🗺️ Geography
In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for talking about geography, countries, cities, landscapes, and the location of places around the world. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.
🟢 Basic Geography Vocabulary
🌎 World
the Earth and all the people and places on it
🇫🇷 French: Monde
🇩🇪 German: Welt
🇮🇹 Italian: Mondo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mundo
the Earth and all the people and places on it
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mundo🇫🇷 French: Monde
🇩🇪 German: Welt
🇮🇹 Italian: Mondo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mundo
🗺️ Map
a drawing that shows where places are
🇫🇷 French: Carte
🇩🇪 German: Karte
🇮🇹 Italian: Mappa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mapa
a drawing that shows where places are
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mapa🇫🇷 French: Carte
🇩🇪 German: Karte
🇮🇹 Italian: Mappa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mapa
🌍 Country
a land with its own government
🇫🇷 French: Pays
🇩🇪 German: Land
🇮🇹 Italian: Paese
🇵🇹 Portuguese: País
a land with its own government
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: País🇫🇷 French: Pays
🇩🇪 German: Land
🇮🇹 Italian: Paese
🇵🇹 Portuguese: País
🌐 Continent
one of the large land areas of the world
🇫🇷 French: Continent
🇩🇪 German: Kontinent
🇮🇹 Italian: Continente
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Continente
one of the large land areas of the world
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Continente🇫🇷 French: Continent
🇩🇪 German: Kontinent
🇮🇹 Italian: Continente
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Continente
🏙️ City
a large town with many buildings
🇫🇷 French: Ville
🇩🇪 German: Stadt
🇮🇹 Italian: Città
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cidade
a large town with many buildings
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ciudad🇫🇷 French: Ville
🇩🇪 German: Stadt
🇮🇹 Italian: Città
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cidade
🏛️ Capital
the main city of a country
🇫🇷 French: Capitale
🇩🇪 German: Hauptstadt
🇮🇹 Italian: Capitale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Capital
the main city of a country
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Capital🇫🇷 French: Capitale
🇩🇪 German: Hauptstadt
🇮🇹 Italian: Capitale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Capital
🟡 Natural Landscapes
🏔️ Mountain
a very high area of land
🇫🇷 French: Montagne
🇩🇪 German: Berg
🇮🇹 Italian: Montagna
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Montanha
a very high area of land
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Montaña🇫🇷 French: Montagne
🇩🇪 German: Berg
🇮🇹 Italian: Montagna
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Montanha
🏞️ Valley
low land between mountains
🇫🇷 French: Vallée
🇩🇪 German: Tal
🇮🇹 Italian: Valle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vale
low land between mountains
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Valle🇫🇷 French: Vallée
🇩🇪 German: Tal
🇮🇹 Italian: Valle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vale
🏜️ Desert
a very dry place with little rain
🇫🇷 French: Désert
🇩🇪 German: Wüste
🇮🇹 Italian: Deserto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Deserto
a very dry place with little rain
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Desierto🇫🇷 French: Désert
🇩🇪 German: Wüste
🇮🇹 Italian: Deserto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Deserto
🌲 Forest
a large area full of trees
🇫🇷 French: Forêt
🇩🇪 German: Wald
🇮🇹 Italian: Foresta / Bosco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Floresta / Bosque
a large area full of trees
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Bosque🇫🇷 French: Forêt
🇩🇪 German: Wald
🇮🇹 Italian: Foresta / Bosco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Floresta / Bosque
🌋 Volcano
a mountain that can send out lava
🇫🇷 French: Volcan
🇩🇪 German: Vulkan
🇮🇹 Italian: Vulcano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vulcão
a mountain that can send out lava
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Volcán🇫🇷 French: Volcan
