : I love music and I often download my favorite songs.
🡺 File : A virtual document or a digital recording in which you create and store data.
example : You will find your report in the file named “basic computer vocabulary”.
🡺 Firewall : A technological barrier which protects your computer from dangerous external data.
example : You always need a firewall on your computer because of numerous viruses and malwares on the web.
🡺 Folder : A virtual place containing a number of files.
example : Don’t forget to name your folder according to the kind of files you put into it.
🡺 Hacker : A crooked programmer who breaks into a computer’s system for malicious purposes.
example : Companies must be careful, there has been an upsurge of hackers lately!
🡺 IP address : The coded identity given to you by your internet service provider.
example : My IP address is confidential data that shouldn’t be given to someone else.
🡺 Malware : A malicious software used to disrupt a computer’s operating system and files or gather personal data for use in unscrupulous practices.
example : The malwarebyte application is efficient to protect your computer from malwares.
🡺 Media : Means which allows one to spread information to the general public.
example : Facebook is a very popular social media.
🡺 Spam : A message you don’t expect sent to your email address, often in order to sell you something.
example : I have programmed my email so that unknown senders messages go directly to spam.
🡺 URL : The address of a given website on the world-wide-web.
example : The URL of my website is https://tailoryourword.com
🡺 Upload : Take a file or a program from your computer or another location in order to transfer it to a central computer or site.
example : I upload my personal data on a website when I apply for a job offer.
🡺 Virus : A software program intended to harm files or programs in other computers.
example : be careful of viruses, don’t forget to open your firewall while using your computer.
🡺 Website : One or more pages displaying a given content on the web.
example : Everybody bookmarks their favorite websites.
🡺 Windows : An operating system for computer, created and designed by Microsoft.
example : My new laptop has the latest version of Windows installed on it.
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Related articles
anti-virus software — a program that finds and removes viruses from a computer
app — a self-contained program or piece of software; an application, especially when downloadable to a mobile device
application — a self-contained program or piece of software
backup — a copy of files from a computer’s hard disk, usually made on some external medium such as CD-ROM or flash drive. A backup is made in case the hard disk file(s) are erased or damaged.
bit, bytes — a bit is the smallest piece of information that computers use. For simplicity, a PC uses bits in groups of 8 called bytes (8 bits = 1 byte).
Bluetooth — a way of communicating wirelessly over short distances between electronic devices (for example computer and mobile telephone)
boot, boot up, boot disk — You boot (or boot up) your computer when you switch it on and wait while it prepares itself. Instructions for startup are given to the computer from the boot disk, which is usually the hard disk.
browser, to browse — A browser is a program like Firefox or Internet Explorer. You use it to view or browse the Internet.
bug — a (small) defect or fault in a program
cache — a kind of memory used to make a computer work faster
CD-ROM — a disk for storing computer information. It looks like an audio CD.
CPU — Central Processing Unit. This is a PC’s heart or «brains».
data — Usually means the information (text, pictures, audio etc) that you create or share on a computer, as opposed to the programs that manipulate the data.
DOS — Disk Operating System. The original system used for PCs, where you typed in commands instead of pointing and clicking.
driver — a small program that tells a PC how a peripheral works
ebook — an electronic book that can be downloaded and read on a computer or other device
electronic mail (email, e-mail) — messages sent from one computer to another. You can see email on the screen or print it out.
file — a specific computer record. It could contain data such as text (e.g. essay.doc), or a program such as paint.exe.
floppy disk — a cheap, removable disk used for storing or transferring information. It is floppy (soft) because it is plastic. (Now virtually obsolete.) See hard disk.
floppy drive — The device used to run a floppy disk (usually drive «A».) (Now virtually obsolete.)
folder (directory) — a sub-division of a computer’s hard disk into which you put files
font — a particular sort of lettering (on the screen or on paper). Arial is a font. Times New Roman is another.
format — All hard disks and floppy disks have to be electronically prepared for use by a process called formatting. Hard disks are pre-formatted by the computer manufacturer. If you buy a floppy disk that is not pre-formatted, you format it yourself, using a program that comes with your PC.
graphics card — the equipment inside a computer that creates the image on the screen
hard disk — the main disk inside a computer used for storing programs and information. It is hard because it is metal. See floppy disk.
hotspot — an area that has an available wireless signal for Internet access (usually public)
icon — a small image or picture on a computer screen that is a symbol for folders, disks, peripherals, programs etc
Internet — International network of computers that you connect to by telephone line. Two popular services of the Internet are the World Wide Web and electronic mail.
iPad — a tablet computer created by Apple.
Kb, Mb, Gb — kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes. Used to measure computer memory and storage.
