Tech and internet English word of the day
A new tech word every day: apps, security, social media, Wi-Fi and the words people use when something stops working. 8 words so far; a new tech word comes about once a week.
A picture of what is on your phone or computer screen at one moment.
I took a screenshot of the receipt.
Send me a screenshot of the error.
The words in the quiz
Tech words quiz
10 questions on the 8 newest words
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Question 1 of 10Meaning
What does screenshot mean?
A screenshot is an image you make of your screen, so it shows exactly what you could see on your phone or computer when you saved it.
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Question 2 of 10Situation
You are watching a film online, but it keeps stopping while a little circle spins and more of it loads. The film is…
When a video stops again and again to wait for more data, it is buffering. Crashing means the app closes, and uploading means sending a file to the internet.
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Question 3 of 10Gap
Many banks now use software to ___ simple checks that staff used to do by hand.
Staff used to do the checks by hand, and now software does them by itself, which is what it means to automate a task.
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Question 4 of 10Similar word
Which phrase is closest in meaning to update?
An update gives you a new version of an app with fixes, so new version is the closest. A saved link is a bookmark and a spare copy is a backup.
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Question 5 of 10Correct use
Which sentence uses storage correctly?
Storage is uncountable, so it has no plural and no a, and we use enough or much with it, not many.
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Question 6 of 10Meaning
What does verify mean?
When you verify something, you make sure it is true, usually with proof, such as a code that shows an email address really belongs to you.
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Question 7 of 10Situation
You want to turn off the sound and make the text bigger on your phone. You open the…
The menu where you choose how your phone works, such as its sound and text size, is called the settings. Notifications are only messages that tell you something new.
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Question 8 of 10Gap
Sorry, a ___ in our system sent you the same email three times.
Sending the same email three times is a small, short fault, and a small fault in a system is a glitch. A patch would fix the problem, not cause it.
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Question 9 of 10Correct use
Which sentence uses screenshot correctly?
We take a screenshot of something, and screenshot is a countable noun, so it needs a. As a verb it takes a direct object, as in she screenshotted the error.
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Question 10 of 10Meaning
What does buffering mean?
Buffering is when a video or song keeps pausing because your phone or computer has to wait for the next part to arrive from the internet.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
0 of 10
right on the first try
All tech English words so far
8 words, newest first. Each page has usage notes, common mistakes, its word family and five questions.
- screenshotB1A picture of what is on your phone or computer screen at one moment.
- bufferingB2The short stops in a video or song while your device waits for more data to load.
- automateC1To make a machine or program do a job by itself, without a person.
- updateB1A new version of a program or app that fixes problems or adds small improvements.
- storageB2The space on a device or online where files, photos and apps are kept.
- verifyC1To check that something is true or correct, for example your identity or an email address.
- settingsB2The options on a phone, app or computer that let you choose how it works.
- glitchB2A small fault that stops something, usually a machine or an app, from working properly for a short time.
Tech English vocabulary, one word a day
You see these words on your phone every day, and you need them when you work with English-speaking colleagues or ask for help online: update, glitch, bandwidth, phishing, settings, sync. Each word has a plain meaning, examples from real situations and the common mistakes.
Many tech words are both a noun and a verb (update, download, stream), and some change stress between the two. The pages show you how.
Questions about tech English words
What is the latest tech English word of the day?
The latest word is screenshot: A picture of what is on your phone or computer screen at one moment. A new word joins this topic about once a week, and this page lists all of them.
How many tech English words are there?
There are 8 words so far, and a new one is added about once a week, when it is this topic’s turn for the word of the day. Each word has its own page with usage notes, common mistakes, its word family and five questions to test yourself.
How does the tech words quiz work?
It asks ten questions about the latest tech words: meanings, situations, gaps in sentences, similar words and correct use. A wrong answer can be tried again, and your score counts first tries.
What level are these words?
Most are B1 to C1 on the CEFR scale: past the basics, but not yet used with confidence by most learners. Each word shows its level.