Whether you're traveling, learning history, or enjoying a weekend outing, you, an ESL learner, will often hear people talk about “museum tours.” From asking questions to following a guide, knowing the right vocabulary helps you engage in cultural conversations and make the most of your visit. Mastering today’s words will help you feel confident during group tours, understand explanations, and describe your experience in English. Let’s jump right in!

5 Vocabulary Words

1. Museum tour (Noun): A guided or self-guided experience through a museum where you learn about the exhibits.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. We joined a museum tour to learn about ancient Egypt.

     2. The museum tour included paintings, sculptures, and artifacts.

     3. I booked a museum tour online before arriving.

2. Exhibit (Noun): A display or collection of items shown to the public in a museum or gallery.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. The dinosaur exhibit was the most popular one.

     2. The museum has a new art exhibit this month.

     3. Each exhibit had a small sign explaining what it was.

3. Guide (Noun): A person who leads a tour and explains things to the group.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions.

     2. The guide told us stories about each painting.

     3. I prefer museum tours with a live guide rather than an audio one.

4. Audio tour (Noun): A recorded explanation that you listen to while exploring a museum.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I used the audio tour so I could go at my own pace.

     2. The audio tour was available in five languages.

     3. You can rent a device or use your phone for the audio tour.

5. Artifact (Noun): An object made by a human being, often from the past, that is shown in museums.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. The museum displayed artifacts from ancient Greece.

     2. Each artifact was labeled with its name and origin.

     3. Some artifacts are thousands of years old.

During our trip to Washington, D.C., we went on a museum tour at the National History Museum. Our guide showed us an amazing exhibit about space travel and pointed out some ancient artifacts from different countries. Later, I took an audio tour to explore the other floors at my own pace. It was one of the best museum visits I’ve ever had!