Vocabulary · Travel
Airport in English
A2
Airport in English: flights and planes, check-in and security, luggage, and the verbs you need to fly, from boarding to landing. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Flights and planes
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| airport(n.)“I'm at the airport.” | where planes take off and land | /ˈeəpɔːt/ |
| plane / aircraft(n.) | a machine that flies people | /pleɪn/ |
| flight(n.) | a journey by plane | /flaɪt/ |
| pilot(n.) | the person who flies the plane | /ˈpaɪlət/ |
| flight attendant(n.) | a person who helps passengers on board | /flaɪt əˈtendənt/ |
| passenger(n.) | a person who travels on a plane | /ˈpæsɪndʒə/ |
Before the flight
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| check-in(n.) | the desk where you give your bags | /ˈtʃekɪn/ |
| boarding pass(n.) | the ticket that lets you on the plane | /ˈbɔːdɪŋ pɑːs/ |
| gate(n.) | the door where you get on | /ɡeɪt/ |
| security(n.) | where officers check you and your bags | /sɪˈkjʊərəti/ |
| customs(n.) | where officers check what you bring in | /ˈkʌstəmz/ |
| passport(n.) | an official document to travel abroad | /ˈpɑːspɔːt/ |
| visa(n.) | permission to enter another country | /ˈviːzə/ |
Luggage
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| luggage / baggage(n.) | the bags you take when you travel | /ˈlʌɡɪdʒ/ |
| suitcase(n.) | a big bag with a handle | /ˈsuːtkeɪs/ |
| carry-on(n.) | a small bag you take on the plane | /ˈkæri ɒn/ |
| backpack(n.) | a bag you wear on your shoulders | /ˈbækpæk/ |
Verbs and useful words
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to take off(v.) | to leave the ground and fly | /teɪk ɒf/ |
| to land(v.) | to come down to the ground | /lænd/ |
| to board(v.) | to get on a plane | /bɔːd/ |
| delay(n.) | when something happens later than planned | /dɪˈleɪ/ |
| departure(n.) | the moment a flight leaves | /dɪˈpɑːtʃə/ |
| arrival(n.) | the moment a flight gets there | /əˈraɪvəl/ |
A common mistake
Two luggages ❌: luggage has no plural
Luggage and baggage are uncountable: you cannot say two luggages. Say two pieces of luggage or two suitcases. The verb is singular: My luggage is heavy.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Airport
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Airport” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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For teachers“Airport” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say you missed your flight?+
Say I missed my flight. To miss means you arrived too late. Other useful sentences: My flight has been delayed (it will leave later) and My flight has been cancelled (it will not leave at all).
Is it luggage or baggage?+
They mean almost the same thing, and both are uncountable. Luggage is more common in the UK and baggage in the US. To count, say two pieces of luggage or two suitcases.
How do you talk about the gate at the airport?+
Say gate + the number: gate 12. Your flight leaves from gate 12. Boarding at gate 5. You can find the gate number on your boarding pass and on the screens.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/airport
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.