Places in Town Vocabulary in English: Words, Examples and Quiz
From the bakery and the bank to the bus stop and the city square: the words you need to name places in your town and ask how to get there, with pronunciation, simple definitions, Turkish translations and example sentences.
56 words · By LearnLingo Team · Updated
Tap to hear a word. Pronunciation is American English. Levels follow the CEFR scale. Turkish translations are given as a quick check.
Shops and services
Places where you buy things or get a service. Many British speakers use 's for shops named after a person's job: the butcher's, the hairdresser's, the chemist's.
| Word | Meaning and example | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
supermarket ⁄ˈsuːpɚˌmɑːrkɪt⁄ · noun A1 | a big shop that sells food and things for the home I buy milk and bread at the supermarket. | süpermarket |
grocery store ⁄ˈɡroʊsɚi stɔːr⁄ · noun A2 | a shop that sells food and things for the kitchen; often smaller than a supermarket There's a small grocery store at the end of my street. | bakkal, market |
bakery ⁄ˈbeɪkɚi⁄ · noun A2 | a shop where people make and sell bread and cakes The bakery opens at seven, so the bread is still warm. | fırın, pastane |
butcher shop ⁄ˈbʊtʃɚ ʃɑːp⁄ · noun A2 | a shop that sells meat; in British English, the butcher's We get our chicken from the butcher shop near the market. | kasap |
pharmacy ⁄ˈfɑːrməsi⁄ · noun A2 | a shop where you buy medicine; in British English, often the chemist's Is there a pharmacy open on Sundays? | eczane |
bookstore ⁄ˈbʊkstɔːr⁄ · noun A2 | a shop that sells books; in British English, a bookshop She works in a bookstore downtown. | kitapçı |
clothing store ⁄ˈkloʊðɪŋ stɔːr⁄ · noun A2 | a shop that sells clothes; in British English, a clothes shop There are three clothing stores on this street. | giyim mağazası |
shopping mall ⁄ˈʃɑːpɪŋ mɔːl⁄ · noun A2 | a large building with many shops, cafés and sometimes a cinema inside Teenagers often meet their friends at the shopping mall. | alışveriş merkezi |
market ⁄ˈmɑːrkɪt⁄ · noun A1 | a place, often outside, where people sell food and other things from tables The market is on Saturday mornings in the main square. | pazar |
bank ⁄bæŋk⁄ · noun A1 | a place that keeps people's money safe and where you can get money I need to go to the bank before it closes. | banka |
post office ⁄ˈpoʊst ˌɔːfɪs⁄ · noun A1 | a place where you send letters and packages and buy stamps Can you take this package to the post office? | postane |
hair salon ⁄ˈher səˌlɑːn⁄ · noun A2 | a place where people cut and style your hair; in British English, the hairdresser's My sister has an appointment at the hair salon at four. | kuaför |
Public buildings
Buildings that everyone in a town uses. With some of them, we often leave out the when we talk about their main purpose: go to school, go to church, in hospital (British English).
| Word | Meaning and example | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
hospital ⁄ˈhɑːspɪtl⁄ · noun A1 | a big building where doctors and nurses look after sick or hurt people The hospital is next to the park. | hastane |
police station ⁄pəˈliːs ˌsteɪʃən⁄ · noun A1 | the building where the police work Someone took my bag, so I went to the police station. | karakol |
fire station ⁄ˈfaɪɚ ˌsteɪʃən⁄ · noun A2 | the building where firefighters and fire trucks wait The children visited the fire station and sat in a fire truck. | itfaiye istasyonu |
library ⁄ˈlaɪbreri⁄ · noun A1 | a building where you can read or borrow books for free I study at the library because it's quiet. | kütüphane |
museum ⁄mjuˈziːəm⁄ · noun A1 | a building where people go to see old, interesting or beautiful things The museum is free on the first Sunday of the month. | müze |
school ⁄skuːl⁄ · noun A1 | a place where children go to learn The kids walk to school every morning. | okul |
city hall ⁄ˌsɪti ˈhɔːl⁄ · noun A2 | the building where the people who run a city work; in British English, the town hall You can get a parking permit at city hall. | belediye binası |
church ⁄tʃɝːtʃ⁄ · noun A1 | a building where Christians pray There's an old church in the middle of the village. | kilise |
mosque ⁄mɑːsk⁄ · noun A2 | a building where Muslims pray You can see the mosque from the bridge. | cami |
gas station ⁄ˈɡæs ˌsteɪʃən⁄ · noun A2 | a place where you buy fuel for a car; in British English, a petrol station We need to stop at a gas station. The tank is almost empty. | benzin istasyonu |
Places to eat, stay and have fun
Places for free time. With the movies, Americans say go to the movies; British speakers say go to the cinema.