🇩🇪 German: Vulkan
🇮🇹 Italian: Vulcano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vulcão
🏝️ Island
land with water all around it
🇫🇷 French: Île
🇩🇪 German: Insel
🇮🇹 Italian: Isola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ilha
land with water all around it
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Isla🇫🇷 French: Île
🇩🇪 German: Insel
🇮🇹 Italian: Isola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ilha
🔵 Water & Coastal Geography
🌊 River
a long body of water that flows
🇫🇷 French: Rivière / Fleuve
🇩🇪 German: Fluss
🇮🇹 Italian: Fiume
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Rio
a long body of water that flows
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Río🇫🇷 French: Rivière / Fleuve
🇩🇪 German: Fluss
🇮🇹 Italian: Fiume
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Rio
💧 Lake
a large body of water surrounded by land
🇫🇷 French: Lac
🇩🇪 German: See
🇮🇹 Italian: Lago
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lago
a large body of water surrounded by land
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Lago🇫🇷 French: Lac
🇩🇪 German: See
🇮🇹 Italian: Lago
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lago
🌊 Ocean
a very large body of salt water
🇫🇷 French: Océan
🇩🇪 German: Ozean
🇮🇹 Italian: Oceano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Oceano
a very large body of salt water
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Océano🇫🇷 French: Océan
🇩🇪 German: Ozean
🇮🇹 Italian: Oceano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Oceano
🌊 Sea
a large area of salt water
🇫🇷 French: Mer
🇩🇪 German: Meer
🇮🇹 Italian: Mare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mar
a large area of salt water
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mar🇫🇷 French: Mer
🇩🇪 German: Meer
🇮🇹 Italian: Mare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mar
🌅 Coast
the land next to the sea
🇫🇷 French: Côte
🇩🇪 German: Küste
🇮🇹 Italian: Costa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Costa
the land next to the sea
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Costa🇫🇷 French: Côte
🇩🇪 German: Küste
🇮🇹 Italian: Costa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Costa
🏖️ Beach
sand next to the sea
🇫🇷 French: Plage
🇩🇪 German: Strand
🇮🇹 Italian: Spiaggia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Praia
sand next to the sea
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Playa🇫🇷 French: Plage
🇩🇪 German: Strand
🇮🇹 Italian: Spiaggia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Praia
🧠 Describing Geographic Locations
💡 Use is / are to say where a country, city, or geographic feature is located.
The city is near the coast.
🇫🇷 La ville est près de la côte.
🇩🇪 Die Stadt liegt in der Nähe der Küste.
🇮🇹 La città è vicino alla costa.
🇵🇹 A cidade fica perto da costa.The town is between the mountains.
🇫🇷 Le village est entre les montagnes.
🇩🇪 Das Dorf liegt zwischen den Bergen.
🇮🇹 Il paese è tra le montagne.
🇵🇹 A vila fica entre as montanhas.
The city is near the coast.
Show translations
🇪🇸 La ciudad está cerca de la costa.🇫🇷 La ville est près de la côte.
🇩🇪 Die Stadt liegt in der Nähe der Küste.
🇮🇹 La città è vicino alla costa.
🇵🇹 A cidade fica perto da costa.
Show translations
🇪🇸 El pueblo está entre las montañas.🇫🇷 Le village est entre les montagnes.
🇩🇪 Das Dorf liegt zwischen den Bergen.
🇮🇹 Il paese è tra le montagne.
🇵🇹 A vila fica entre as montanhas.
💡 Use there is / there are when talking about geographic features that exist in a particular place.
There is a lake near the city.
🇫🇷 Il y a un lac près de la ville.
🇩🇪 Es gibt einen See in der Nähe der Stadt.
🇮🇹 C'è un lago vicino alla città.
🇵🇹 Há um lago perto da cidade.There are several islands off the coast.
🇫🇷 Il y a plusieurs îles au large de la côte.
🇩🇪 Es gibt mehrere Inseln vor der Küste.
🇮🇹 Ci sono diverse isole al largo della costa.
🇵🇹 Há várias ilhas ao largo da costa.
There is a lake near the city.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Hay un lago cerca de la ciudad.🇫🇷 Il y a un lac près de la ville.
🇩🇪 Es gibt einen See in der Nähe der Stadt.
🇮🇹 C'è un lago vicino alla città.
