IELTS VOCABULARY ON CITIES AND BUILDINGS

Citie
urban /ˈəː.bən/: in a city or tow
I SH
• urban area/ development/ populatio
G L
Many young people move from the countryside to urban areas in
search of work
E N
G
rural | ˈrʊər(ə)l |: in or of the countrysid
N
• rural area/ setting/
I
community/ population/ lif
K rural communities today are very real
The dif culties facing
V I
slum (noun): a very poor and overcrowded urban street are
• Inner-city slum
• Slum areas/ dweller
suburb | ˈsʌbəːb |: the outer area of a town, consisting mainly of
homes rather than the shopping and business centre in the middl
• The suburbs
• leafy suburb
Suburban life can be boring

I SH
L
outskirts | ˈaʊtskəːts |: the outer parts of a town or cit

cities
N G
Residential property tends to be cheaper on the outskirts of

E
in small, very cheaply builtN
G
shantytown: an area on the edge of a city, where poor people live
I houses
Ksurround major cities in developing
V
underemployed people I
Large shantytowns largely housing unemployed or

countries

infrastructure | ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə |: the basic structures and facilities

(e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) that a country or organization
uses in order to work effectivel
• build/ develop/ create/ improve/ invest in an infrastructure
The civil war has badly damaged the country’s infrastructure

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 facility: a place, building, or equipment used for a particular

purpose or activit
• recreational/ sports/ leisure/ shopping facilitie
• bathroom/ washing/ cooking facilitie
I SH
L
Entertainment and sports facilities available in the town and in
the country differ widely.
Many shopping centres provideN
G
amenities | əˈmiːnɪti, əˈmɛnɪti G
E facilities for car-parking
|: desirable or useful features or
I N
facilities of a building or plac
• basic/ public amenitie
The propertyV
I K
is situated in a convenient location, close to all
local amenities

public transport: buses, trains, and other forms of transport that

are available to the public, charge set fares, and run on xed route
• reliable public transport
Great investment in public transport would keep more cars off
the roads

traf c: the movement of vehicles or people on a road

• heavy/ rush-hour/ slow-moving traf
I SH
• traf c jam/ congestion/ accident/ problem
• the volume/ roar of traf
G L
EN
I couldn’t sleep with the constant roar of the traf c outside my
window

N G
K I
metro (noun; C): an underground electric railway system in a city;
subwa
• a metro statio V I
Regular service of the metro system resumed after safety
checks were conducted
metropolis | mɪˈtrɒp(ə)lɪs | (noun; C): the capital or chief city of a
country or regio
• a sprawling/ bustling/ modern/ industrial metropolis
I prefer the peaceful life of the countryside to the bustle of the
metropolis.

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 commute (verb/ noun: countable) | kəˈmjuːt |: To make the same

journey regularly between work and home
commuter (noun: countable)
I SH
L
It is exhausting to commute during rush hour

G
The commute to work is worse during rush hour

EN
Commuters often complain that the public transportation
service is too cramped.
G
IN
pedestrian | pɪˈdɛstrɪən | (noun; C): a person walking rather than
K
• pedestrian crossin VI
traveling in a vehicle, especially in an area where vehicles g

There are many more pedestrians on the road than motor

vehicles

residential | rɛzɪˈdɛnʃ(ə)l |: relating to houses where people live

rather than to places where they work
• residential area/ building/ neighbourhood/ care/ cours
Behind the beach are high-rise hotels and residential buildings

resident | ˈrɛzɪd(ə)nt |: a person who lives or has their home in a

plac
I SH
proposal
G L
Most local residents strenuously objected to the building

E N
• commercial area/ activity/G
commercial | kəˈməːʃ(ə)l |: related to businesses and their activitie

I N district/ development/ product/

purpose/
I Kare worried about the prospect of
commercialV
Some residents
development in the area

industrial: related to industry, or having a lot of industry and

factorie
• industrial area/ zone/ purpose/ waste/ nation/ city
The industrial zones which lie on the edge of the city are
grey and polluted

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 accommodate: (of a building or other area) have or provide the

space that someone or something needs
There aren’t enough rooms to accommodate all the students.
accommodation: a place to stay or liv
I SH
L
Hostels are a temporary solution until the families can be
housed in permanent accommodation.
G
densely populated/ packe EN
G
IN
cramped: limited in the freedom to move because there is not
K
enough spac
• cramped + condition VI
The buses are too cramped at rush hour

congestion (noun: uncountable): A situation in which there is too

much traf c and movement is dif cult
congested (adj)
• Ease/ reduce/ relieve + congestion
• Road/ city/ traf c + congestion
• Congestion + charge (a charge for vehicles which enter a
speci c zone within a city )
Imposing nes for driving in city centres is one way to reduce
congestion in cities
I SH
City centres are becoming increasingly congested as more
G L
EN
people own private vehicles.

spread out: cover a large are

G
IN
The suburbs spread out for miles to either side of the city

I K
V
high-rise: | ˈhʌɪrʌɪz | (noun/ adj): a building with many oor
• a high-rise apartment/ at/ hotel/ of ce/ buildin
The monumental buildings were demolished and made room
for luxurious high-rise apartment blocks

run-down: (of a building or area) in a poor or neglected stat

An old run-down factor
remote: far away; not clos
• remote area/ from/ chance/ workers/ learnin
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affordable: inexpensive; reasonably priced
• affordable housing/ homes/ price
S H
The government has increased the provision of affordable
I
G L
housing in order to make home ownership accessible to
buyers who would otherwise be unable to buy

