115 Essential Daily Routine Vocabulary for ESL Learners

Talking about your daily routine is an important skill for ESL learners, but many struggle because they don’t know the right words to use. Without knowing these key vocabulary words, students often find it hard to describe their habits, schedule, and daily activities clearly.

To help with this, I’ve prepared a list of 115 essential daily routine words with clear examples. This list will make it easier for your students to ask questions and express themselves when talking about their everyday lives.

I’ll also share some practical tips on how you can teach these words effectively to ensure your students remember and use them confidently.

15 Morning Routine Vocabulary

1. Wake up – I wake up at 6 a.m. every day.
2. Get out of bed – I get out of bed right after waking up.
3. Brush teeth – I brush my teeth with mint toothpaste.
4. Wash face – I wash my face with cold water.
5. Take a shower – I take a shower before breakfast.
6. Get dressed – I get dressed in casual clothes for work.
7. Comb hair – I comb my hair after drying it.
8. Eat breakfast – I eat breakfast at 7 a.m.
9. Make the bed – I make my bed every morning.
10. Check phone – I check my phone before leaving home.
11. Pack a bag – I pack my bag with my laptop and books.
12. Leave home – I leave home at 8 a.m.
13. Catch the bus – I catch the bus to work.
14. Ride a bike – I ride my bike to school.
15. Start work – I start work at 9 a.m.

15 Daytime Routine Vocabulary

1. Attend class – I attend class from 10 a.m. to noon.
2. Take notes – I take notes during the lecture.
3. Ask questions – I ask questions if I don’t understand.
4. Have lunch – I have lunch with my friends.
5. Chat with friends – I chat with friends during breaks.
6. Go shopping – I go shopping for groceries.
7. Do homework – I do my homework in the afternoon.
8. Attend meetings – I attend meetings at my office.
9. Answer emails – I answer emails before noon.
10. Take a break – I take a break in the afternoon.
11. Exercise – I exercise for 30 minutes every day.
12. Go to the gym – I go to the gym after work.
13. Pick up children – I pick up my children from school.
14. Water the plants – I water the plants in my garden.
15. Walk the dog – I walk the dog in the evening.

10 Evening/Night Routine Vocabulary

1. Prepare dinner – I prepare dinner at 7 p.m.
2. Have dinner – I have dinner with my family.
3. Wash the dishes – I wash the dishes after dinner.
4. Watch TV – I watch TV for an hour.
5. Read a book – I read a book before bed.
6. Take a bath – I take a warm bath to relax.
7. Brush teeth (again) – I brush my teeth before bed.
8. Set an alarm – I set an alarm for 6 a.m.
9. Go to bed – I go to bed at 10 p.m.
10. Fall asleep – I fall asleep quickly after a busy day.

15 Daily Routine Vocabulary for Self-care

1. Wash your face – I wash my face every morning.
2. Brush your teeth – I brush my teeth twice a day.
3. Take a shower – I take a shower after work.
4. Moisturize – I moisturize my face before bed.
5. Apply sunscreen – I apply sunscreen before going out.
6. Shave – I shave once a week.
7. Trim nails – I trim my nails every Sunday.
8. Comb hair – I comb my hair after showering.
9. Apply makeup – I apply makeup before special events.
10. Use deodorant – I use deodorant every morning.
11. Put on perfume – I put on perfume before heading out.
12. Do skincare – I do my skincare routine at night.
13. Drink water – I drink water throughout the day.
14. Stretch – I stretch after waking up.
15. Meditate – I meditate in the evening to relax.

15 Daily Routine Vocabulary for Work

1. Start work – I start work at 9 a.m.
2. Attend meetings – I attend meetings every Monday.
3. Reply to emails – I reply to emails in the morning.
4. Make phone calls – I make phone calls to clients.
5. Write reports – I write reports for my boss.
6. Meet deadlines – I work hard to meet deadlines.
7. Take a coffee break – I take a coffee break at 11 a.m.
8. Organize files – I organize files on my desk.
9. Use a computer – I use a computer for my work.
10. Give presentations – I give presentations on Fridays.
11. Print documents – I print documents before meetings.
12. Attend training – I attend training to improve my skills.
13. Manage tasks – I manage my tasks with a checklist.
14. Ask for help – I ask for help when I’m unsure.
15. Finish work – I finish work at 5 p.m.

15 Daily Routine Vocabulary for Cooking

1. Preheat the oven – I preheat the oven before baking.
2. Boil water – I boil water for pasta.
3. Chop vegetables – I chop vegetables for my salad.
4. Fry eggs – I fry eggs for breakfast.
5. Bake cookies – I bake cookies on weekends.
6. Stir the soup – I stir the soup to keep it from burning.
7. Mix ingredients – I mix ingredients for the cake.
8. Grill chicken – I grill chicken for dinner.
9. Steam rice – I steam rice for lunch.
10. Serve food – I serve food on the dining table.
11. Clean the kitchen – I clean the kitchen after cooking.
12. Wash vegetables – I wash vegetables before cooking.
13. Set the table – I set the table before dinner.
14. Taste the food – I taste the food before serving.
15. Store leftovers – I store leftovers in the fridge. 

15 Daily Routine Vocabulary for Workout

1. Warm up – I warm up before lifting weights.
2. Stretch – I stretch to avoid injuries.
3. Do push-ups – I do 20 push-ups every day.
4. Lift weights – I lift weights to build muscle.
5. Go jogging – I go jogging in the park.
6. Run on the treadmill – I run on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
7. Do yoga – I do yoga for flexibility.
8. Attend a fitness class – I attend a fitness class twice a week.
9. Do squats – I do 15 squats as part of my workout.
10. Do lunges – I do lunges to strengthen my legs.
11. Use resistance bands – I use resistance bands for arm exercises.
12. Go swimming – I go swimming at the gym pool.
13. Ride a stationary bike – I ride a stationary bike for cardio.
14. Cool down – I cool down after my workout.
15. Track my progress – I track my progress in a fitness app.

15 Daily Routine Vocabulary for Health

1. Drink water – I drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
2. Eat healthy – I eat healthy meals with fruits and vegetables.
3. Take vitamins – I take vitamins every morning.
4. Go for a walk – I go for a walk every evening.
5. Do yoga – I do yoga for mental relaxation.
6. Get enough sleep – I get enough sleep to feel refreshed.
7. Meditate – I meditate for 10 minutes before bed.
8. Visit the doctor – I visit the doctor for regular checkups.
9. Take medicine – I take medicine when I feel sick.
10. Avoid junk food – I avoid junk food to stay healthy.
11. Maintain hygiene – I maintain hygiene by washing my hands regularly.
12. Practice mindfulness – I practice mindfulness to reduce stress.
13. Stretch – I stretch to keep my muscles relaxed.
14. Rest when tired – I rest when I feel tired to regain energy.
15. Stay active – I stay active by walking or exercising daily. 

How to Teach These Words Effectively

Encourage your students to describe their own routines using these words. Ask them to write about their morning, afternoon, or evening routine in five sentences. Role-play activities are also a great way to practice this vocabulary in conversation.

Final Tip

Use simple questions like “What do you do after breakfast?” or “When do you leave home?” to help students practice naturally.

This vocabulary list will help your students confidently talk about their daily lives. Try adding these words to your next lesson and watch your students improve!