45 Common English Computer Terms You Should Know

Do you know how to express the most commonly used phrases when using a computer in English?

“Scroll to the bottom of the page”

“Adjust the font size on the webpage”

“I was just compressing a file, but my computer suddenly crashed, and the mouse stopped moving.”

“I accidentally deleted an important file and didn’t back it up. Can it be recovered?”

If you’re still a bit unclear, check out these 45 most commonly used English computer terms!

1. 45 Most Commonly Used English Computer Terms, There’s Always One You Don’t Know

1. application /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ Application software;

2. backup /ˈbækʌp/ Backup;

3. boot /buːt/ Booting the operating system;

4. browser /ˈbraʊzə(r)/ Browser;

5. burn a CD Burn a CD;

6. cursor and mouse /ˈkɜː(r)sə(r)/ Cursor (on-screen) and mouse;

7. caret/insertion point /ˈkærət/ Insertion point (blinking cursor indicating where the next character will appear);

8. compress/zip and decompress/extract/unzipfile Compress, decompress;

9. crash /kræʃ/ Crash;

10. cut,copy and paste Cut, copy, paste;

11. database /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ Database;

12. desktop/ˈdeskˌtɒp/ Desktop;

13. disable pop up blocker Disable pop-up blocker;

14. download and upload Download, upload;

15. drag and drop Drag and drop;

16. FAQ Frequently Asked Questions;

17. font /fɒnt/ Font;

18. folder and file Folder, file;

19. freeze /friːz/ Freeze;

20. graphic /ˈɡræfɪk/ Graphic, image;

21. icon /ˈaɪkɒn/ Icon (program);

22. keyboard /ˈkiːˌbɔː(r)d/ Keyboard;

23. launch /lɔːntʃ/ Launch application;

24. load /ləʊd/ Load;

25. menu and menu bar Menu, menu bar;

26. modem /ˈməʊdem/ Modem;

27. monitor /ˈmɒnɪtə(r)/ Monitor;

28. new tab New tab;

29. page and homepage Page, homepage;

30. peripheral /pəˈrɪf(ə)rəl/ Peripheral device (hardware connected to the computer);

31. port and USB port Port, USB port;

32. printer and scanner Printer and scanner;

33. right click Right-click;

34. screensaver Screensaver;

35. scroll and scroll bar /skrəʊl/ Scroll (screen), scroll bar;

36. shortcut /ˈʃɔː(r)tˌkʌt/ Shortcut;

37. show and hide Show, hide;

38. software /ˈsɒf(t)ˌweə(r)/ Software (note, this is an uncountable noun);

39. spam /spæm/ Sending particularly annoying messages; spam;

40. spreadsheet /ˈspredˌʃiːt/ Spreadsheet (like a table in Excel);

41. recover lost and deleted file Recover lost and deleted files;

42. taskbar Taskbar (the horizontal bar showing open programs to the right of the “Start” button);

43. toolbar Toolbar;

44. URL Uniform Resource Locator web address;

45. virus /ˈvaɪrəs/ Computer virus;

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