Basic Nouns

1. Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

2. Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Uncountable: say "some food", never "a food"

3. Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Uncountable; for pieces say "coins" or "notes" (US: "bills")

4. Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   UK "toilet"; in the US ask for the "restroom" or "bathroom" — "toilet" there means the fixture

5. Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   "Tissues" for a box; the brand name "Kleenex" is widely understood

6. Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   General term; a single unit is a "tablet" or "pill", a prescribed one is a "prescription"

7. Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Uncountable — "a piece of luggage" or "a bag"; US English also uses "baggage"

8. Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

9. Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Return ticket (US: round-trip ticket) vs one-way ticket

10. Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

11. Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Short for "telephone"; a mobile phone is a "cell phone" in the US

12. Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    The cable is a "charging cable"; the wall part is a "plug" or "adapter"

13. Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    "Train station"; for the metro, UK "underground station", US "subway station"

14. Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Always plural: "The police are here." One person is a "police officer"

16. Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    "Store" is the usual American word; "shop" is more British

17. Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

18. Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    "Street" for a town street; "road" or "highway" for a larger route

19. Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

20. Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Surname = last name; first name = given name

21. Head

    Usage

    A body part to point at when showing where it hurts

22. Eye

    Usage

    One is an "eye", both are "eyes"

23. Tooth

    Usage

    One is a "tooth", several are "teeth"; point at the sore one at a dentist

24. Throat

    Usage

    The inside; the outside of the neck is "neck"

25. Stomach

    Usage

    Also used loosely for the whole belly area

26. Back

    Usage

    The body part — not the "back" of "go back"

27. Lower back

    Usage

    English has no single word for this area, so "lower back" is used

28. Foot

    Usage

    The part below the ankle; the whole limb is a "leg"

29. Hand

    Usage

    From the wrist down; the arm is a separate word

30. Chest

    Usage

    The ribcage area — used for chest pain, not for the breast

31. Fire engine

    Usage

    The vehicle used to put out fires; American English also widely says "fire truck"

32. Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go if you lose your passport; an embassy is "embassy"

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