Transportation means the different ways people move from one place to another. Learning these words helps you talk about how you travel.
Common Vehicles
Car: A vehicle with four wheels for 4-5 people Example: “I drive my car to work every day.”
Bus: A large vehicle that carries many people Example: “I take the bus to school.”
Taxi/Cab: A car with a driver you pay to take you places Example: “We called a taxi to go to the airport.”
Bicycle/Bike: A two-wheel vehicle you ride by pushing the pedals Example: “I ride my bike in the park on weekends.”
Motorcycle: A two-wheel vehicle with an engine Example: “He rides his motorcycle to work.”
Truck: A large vehicle for carrying heavy things Example: “The truck delivers furniture to the store.”
Van: A vehicle bigger than a car for carrying people or things Example: “The school van takes children to school.”
Public Transportation
Train: A vehicle that runs on tracks and carries many people Example: “The train goes from New York to Boston.”
Subway/Underground/Metro: An electric train that runs under the city Example: “The subway is faster than the bus in big cities.”
Tram/Streetcar: An electric vehicle that runs on tracks in the street Example: “We take the tram to the city center.”
Ferry: A boat that carries people and cars across water Example: “We took the ferry to the island.”
Air and Water Transportation
Airplane/Plane: A vehicle that flies in the air Example: “We travel by plane to other countries.”
Helicopter: A small aircraft that can go up and down directly Example: “The helicopter landed on top of the building.”
Boat: A small vehicle that moves on water Example: “We went fishing on a small boat.”
Ship: A large vehicle that carries people or things on water Example: “The big ship carries thousands of people.”
Parts of Vehicles
Wheel: The round part that turns Example: “Cars have four wheels.”
Engine: The part that makes power for the vehicle Example: “The car engine makes a strange noise.”
Seat: Where you sit in a vehicle Example: “Please sit on the back seat.”
Door: How you get in and out of a vehicle Example: “Close the car door, please.”
Window: The glass part you can see through Example: “Open the window for fresh air.”
Places for Transportation
Bus stop: Where buses stop for passengers Example: “Wait for the bus at the bus stop.”
Train station: Where trains stop for passengers Example: “Meet me at the train station at 3 o’clock.”
Airport: Where airplanes take off and land Example: “We go to the airport three hours before our flight.”
Parking lot/Car park: A place to leave your car Example: “The store has a big parking lot.”
Gas/Petrol station: Where you put fuel in your car Example: “I need to stop at the gas station.”
Words for Moving
Drive: To control a car, bus, or truck Example: “She drives to work every day.”
Ride: To travel on a bicycle, motorcycle, or horse Example: “He rides his bike to school.”
Fly: To travel in an airplane Example: “We fly to Paris next week.”
Sail: To travel on water using a boat with sails Example: “They sail across the lake.”
Walk: To move on foot Example: “I walk to the store because it’s close.”
Run: To move on foot, very fast Example: “He runs to catch the bus.”
Transportation Phrases
“How do you get to work/school?” “I take the bus/train.” “I drive my car.” “I ride my bike.” “I walk.”
“Is there a bus to the airport?” “What time does the train leave?” “How much is a taxi to the hotel?” “Can I park here?” “Where is the nearest bus stop?”
Remember that different places use different kinds of transportation. In big cities, many people use public transportation like buses and trains. In small towns, more people use cars or bicycles. Learning transportation words helps you travel and talk about how you move around!