Vocabulary · Places
Neighbourhood in English
B1
Neighbourhood in English: the parts of a town, types of districts, adjectives to describe where you live, the people around you and useful phrases, with the UK and US words. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Parts of town
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| neighbourhood / neighborhood(n.)“UK: neighbourhood. US: neighborhood.” | the part of town where you live | /ˈneɪbəhʊd/ |
| district(n.) | an official part of a city | /ˈdɪstrɪkt/ |
| area(n.) | a part of a town or region | /ˈeəriə/ |
| downtown(n./adv.)“I live downtown.” | the busy middle of a town (US) | /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/ |
| city centre / center(n.) | the busy middle of a town | /ˈsɪti ˈsentə/ |
| suburb(n.)“I live in the suburbs.” | an area of homes outside a big city | /ˈsʌbɜːb/ |
| outskirts(n.)“On the outskirts of town.” | the outer edges of a town | /ˈaʊtskɜːts/ |
Types of districts
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| residential area(phrase) | a part of town with mainly homes | /ˌrezɪˈdenʃl ˈeəriə/ |
| shopping district(phrase) | a part of town with many shops | /ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˈdɪstrɪkt/ |
| business district(phrase) | a part of town with many offices | /ˈbɪznəs ˈdɪstrɪkt/ |
| historic district(phrase) | the old part of a town | /hɪˈstɒrɪk ˈdɪstrɪkt/ |
| industrial area(phrase) | a part of town with factories | /ɪnˈdʌstriəl ˈeəriə/ |
| red-light district(phrase) | an area known for adult nightlife | /ˌred ˈlaɪt ˈdɪstrɪkt/ |
Describing a neighbourhood
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| safe(adj.)“A safe neighborhood.” | with no danger | /seɪf/ |
| dangerous(adj.) | where you can get hurt | /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/ |
| quiet(adj.) | with very little noise | /ˈkwaɪət/ |
| noisy(adj.) | very loud | /ˈnɔɪzi/ |
| busy(adj.) | full of people and traffic | /ˈbɪzi/ |
| lively(adj.) | full of energy and fun things | /ˈlaɪvli/ |
| trendy(adj.) | fashionable and popular now | /ˈtrendi/ |
| rundown(adj.) | old and in bad condition | /ˌrʌnˈdaʊn/ |
| posh(adj.) | rich and elegant (UK, informal) | /pɒʃ/ |
| fancy(adj.) | expensive and elegant (US) | /ˈfænsi/ |
People
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| neighbour / neighbor(n.)“UK: neighbour. US: neighbor.” | a person who lives near you | /ˈneɪbə/ |
| resident(n.) | a person who lives in a place | /ˈrezɪdənt/ |
| local(n./adj.)“Ask a local.” | a person from the area | /ˈləʊkl/ |
| commuter(n.) | a person who travels to work daily | /kəˈmjuːtə/ |
Useful phrases
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to live in...(phrase)“I live in a nice neighborhood.” | to have your home in a place | /tə lɪv ɪn/ |
| to move to...(phrase) | to go and live in a new place | /tə muːv tə/ |
| in the area(phrase) | near here, in this part of town | /ɪn ði ˈeəriə/ |
| around here(phrase) | near this place | /əˈraʊnd hɪə/ |
| around the corner(phrase) | very close, just a short walk | /əˈraʊnd ðə ˈkɔːnə/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Neighbour (UK) or neighbor (US)?
UK: neighbour, neighbourhood (with u). US: neighbor, neighborhood (without u). The ending -our / -or works like colour / color and favour / favor.
Downtown (US) or city centre (UK)?
For the centre of a city, Americans say downtown. In the UK, people say city centre (spelt centre, not center). I live downtown (US) = I live in the city centre (UK).
I live in suburb ❌: say in the suburbs
To say where you live, use the and the plural: I live in the suburbs. Not I live in suburb or I live at suburb. For one named place, use the singular: a suburb of London.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Neighbourhood
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between neighbourhood, district and area?+
Your neighbourhood (UK) or neighborhood (US) is the part of town around your home. A district is a part of a city, often an official one. Area is a more general word for any part of a town or a region. Choose the word that fits the situation.
What is the difference between downtown and city centre?+
They mean the same thing: the central part of a city, with shops and offices. Downtown is American English. City centre is British English (with the spelling centre). I live downtown (US) = I live in the city centre (UK).
What is a suburb?+
A suburb is a residential area (where people live) around a big city. In the UK and the US, people often see suburbs as calm places that are good for families. Say I live in the suburbs: with the and a plural.
How do you spell neighbour?+
Neighbour is British English and neighbor is American English: same word, different spelling. My neighbour is nice. The plural is neighbours. The area where you live is your neighbourhood (UK) or neighborhood (US).
How do you describe a neighbourhood in English?+
Some useful phrases: a nice neighbourhood (pleasant, general), a lively area (with lots of people and things to do), a quiet residential area (calm, with houses), a trendy district (fashionable) and a safe area. Choose the adjective that matches what you want to say.
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/neighbourhood
© 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.