Name the object
Listen for the difference between a printer, copier, fax machine, and paper shredder.
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Office Vocabulary in English
Learn practical office words in context while shopping for supplies and talking about workplace tasks.
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Listen with a purpose
Notice the useful language in “Office Vocabulary in English”.
Explain the purpose
Notice the repeated “This is …” and “You use it to …” patterns for describing tools.
Connect it to work
Pay attention to the projector, whiteboard, and flash drive examples in meeting and document situations.
Cultural note
The context makes the phrase land.
American office vocabulary often combines a general noun with a specific workplace use, such as a three-hole punch, dry-erase board, or power strip.
Try it
Practice the situation.
Describe three items in your workspace and explain what each one helps you do. Say your response aloud before checking the examples below.
“This is a whiteboard. We use it to brainstorm ideas during a meeting.”
Expression cards · 13 from the transcript
These cards were extracted from the transcript and grouped by the kind of language learners can practice.
Showing 13 of 13 cards.
Office superstore
A large store that sells supplies and equipment for offices.
Example sentence
“It's the office superstore where they sell multiple office supplies.”
Paper shredder
A machine that cuts documents into small pieces so the information cannot be read.
Example sentence
“This is called a paper shredder”
Print it out
Print digital information on paper.
Example sentence
“Will you print it out again?”
Three-hole puncher
A tool that makes three holes so paper can go into a binder.
Example sentence
“You'll need this three-hole puncher,”
Dry-erase board
A reusable board for writing, drawing, and taking notes with special markers.
Example sentence
“or a dry-erase board.”
Brainstorm ideas
Generate and share possible ideas before choosing a plan.
Example sentence
“and you can take notes or brainstorm ideas in your office.”
Free up space
Make more storage available on a computer or another device.
Example sentence
“and it'll free up the space in your computer.”
The main idea
The most important point in a lesson or conversation.
Example sentence
“The main idea of this lesson is how people communicate in work & business situations.”
In other words
A phrase used to explain the same idea more simply.
Example sentence
“In other words, the speaker is showing a natural way to handle this situation.”
For example
A phrase used to introduce a specific supporting detail.
Example sentence
“For example, you can use this phrase when talking about work & business.”
Send documents electronically
Transfer documents digitally instead of on paper.
Example sentence
“It’s where you can send documents electronically.”
Underneath your desk
Describe a location directly below a desk.
Example sentence
“It’ll go underneath your desk.”
No one can read it.
Explain the privacy result of destroying a document.
Example sentence
“That way no one can read what’s on your sheets of paper.”
Check your understanding
What does “Office superstore” communicate?
RTB commentary
This lesson turns office equipment into a real-world vocabulary walk-through. Notice how the speaker defines an item, explains what it is used for, and gives a workplace example.