Lesson

Town & Cities

Urban vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Town & Cities: Key vocabulary

This lesson introduces essential vocabulary related to towns and cities. You will learn words that describe different urban areas, common places in a city, and useful collocations to describe location and function.

  • Words for different urban areas: city, town, suburb, outskirts, district.
  • Common places: downtown, city center, business district, residential area.
  • Useful collocations and prepositions: in the city, on the outskirts, in downtown (correct: downtown or in the downtown area).

Table

Common Urban Vocabulary

Word Definition Example
city A large and densely populated urban area, usually with wide services and government functions. The company opened its regional office in the city.
town A smaller urban area with local services and a community center. She moved to a town near the airport to cut commuting time.
suburb A residential area outside the city center, often with family homes. Many employees prefer to live in the suburbs and commute by train.
downtown / city center The central business and commercial area of a city. Our meeting will take place downtown next Tuesday.
outskirts The outer parts or edge of a city, often less developed. The logistics warehouse is located on the outskirts of the city.
district A specific area within a city with a distinct character or function. The tech district hosts several startups and incubators.
borough / municipality An administrative division within a city or region. The new tax policy affects small businesses in each borough.
metropolitan area A large urban area that includes a central city and its surrounding towns and suburbs. The metropolitan area has seen rapid growth in the past decade.

Tip

Key collocations and prepositions

Focus on how words combine and which prepositions to use. This helps your spoken and written clarity.

  • Use 'in' for general locations: in the city, in the town, in the district.
  • Use 'on the outskirts' (not 'in the outskirts').
  • Use 'downtown' without a preposition (downtown) or 'in the downtown area' for formal contexts.
  • Combine nouns with functions: business district, residential area, industrial zone.

Memorize common collocations (e.g., 'on the outskirts', 'city center') to sound natural.

Example

Examples in context

The project manager moved to a town closer to the new office.

We booked a meeting room in the city center to welcome international clients.

Our warehouse is on the outskirts of the metropolitan area to ease deliveries.

The startup set up in the tech district to access talent and investors.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch for these universal errors when using town & city vocabulary.

  • Using wrong prepositions: say 'on the outskirts' (not 'in the outskirts').
  • Confusing countability: 'a city' vs 'the city' — choose article carefully.
  • Incorrect word order: don't say 'in downtown' alone; use 'downtown' or 'in the downtown area'.
  • Overgeneralizing place terms: 'suburb' and 'district' are not always interchangeable.

Focus on prepositions, articles, and the exact meaning of each term.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Check possessive pronouns and prepositions of movement.

Quiz

Complete: They live _____ the suburbs.

Hint: Think about prepositions used for residential locations outside a city.

Quiz

Which word best completes the sentence: 'The manager prefers a _____ neighborhood for her employees, with shops and cafes nearby.'

Hint: Think about areas mainly designed for housing.

Key Points

Vocabulary

city

noun CEFR B1 //ˈsɪti//

A large and important urban area with extensive services and administration.

Our head office is located in the city.

Vocabulary

town

noun CEFR B1 //taʊn//

A smaller urban area than a city, often with local shops and services.

They opened a branch in a nearby town.

Vocabulary

suburb

noun CEFR B1 //ˈsʌbɜːrb//

A residential area on the edge of a city.

Many team members commute from the suburbs by train.

Vocabulary

outskirts

noun CEFR B2 //ˈaʊtskɜːrts//

The outer parts of a town or city, often less urbanized.

The distribution center is on the outskirts of town.

Vocabulary

downtown

noun / adverb CEFR B1 //ˈdaʊntaʊn//

The commercial center of a city; also used adverbially to mean 'toward the city center'.

We will meet downtown after the conference.

Vocabulary

district

noun CEFR B2 //ˈdɪstrɪkt//

A defined area within a city with a specific character or administrative function.

Our clients prefer offices in the financial district.

Expression

business district

noun CEFR B2 //ˈbɪznəs ˈdɪstrɪkt//

A city area with a high concentration of offices, banks, and corporate buildings.

Investors prefer buildings located in the business district.