| Word | Meaning and example | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
restaurant ⁄ˈrestɚɑːnt⁄ · noun A1 | a place where you pay to sit and eat a meal Let's try the new Italian restaurant tonight. | restoran |
café ⁄kæˈfeɪ⁄ · noun A1 | a small place where you can buy drinks and simple food We had coffee and cake at a café by the river. | kafe |
movie theater ⁄ˈmuːvi ˌθiːətɚ⁄ · noun A1 | a building where you watch films on a big screen; in British English, a cinema The movie theater has a cheap ticket night on Tuesdays. | sinema |
theater ⁄ˈθiːətɚ⁄ · noun A1 | a building where actors perform plays on a stage; British spelling: theatre We saw a play at the theater last weekend. | tiyatro |
park ⁄pɑːrk⁄ · noun A1 | a public area with grass and trees where people walk and play On sunny days, we have lunch in the park. | park |
playground ⁄ˈpleɪɡraʊnd⁄ · noun A2 | an outdoor area with swings and slides for children The kids are on the swings at the playground. | oyun parkı |
gym ⁄dʒɪm⁄ · noun A1 | a place with machines and weights where you exercise He goes to the gym three times a week. | spor salonu |
swimming pool ⁄ˈswɪmɪŋ puːl⁄ · noun A1 | a large area of water, inside or outside, where people swim The swimming pool is closed in winter. | yüzme havuzu |
stadium ⁄ˈsteɪdiəm⁄ · noun A2 | a very big place, often without a roof, where people watch sports or concerts The stadium was full for the final. | stadyum |
hotel ⁄hoʊˈtel⁄ · noun A1 | a building where you pay to sleep when you are away from home Our hotel is two minutes from the beach. | otel |
zoo ⁄zuː⁄ · noun A1 | a place where people can go and see wild animals The children loved the elephants at the zoo. | hayvanat bahçesi |
Streets and getting around
The parts of a town between the buildings. American and British English use different words for several of them, so the British word is given in the definition.
| Word | Meaning and example | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
street ⁄striːt⁄ · noun A1 | a road in a town with houses or shops on it I live on a quiet street near the station. | sokak, cadde |
road ⁄roʊd⁄ · noun A1 | a hard surface for cars to drive on, in a town or between towns Be careful when you cross the road. | yol |
square ⁄skwer⁄ · noun A2 | an open area in a town, with buildings on all sides The café is in the main square, next to the fountain. | meydan |
corner ⁄ˈkɔːrnɚ⁄ · noun A2 | the place where two streets meet The bank is on the corner of Main Street and Park Avenue. | köşe |
bridge ⁄brɪdʒ⁄ · noun A1 | a structure that goes over a river or road so you can cross it Walk across the bridge and turn left. | köprü |
traffic light ⁄ˈtræfɪk laɪt⁄ · noun A2 | a set of red, yellow and green lights that tell cars when to stop and go Turn right at the second traffic light. | trafik ışığı |
crosswalk ⁄ˈkrɔːswɔːk⁄ · noun B1 | a marked place where people walk across a road; in British English, a pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing Always cross the street at the crosswalk. | yaya geçidi |
sidewalk ⁄ˈsaɪdwɔːk⁄ · noun A2 | the path for people to walk on at the side of a street; in British English, a pavement Don't ride your bike on the sidewalk. | kaldırım |
parking lot ⁄ˈpɑːrkɪŋ lɑːt⁄ · noun A2 | an outdoor area where you leave your car; in British English, a car park The supermarket has a big parking lot. | otopark |
bus stop ⁄ˈbʌs stɑːp⁄ · noun A1 | a place at the side of a road where buses stop for people I'll wait for you at the bus stop. | otobüs durağı |
train station ⁄ˈtreɪn ˌsteɪʃən⁄ · noun A1 | a building where trains stop and people get on and off The train station is a ten-minute walk from here. | tren istasyonu |
downtown ⁄ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn⁄ · noun A2 | the center of a city, with many shops and offices; in British English, the town centre or city centre Most of the good restaurants are downtown. | şehir merkezi |
neighborhood ⁄ˈneɪbɚhʊd⁄ · noun A2 | a part of a town and the people who live there; British spelling: neighbourhood It's a friendly neighborhood with lots of small shops. | mahalle |
Directions and where things are
Short phrases to ask for and give directions. For full conversations, see asking for directions and prepositions of place.
| Word | Meaning and example | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
turn left ⁄tɝːn ˈleft⁄ · phrase A1 | change direction and go to the left Turn left at the bank. | sola dönmek |
turn right ⁄tɝːn ˈraɪt⁄ · phrase A1 | change direction and go to the right Turn right after the bridge. | sağa dönmek |
go straight ⁄ɡoʊ ˈstreɪt⁄ · phrase A1 | continue in the same direction, without turning; British speakers also say go straight on Go straight for two blocks, and the museum is on your left. | düz gitmek |
cross ⁄krɔːs⁄ · verb A2 | go from one side of a road, river or square to the other Cross the street at the traffic light. | karşıya geçmek |
next to ⁄ˈnekst tuː⁄ · phrase A1 | at the side of something, very close to it The pharmacy is next to the supermarket. | yanında |
across from ⁄əˈkrɔːs frʌm⁄ · phrase A2 | on the other side of the street from something; British speakers usually say opposite The post office is across from the park. | karşısında |
in front of ⁄ɪn ˈfrʌnt əv⁄ · phrase A1 | close to the front part of something, on the same side Let's meet in front of the movie theater. | önünde |
close to ⁄ˈkloʊs tuː⁄ · phrase A2 | a short distance from something; not far. Near means the same, but it has no to: near the station Our hotel is close to the train station. | yakınında |
far from ⁄ˈfɑːr frʌm⁄ · phrase A1 | a long distance away from something The airport is far from the city center. | uzağında |
around the corner ⁄əˌraʊnd ðə ˈkɔːrnɚ⁄ · phrase A2 | very close, just on the next street after the corner The bakery is just around the corner. | köşeyi dönünce, çok yakında |
Useful phrases and collocations
go to the bank
I have to go to the bank this afternoon.
