Technical English for IT and Computer Science: Networks, Hardware, OS, Databases, and Security
A vocabulary reference for CS students and IT professionals who need to read textbooks, documentation, and certification materials in English.
Written by
Roxana LafuenteLingua-e's founder
Roxana Lafuente is a software engineer with 8+ years of experience. At the beginning of her career, even though she had already passed the First Certificate in English, she still froze every time she had to speak up in the daily standup. That was a gap nobody was fixing. After 2,000+ standups, she figured out what actually builds fluency: practice that looks like your real work. She built Lingua-e so other developers wouldn't have to take the long road to feel confident working in an international development environment.
The English that runs IT
If you study computer science or work in IT, you read English constantly: textbooks, RFC documents, man pages, vendor documentation, certification study guides. The vocabulary is specialized and consistent — the same terms appear in Cisco docs, Linux manuals, and AWS whitepapers.
This guide covers five vocabulary clusters that appear in every IT context: hardware, networking, operating systems, databases, and security. For each cluster you will find the English term, a one-line definition in English, and the Spanish equivalent so you can anchor the meaning.
If you are a software developer rather than an IT professional, the companion guide at /ingles-tecnico-para-programadores covers the vocabulary inside the code: error messages, API docs, and developer jargon.
Hardware
Hardware
Hardware vocabulary is the foundation. These terms appear in technical specifications, troubleshooting guides, and any course that covers computer architecture.
| English | Spanish | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Central Processing Unit) | unidad central de procesamiento | The main chip that executes instructions. Often called "the processor". |
| core | núcleo | An independent processing unit within a CPU. A quad-core CPU has four cores that can run tasks simultaneously. |
| thread | hilo (de ejecución) | The smallest unit of execution a CPU can schedule. Each core can run one or more threads. |
| RAM (Random Access Memory) | memoria de acceso aleatorio | Temporary memory used while the computer is running. Lost when the system powers off. |
| cache | caché | Very fast memory built into the CPU. Stores frequently used data to reduce access time to RAM. |
| bandwidth | ancho de banda | The maximum amount of data that can be transferred per second. Used for memory, buses, and networks. |
| throughput | rendimiento / caudal | The actual amount of data processed per second. Bandwidth is the ceiling; throughput is what you actually achieve. |
| latency | latencia | The time delay between a request and the response. Low latency is critical for real-time systems. |
| bottleneck | cuello de botella | The component that limits overall system performance. If your CPU is fast but your disk is slow, the disk is the bottleneck. |
| firmware | firmware | Software permanently stored in hardware. The BIOS/UEFI is firmware that runs before the operating system loads. |
| driver | controlador | Software that allows the OS to communicate with a hardware device. |
| peripheral | periférico | Any external device connected to a computer: keyboard, mouse, printer, USB drive. |
Networking
Redes
Networking is one of the most English-heavy areas of IT. RFCs, protocol documentation, and vendor manuals are all written in English first.
| English | Spanish | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| IP address | dirección IP | A numerical label assigned to each device on a network. IPv4 uses four numbers (192.168.1.1); IPv6 uses hexadecimal. |
| subnet / subnet mask | subred / máscara de subred | A logical subdivision of a network. The subnet mask defines which part of an IP address identifies the network vs the host. |
| gateway | puerta de enlace | A node that connects two different networks. Your home router is the gateway between your local network and the internet. |
| DNS (Domain Name System) | sistema de nombres de dominio | Translates human-readable domain names (google.com) into IP addresses. |
| DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) | protocolo de configuración dinámica de host | Automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network. |
| packet | paquete | A unit of data transmitted over a network. Large messages are split into packets and reassembled at the destination. |
| protocol | protocolo | A set of rules for how data is transmitted. TCP, UDP, HTTP, and FTP are all protocols. |
| TCP vs UDP | TCP vs UDP | TCP guarantees delivery and order (used for web, email). UDP is faster but does not guarantee delivery (used for video streaming, gaming). |
| firewall | cortafuegos | A system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules. |
| VPN (Virtual Private Network) | red privada virtual | Creates an encrypted tunnel over a public network, making remote users appear to be on the local network. |
| NAT (Network Address Translation) | traducción de direcciones de red | Maps private IP addresses to a public IP. Allows multiple devices to share one public IP address. |
| port | puerto | A number that identifies a specific process on a device. HTTP uses port 80, HTTPS port 443, SSH port 22. |
Operating Systems
Sistemas Operativos
OS vocabulary is essential for reading man pages, understanding Linux administration, and working with virtualization and containers.
