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20 Must-Know Household Items in English

Welcome back to our English learning journey! Continuing to build up a vocabulary foundation, this week let's focus on common household items.

Knowing these 20 essential English words for common objects found around the home will allow you to start labeling your child's immediate environment in a second language.

Try pointing out and naming these items at home throughout the week. Use them in sentences and invite your child to repeat the words. Here we go!


  1. Table - The piece of furniture with a flat top surface for dining or working.
  2. Chair - What you sit on with a back and legs. Point out different kinds like armchair.
  3. Sofa/Couch - A long, upholstered seat for multiple people. A key furniture piece.
  4. Bed - The piece of furniture you sleep on. Make the connection to their own bed.
  5. Door - The movable structure used to enter/exit a room or building. Practice opening and closing doors.
  6. Window - The glass panels that let in light and allow you to see outside. Look through windows together.
  7. Light - Overhead lamps, bulbs, or fixtures that provide illumination. Turn lights off and on.
  8. Clock - The device that displays the time. Point to clocks and discuss time.
  9. Mirror - The glass that reflects your image. Make funny faces in mirrors and describe.
  10. Sink - Where you wash hands and dishes. Run water in the sink.
  11. Toilet - Where bodily waste goes. Teach flushing.
  12. Bathtub - Big container for bathing or soaking in water. Splash in a tub together.
  13. Towel - What you dry off with after a bath or swim. Demonstrate wiping/drying.
  14. Pillow - Soft support for your head in bed. Point to pillows in rooms.
  15. Blanket - Cozy cover for warmth in bed or on the sofa. Curl up together under one.
  16. Plate - Circular dish for holding food at meals. Set the table together.
  17. Cup - Drinking vessel with handles. Pour each other drinks.
  18. Fork - Utensil for stabbing food. Mime eating motions.
  19. Spoon - Utensil with a rounded end for scooping. Mix and feed each other.
  20. Knife - Utensil with a sharp blade for cutting. Pretend to slice food.

With daily labeling practice, these household English terms will soon become part of your family's vocabulary. Try putting reminder stickers on items too! Next week, we'll tackle common verbs.

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