If English is your second language, learning new vocabulary is an essential skill. However, for less common words, it can be challenging. That is true for household tools that (hopefully) you don’t have to use very often.
That’s why we’ve listed the names of most of the common tool names in English below. Keep reading to find out exactly what a tool is and the names of different tools broken down into categories.
10 of the most common tool names in English
You can find most of these tools in anyone’s basem*nt or garage, and if you’ve ever bought furniture that you have to build yourself (Ikea, anyone?) then you’ve probably used them too.
These common tools can be found in most homes and are often used by people doing DIY (do it yourself) work around the house. They are also used by specialist tradespeople like builders or carpenters.
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Mallet
- Axe
- Saw
- Scissors
- Chisel
- Pliers
- Drill
- Tape measure
Download a list of tool names for free
Electric or power tool names in English
Power tools are generally used by professionals and require training to operate. However, many people do have electric tools in their homes for DIY, for example electric drills.
- Electric drill
- Circular saw
- Soldering iron
- Electric screwdriver
- Chainsaw
- Nail gun
Hand tool names in English
Hand tools are non-electric, non-power tools that can be operated by hand. They are common in most homes. However, some hand tools are primarily used by specialists.
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Mallet
- Axe
- Saw
- Wrench
- Monkeywrench
- Chisel
- Pliers
- Hacksaw
- Phillips screwdriver
- Hatchet
- Plane
- Scraper
- Bradawl
- Coping saw
Fastening tools
Fastening tools are used to hold things in place or connect something, for example, two pieces of wood. They are often used in conjunction with other tools like a hammer or screwdriver.
- Wire
- Nail
- Bolt
- Screw
- Nut
- Washer
Measuring tools
Measuring tools are essential because they give different measurements when doing DIY jobs.
Gardening tool names
Gardening tools are used to complete tasks in the garden and are specifically designed for working outdoors.
- Spade
- Shovel
- Hoe
- Trowel
- Lawnmower
- Pruning shears
Miscellaneous tools or equipment
There are various tools and equipment that can be used for different tasks and by specialists in different trades. We’ve listed a selection of them here:
- Toolbox
- Paint thinner
- Anvil
- Sandpaper
- Workbench
- Sharpening stone
- Vise / clamp
- Stepladder
Conclusion
Even for native English speakers, some of these tool names are obscure and difficult to remember. However, the most common ones are worth remembering.
Set yourself a task of learning the top 10 tools in our list, and you might be surprised how quickly you use one of them. Learning new words is always a good idea, even if you are fluent in English, so test yourself, create flashcards, and you will understand plenty of English tool names in no time.
FAQs
There is a huge range of tools and they all perform different functions, but 10 of the most commonly used are a hammer, a screwdriver, a mallet, an axe, a saw, a wrench, a chisel, pliers, a drill, and a tape measure.
What are the names of hand tools and equipment? ›
Among the most common are screwdrivers, spanners, pliers, hammers and files. Each tool has a specific function and is chosen according to the type of work to be performed. For example, screwdrivers are essential for tightening or loosening screws, while spanners are used to work on bolts and nuts.
What is common to all hand tools? ›
The common denominator of these tools is removal of material from a workpiece, usually by some form of cutting. The presence of a cutting edge is therefore characteristic of most tools, and the principal concern of toolmakers has been the pursuit and creation of improved cutting edges.
What are different tools called? ›
Home Tool Names
- Screwdriver. A screwdriver is a tool that is used in tightening screws. ...
- Nail. Nails are used to fastening one or more objects to one another. ...
- Scissors. This tool is used for cutting cloth, paper, and other thin materials. ...
- Utility Knife. ...
- Tape measure. ...
- Claw Hammer. ...
- Flashlight. ...
- Adjustable Wrench.
What are the standard tools? ›
Standard tool means a die, jig, fixture, mold, pattern, gauge, or other tool that is not a special tool. Standard tool does not include machinery or equipment, even if customized, and even if used in conjunction with special tools or standard tools.
What are the top 10 most common tools? ›
No shed or toolbox is complete without the following 10 items.
- Shopping List. Tape measure | Drill | Drill bits | Torch | Screwdriver | Hammer | Adjustable wrench | Hand saw | Torpedo level | Needle-nose pliers | Utility knife.
- Tape Measure. ...
- Electric Drill & Bits. ...
- Torch. ...
- Screwdriver. ...
- Hammer. ...
- Adjustable Wrench. ...
- Hand Saw.
What is the most basic hand tool? ›
A hammer is one of the most essential hand tools in every house. Besides pushing nails into a wall, you can use a hammer to do small demolition tasks. If you get a claw hammer, with one of its heads you can drive nails in different materials and with the opposite head, you can extract nails from various surfaces.
What is the oldest hand tool? ›
The Oldowan is the oldest-known stone tool industry. Dating as far back as 2.5 million years ago, these tools are a major milestone in human evolutionary history: the earliest evidence of cultural behavior. hom*o habilis, an ancestor of hom*o sapiens, manufactured Oldowan tools.
What are the most frequently used tools in your home? ›
10 Must-Have Tools For Your Home
- Tape Measure. If you own a home, you need a tape measure to determine how much space you have for new furniture, how tall a bathroom cabinet can stand and how high you should hang new drapes or blinds. ...
- Hammer. ...
- Screwdriver Set. ...
- Pliers. ...
- Cordless Drill. ...
- Stud Finder. ...
- Wrench. ...
- Utility Knife.
What is Pana tool called in English? ›
पाना noun. a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt. spanner, wrench, wrench.
Some common synonyms of tool are appliance, implement, instrument, and utensil. While all these words mean "a relatively simple device for performing work," tool suggests an implement adapted to facilitate a definite kind or stage of work and suggests the need of skill more strongly than implement.
What are the common tools and their uses? ›
Examples
- Hand saws: Used for cutting wood, metal, or other materials.
- Hammers: Used for driving nails or other fasteners into wood or other materials.
- Screwdrivers: Used for driving screws into wood or other materials.
- Wrenches: Used for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts.
What is the English of tools? ›
A tool is any instrument or simple piece of equipment that you hold in your hands and use to do a particular kind of work. For example, spades, hammers, and knives are all tools. I find the best tool for the purpose is a pair of shears.
What are the tools of English language? ›
On these pages you'll find practical language tools such as dictionaries, thesauruses, translators, converters and other online language resources for English learners and teachers.
What are the 5 tools? ›
In baseball, you may have heard the term “five-tool player” used to describe the rare player that excels at all five of the major physical tools (Speed, Throwing, Fielding, Hiting for Average, and Hitting for Power).
What are the 5 categories of tools? ›
The following are some of the most common groups that you will come across when it comes to hand tool classifications.
- Holding Tools - Clamps and Pliers.
- Striking Tools - Sledges and Hammers.
- Measuring Tools.
- Metal Cutting Tools - Reamers, Files and Drills.
- Grinding Tools.
- Sharpening Tools.
What are the 9 classification of hand tools? ›
Categories of hand tools include wrenches, pliers, cutters, files, striking tools, struck or hammered tools, screwdrivers, vises, clamps, snips, hacksaws, drills, and knives. Outdoor tools such as garden forks, pruning shears, and rakes are additional forms of hand tools.