Kindle — a device for downloading and reading ebooks, developed by Amazon.com.
memory — Memory is for the temporary storing of information while a computer is being used. See RAM, ROM and cache.
MHz — Megahertz. This describes the speed of computer equipment. The higher the MHz the better the performance.
modem — equipment connected to a computer for sending/receiving digital information by telephone line. You may need a modem to connect to the Internet, to send electronic mail and to fax.
notebook — a notebook computer; a laptop computer; a folding, portable computer.
operating system (OS) — the basic software that manages a computer (for example, Windows 10, OS X, Unix, iOS).
OCR — Optical Character Recognition. OCR lets a PC read a fax or scanned image and convert it to actual lettering.
palmtop — a computer that is small enough to sit on the palm of the hand
parallel port — a socket at the back of a computer for connecting external equipment or peripherals, especially printers
PC card — a device that is the same size as a thick credit card, for plugging into a slot on notebook computers. You can buy memory, modems and hard disks as PC cards.
PDA — abbreviation of «personal digital assistant»
peripheral — any equipment that is connected externally to a computer. For example, printers, scanners and modems are peripherals.
pixel — the image that you see on the screen is made of thousands of tiny dots, points or pixels
program software that operates a PC and does various things, such as writing text (word-processing program), keeping accounts (accounts program) and drawing pictures (graphics program)
QWERTY — The first 6 letters on English-language keyboards are Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The first 6 letters on French-language keyboards are A-Z-E-R-T-Y.
RAM, ROM — two types of memory. RAM (Random Access Memory) is the main memory used while the PC is working. RAM is temporary. ROM (Read Only Memory) is for information needed by the PC and cannot be changed.
resolution — the number of dots or pixels per inch (sometimes per centimetre) used to create the screen image
scanner — equipment for converting paper documents to electronic documents that can be used by a computer
serial port — socket at the back of a PC for connecting peripherals (obsolescent)
smartphone — a mobile phone that includes a palmtop computer or PDA and also gives access to Internet and email
tablet — a tablet computer; a mobile computer consisting of a screen only, and controlled by touching the screen
TFT — Thin Film Transistor, a type of high quality screen for notebook computers
USB — abbreviation of «universal serial bus»; a standardized connection for attaching devices to computers etc
USB flash drive — a small, external device for storing data; it connects through the USB socket.
virus — a small, unauthorized program that can damage a computer
Wi-Fi — a system for communicating without wires over a computer network
Windows — an operating system used by the majority of PCs
World Wide Web, WWW, the Web — WWW are initials that stand for World Wide Web. The Web is one of the services available on the Internet. It lets you access millions of pages through a system of links. Because it is «world-wide», it was originally called the World Wide Web or WWW.
WYSIWIG — «What You See Is What You Get.» With a WYSIWIG program, if you print a document it looks the same on paper as it looks on the screen.
Компьютерная лексика на английском
Каждому из нас знакома ситуация, когда на экране компьютера появляется странное сообщение, которое даже на русском языке трудно понять. А если текст написан еще и на английском, то очень хочется смалодушничать и перезагрузить компьютер, лишь бы не вникать, о чем же идет речь в этом злополучном окне. Но мы с вами не будем поддаваться панике, а постараемся разобраться что к чему. Ну а для того, чтобы хотя бы понять, с какой стороны подступиться к проблеме, мы предлагаем список полезных слов, который поможет понять «язык компьютера». Итак самая важная компьютерная лексика на английском языке к Вашим услугам!
