Vocabulary · US culture
New York in English
A2
New York in English: the five boroughs, famous places like Times Square and Central Park, skyscrapers and city words, and the subway and yellow cabs. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Boroughs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan(n.)“Manhattan is the heart of New York.” | the island at the centre of New York | /mænˈhætən/ |
| Brooklyn(n.) | a big borough across the East River | /ˈbrʊklɪn/ |
| Queens(n.) | the largest borough, east of Manhattan | /kwiːnz/ |
| the Bronx(n.) | the borough north of Manhattan | /ðə brɒŋks/ |
| Staten Island(n.) | the borough reached by a free ferry | /ˈstætən ˈaɪlənd/ |
Famous places
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Times Square(n.) | a busy crossing full of giant screens | /taɪmz skweə/ |
| Statue of Liberty(n.) | a giant copper woman in New York's harbour | /ˈstætʃuː əv ˈlɪbəti/ |
| Central Park(n.) | a huge green space in Manhattan | /ˈsentrəl pɑːk/ |
| Empire State Building(n.) | a famous New York skyscraper | /ˈempaɪə steɪt ˈbɪldɪŋ/ |
| Brooklyn Bridge(n.) | an 1883 bridge linking Manhattan and Brooklyn | /ˈbrʊklɪn brɪdʒ/ |
| Wall Street(n.) | the centre of American finance | /wɔːl striːt/ |
Architecture and city life
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| skyscraper(n.) | a very tall city building | /ˈskaɪskreɪpə/ |
| avenue(n.) | a wide street in a city | /ˈævənjuː/ |
| block(n.) | the space between four streets | /blɒk/ |
| downtown(n.) | the business centre of a city | /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/ |
| midtown(n.) | the middle part of Manhattan | /ˈmɪdtaʊn/ |
| uptown(n.) | the northern part of a city | /ˌʌpˈtaʊn/ |
Transport and icons
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| subway(n.) | the American word for the metro | /ˈsʌbweɪ/ |
| yellow cab(n.) | a New York taxi | /ˈjeləʊ kæb/ |
| Big Apple(n.) | a nickname for New York | /bɪɡ ˈæpəl/ |
| NYC(n.) | short for New York City | /en waɪ siː/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Subway: a metro (US) or a tunnel (UK)?
In the US, a subway is the metro. In the UK, a subway is a tunnel where people walk under a road. For the metro in London, say the Underground or the Tube.
The Big Apple: New York's nickname
The Big Apple is a nickname for New York City. Its origin is not certain: journalists who wrote about horse racing used it in the 1920s, then jazz musicians took it, and a tourism campaign made it popular again in the 1970s.
Practice quiz
Related pages: New York
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Frequently asked questions
What are the five boroughs of New York?+
New York City has five boroughs (big districts): Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Each borough has its own character. Manhattan is the centre.
What is New York's nickname?+
The Big Apple. It has been a popular nickname since the 1970s. People also call it the City that never sleeps, because it is busy day and night.
How do you get around New York?+
Many people use the subway (the metro). There are also yellow cabs (taxis), buses and ride apps. In Manhattan, people walk a lot: most streets form a simple grid, so it is easy to find your way.
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/new-york
© 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.