Transportation Vocabulary

• 

  bicycle

• 

  boat

• 

  bus

• 

  car

• 

  helicopter

• 

  motorcycle

• 

  plane

• 

  scooter

• 

  ship

• 

  skateboard

• 

  skates

• 

  subway

• 

  taxi

• 

  train

• 

  truck

Land vehicle parts

• wiper

  A rubber blade that clears rain, snow or dirt from the windshield.

• taillight

  Red light located at the back of a vehicle.

• rearview mirror

  A mirror that allows the driver to see behind the vehicle.

• license plate

  A sign attached to a vehicle that identifies the car.

• hubcap

  A wheel cover.

• exhaust pipe

  A tube that carries waste gases out of the engine.

• grill

  A decorative metal or plastic screen at the front of a vehicle.

• dashboard

  The control panel located in front of the driver. Also called the “dash.”

• glove box

  Small storage built into the dashboard. Also called a “glove compartment.”

• glove compartment

  Small storage built into the dashboard. Also called a “glove box.”

• speedometer

  A gauge on the dashboard that indicates the speed.

• brake pedal

  Foot control for stopping the vehicle.

• gas pedal

  Foot control for acceleration. Also called the “accelerator.”

• accelerator

  Foot control for acceleration. Also called the “gas pedal.”

• airbag

  Safety device deployed during a crash.

• navigation system

  An electronic map and guide system. Also called a “GPS.”

• GPS

  An electronic map and guide system. Also called a “navigation system.”

Boat and airplane parts

• cockpit

  Area at the front of a plane where the pilot sits.

• fuselage

  The main body of an airplane.

• cabin

  Area where passengers sit during a flight.

• fin

  The vertical part on the plane's tail.

• hold

  Space used for carrying luggage, freight or goods.

• propeller

  Device with blades that spin to make a vehicle move.

• rotor

  Set of big blades on top of a helicopter to lift it off the ground.

• hull

  The main body of a ship or boat.

• mast

  A pole on a boat that holds the sails.

• sail

  A large piece of strong fabric attached to a mast.

• rudder

  A blade at the rear of a boat or plane used for steering.

• keel

  A heavy fin at the bottom of a boat's hull that provides balance.

Streets & roads

• avenue

  A wide, public road in a town or city.

• boulevard

  A very wide, multi-lane city road.

• lane

  Part of a street or road where you can drive. Cars change lanes to pass other cars.

• alley

  A narrow passage or road, usually located behind or between buildings.

• speed bump

  A raised ridge built on the surface of a road that forces drivers to slow down.

• roundabout

  A circular intersection.

• highway

  Large, main road built for fast travel over long distances, often connecting different cities or towns.

• expressway

  A wide road for fast-moving traffic that goes through a city.

• to commute

  To travel from home to work or school.

• to catch a bus

  To take a bus.

• to miss a bus

  To arrive at the bus stop after the bus has already left.

• to transfer

  To leave one vehicle (bus, train, or plane) and board another one during the same trip.

• to board

  To enter a ship, aircraft, train, or bus.

• to disembark

  To exit a ship, aircraft, train or bus.

• to navigate

  To plan, record, and control the course or position of a vehicle.

• to sail

  To travel across water in a boat or ship with sails.

• to speed

  To drive a vehicle faster than the legal speed limit.

• to yield

  To give the "right of way" to other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians.

Travel & transportation hubs

• rest area

  A public facility off a highway where you can take a break from driving. Also called a “service area” or a “rest stop.”

• service station

  A facility located near a road where drivers buy fuel and other necessities.

• toll road

  A highway that drivers must pay to use. Also called a “turnpike.”

• toll booth

  A kiosk located on a toll road where a toll is paid to use the road.

• runway

  Strip of land where airplanes take off and land.

• terminal

  Building that serves as the transition point for passengers.

• hangar

  A large building used for storing airplanes.

• control tower

  A tall building where Air Traffic Controllers work.

• harbour

  A sheltered body of water where ships and boats can dock or anchor. Like a parking lot for boats.

• dock

  The specific area where a ship or boat is brought to a stop and secured. Like a parking spot for a boat.

• pier

  A platform that extends in the water for ships to dock.

• marina

  A small-scale port for recreational boats.

• bus station

  A structure where buses park to allow passengers to board or exit.

• bus terminal

  The final point of a bus route or a major central station where many different bus lines end.

• train station

  A facility where passengers can board and get off trains. Also called a “railway station.”

• railway station

  A facility where passengers can board and get off trains. Also called a “train station.”

• subway station

  A stop on a subway line where passengers can board and get off.

• platform

  Area next to the tracks where passengers get on or off a train or subway.

• ticket

  A voucher that gives a person permission to board a vehicle.

• pass

  Transit document that allows a passenger to make unlimited trips on a bus, train or subway for a set period.

• schedule

  List of times when a bus, train, or subway is planned to arrive at and depart. Also called a “timetable.”

• timetable

  List of times when a bus, train or subway is planned to arrive at and depart. Also called a “schedule.”

• route

  The established course that a vehicle travels on a regular basis. Used for buses and trams.

• line

  A designated path or series of stations served by a specific set of vehicles. Used for subways and trains.

• transfer

  The point in a journey where a passenger leaves one vehicle (bus, train or plane) and boards another.

• delay

  When a vehicle is late.

• express

  A route that skips many minor stops or stations to connect major hubs more quickly.

• local

  A route that stops at every designated station or bus stop along its circuit.

• shuttle

  A vehicle that provides frequent transport between two specific locations.

• rush hour

  Periods of the day when traffic congestion is at its peak.

• traffic jam

  When a large number of vehicles are on the road, causing traffic to slow down.

• right-of-way

  A set of rules that dictates which traffic participant has priority.

• U-turn

  A 180-degree turn made by a vehicle in order to head in the opposite direction.

• road trip

  A long-distance journey travelled by a car, motorcycle or RV.

• to take a ride

  To go out for a drive or a bike ride simply for fun, with no particular destination.

• to give a ride

  To provide transportation for another person. Synonym for “to give a lift.”

• to give a lift

  To provide transportation for another person. Synonym for “to give a ride.”