Everyday English · Kitchen & Home
Kitchen & Home: 15 Everyday English Words
Build practical kitchen and home vocabulary from real objects and routines, with simple English meanings, Chinese support in Family, pronunciation buttons and light review.
What to do
These are everyday words that children often learn simply by hearing adults use them at home. The goal is recognition: see the word, picture the object, and know roughly what it is used for.
You do not need to master every fine distinction. Read the word, listen to it, connect it to an object or action, and move on.
Core everyday words
ladle
noun · LAY-dəlA large spoon with a long handle for serving soup or stew.
Example: She used a ladle to serve the soup.
spatula
noun · SPATCH-uh-luhA flat kitchen tool used to lift, turn or spread food.
Example: He flipped the pancake with a spatula.
tongs
plural noun · TONGZA tool used to grip and pick up food or other objects.
Example: Use the tongs to pick up the hot corn.
colander
noun · KUL-un-derA bowl with holes used to drain water from food.
Example: Pour the pasta into the colander.
whisk
noun / verb · WISKA wire kitchen tool used to beat or mix ingredients.
Example: Whisk the eggs before cooking them.
oven mitt
noun · UH-vən MITA thick glove used to protect your hand from hot cookware.
Example: Wear an oven mitt when you take the tray out.
peeler
noun · PEE-lerA small tool used to remove the skin from fruit or vegetables.
Example: Use the peeler on the carrots.
cutting board
noun · KUT-ing BORDA flat board used as a surface for cutting food.
Example: Put the apple on the cutting board.
pantry
noun · PAN-treeA cupboard or small room where dry food and kitchen supplies are stored.
Example: The cereal is in the pantry.
countertop
noun · KOWN-ter-topThe flat work surface on top of kitchen cabinets.
Example: Put the groceries on the countertop.
grater
noun · GRAY-terA tool with rough holes used to shred foods such as cheese.
Example: Use the grater for the cheese.
measuring cup
noun · MEZH-er-ing KUPA cup marked with amounts for measuring ingredients.
Example: Pour one cup of milk into the measuring cup.
frying pan
noun · FRY-ing PANA shallow pan used for frying or cooking food on a stove.
Example: The eggs are cooking in the frying pan.
saucepan
noun · SAWSS-panA deep cooking pan with a long handle, often used for sauces or small amounts of food.
Example: Heat the soup in a saucepan.
kettle
noun · KET-lA container used to boil water.
Example: The kettle is boiling for tea.
Quick Check
Quick Check
A short recognition check. The main goal is knowing the words, not mastering tiny distinctions.
1. Which word means a large spoon used to serve soup?
- ladle
- kettle
- pantry
- grater
2. Which tool drains water from pasta?
- colander
- whisk
- spatula
- oven mitt
3. Which word names a place where dry food may be stored?
- pantry
- frying pan
- kettle
- tongs
4. Which tool is used to shred cheese?
- grater
- ladle
- peeler
- whisk
Context
Context
Recognize the word from a normal household sentence.
5. “Put on an ______ before taking the hot tray out.”
6. “The cereal is in the ______.”
7. “Use the ______ to measure one cup of milk.”
8. “The water is boiling in the ______ for tea.”
Quick-check answers
- 1. ladle
A ladle is used to scoop and serve soup or stew. - 2. colander
A colander has holes that let water drain away. - 3. pantry
A pantry stores dry food and kitchen supplies. - 4. grater
A grater shreds foods such as cheese or vegetables. - 5. oven mitt
An oven mitt protects the hand from heat. - 6. pantry
Pantry is the normal word for this kind of dry-food storage. - 7. measuring cup
A measuring cup has marked amounts for ingredients. - 8. kettle
A kettle is used to boil water.