Vocabulary · Digital world
Social media in English
A2
Social media in English: accounts and profiles, posts, stories and captions, likes and followers, and verbs like post, share, scroll and go viral. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Platforms and profiles
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| social media(n.)“I spend hours on social media.” | apps and websites for sharing online | /ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə/ |
| account(n.) | your personal space on an app | /əˈkaʊnt/ |
| profile(n.) | the page that shows who you are | /ˈprəʊfaɪl/ |
| username(n.) | the name you use online | /ˈjuːzəneɪm/ |
| bio(n.) | a short text about yourself | /ˈbaɪəʊ/ |
| avatar(n.) | a picture that represents you online | /ˈævətɑː/ |
Content
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| post(n.) | something you put online for others | /pəʊst/ |
| story(n.) | a photo or video gone after 24 hours | /ˈstɔːri/ |
| reel(n.) | a short video on Instagram | /riːl/ |
| photo(n.) | a picture taken with a camera | /ˈfəʊtəʊ/ |
| video(n.) | moving pictures with sound | /ˈvɪdiəʊ/ |
| hashtag(n.) | a word after # that groups posts | /ˈhæʃtæɡ/ |
| caption(n.) | the short text under a photo | /ˈkæpʃən/ |
Interactions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| follower(n.) | a person who sees your posts | /ˈfɒləʊə/ |
| like(n.) | a click to show you enjoy a post | /laɪk/ |
| comment(n.) | a message you write under a post | /ˈkɒment/ |
| share(n.) | sending a post on to others | /ʃeə/ |
| influencer(n.) | a popular person who promotes products online | /ˈɪnfluənsə/ |
Verbs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to post(v.) | to put something online | /pəʊst/ |
| to like(v.) | to click to show you enjoy it | /laɪk/ |
| to share(v.) | to send a post on to others | /ʃeə/ |
| to follow(v.) | to choose to see someone's posts | /ˈfɒləʊ/ |
| to unfollow(v.) | to stop seeing someone's posts | /ʌnˈfɒləʊ/ |
| to block(v.) | to stop someone contacting you | /blɒk/ |
| to scroll(v.) | to move up or down a screen | /skrəʊl/ |
| to go viral(v.) | to spread very fast online | /ɡəʊ ˈvaɪrəl/ |
A common mistake
Like: a verb and a noun
To like is a verb: I liked your photo. A like is a noun, so it can be plural: He got 1,000 likes. And like keeps its usual meaning too: I like this song means you enjoy it.
Practice quiz
What's next?
Social media: learn these words for good
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a follower and a subscriber?+
A follower is a person who follows your account on Instagram, X (Twitter) or TikTok: it is free and takes one click. A subscriber is a person who subscribes to a YouTube channel or to a paid service, often to get notifications.
How do you say you liked a post?+
Say I liked your post. Like is a regular verb: like, liked, liked. Other verbs work the same way: I commented on your post, I shared your post, I saved your post.
What does DM mean?+
DM means direct message, a private message on social media. I sent you a DM. You can also use it as a verb: to DM someone means to send them a private message. Some people also say PM (private message).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/social-media
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.