go shopping
We usually go shopping at the mall on Saturdays.
on the corner of
The café is on the corner of Elm Street and Fifth Avenue.
the nearest
Excuse me, where's the nearest pharmacy?
a five-minute walk
The station is a five-minute walk from my house.
take the first left
Take the first left, and the library is on your right.
on your left, on your right
Go straight, and the hospital is on your left.
in the city center
There are lots of hotels in the city center.
go to the movies
Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
wait at the bus stop
We waited at the bus stop for twenty minutes.
go for a walk in the park
After dinner, we go for a walk in the park.
open, closed
The post office is closed on Sundays, but the supermarket is open.
How to learn these words
Learn these words with a real map. Think of your own street and say what is on it: There's a bakery, a pharmacy and a bus stop. Then walk the route in your head from your home to a place you go often, and say each place you pass out loud. Review the list again the next day and a week later. Short, spaced reviews help words stay. See how to learn English vocabulary for a simple plan.
Use there is and there are to say what a town has: There's a big park. There are two supermarkets. To say exactly where a place is, use prepositions of place: next to, between, across from, in front of, behind and near. Say on the corner for the outside of a street corner, not in the corner.
Watch out for American and British words: movie theater and cinema, pharmacy and chemist's, gas station and petrol station, parking lot and car park, sidewalk and pavement, downtown and town centre. Spelling changes too: theater and theatre, center and centre, neighborhood and neighbourhood. Both versions are correct; pick one style and use it the same way. Read more in British vs American English.
Use the words: speaking and writing tasks
- Describe your street in five sentences with there is and there are: There's a small café next to my building.
- Draw a simple map of your town center with eight places on it. Then explain the way from the bus stop to the library using turn left, go straight and across from.
- Write a short message to a visiting friend. Tell them three places to see in your town and why they should go.
- Say out loud where you go for each need: to buy bread, to send a package, to borrow a book, to exercise, to see a film.
- Practice asking for directions with the phrases in asking for directions. Ask for the nearest pharmacy, then the nearest bus stop.
Common mistakes
I go to the home after work.
I go home after work.
Home works like an adverb after verbs of movement, so we say go home and get home with no to and no the.
My son goes to the school by bus.
My son goes to school by bus.
When you talk about the main purpose of a place, like studying at school or praying at church, there is no the. Use the school only for the building: I parked outside the school.
The pharmacy is in the corner.
The pharmacy is on the corner.
For a building where two streets meet, English uses on the corner. In the corner is for the inside of a room.
Is there a bank near to here?
Is there a bank near here?
Near usually comes straight before the place, with no to: near here, near the station. Close to is the phrase that uses to.
The bank is in front of the park, on the other side of the street.
The bank is across from the park.
In front of means on the same side, near the front. If a road is between the two places, say across from or, in British English, opposite.
Practice quiz
10 questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
1. I need some medicine. Where's the nearest ___?
2. Choose the correct sentence.
3. You can borrow books for free at the ___.
4. What is the British English word for a parking lot?
5. Choose the correct sentence.
6. The post office is on one side of the street, and the park is on the other side. The post office is ___ the park.
7. Where do you buy fresh bread and cakes?
8. Directions: Go ___ for two blocks, then turn left.
9. What does downtown mean?
10. The children are playing on the swings at the ___.
0 of 10 answered
Show all answers
- pharmacy
- The café is on the corner.
- library
- car park
- After work I go home.
- across from
- at the bakery
- straight
- the center of a city
- playground
See what the A1 English course covers, or test your level first.
People also ask
How do I ask where a place is in English?+
The simplest questions are Excuse me, where's the nearest bank? and Is there a pharmacy near here? You can make them more polite with Could you tell me where the post office is?
What is the difference between a street and a road?+
A street is in a town and usually has houses or shops along it. A road is more general and can go between towns, but many town streets are also called roads in their names, like Station Road.
Do I say cinema or movie theater?+
Both are correct. Movie theater is American English, and cinema is British English. Americans also say go to the movies, while British speakers say go to the cinema.
Why do people say go to school but go to the bank?+
With places like school, church, college, prison and, in British English, hospital, we leave out the when we talk about their main purpose. Most other places, like the bank, the park and the supermarket, always take the.
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