The internet has its own vocabulary that helps us understand how websites, apps, and online communication work. These terms cover everything from browsing and social media to email and online safety.
Basic Internet Terms
These are some of the most common words you’ll see when using the internet, especially if you’re just getting started.
| English Term | Example Sentence | Etymology | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet | I use the internet to find information and watch videos. | From “inter” (between) + “net” (network). | Always capitalized as it’s a proper noun. |
| Website | I visited a website about cooking recipes yesterday. | From “web” (like a spider’s web) + “site” (place). | Refers to a collection of web pages under one domain. |
| Browser | I use Chrome as my browser to surf the web. | From “browse” (to look through) + “-er” (agent suffix). | Common browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. |
| URL | The URL of the page starts with “https://”. | Stands for “Uniform Resource Locator.” | It’s the address of a webpage. |
| Link | Click the link to open the article. | Old English “hlenc,” meaning a tie or connection. | Can be text or an image that takes you to another page. |
| Homepage | My homepage shows the latest news. | “Home” (main) + “page” (a single web document). | It’s the first page you see on a website. |
Social Media Terms
Social media has introduced many new words to the internet vocabulary. Here are some of the most popular ones.
| English Term | Example Sentence | Etymology | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile | I updated my profile picture on Instagram. | From Latin “profilum,” meaning outline or contour. | Your personal page on a social media site. |
| Feed | I scroll through my Facebook feed every morning. | Old English “fēdan” (to supply with food), metaphor for feeding information. | A continuous stream of posts or updates. |
| Like | Don’t forget to like my post! | Old English “lician,” meaning to please. | Pressing the “like” button shows approval. |
| Follow | I follow travel bloggers on Twitter. | Old English “folgian,” meaning to go after. | Subscribing to someone’s updates. |
| Hashtag | Use the hashtag #summer2024 to join the trend. | “Hash” (the # symbol) + “tag” (label). | A keyword or phrase preceded by # to categorize posts. |
| DM | Send me a DM if you have questions. | Stands for “Direct Message.” | Private message between users on social media. |
I updated my ________ picture on Instagram.
profile
Your profile is your personal page on a social media platform, usually with your photo and info.
Email and Communication Terms
These terms help you understand how to send, receive, and organize emails and messages.
| English Term | Example Sentence | Etymology | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| I sent an email to my professor. | From “electronic” + “mail.” | Always one word, not “e-mail.” | |
| Inbox | Check your inbox for new messages. | “In” + “box” (a container for holding items). | The folder where incoming emails arrive. |
| Spam | I got a spam email about winning a prize. | From a Monty Python sketch, now means unwanted messages. | Unwanted or junk email, usually promotional or deceptive. |
| Attachment | I attached the document to my email. | From Latin “attaccare,” meaning to fasten. | A file (like a photo or PDF) sent with an email. |
| Reply | I’ll reply to your email tomorrow. | From Latin “replicare,” meaning to fold back. | Responding to a message. |
| Subject | The email subject was “Meeting rescheduled.” | From Latin “subjectum,” meaning something put under. | The title or topic line of an email. |
Online Shopping Terms
Shopping online has its own set of words that help you buy, pay, and track your orders safely.
| English Term | Example Sentence | Etymology | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cart | I added the headphones to my shopping cart. | From Old French “cart,” a vehicle for carrying goods. | A virtual basket for items you want to buy. |
| Checkout | Proceed to checkout to complete your purchase. | “Check” + “out,” meaning to finalize payment. | The payment step in online shopping. |
| Order | My order will arrive in three days. | From Latin “ordinare,” meaning to arrange. | A purchase request made on a website. |
| Tracking | Use the tracking number to see your package status. | From Old English “tracian,” meaning to follow a trail. | Monitoring the shipment of your order. |
| Coupon | I used a coupon code for a 10% discount. | From French “coupon,” meaning a small ticket or voucher. | A code or ticket for a discount. |
| Review | I wrote a review about the new smartphone. | From Latin “recensere,” meaning to examine again. | A customer’s opinion or rating of a product. |
Internet Safety Terms
It’s important to recognize these words to protect yourself and stay secure online.
| English Term | Example Sentence | Etymology | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Password | Use a strong password with letters, numbers, and symbols. | From Old English “pass” + “word.” | A secret code to access your accounts. |
| Firewall | The firewall blocks unauthorized access to my computer. | “Fire” + “wall,” originally a barrier to stop fires spreading. | A security system that protects networks. |
| Virus | My computer got a virus from a suspicious email. | Latin “virus,” meaning poison or slime. | Malicious software that can damage your device. |
| Phishing | Be careful—phishing emails try to steal your information. | From “fishing,” meaning tricking people to “bite.” | Fraudulent attempts to get personal data. |
| Two-factor authentication | I enabled two-factor authentication for extra security. | “Two” + “factor” (element) + “authentication” (verification). | Requires two forms of ID to log in. |
| Privacy | Adjust your privacy settings to control who sees your posts. | From Latin “privatus,” meaning set apart. | Protecting your personal information online. |
The ________ blocks unauthorized access to my computer network.
firewall
A firewall helps protect your computer by blocking harmful traffic.
Popular Internet Slang
These informal terms have spread through memes, chats, and social media worldwide.
| English Term | Example Sentence | Etymology | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOL | That joke made me LOL! | Stands for “Laugh Out Loud.” | Used to show something is funny. |
| BRB | I’m busy now, BRB. | Stands for “Be Right Back.” | Indicates a short pause in conversation. |
| OMG | OMG, I can’t believe it! | Stands for “Oh My God.” | Expresses surprise or excitement. |
| BFF | She’s my BFF since childhood. | Stands for “Best Friends Forever.” | Refers to a very close friend. |
| TMI | That’s TMI—I didn’t need to know that! | Stands for “Too Much Information.” | When someone shares more than you want. |
| FOMO | I have FOMO if I skip the party. | Stands for “Fear Of Missing Out.” | Anxiety about missing social events. |
She’s my ________—we’ve been best friends forever.
BFF
BFF stands for "Best Friends Forever," meaning a very close friend.
______! I can’t believe what just happened!
OMG
OMG means "Oh My God," expressing surprise or excitement.
Conclusion
Knowing these internet terms will help you understand online instructions, communicate clearly on social media, shop safely, and protect your privacy. The internet is a constantly changing place, so new words will keep appearing. Don’t worry—just keep learning and using the ones you need!
Flashcards (1 of 36)
- Example Sentence: I use the internet to find information and watch videos.
- Etymology: From “inter” (between) + “net” (network).
- Usage Tips: Always capitalized as it’s a proper noun.
- English Term: Internet
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
