A1.34: Household appliances

Electrodomésticos

This lesson covers essential household appliances vocabulary like lavadora (washing machine) and microondas (microwave), while practicing irregular verbs such as poner (yo pongo) and traer (yo traigo) in everyday cleaning and cooking contexts.

Listening and reading

Start this class by listening to the audio and completing the corresponding exercises.

A1.34.1 Cuento corto

Mi rutina diaria de limpieza

My daily cleaning routine


Vocabulary (16)

 El microondas: The microwave (Spanish)

El microondas

Show

The microwave Show

 El horno: the oven (Spanish)

El horno

Show

The oven Show

 El lavaplatos: the dishwasher (Spanish)

El lavaplatos

Show

The dishwasher Show

 La lavadora: the washing machine (Spanish)

La lavadora

Show

The washing machine Show

 La secadora: the tumble dryer (Spanish)

La secadora

Show

The tumble dryer Show

 La aspiradora: the hoover (Spanish)

La aspiradora

Show

The hoover Show

 La plancha: the iron (Spanish)

La plancha

Show

The iron Show

 El radiador: the radiator (Spanish)

El radiador

Show

The radiator Show

 Encender (to turn on) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Encender

Show

To turn on Show

 Apagar (to turn off) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Apagar

Show

To turn off Show

 El frigorífico: the fridge (Spanish)

El frigorífico

Show

The fridge Show

 Traer (to bring) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Traer

Show

To bring Show

 Calentar (to heat) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Calentar

Show

To heat Show

 Secar (to dry) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Secar

Show

To dry Show

 Tender (to hang (up)) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Tender

Show

To hang (up) Show

 Poner (to put) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Poner

Show

To put Show

Exercises

These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Exercise 1: Reorder sentences

Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.

Show answers
1.
todas las | de ir | a trabajar. | Yo pongo | mañanas antes | la lavadora
Yo pongo la lavadora todas las mañanas antes de ir a trabajar.
(I turn on the washing machine every morning before going to work.)
2.
para calentar | la comida? | el microondas | ¿Puedes encender
¿Puedes encender el microondas para calentar la comida?
(Can you turn on the microwave to heat the food?)
3.
en casa. | hace calor | radiador cuando | Apago el
Apago el radiador cuando hace calor en casa.
(I turn off the radiator when it is hot at home.)
4.
salón ahora. | aspiradora para | Traigo la | limpiar el
Traigo la aspiradora para limpiar el salón ahora.
(I bring the vacuum cleaner to clean the living room now.)
5.
hijos. | para mis | Hago la | el horno | cena en
Hago la cena en el horno para mis hijos.
(I make dinner in the oven for my children.)
6.
hermana porque ella | plancha a mi | que yo. | Le doy la | la necesita más
Le doy la plancha a mi hermana porque ella la necesita más que yo.
(I give the iron to my sister because she needs it more than I do.)

Exercise 2: Match a word

Instruction: Match the translations

Yo pongo la lavadora antes de salir de casa. (I put the washing machine on before leaving the house.)
Ella calienta la comida en el microondas. (She heats the food in the microwave.)
Encendemos el radiador porque hoy hace mucho frío. (We turn on the radiator because today it's very cold.)
Siempre apago el horno cuando termino de cocinar. (I always turn off the oven when I finish cooking.)

Exercise 3: Cluster the words

Instruction: Classify these words into two groups according to the type of appliances: those used for cooking and those used for cleaning the house.

Electrodomésticos para cocinar

Electrodomésticos para limpiar

Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

El lavaplatos


The dishwasher

2

Poner


To put

3

La aspiradora


The hoover

4

La plancha


The iron

5

Secar


To dry

Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise

Instrucción:

  1. Nombra cada dispositivo y si puedes para qué se utiliza. (Name each device and if you can what it is used for.)
  2. Indica cuáles de esos dispositivos usas habitualmente. (Tell which of those devices you usually use.)

Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes

Example phrases:

Hay un horno en la cocina.

There is an oven in the kitchen.

Hay una nevera grande en la cocina.

There is a big fridge in the kitchen.

La aspiradora se usa para limpiar.

The vacuum cleaner is used to clean.

Enciendes el radiador cuando hace frío.

You turn the radiator on when it is cold.

Uso la secadora para secar mi ropa más rápido.

I use the dryer to dry my clothes faster.

Puedes poner tu ropa en el armario.

You can put your clothes in the wardrobe.

...

Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

Exercise 7: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Yo ___ la lavadora antes de salir de casa.

(I ___ the washing machine on before leaving the house.)

2. Después, yo ___ la aspiradora para limpiar el salón.

(Then, I ___ the vacuum cleaner to clean the living room.)

3. Cuando hace frío, yo ___ el radiador para calentar la habitación.

(When it is cold, I ___ the radiator to heat the room.)

4. Finalmente, yo ___ la cena en el horno.

(Finally, I ___ dinner in the oven.)

Exercise 8: An Afternoon at Home with the Appliances

Instruction:

Cada tarde, yo (Poner - Presente) la lavadora porque hay mucha ropa para lavar. Luego, mi esposa (Traer - Presente) el detergente y yo (Calentar - Presente) la comida en el microondas. Después, nosotros (Encender - Presente) el radiador porque hace frío en la casa. Finalmente, cuando termina la comida, yo (Apagar - Presente) el horno y (Poner - Presente) la plancha para preparar la ropa del día siguiente.


Every afternoon, I put on (Poner - Present) the washing machine because there is a lot of laundry to wash. Then, my wife brings (Traer - Present) the detergent and I heat (Calentar - Present) the food in the microwave. After that, we turn on (Encender - Present) the radiator because it is cold in the house. Finally, when the food finishes, I turn off (Apagar - Present) the oven and put on (Poner - Present) the iron to prepare the clothes for the next day.