| English | Spanish | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| kernel | núcleo del sistema operativo | The core of an OS that manages hardware resources and provides services to programs. |
| process | proceso | A running instance of a program. Each process has its own memory space and at least one thread. |
| daemon | demonio | A background process that runs continuously. Web servers (nginx), SSH (sshd), and cron are daemons. |
| shell | intérprete de comandos | The command-line interface for interacting with the OS. Bash, Zsh, and PowerShell are shells. |
| file system | sistema de archivos | The structure the OS uses to store and retrieve files. ext4 (Linux), NTFS (Windows), APFS (macOS). |
| mount / unmount | montar / desmontar | Attaching or detaching a storage device so the OS can access it. 'mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data' in Linux. |
| partition | partición | A logical division of a physical disk. A single disk can have multiple partitions with different file systems. |
| swap | espacio de intercambio | Disk space used as overflow when RAM is full. Slower than RAM but prevents out-of-memory crashes. |
| permissions | permisos | Rules that control who can read, write, or execute a file. In Linux: rwxr-xr-x (owner, group, others). |
| interrupt | interrupción | A signal from hardware or software that tells the CPU to stop what it is doing and handle an event. |
| virtual machine (VM) | máquina virtual | Software that emulates a complete computer, allowing multiple OS instances to run on one physical machine. |
Databases
Bases de Datos
Database vocabulary is consistent across systems. Whether you work with MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or MongoDB, the core terms are the same.
| English | Spanish | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| schema | esquema | The structure of a database: the tables, columns, types, and relationships. The blueprint of the data. |
| query | consulta | A request for data from a database. Written in SQL: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE. |
| index | índice | A data structure that speeds up searches on a column. Like the index in a book — faster lookup, but takes extra space. |
| primary key | clave primaria | A column (or combination of columns) that uniquely identifies each row in a table. |
| foreign key | clave foránea | A column that references the primary key of another table, establishing a relationship between them. |
| join | unión / join | Combines rows from two or more tables based on a related column. INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN. |
| transaction | transacción | A sequence of database operations that are treated as a single unit. Either all succeed or all fail (atomicity). |
| ACID | ACID | Properties that guarantee database transactions are processed reliably: Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability. |
| normalization | normalización | Organizing data to reduce redundancy. First Normal Form (1NF), Second (2NF), Third (3NF). |
| migration | migración | A script that modifies the database schema (adds tables, changes columns). Applied in order to keep schema in sync with code. |
| replication | replicación | Copying data from one database server to one or more others. Used for redundancy and read scaling. |
| backup | copia de seguridad | A copy of the database stored separately. Full backups copy everything; incremental backups copy only changes since the last backup. |
Security
Seguridad
Security vocabulary appears in CVE reports, security audits, compliance documentation, and any certification (CompTIA Security+, CEH) that covers defensive and offensive security.
| English | Spanish | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| authentication | autenticación | Verifying that a user or system is who they claim to be. Passwords, biometrics, and MFA are authentication mechanisms. |
| authorization | autorización | Determining what an authenticated user is allowed to do. Authentication asks 'who are you?'; authorization asks 'what can you do?'. |
| encryption | cifrado | Transforming data into an unreadable format using a key. Only someone with the correct key can decrypt it. |
| hash | hash / resumen criptográfico | A one-way function that converts data into a fixed-length string. Used for storing passwords and verifying file integrity. |
| vulnerability | vulnerabilidad | A weakness in a system that can be exploited. CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is the public database of known vulnerabilities. |
| exploit | exploit | Code or a technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access or cause harm. |
| patch | parche | A software update that fixes a vulnerability or bug. Applying patches promptly is one of the most effective security practices. |
| phishing | phishing | A social engineering attack where an attacker impersonates a trusted entity (email, website) to steal credentials. |
| malware | malware / software malicioso | Malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access. Includes viruses, ransomware, spyware, and trojans. |
| zero-day | zero-day / día cero | A vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor and has no patch available. Called zero-day because defenders have zero days to prepare. |
| penetration testing (pen test) | prueba de penetración / pentesting | Authorized simulated attacks on a system to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do. |
| CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) | CVE | A public registry of known security vulnerabilities, each with a unique identifier (e.g. CVE-2021-44228 for Log4Shell). |
Next steps
This guide covers the vocabulary you encounter in IT coursework, documentation, and exams. If you are moving into software development and need the vocabulary inside the code — error messages, API docs, code comments, and developer jargon — the next guide to read is:
Technical English for Programmers: Error Messages, API Docs, and Jargon →Not sure what your current English level is? Take the free level test to find out where you stand and what to focus on next:
Free English Level Test for Developers →Ready to practice your English at work?
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