E
pricey (infml): expensive, in a negative
N sens
N G
it is a bit pricey; but the food is wonderful
overpriced: too expensive;
I costing more than it is wort
K commoditie
• overpriced housing/
V I
mortgage (noun/ verb): a loan to buy property/ to borrow money to
buy a hous
• apply for/ take out/ get/ pay a mortgage
• mortgage payment/ repaymen
She got behind with her mortgage repayments and the
house was repossessed.
They had to mortgage their home to pay for their children’s
education

SH
shortage: a situation in which there is not enough of somethin
I
• an energy/ food/ water/ housing shortag
• a labour/ skills/ staff/ shortag
G L
EN
The city faces a severe shortage of low-cost housing
There is a shortage of food and shelter in the refugee camps
G
The long hot summer has led to serious water shortages

K IN
Home
VI
Detached house: not joined to any other house
Semi-detached house: joined to one other house
Terraced house: joined to several houses to form a row
Cottage: small house in the country or in a village
Bungalow: house with only one story (no upstairs)
Villa: large house with big gardens or a rented house in a holiday
resort/ tourist are
Mansion: a very large, expensive house
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 cosy: giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxatio

She lived in a cosy country cottage

Spacious: having ample space; larg

• A spacious house/ living roo I SH
cramped: not having enough space or tim
G L
EN
• A cramped room/ hous
Light, air
neat and tid
G
K IN
moder
VI
fully furnished: (of accommodation) already having furniture in i
• fully furnished at or apartmen
A typical ____ apartment/ hous

Be/ feel at home: to feel comfortable and relaxe

I’m already feeling at home in the new apartment
A home away from home (idiom): a place where one is as happy,
relaxed, or comfortable as in one's own home
The café felt almost like a home away from home

Hometow
I SH
bustling: (of a place) full of busy activit
G L
EN
• bustling town/ city centre/ downtown area/ market/ streets
On special days, the ower market is bustling with shoppers.
vibrant: full of energy, life or excitemen
G
• A vibrant cosmopolitan cit
K IN
I
The city is youthful, vibrant — an exciting place.
livel
V
Dynamic: constantly changing or developin
• A dynamic environment/ market/ economy
Tourist
historic: famous or important in histor
• historic buildings/ sites/ monumen
Modernizing historic buildings can often do more harm than
good

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 picturesque: (of a place or building) usually attractive, especially in

a charming way
peacefu
Idyllic | ɪˈdɪlɪk |: (place or experience) extremely pleasant, beautiful,
I SH
L
or peacefu
• an idyllic village/ settin
G
EN
• an idyllic summer/ childhoo
She enjoyed the idyllic life in the countryside
pace of life: the speed at which events and changes occu
G
• Hectic/ fast/ slower pace of lif
K IN
I
We moved to a small town, seeking a slower pace of life
V
Neighbourhoo
quie
quaint | kweɪnt |: attractively unusual or old-fashione
My hometown has a lot of quaint old buildings dating back to
its’s foundation in the 1500s.
old-fashione
crowded: full of people; packe
• crowded room/ streets
nois
bus
close t
I SH
conveniently locate
G L
EN
within walking distance: not very far; close enough to reach by
walkin
G
I live right in the centre, within easy walking distance of shops,
restaurants, and bars.
K IN
I
In the middle of nowhere
V
atmosphere | ˈatməsfɪə |: the character, feeling, or mood of a place
or situatio
• relaxed/ friendly/ welcoming atmosphere
The restaurant not only serves good food but also offers a very
relaxed atmosphere.

vibe (infml): the mood of a place, situation, person, etc. and the
way that they make you fee
The city is famous for its laid-bak vibe
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 Speaking questions

PART 1
Where you live
I SH
L
What do you like the most about your home town/city

G
Is your home town/city a popular place for tourists to visit

EN
Do you think your home town/city has changed much in recent
years
G
Home town
K IN
VI
What kind of place is your town/city
Is your home town a good place to live
What sort of jobs do people do in your home town
In which part of your home town do most people live
Where did you play in your home town when you were a child?

Buildings
Are there any famous buildings in your home town
In what type of building do most people in your home town live
Should buildings be attractive to look at
What is the most unusual building you have ever seen

I SH
L
PART 2

G
EN
G
K IN
VI

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 PART 3
Different types of home

I SH
What kinds of home are most popular in your country? Why is

L
this

G
What do you think are the advantages of living in a house rather

EN
than an apartment
Do you think that everyone would like to live in a larger home?
Why is that?
N G
Finding a place toK
I
How easy is it V I live
to nd a place to live in your country
Do you think it’s better to rent or to buy a place to live in? Why
Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop
living with their parents? Why is that

Architecture
Why is architecture such a popular university subject
In what ways has the design of homes changed in recent years
To what extent does the design of buildings affect people’s
moods

Facilities in cities
I SH
G L
Which facilities are most important to people living in cities

EN
How does shopping in small local shops differ from shopping in
large city centre shops
G
Do you think that children should always go to the school
nearest to where they live
K IN
The growth of cities
VI
Why have cities increased in size in recent years
What are the challenges created by ever-growing cities
In what ways do you think cities of the future will be different to
cities today

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