{"id":"en-topic-directions","language":"en","version":"2026-10-16","name":"English topic: Directions and transport","purpose":"Asking the way and getting around. 40 English words and phrases, ranked by usefulness, used to check what a learner knows in any language.","methodDetail":"Hand-written topic list, ranked from most to least useful in everyday life.","sources":[{"title":"Assist With Languages topic lists","url":"https://assistwithlanguages.com/vocabulary","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","note":"Written for this site. Ranked by everyday usefulness within each topic; the sense line says which meaning is meant."}],"entries":[{"term":"where is...?","gloss":"asking for a place","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 1"]},{"term":"left","gloss":"direction","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 2"]},{"term":"right","gloss":"direction","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 3"]},{"term":"straight ahead","gloss":"direction","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 4"]},{"term":"near","gloss":"close by","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 5"]},{"term":"far","gloss":"a long way","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 6"]},{"term":"the street","gloss":"road in a town","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 7"]},{"term":"the bus","gloss":"public transport","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 8"]},{"term":"the metro","gloss":"underground train","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 9"]},{"term":"a taxi","gloss":"car for hire","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 10"]},{"term":"the stop","gloss":"where the bus stops","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 11"]},{"term":"here","gloss":"this place","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 12"]},{"term":"there","gloss":"that place","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 13"]},{"term":"next to","gloss":"beside","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 14"]},{"term":"in front of","gloss":"facing","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 15"]},{"term":"behind","gloss":"at the back","kind":"word","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 16"]},{"term":"across from","gloss":"opposite","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 17"]},{"term":"the corner","gloss":"where streets meet","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 18"]},{"term":"the traffic lights","gloss":"stop and go signals","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 19"]},{"term":"the bridge","gloss":"over a river","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 20"]},{"term":"to turn","gloss":"change direction","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 21"]},{"term":"to cross","gloss":"go over","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 22"]},{"term":"to walk","gloss":"on foot","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 23"]},{"term":"to drive","gloss":"a car","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 24"]},{"term":"the car","gloss":"vehicle","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 25"]},{"term":"the bicycle","gloss":"bike","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 26"]},{"term":"the road","gloss":"way for cars","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 27"]},{"term":"the entrance","gloss":"way in","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 28"]},{"term":"the exit","gloss":"way out","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 29"]},{"term":"the north","gloss":"direction","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 30"]},{"term":"the south","gloss":"direction","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 31"]},{"term":"how far is it?","gloss":"asking distance","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 32"]},{"term":"how long does it take?","gloss":"asking time","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 33"]},{"term":"a one-way ticket","gloss":"single","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 34"]},{"term":"a return ticket","gloss":"round trip","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 35"]},{"term":"the platform","gloss":"where trains stop","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 36"]},{"term":"to get off","gloss":"leave a vehicle","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 37"]},{"term":"to get on","gloss":"board a vehicle","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 38"]},{"term":"the parking lot","gloss":"where cars park","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 39"]},{"term":"the gas station","gloss":"fuel","kind":"phrase","tags":["Directions and transport","Rank 40"]}],"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/","attribution":"Assist With Languages and the credited sources","itemCount":40}