Vehicles

1. Car

   Usage

   The general word. "Automobile" is written American English only — in speech everyone says "car"

2. Bus

   Usage

   The city bus. A roadside stop is a "bus stop"; a covered hub is a "bus station"

3. Double-decker bus

   Usage

   The red London bus. The front seats upstairs have the best view. No cash — tap a contactless card or an Oyster card

4. Coach

   Usage

   British English for a long-distance bus such as National Express or Megabus — distinct from a city "bus". Americans call it a bus and use "coach" for a train carriage

5. Train

   Usage

   The station is a "station"; a carriage in the UK is a "car" in the US, and a UK "platform" is a US "track"

6. The Underground / The Tube

   Usage

   The London metro — locals say "the Tube". Careful: in Britain "subway" means a pedestrian underpass, not a train

7. Subway

   Usage

   American English for a metro, used in New York, Boston and elsewhere. It will not work in Britain — say "the Underground" there

8. Tram / Streetcar

   Usage

   "Tram" in Britain, Australia and New Zealand — Melbourne, Edinburgh, Manchester. Americans say "streetcar" (New Orleans) or "trolley"

9. Sleeper train

   Usage

   For the Caledonian Sleeper to Scotland or long Amtrak routes. A bed compartment is a "berth" or "cabin" in Britain, a "roomette" on Amtrak

10. Taxi

    Usage

    Understood everywhere; Americans also say "cab". Saying "Meter, please" before you set off avoids arguments

11. Black cab

    Usage

    London's boxy black taxi. If the roof light is on you can hail it in the street. Drivers pass "the Knowledge", a memory exam on London's streets. A "minicab" must be booked and cannot be hailed

12. Ride-hailing app

    Usage

    Uber, Lyft, Bolt and the like. Airports usually have a dedicated bay signed "rideshare pickup"

13. Motorbike

    Usage

    British English; Americans say "motorcycle". Renting one abroad needs an international driving permit

14. Scooter

    Usage

    A small step-through bike, the classic Greek-island rental. A stand-up electric one is an "e-scooter" — a different thing

15. E-scooter

    Usage

    The app-rented stand-up scooter. In the UK riding a privately owned one on public roads is illegal — only licensed rental schemes are allowed. Rules differ city by city

16. Bicycle

    Usage

    Usually shortened to "bike". London's hire scheme is officially Santander Cycles but everyone calls them "Boris bikes"

17. Plane

    Usage

    "Plane" in speech; airport signs and documents use "aircraft"

18. Boat

    Usage

    The general word for a small vessel. A large seagoing one is a "ship"

19. Ferry

    Usage

    The scheduled crossing to an island or the far bank. On Channel and Irish Sea routes the ones that take vehicles are "car ferries"

20. Narrowboat

    Usage

    The two-metre-wide boat on Britain's canals. Hiring one for a few days needs no licence — you work the locks yourself

21. Cable car

    Usage

    In Britain this hangs from a wire over a valley. In San Francisco a "cable car" runs on rails up the hills — same words, different machine

22. Van

    Usage

    A boxy vehicle for goods, and the usual airport transfer. A small people-carrier is a "minibus"

23. Lorry / Truck

    Usage

    "Lorry" in Britain, "truck" in the US and Australia. Britons understand "truck", but road signs and traffic reports say "lorry"

24. Campervan

    Usage

    "Campervan" in Britain, Australia and New Zealand; Americans say "RV". In New Zealand many freedom-camping spots are for "self-contained" vans only

25. Ambulance

    Usage

    Say "Call an ambulance". The emergency number is 999 (or 112) in the UK, 911 in the US and Canada, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand

26. Hire car / Rental car

    Usage

    "Hire car" in Britain, "rental car" in the US. Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand drive on the left and default to manual gearboxes — book an "automatic" explicitly if you need one

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