Verb Tables

Poner - Poner

Presente

  • yo pongo
  • tú pones
  • él/ella/usted pone
  • nosotros/nosotras ponemos
  • vosotros/vosotras ponéis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes ponen

Traer - Traer

Presente

  • yo traigo
  • tú traes
  • él/ella/usted trae
  • nosotros/nosotras traemos
  • vosotros/vosotras traéis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes traen

Calentar - Calentar

Presente

  • yo caliento
  • tú calientas
  • él/ella/usted calienta
  • nosotros/nosotras calentamos
  • vosotros/vosotras calentáis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes calientan

Encender - Encender

Presente

  • yo enciendo
  • tú enciendes
  • él/ella/usted enciende
  • nosotros/nosotras encendemos
  • vosotros/vosotras encendéis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes encienden

Apagar - Apagar

Presente

  • yo apago
  • tú apagas
  • él/ella/usted apaga
  • nosotros/nosotras apagamos
  • vosotros/vosotras apagáis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes apagan

Exercise 9: Los verbos irregulares: "Yo hago, yo pongo, yo doy, ..."

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Grammar: Irregular verbs: "Yo hago, yo pongo, yo doy, ..."

Show translation Show answers

hago, caliento, pongo, enciendo, traigo

1.
Calentar: Yo ... el radiador porque tengo frío.
(To heat: I heat the radiator because I am cold.)
2.
Encender: Yo ... la plancha para mi ropa.
(To turn on: I turn on the iron for my clothes.)
3.
Calentar: Yo ... el horno antes de poner la comida.
(To heat: I heat the oven before putting the food in.)
4.
Traer: Yo ... la comida del microondas a la mesa para cenar.
(To bring: I bring the food from the microwave to the table for dinner.)
5.
Hacer: Yo ... un pastel porque tengo hambre.
(To do/make: I make a cake because I am hungry.)
6.
Encender: Yo ... el microondas para calentar la comida.
(To switch on: I switch on the microwave to heat the food.)
7.
Poner: Yo ... el ventilador en el salón para tener aire.
(Put: I put the fan in the living room to have air.)
8.
Traer: Yo ... la lavadora nueva a la cocina.
(To bring: I bring the new washing machine to the kitchen.)

Grammar

It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!

A1.34.2 Gramática

Los verbos irregulares: "Yo hago, yo pongo, yo doy, ..."

Irregular verbs: "Yo hago, yo pongo, yo doy, ..."


Verb conjugation tables for this lesson

Traer to bring

Presente

Spanish English
(yo) traigo I bring
(tú) traes you bring
(él/ella) trae he/she brings
(nosotros/nosotras) traemos we bring
(vosotros/vosotras) traéis you bring
(ellos/ellas) traen they bring

Exercises and examples phrases

Poner to put

Presente

Spanish English
(yo) pongo I put
(tú) pones You put
(él/ella) pone he/she puts
(nosotros/nosotras) ponemos we put
(vosotros/vosotras) ponéis You put
(ellos/ellas) ponen they put

Exercises and examples phrases

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Lesson Overview: Household Appliances

This A1-level lesson introduces basic vocabulary and expressions related to common household appliances used for cooking, cleaning, and home maintenance in Spanish-speaking homes. Learners will familiarize themselves with essential verbs, especially irregular ones, and practical phrases useful for everyday home tasks.

Key Vocabulary: Household Appliances

The lesson helps categorize appliances into two main groups for easier memorization:

  • Cooking appliances: el horno (oven), el microondas (microwave), el frigorífico (fridge), el lavaplatos (dishwasher)
  • Cleaning and drying appliances: la aspiradora (vacuum cleaner), la lavadora (washing machine), la plancha (iron), la secadora (dryer)

Important Verbs: Present Tense and Irregular Forms

Students practice key irregular verbs that are commonly used when talking about household chores. These include:

  • Poner (to put/set) – Yo pongo
  • Hacer (to do/make) – Yo hago
  • Dar (to give) – Yo doy
  • Traer (to bring) – Yo traigo
  • Encender (to turn on/light) – Yo enciendo
  • Calentar (to heat) – Yo caliento
  • Apagar (to turn off) – Yo apago

Example Sentences for Everyday Use

Learning practical sentences helps you use the vocabulary naturally. Examples include:

  • Yo pongo la lavadora antes de salir de casa. (I put on the washing machine before leaving home.)
  • ¿Puedes apagar el radiador cuando hace calor? (Can you turn off the radiator when it's hot?)
  • Caliento la cena en el microondas todos los días. (I heat dinner in the microwave every day.)
  • Mi madre trae la aspiradora para limpiar el salón. (My mother brings the vacuum cleaner to clean the living room.)
  • Encendemos el brasero cuando hace frío en invierno. (We turn on the heater when it's cold in winter.)
  • Yo doy la plancha a mi hermana para que planche la ropa. (I give the iron to my sister so she can iron clothes.)

Useful Phrases and Comparisons with English

Spanish household vocabulary reflects day-to-day activities similarly to English, but note some interesting aspects:

  • The verb poner literally means "to put" or "to place" but is commonly used in Spanish for operating appliances, like "poner la lavadora" (start the washing machine), which differs from English usage.
  • The verb encender means "to turn on" or "to switch on," especially with electrical devices like lights or heaters.
  • Objects like la aspiradora (vacuum cleaner) are feminine nouns in Spanish, which may differ from their English gender-neutral forms.
  • You will frequently hear expressions with

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