Vocabulary/ A2 Vocabulary lessons and / Housework – A2 English Vocabulary
Housework
Learn vocabulary for household chores and daily tasks in English
About This Lesson
In this A2 pre-intermediate English Vocabulary lesson, you will learn about housework or household chores. These are terms we use to describe the jobs that we do to keep our homes clean and running efficiently. Most of us do these chores on a daily or weekly basis.
Housework Infographic
Illustrated chart showing housework tasks: sweeping, vacuuming, doing laundry, etc.
Make vs Do
Make
- • breakfast / lunch / dinner: Jim makes dinner for the family every evening.
- • tea / coffee: I am making a cup of tea. Do you want one?
- • the bed: As soon as I get up, I make my bed.
Do
- • chores: I do a lot of chores to help my mother.
- • the laundry: I do the laundry twice a week.
- • the dishes / the washing up: After we’ve finished eating, I’ll do the dishes.
- • the ironing: I usually do the ironing while watching television.
- • the dusting: I use a duster to do the dusting.
- • the shopping: Mary does the shopping at our local supermarket.
Housework Vocabulary
sweep the floor — Cleaning tasks
After I’ve swept the floor, I’ll mop it.
mop the floor — Cleaning tasks
After I’ve swept the floor, I’ll mop it.
vacuum / hoover — Cleaning tasks
I couldn’t hear the radio because Maria was vacuuming.
dust — Cleaning tasks
I stood on a chair to dust the high shelves.
wash — Cleaning tasks
Joe washes his car every Saturday.
do the washing up (UK) / do the dishes (US) — Cleaning tasks
It’s your turn to do the washing up; I did it yesterday.
do the laundry — Cleaning tasks
I do my laundry twice a week.
clean — Cleaning tasks
When I finish cleaning the windows, I’ll clean the bathroom mirrors.
iron — Clothing care
Anna is ironing her husband’s shirts.
take out the trash (US) / rubbish (UK) — Household routines
Before I go to bed, I’ll take out the trash.
set the table — Household routines
Mum asked me to set the table.
clear the table — Household routines
Let me help you clear the table.
make the bed — Bed & room care
Before I go to school, I make my bed.
tidy up — Bed & room care
You must tidy up (your room) before you leave.
water the plants — Plants & food
I water the plants in my kitchen twice a week.
make breakfast / lunch / dinner — Plants & food
Will you make dinner?
make tea / coffee — Plants & food
I’m making coffee. Do you want a cup?
do chores — General chores
Children who do chores learn responsibility.
do the shopping — General chores
I usually do the shopping every Monday after work.
walk the dog — General chores
I walk the dog every evening in the park.