We use headphones almost everyday. Because of this, we need to learn how to discuss them in English. As an English learner, you might have seen the words “headphones,” “earphones,” “headsets,” or “earbuds,” and some people use them interchangeably? Is that correct? They are not exactly interchangeable. As you have seen from my other English explanations, if a word is different, there is probably a small difference in nuance.
Headphones – an umbrella term for all of these gadgets, something you put on your head to listen
The two parts of this word, head + phone, are the least specific words, so they must have the least specific meaning.
Head > focused on the head
Phone > focused on hearing
Almost any of the devices I am explaining can be called “headphones.” The point of using this word is the emphasize you will use it to listen to something.
I need to buy a new pair of headphones, but I don’t know what kind I will need.
= This person will buy some product for listening. Whether there is a microphone or what the shape is is still unknown.
Earphones – something you put on/in your ears to hear
This is something you put on your ears or in your ears to listen. This does not include a microphone.
Ear > focused on the ears
Phone > focused on hearing
The shape of these do not matter. They can be big like the first picture or small like this example, but the point of using this word is to emphasize that the device can bring sound to your ears. It overlaps with headphones in most ways.
I don’t want to be noisy, so I will wear my earphones.
= Earphones stop others from hearing noise.
Headset – something that you put around your head with two parts: one for hearing and one for speaking
Headsets must always include a microphone. That is what the “set” refers to.
Head > focused on the head
Set > a set of two things
What is important about a headset is that there is a microphone. Essentially, if there is no microphone, you cannot use this word.
People who work in telemarketing usually wear headsets all day to talk to their customers.
= People use this device with a microphone to talk with clients.
Earbuds – something that you put in the ear that is small and bulbous
These are the most recognizable. They are small and always go inside your ear.
Ear > focused on the ears
Buds > looks like a flower bud
I don’t like earbuds because it hurts my ears, so I need to buy a bigger pair of headphones.
= The small kind of listening device hurts my ears, so I want a big one.
In summary
- headphones – the umbrella term for all of these: use this when you don’t imagine any particular image of a listening device
- earphones – the term for listening devices, either in or around your ear, that probably don’t have a microphone
- headset – the term for something that helps you listen and speak (MICROPHONE PIECE REQUIRED)
- earbuds – the device that are small and go inside your ear to listen to things
I hope that helps explain this confusing set of words. It may seem to some learners like we natives use these words randomly. However, there is a specific reason we chose one of these four words. We are trying to emphasize one portion of the device.
You can find more language explanations in several languages on this website, and you can watch me talk about language learning and polyglot struggles on my YouTube channel. Happy learning!
