Travel & Transport Vocabulary
Transport & Vehicles (33 words)
A1
A2
driver noun · A2
DRY-ver
a person who drives a car, bus, or taxi
The taxi driver knew the way very well.
passenger noun · A2
PA-sun-jer
a person who travels but does not drive
The taxi driver helped the passenger with her bag.
schedule noun · A2
SKE-jool
a plan that shows when things happen
Check the schedule before you leave home.
subway noun · A2
SUB-way
a train that runs under the ground in a city
I take the subway to work every day.
B1
connection noun · B1
kuh-NEK-shun
a flight or train that continues your journey
We missed our connection in Frankfurt.
escalator noun · B1
ES-kuh-lay-tur
moving stairs that carry people up or down in a station or building
We took the escalator to the second floor.
highway noun · B1
HY-way
a wide, fast road between cities
The highway was empty this morning.
shuttle noun · B1
SHUT-ul
a bus or plane that travels regularly between two places
The airport shuttle leaves every twenty minutes.
timetable noun · B1
TYME-tay-bul
a list showing when buses or trains arrive and leave
Check the timetable before you leave home.
transfer verb · B1
trans-FUR
to change from one vehicle to another during a trip
We transferred from the bus to the metro downtown.
transit noun · B1
TRAN-zit
the system of buses, trains, and subways in a city
The city's transit is fast and clean.
B2
overhead adjective · B2
OH-vur-hed
above your head
Put small bags in the overhead locker before sitting down.
transfer noun · B2
TRANS-fur
changing to another plane, train, or bus during a journey
Our transfer in Frankfurt took only forty minutes.
C1
C2
terminus noun · C2
TUR-mih-nus
the final station at the end of a railway line
We finally reached the terminus at midnight, exhausted but exhilarated.
Asking for Directions (4 words)
A2
B1
intersection noun · B1
in-tur-SEK-shun
a place where two or more roads meet
Turn left at the next intersection.
B2
navigate verb · B2
NAV-uh-gayt
to find your way to a place
We used a map to navigate the old city.
C1
circuitous · C1
sur-KYOO-ih-tus
indirect; longer and more winding than the direct way
The bus took a circuitous route through mountain villages that were not on any map.
At the Airport (12 words)
A1
A2
B1
cancel verb · B1
KAN-sul
to stop something that was planned
They cancelled our flight because of the storm.
carry-on noun · B1
KAR-ee-on
a small bag you take with you onto the plane
I only travel with a carry-on.
terminal noun · B1
TER-muh-nul
a large building at an airport where journeys begin and end
Our flight leaves from Terminal 2.
B2
baggage noun · B2
BAG-ij
the bags you take with you when you travel
Please check your baggage at the counter.
At the Hotel (4 words)
A1
A2
guest noun · A2
GEST
a person staying at a hotel or visiting your home
She is a guest at our hotel.
B1
hostel noun · B1
HOSS-tul
a cheap place to stay, popular with young travelers
We stayed in a friendly hostel near the beach.
B2
accommodation noun · B2
uh-kom-uh-DAY-shun
a place to stay, like a hotel
We booked accommodation near the beach.
Holidays & Tourism (35 words)
A2
trip noun · A2
TRIP
a short journey to a place and back
We planned a trip to the beach last summer.
B1
adventure noun · B1
ad-VEN-chur
an exciting or unusual experience
Our trip to the desert was a real adventure.
backpack noun · B1
BAK-pak
a bag you carry on your back
He carried his backpack through the mountains.
campsite noun · B1
KAMP-syt
a place where people stay overnight in tents
We cooked dinner over a fire at our campsite in the mountains.
explore verb · B1
ik-SPLOR
to travel around a place to learn about it
We explored the city on foot.
guidebook noun · B1
GYDE-book
a book with information for travelers
This guidebook lists all the best restaurants.
resort noun · B1
ree-ZORT
a place where many people go on holiday, often by the sea
The resort has three swimming pools.
road trip noun · B1
ROHD TRIP
a long journey you take by car, often for fun
Last summer we went on a road trip across Canada.
round-trip adjective · B1
ROWND-TRIP
a ticket or journey that takes you somewhere and then brings you back
A round-trip ticket is usually cheaper than two one-way tickets.
sightseeing noun · B1
SYTE-see-ing
visiting famous places as a tourist
We spent the day sightseeing in the old town.
souvenir noun · B1
soo-vuh-NEER
something you buy to remember a trip
I bought a small souvenir for my mother.
suitcase noun · B1
SOOT-kayss
a large bag with a handle for carrying clothes when you travel
She packed her suitcase the night before.
B2
destination noun · B2
dest-uh-NAY-shun
the place you are traveling to
Paris is a popular destination for tourists.
round trip noun · B2
ROUND-trip
a journey to a place and back again
A round trip to London costs less than two one-way tickets.
voyage noun · B2
VOY-ij
a long trip by ship or in space
The voyage across the ocean took ten days.
C1
caravan noun · C1
KA-ruh-van
a group of travelers journeying together
Centuries ago, a caravan of merchants carried silk across the desert.
expedition noun · C1
eks-puh-DIH-shun
an organized journey with a purpose
The expedition set out to document wildlife in the remote rainforest.
C2
circumnavigate verb · C2
sir-kum-NAV-ih-gayt
to travel all the way around the earth
It took her eleven months to circumnavigate the globe by sail alone.
globetrotter noun · C2
GLOHB-trot-ter
someone who travels widely around the world
As a seasoned globetrotter, she has visited sixty countries.
meander verb · C2
mee-AN-der
to wander slowly without a fixed direction
We meandered through the old quarter, stopping whenever a doorway caught our eye.
peregrine adjective · C2
PEH-ruh-grin
traveling or wandering far from home
After university, she spent a peregrine year drifting through South America with only a backpack.
saunter verb · C2
SAWN-ter
to walk slowly and confidently, in no hurry
He sauntered down to the harbour as if he had all the time in the world.
waystation noun · C2
WAY-stay-shun
a stopping place on a long journey
The tiny desert town had been a waystation for traders crossing the dunes for centuries.
Traffic & Commuting (8 words)
A1
B1
commuter noun · B1
kuh-MYOO-tur
a person who travels to work or school every day
The train was full of tired commuters.
traffic jam noun · B1
TRA-fik jam
a long line of cars that cannot move
We were late because of a big traffic jam.
B2
commute verb · B2
kuh-MYOOT
to travel between home and work every day
She commutes to work by train.
congested adjective · B2
kun-JEST-ed
full of traffic or people, hard to move through
The road was congested during rush hour.
C1
congestion noun · C1
kun-JES-chun
crowded roads with too much traffic, where vehicles can barely move
The congestion on the expressway doubled his morning commute to nearly two hours.