Основная компьютерная лексика
| Название на английском | Перевод |
|---|---|
| ability | способность, возможность |
| accurate | точный |
| to affect | воздействовать |
| amount of data | объем данных |
| approximately | приблизительно |
| to attain | достигать |
| available | доступный |
| broadband connection | выделенное подключение |
| to browse | просматривать |
| browser | браузер, окно просмотра |
| to carry out | выполнять |
| computer desk | компьютерный стол |
| computer mouse | компьютерная мышка |
| (photo)copier | ксерокс, копир |
| to count | считать, сосчитать |
| CPU | центральный процессор |
| to crack | взломать |
| dangerous | опасный |
| data (datum) | данные, сведения |
| defense | оборона, защита |
| to deploy | использовать, употреблять |
| to design | задумывать, придумывать, разрабатывать |
| to determine | определить |
| dial up | доступ к сети через модемное подключение |
| digital | цифровой |
| display | дисплей |
| to download | загружать, скачать |
| drive | диск, привод |
| electronic device | электронное устройство |
| electronic mail (e-mail) | электронная почта |
| email accounts | учетные записи электронной почты |
| to enable | давать возможность или право на ч-т |
| to enhance | повышать, увеличивать |
| essential | существенный |
| except | за исключением, кроме |
| fast modem | быстрый модем |
| to find | находить |
| flash drive (card) | флеш-диск (карта) |
| floppy disk | дискета |
| to handle | обращаться, иметь дело с |
| hard drive | жесткий диск |
| infrared | инфракрасный |
| informational server | информационный сервер |
| to intercept | перехватить (сигнал и т.д.) |
| interface | интерфейс |
| keyboard | клавиатура |
| laptop | ноутбук |
| to last | длиться |
| layman | непрофессионал, любитель, ламер |
| link | ссылка |
| to log in | входить, подключаться |
| to matсh | подходить, соответствовать |
| message | послание |
| memory | память |
| monitor | монитор |
| motherboard | материнская плата |
| (the) net | сеть, (Интернет) |
| network | сеть |
| obsolete | устаревший |
| operating system | операционная система |
| overload | перегрузка |
| to perform | выполнять, осуществлять |
| player | проигрыватель |
| printer | принтер |
| processing unit | вычислительное устройство |
| to provide | снабжать, |
| provider | провайдер, поставщик |
| query | запрос, вопрос |
| to receive | получать, принимать |
| reliable | надежный |
| to respond | отвечать, реагировать |
| scale | масштаб |
| to scan | сканировать |
| scanner | сканер |
| search-program | программа-поисковик |
| security | безопасность |
| to send | отправлять |
| set of instructions | набор (свод инструкций) |
| significant | значительный, важный, существенный |
| site | сайт |
| society | общество |
| to solve | решать, разрешать; находить выход |
| source | источник |
| speakers | колонки |
| storage | хранение |
| to surf | просматривать, различные сайты в сети |
| system unit | системный блок |
| tool | инструмент, орудие |
| to type | печатать, напечатать |
| to update | обновить |
| user | пользователь |
| virtual reality | виртуальная реальность |
| voice message | голосовое послание |
| voltage | напряжение |
| window | окно |
| www (worldwide web) | всемирная сеть |
Программное обеспечение, работа с программами
- antivirus software / anti-virus software – антивирус / антивирусное программное обеспечение / антивирусная программа
- application / app – приложение / программа
- artificial intelligence (= AI) – искусственный интеллект (= ИИ)
- assembler [ ə’semblə ] – ассемблер (язык программирования низкого уровня)
- backup [ ‘bækʌp ] – резервная копия
- BASIC (= Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) – бейсик (= универсальный код символических инструкций для начинающих)
- binary numeral system / base-2 number system – двоичная система счисления (использующая только нули и единицы)
- bit / binary digit – бит (самая меньшая единица хранения и обработки цифровой информации)
- boot disk – загрузочный диск (диск (как правило, жесткий диск), с которого происходит загрузка и настройка ПО для компьютера)
- bug – ошибка / “баг” (ошибка в программе, нарушающая правильную работу)
- byte – байт (единица хранения и обработки цифровой информации, равная 8 битам)
- cache [ kæʃ ] – кэш / кэширование (вид быстрой памяти, используемой для временного хранения данных)
- character [ ‘kærəktə ] – символ (любое символьное обозначение – цифра, буква, и т.п.)
- click – клик
- clipboard – буфер обмена (временное хранилище данных в памяти компьютера, предназначенное для переноса и копирования между приложениями)
- COBOL [ ‘kəubəl ] (= COmmon Business-Oriented Language) – Кобол (язык программирования, предназначенный, в первую очередь, для разработки бизнес-приложений)
- compiler – компилятор (программа, переводящая текст программы на языке высокого уровня в эквивалентную программу на машинном языке)
- crash – сбой / поломка
- cursor [ ‘kɜ:sə ] – курсор
- cyberspace [ ‘saibəˌspeis ] – киберпространство
- data [ ‘deitə ] – данные (информация, хранящаяся на компьютере, в любом виде – текстовом, графическом, аудио, видео, и т.д.)
