Vocabulary · Places
Town and city in English
A1
Town and city in English: streets and buildings, public services, places to have fun, shops and ways to get around town, with the British and American words. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Places, streets and buildings
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| city(n.)“I live in a big city.” | a big, busy place where many people live | /ˈsɪti/ |
| town(n.) | a place smaller than a city | /taʊn/ |
| village(n.) | a small group of houses in the countryside | /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/ |
| building(n.) | a structure with walls and a roof | /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ |
| street(n.) | a road with houses or shops | /striːt/ |
| avenue(n.) | a wide road, often with trees | /ˈævənjuː/ |
| square(n.) | an open space with buildings around it | /skweə/ |
| bridge(n.) | a way across a river or road | /brɪdʒ/ |
Public services
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| hospital(n.) | where doctors care for sick people | /ˈhɒspɪtl/ |
| police station(n.) | the base of officers who fight crime | /pəˈliːs ˌsteɪʃn/ |
| fire station(n.) | the base of the firefighters | /ˈfaɪə ˌsteɪʃn/ |
| post office(n.) | where you send letters and parcels | /ˈpəʊst ˌɒfɪs/ |
| town hall(n.) | where the mayor and council work | /ˌtaʊn ˈhɔːl/ |
| school(n.) | where children go to learn | /skuːl/ |
| library(n.)“I borrow books from the library.” | where you borrow books for free | /ˈlaɪbrəri/ |
| bank(n.) | where people keep their money | /bæŋk/ |
Places to have fun
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cinema(n.)“Cinema (UK) / Movie theater (US).” | where you watch films on a big screen | /ˈsɪnəmə/ |
| theatre(n.)“Theatre (UK) / Theater (US).” | where actors perform plays on a stage | /ˈθɪətə/ |
| museum(n.) | where you can see art or old objects | /mjuˈziːəm/ |
| park(n.) | a public garden with grass and trees | /pɑːk/ |
| zoo(n.) | where people visit wild animals | /zuː/ |
| stadium(n.) | a big place for sports matches and concerts | /ˈsteɪdiəm/ |
| church(n.) | a building where Christians pray | /tʃɜːtʃ/ |
| castle(n.)“The "t" is silent.” | a big, strong old building with towers | /ˈkɑːsl/ |
Shops
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| shop(n.) | a place where you buy things | /ʃɒp/ |
| store(n.) | a place where you buy things | /stɔː/ |
| supermarket(n.) | a big shop that sells food | /ˈsuːpəˌmɑːkɪt/ |
| bakery(n.) | a shop that sells bread and cakes | /ˈbeɪkəri/ |
| pharmacy(n.) | a shop that sells medicine | /ˈfɑːməsi/ |
| restaurant(n.) | a place where you pay for meals | /ˈrestrɒnt/ |
| café(n.) | a small place for drinks and snacks | /ˈkæfeɪ/ |
| market(n.) | stalls outside where people sell food and things | /ˈmɑːkɪt/ |
Getting around town
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| bus stop(n.) | where you wait for the bus | /ˈbʌs stɒp/ |
| train station(n.) | where you get on and off trains | /ˈtreɪn ˌsteɪʃn/ |
| airport(n.) | where planes take off and land | /ˈeəpɔːt/ |
| underground(n.) | a railway under the city streets | /ˈʌndəɡraʊnd/ |
| subway(n.)“Subway (US) ≠ underground passage (UK).” | a railway under the city streets | /ˈsʌbweɪ/ |
| taxi(n.) | a car you pay to drive you | /ˈtæksi/ |
| car park(n.) | a place where you leave your car | /ˈkɑː pɑːk/ |
| parking lot(n.) | a place where you leave your car | /ˈpɑːkɪŋ lɒt/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
City, town or village?
City = a big place (London, Paris). Town = a smaller place (usually 10,000 to 100,000 people). Village = a small place in the countryside. The three words go from the biggest to the smallest.
I bought it at the library ❌: a library lends books
In a library, you borrow books. To buy books, go to a bookshop (UK) or a bookstore (US). Mixing up these two places is a very common mistake.
Shop or store? UK and US words
Cinema (UK) / movie theater (US). Shop (UK) / store (US). Underground (UK) / subway (US). Car park (UK) / parking lot (US). Both are correct: choose one variety and use it in the whole text.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Town and city
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Town and city” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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Frequently asked questions
Is it a city or a town?+
Use city for a big place (London, Paris). Use town for a smaller place (Windsor). Use village for a small place in the countryside. The choice depends on the size.
What is the difference between a library and a bookshop?+
In a library, you borrow books for free and give them back later. In a bookshop (UK) or a bookstore (US), you buy books. Many learners mix up these two words.
Underground, Tube or subway: what is the difference?+
In the UK, people say the Underground, and in London they also say the Tube. In the US, people say the subway. Metro is understood everywhere, and it is the official name in some cities (Washington, Paris, Madrid…).
Is it a car park or a parking lot?+
Car park is British English and parking lot is American English. Parking on its own is the action of leaving your car somewhere (Parking is free on Sundays.). It is not the name of the place, so do not say a parking.
Is it cinema or movie theater?+
Cinema is the British word, and people understand it everywhere. In the US, people say movie theater. A theatre (UK) or theater (US) is a place for plays and shows. Be careful: in the US, theater on its own can also mean a cinema.
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/town-and-city
© 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.