Cities & Transport vocabulary for IELTS

Urban life, housing, congestion and travel. 20 words with definitions and example sentences, useful for Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3.

traffic congestion noun

too many vehicles causing slow movement

Traffic congestion costs cities billions in lost time.

public transport noun

buses, trains and trams for public use

Investment in public transport reduces car use.

commute verb / noun

to travel regularly between home and work

Many workers commute over an hour each way.

urban sprawl noun

uncontrolled spread of a city into surrounding land

Urban sprawl increases dependence on cars.

affordable housing noun

homes that people on average incomes can buy or rent

There is an acute shortage of affordable housing.

pedestrianise verb

to close a street to vehicles

Pedestrianising the centre boosted local shops.

overcrowded adjective

containing too many people

Overcrowded trains make commuting stressful.

amenities noun

useful facilities such as parks and shops

New housing estates often lack basic amenities.

infrastructure investment noun

spending on transport and utilities

Infrastructure investment can revive declining regions.

high-rise adjective / noun

a tall building with many floors

High-rise flats house more people on less land.

green space noun

parks and natural areas in a city

Access to green space improves mental health.

cycle lane noun

a part of the road reserved for bicycles

Protected cycle lanes encourage more people to cycle.

rush hour noun

the busiest time for travel

Fares are higher during rush hour.

gentrification noun

wealthier people moving into a poorer area, raising prices

Gentrification has pushed long-term residents out.

congestion charge noun

a fee for driving in a busy area

London's congestion charge reduced traffic in the centre.

outskirts noun

the outer parts of a city

Many families move to the outskirts for cheaper homes.

densely populated adjective

having many people in a small area

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places on Earth.

rural adjective

relating to the countryside

Rural areas often have limited bus services.

infrastructure strain noun

pressure on services from heavy demand

Rapid growth has put infrastructure under strain.

liveable adjective

pleasant and suitable to live in

Vienna is regularly ranked the most liveable city.