- database – база данных
- debugging – отладка (программы)
- document [ ‘dɔkjumənt ] – документ
- DOS (= Disk Operating System) – ДОС (= дисковая операционная система)
- driver – драйвер (специальное программное обеспечение, позволяющее компьютеру работать с каким-либо устройством (например, с принтером))
- ebook [ ‘i:buk ] – электронная книга (текст, который можно скачать и прочитать на компьютере или другом устройстве)
- file – файл
- folder / directory [ di’rektəri ] – папка / директория
- font – шрифт
- format [ ‘fɔ:mæt ] – формат
- Fortran / FORTRAN (= Mathematical Formula Translating System) – Фортран (первый язык программирования высокого уровня, имеющий транслятор)
- gigabyte (= Gb) [ ‘gigəbait ] – гигабайт (= гб) (единица измерения количества информации, равная 1024 мегабайтам)
- icon [ ‘aikɔn ] – иконка / значок / пиктограмма
- installation [ instə’leiʃn ] – инсталляция / установка (программы)
- interface [ ‘intəfeis ] – интерфейс
- kilobyte (= Kb) – килобайт (= кб)
- lower case / lowercase – нижний регистр (строчные буквы)
- megabyte (= Mb) – мегабайт (= мб) (единица измерения количества информации, равная 1024 байтам)
- menu [ ‘menju: ] – меню
- operating system (= OS) – операционная система (= ОС)
- password – пароль
- pixel [ ‘piksil ] – пиксель
- program [ ‘prəugræm ] – программа
- resolution – разрешение
- screenshot – снимок экрана / скриншот / скрин (изображение, показывающее то, что пользователь видит на экране)
- shortcut – ярлык (файл, служащий указателем на какой-либо объект, программу, команду, и т.п.)
- software / computer software – программное обеспечение
- space – пробел
- spreadsheet – электронная таблица
- terabyte (= Tb) – терабайт (= тб) (единица измерения количества информации, равная 1024 гигабайтам)
- underscore – знак подчеркивания
- upper case / uppercase – верхний регистр (прописные буквы)
- virus [ ‘vaiərəs ] – вирус
- word processor – текстовый процессор / текстовый редактор
Теперь в нашем словарном запасе есть компьютерная лексика на английском языке и страшные технические сообщения от операционной системы нам не страшны. Кроме того в современном мире понимать данные слова жизненно необходимо так как всё больше информационных технологий внедряются в нашу жизнь и мы много уделяем времени разговорам о них. Ещё можно расширить свои знания при помощи полезной экономической лексики на английском языке. Изучайте в удовольствие!
Vocabulary (словарный запас)
Laptop – ноутбук
PC (Personal Computer) – персональный компьютер
Keyboard – клавиатура
Monitor – монитор
Hard drive – жесткий диск
Flash card (drive) – флешка
Floppy disc – дискета
Floppy disc drive — дисковод
Motherboard – материнская плата
Video card – видеокарта
Power supply – блок питания
Internal modem – встроенный модем
Power strip – сетевой фильтр
Software – программное обеспечение
Router – роутер
System unit – системный блок
Provider – провайдер
Memory – память
Display – экран
Sound card – звуковая карта
Case – компьютерный корпус
Computer mouse – компьютерная мышь
Mouse mat – коврик для мыши
Power indicator – индикатор питания
Data cable – кабель данных
Copier – ксерокс
Fax – факс
Computer desk – компьютерный стол
Operating system – операционная система
Overload – перезагрузка
Query – запрос
Security — безопасность
Source –источник
Speakers — колонки
Net – сеть интернет
Link – ссылка
Font – шрифт
Headphones – наушники
Back-up copy – резервная копия
Window – окно
User – пользователь
Storage – хранение
Player – проигрыватель
Message – послание
Email account – учетная запись электронной почты
Useful verbs – полезные глаголы
to switch on /off – включать/выключать компьютер
to power down – выключать
to update – обновить
to upload – закачивать
to display – отображать
to get a virus – получить вирус
to erase /delete – стирать
to detect – обнаруживать
to log in – входить в систему
to log out – выходить из системы
to register – регистрировать
to fix – устанавливать
to browse – просматривать
to crack – взламывать
to type – печатать
to use – использовать
Dialogues (диалоги)
— Can you help me?
— Sure
— I can’t to log in my account
— Let me see
— You have to register first and then you can log in
— Thanks
— Ты можешь мне помочь?
— Конечно
— Я не могу зайти в мою учетную запись
— Дай мне посмотреть
— Ты должен сначала зарегистрироваться, а потом сможешь зайти
— Спасибо
— What are you going to do?
— I need to go shopping
— What do you need to buy?
— I need headphones and speakers
— Shall I go with you?
— Yes, If you like
— Что ты собираешься делать?
— Мне надо сходить в магазин
— Что тебе надо купить?
— Мне нужны наушники и колонки
— Мне сходить с тобой?
— Да, если хочешь
— Why are you so nervous?
— My computer has got a virus
— Don’t worry
— I cant , because I need my computer today
— I can give you mine
— Thanks , it so kind of you
-Почему ты нервничаешь?
-Мой компьютер поймал вирус
-Не переживай
-Не могу, мне нужен мой компьютер сегодня
— Я могу тебе дать свой
-Спасибо, так мило с твоей стороны