🇫🇷 Cette page est en anglais, pour le cours d'anglais. Le reste du site est en français. Back to the French version
← Le Labo🖱️ Computer peripherals
Around the computer case you find the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, the printer… They are the peripherals: "peri" means "around". Some of them talk to the computer, some listen to it, and a few do both.
Tap a device to find out what it does.
👆 Tap a device. With the keyboard: Tab to move, Enter to open.
🔌 Connection:
💡 Did you know?
How to get it right every time
- Input — It sends information TO the computer.
- Output — It gives you information FROM the computer.
- Input-output — It sends information TO the computer and it receives information FROM the computer.
Tip: ask yourself which way the information goes. To the computer? Input. From the computer? Output. Both ways? Input-output. And the computer case is not a peripheral: it is the computer itself.
And on a phone?
Everything is in one box, but the peripherals are still there:
-
The touchscreen
Input-output
It shows pictures… and it feels your fingers.
-
The camera
Input
It takes a picture and sends it to the phone.
-
The microphone
Input
It catches the sound of your voice.
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The loudspeaker
Output
It plays music and calls.
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The vibration motor
Output
It gives you information… by touch.
-
The fingerprint sensor
Input
It reads your finger to unlock the phone.
📒 Word bank
The 12 words of this page, with the French word, a simple pronunciation guide, an example sentence — and a 🔊 button to hear the word (British English).
| English | Pronunciation | French | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| monitor | /ˈmɒnɪtə/ (also: screen) | l'écran | Look at the monitor, please. |
| keyboard | /ˈkiːbɔːd/ | le clavier | Type your name on the keyboard. |
| mouse | /maʊs/ | la souris | Click with the mouse. |
| multifunction printer | /ˈprɪntə/ | l'imprimante | The printer needs paper. |
| speakers | /ˈspiːkəz/ | les enceintes | Turn down the speakers! |
| headset | /ˈhedset/ | le casque-micro | Put on your headset for the video call. |
| webcam | /ˈwebkæm/ | la webcam | Smile, the webcam is on. |
| USB flash drive | /ˌjuːesˈbiː flæʃ draɪv/ (also: USB stick) | la clé USB | Save your work on the USB flash drive. |
| external hard drive | /ɪkˈstɜːnəl hɑːd draɪv/ | le disque dur externe | All the photos are on the external hard drive. |
| game controller | /ɡeɪm kənˈtrəʊlə/ (also: gamepad) | la manette | Press the button on the game controller. |
| projector | /prəˈdʒektə/ | le vidéoprojecteur | The teacher switches on the projector. |
| computer case | /kəmˈpjuːtə keɪs/ (also: tower) | l'unité centrale | The computer case is under the desk. |
| input device | /ˈɪnpʊt dɪˈvaɪs/ | périphérique d'entrée | The keyboard is an input device. |
| output device | /ˈaʊtpʊt dɪˈvaɪs/ | périphérique de sortie | The monitor is an output device. |
| peripheral | /pəˈrɪfərəl/ | périphérique | A printer is a peripheral. |
See also: inside the computer case (in French) — what is in the machine, in the middle of all these peripherals.