Everyday objects in English, with pictures
This page teaches names for common small items you see and use every day. Try putting sticky notes with these names on the actual items around your home.
peephole
/ˈpiːp.hoʊl/
a small opening in a door to see who is outside
“Look through the peephole before you open the front door.”
keychain
/ˈkiːtʃeɪn/
a small metal ring or chain that keeps several keys together
“I keep all my house keys on a cute keychain.”
shoehorn
/ˈʃuːˌhɔːrn/
a curved piece of metal or plastic that helps you put on footwear
“He used a shoehorn to slide into his tight leather boots.”
doorbell
/ˈdɔːrbɛl/
an outdoor button that makes a ringing sound inside a house
“Please ring the doorbell when you arrive at my house.”
tweezers
/ˈtwiːzərz/
a small metal tool used for gripping and pulling tiny items
“She used tweezers to remove a wooden splinter from her finger.”
corkscrew
/ˈkɔːrk.skruː/
a spiraled metal tool used to open bottles of wine
“Do you have a corkscrew to open this bottle of wine?”
lanyard
/ˈlænjərd/
a strap worn around your neck to hold an identity card
“All office workers must wear their security pass on a lanyard.”
padlock
/ˈpædlɒk/
a portable metal lock that has a curved movable bar
“He secured his gym locker with a strong padlock.”
coaster
/ˈkoʊstər/
a small flat mat placed under cups to protect wooden tables
“Put your coffee mug on a coaster so you do not mark the desk.”
hinge
/hɪndʒ/
a metal joint that lets a door swing open and closed
“The door hinge makes a loud squeaking sound every time it opens.”
clothespin
/ˈkloʊðz.pɪn/
a small wooden or plastic clip used to hang wet laundry
“Use a clothespin to hang that wet shirt on the line outside.”
thumbtack
/ˈθʌmˌtæk/
a short sharp pin with a flat head for pinning paper to walls
“She pinned the concert poster to the corkboard with a thumbtack.”
funnel
/ˈfʌn.əl/
a cone-shaped tool with a narrow tube for pouring liquids neatly
“Use a plastic funnel to pour the hot soup into the glass jar.”
/ˈdɔːrstɑːp/
a heavy object placed on the floor to hold a door open
“Put a heavy doorstop by the entrance so the breeze does not shut it.”
pacifier
/ˈpæsɪfaɪər/
a small rubber object that babies suck on to calm down
“The crying baby quickly relaxed once she had her pacifier.”
buckle
/ˈbʌk.əl/
a metal piece that fastens the two ends of a belt
“The shiny silver buckle on his belt caught the light.”
doormat
/ˈdɔːr.mæt/
a rough mat placed at the entrance for cleaning dirty shoes
“Wipe your wet shoes on the doormat before you come inside.”
shoelace
/ˈʃuːleɪs/
a long piece of cord used to tie footwear securely
“Your left shoelace is untied and you might trip over it.”
thimble
/ˈθɪmbl/
a protective metal cap worn over a fingertip while hand sewing
“Wear a metal thimble so the sewing needle does not poke your finger.”
squeegee
/ˈskwiːdʒiː/
a cleaning tool with a flat rubber edge to wipe away liquid
“Use the squeegee to clear water off the shower glass after bathing.”
