109 English words
English vocabulary for places and travel
Useful English words about cities, countries, directions, transport and getting around, with meanings, pronunciation and example sentences.
Words
A
- aboveprepositionA1in or to a higher position than somethingThere is a shelf above the desk.
- acrossprepositionA2from one side to the other side of somethingWe walked across the bridge.
- addressnounA1the details of where a person lives or where a building isPlease write your address on the form.
- aheadadverbB1in front of someone or something, or forwardLook straight ahead and keep walking.
- alongprepositionA2moving in a line on or beside a road, river or pathWe walked along the beach at sunset.
- AmericanadjectiveA1from or connected with the United StatesMy favorite American food is barbecue.
- amongprepositionB1in the middle of or surrounded by a groupWe found a small house among the trees.
- areanounA1a part of a place, town or countryThey live in a quiet area of the city.
- aroundprepositionA1on every side of something, or in a circleWe sat around the fire.
- arriveverbA1to get to a place, especially at the end of a tripWe arrived at the hotel at midnight.
- awayadverbA1to or at a distance from a place or personGo away and leave me alone!
B
- backadverbA1to the place or state you were in beforeI’ll be back in five minutes.
- barnounA2a place where people buy and drink alcoholWe met at a bar downtown.
- basenounB1the bottom part of somethingThe vase has a wide base.
- behindprepositionA1at or toward the back of somethingThe garden is behind the house.
- betweenprepositionA1in the space that separates two things or peopleThe bank is between the pharmacy and the cafe.
- beyondprepositionB2on the far side of somethingThere’s a small village beyond the hills.
- boardnounA2a flat piece of wood or other material used for a purposeThe teacher wrote the answer on the board.
- buildingnounA1a structure with walls and a roof, such as a house or officeOur office is on the top floor of that building.
C
- capitalnounA2the city where a country’s or state’s government is basedTokyo is the capital of Japan.
- carnounA1a road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that carries a small number of peopleWe drove to the beach in my dad’s car.
- centernounA1the middle point or part of somethingThere’s a fountain in the center of the square.
- centraladjectiveB1in or near the middle of a placeOur hotel was in central London.
- churchnounA1a building where Christians go to pray and worshipThere’s an old stone church in the village.
- citynounA1a large and important townNew York is the biggest city in the US.
- closeverbA1to shut something, or to stop being openPlease close the window; it’s cold.
- coastnounB1the land next to the seaWe drove along the coast for three days.
- countrynounA1an area of land with its own governmentCanada is a very large country.
- crewnounB2all the people who work on a ship, plane or trainThe pilot and crew welcomed passengers on board.
D
- dingyadjectiveC1dark, dirty and unpleasantThey rented a dingy room above a bar.
- directionnounA2the way someone or something is moving or facingWe walked in the direction of the river.
- downadverbA1toward or in a lower placePlease sit down.
- driveverbA1to control a car or other vehicleCan you drive a truck?
E
- eastnounA1the direction where the sun risesThe wind is coming from the east.
- edgenounB1the outer line or end part of a surface, area or objectDon’t put your glass so close to the edge of the table.
- edificenounC2a large, impressive buildingThe cathedral is the oldest edifice in the city.
- enterverbA2to come or go into a placePlease knock before you enter the room.
F
- faradverbA1at or to a great distanceHow far is the airport from here?
- farenounB2the money you pay to travel on a bus, train, plane or taxiThe bus fare went up again this year.
- flyverbA1to move through the air using wings or an aircraftWe’re flying to Mexico next week.
- foreignadjectiveA2from or connected with a country that is not your ownHow many foreign languages do you speak?
- forwardadverbA2toward the front or the direction you are facingTake one step forward, please.
- frontnounA1the part of something that faces forward or is seen firstWrite your name on the front of the envelope.
- frontiernounC1the border between two countriesTroops were sent to guard the frontier.
G
H
- hereadverbA1in, at or to this placeCome here and look at this.
- hospitalnounA1a building where sick or injured people get medical careShe spent three days in the hospital after the accident.
- hotelnounA1a building where people pay to sleep and eat when travelingWe stayed at a small hotel near the beach.
I
L
- landnounA2the solid part of the earth’s surface, not the seaAfter weeks at sea, the sailors finally saw land.
- latitudenounC1the distance of a place north or south of the equator, measured in degreesThe city lies at a latitude of 40 degrees north.
- leaveverbA1to go away from a place or personThe train leaves at 8:15.
- leftadjectiveA1on the side of the body that is toward the west when you face northHe writes with his left hand.
- localadjectiveA2relating to the area near you or a particular placeWe buy vegetables from a local farm.
M
N
O
P
R
- railnounB2the railroad system, or one of the metal bars trains run onGoods are transported by rail.
- rampartnounC2a wide wall of earth or stone built to protect a castle or townWe walked along the ramparts of the old city.
- reachverbB1to arrive at a place, level or pointWe reached the hotel after midnight.
- regionnounB1a large area of a country or the world, often without exact bordersThis region is famous for its cheese.
- returnverbA2to come or go back to a placeHe returned home after ten years abroad.
- rightadjectiveA1correct or trueThat’s the right answer.
- roadnounA1a hard surface for cars and other vehicles to travel onBe careful when you cross the road.
S
- scenenounB1the place where something happens, especially something badPolice arrived at the scene of the accident.
- sidenounA2the left or right part of something or someoneThere’s a door on the left side of the house.
- sitenounB1a place where something is, was, or will be builtThey visited the site of the new school.
- southnounA1the direction to your right when you face the rising sunBirds fly south for the winter.
- southernadjectiveB1in or from the south part of a placeThey live in southern California.
- spacenounA2an empty area that can be usedIs there enough space for my bag?
- statenounA2the condition of someone or something at a certain timeThe house was in a terrible state.
- stationnounA1a place where trains or buses stop for passengersI’ll meet you at the train station.
- stayverbA1to remain in a place and not leaveStay here until I come back.
- steepadjectiveB2rising or falling sharply, so it is hard to go upThe path up the hill is very steep.
- storenounA1a building or room where things are soldI need to go to the grocery store.
- straightadjectiveA2not bent or curvedDraw a straight line across the page.
- streetnounA1a road in a town or city with buildings along itShe lives on Oak Street.
T
- territorynounB2land controlled by a particular country, ruler or groupThe plane entered enemy territory.
- thereadverbA1in, at, or to that placePut the box over there.
- throughprepositionA2from one side or end of something to the otherWe drove through the tunnel.
- throughoutprepositionB2in every part of a placeThe store has branches throughout the country.
- topnounA1the highest part or point of somethingWe climbed to the top of the hill.
- tournounA2a trip visiting several places, or a short visit around a building or siteWe took a guided tour of the museum.
- towardprepositionB1in the direction ofThe dog ran toward me.
- townnounA1a place with houses and shops, smaller than a cityI grew up in a small town.
- tractnounC2a large area of landThey bought a huge tract of forest.
- travelverbA1to go from one place to another, often far awayThey traveled across Europe by train.
- tripnounA1a journey to a place and back againWe took a trip to the mountains.
U
V
W
- wanderverbB2to walk slowly around a place without a clear purpose or directionWe spent the afternoon wandering around the old town.
- waynounA1a method or manner of doing somethingThis is the best way to learn.
- westnounA2the direction where the sun goes downThe sun sets in the west.
- westernadjectiveB1in or from the west of a placeThey live in western Canada.
- whereadverbA1used to ask about a place or positionWhere do you live?
- withinprepositionB1before a period of time has passedPlease reply within three days.
- worldnounA1the earth and all the people and places on itShe wants to travel around the world.