🇵🇹 Há um lago perto da cidade.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Hay varias islas frente a la costa.🇫🇷 Il y a plusieurs îles au large de la côte.
🇩🇪 Es gibt mehrere Inseln vor der Küste.
🇮🇹 Ci sono diverse isole al largo della costa.
🇵🇹 Há várias ilhas ao largo da costa.
💡 Use north of, south of, east of, and west of to describe the position of one place in relation to another.
The island is south of the continent.
🇫🇷 L'île est au sud du continent.
🇩🇪 Die Insel liegt südlich des Kontinents.
🇮🇹 L'isola è a sud del continente.
🇵🇹 A ilha fica a sul do continente.
The island is south of the continent.
Show translations
🇪🇸 La isla está al sur del continente.🇫🇷 L'île est au sud du continent.
🇩🇪 Die Insel liegt südlich des Kontinents.
🇮🇹 L'isola è a sud del continente.
🇵🇹 A ilha fica a sul do continente.
💬 Everyday Phrases About Geography
🏔️ A mountain range crosses a large part of the region.
mountains go across much of the area
🇫🇷 French: Une chaîne de montagnes traverse une grande partie de la région.
🇩🇪 German: Eine Gebirgskette durchquert einen großen Teil der Region.
🇮🇹 Italian: Una catena montuosa attraversa gran parte della regione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Uma cadeia de montanhas atravessa grande parte da região.
mountains go across much of the area
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Una cadena de montañas atraviesa gran parte de la región.🇫🇷 French: Une chaîne de montagnes traverse une grande partie de la région.
🇩🇪 German: Eine Gebirgskette durchquert einen großen Teil der Region.
🇮🇹 Italian: Una catena montuosa attraversa gran parte della regione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Uma cadeia de montanhas atravessa grande parte da região.
🌊 The river passes through several towns before reaching the sea.
the river flows past towns and then to the sea
🇫🇷 French: La rivière traverse plusieurs villages avant d'atteindre la mer.
🇩🇪 German: Der Fluss fließt durch mehrere Dörfer, bevor er das Meer erreicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il fiume passa attraverso diversi paesi prima di arrivare al mare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O rio passa por várias vilas antes de chegar ao mar.
the river flows past towns and then to the sea
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: El río pasa por varios pueblos antes de llegar al mar.🇫🇷 French: La rivière traverse plusieurs villages avant d'atteindre la mer.
🇩🇪 German: Der Fluss fließt durch mehrere Dörfer, bevor er das Meer erreicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il fiume passa attraverso diversi paesi prima di arrivare al mare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O rio passa por várias vilas antes de chegar ao mar.
🏝️ The island is surrounded by small beaches and rocky coasts.
beaches and rocks go all around the island
🇫🇷 French: L'île est entourée de petites plages et de côtes rocheuses.
🇩🇪 German: Die Insel ist von kleinen Stränden und felsigen Küsten umgeben.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'isola è circondata da piccole spiagge e coste rocciose.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A ilha é rodeada por pequenas praias e costas rochosas.
beaches and rocks go all around the island
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: La isla está rodeada de pequeñas playas y costas rocosas.🇫🇷 French: L'île est entourée de petites plages et de côtes rocheuses.
🇩🇪 German: Die Insel ist von kleinen Stränden und felsigen Küsten umgeben.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'isola è circondata da piccole spiagge e coste rocciose.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A ilha é rodeada por pequenas praias e costas rochosas.
🗺️ We looked for the city on the map before starting the trip.
we found the city on the map first
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons cherché la ville sur la carte avant de commencer le voyage.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben die Stadt auf der Karte gesucht, bevor wir die Reise begonnen haben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo cercato la città sulla mappa prima di iniziare il viaggio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Procurámos a cidade no mapa antes de começar a viagem.
we found the city on the map first
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Buscamos la ciudad en el mapa antes de empezar el viaje.🇫🇷 French: Nous avons cherché la ville sur la carte avant de commencer le voyage.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben die Stadt auf der Karte gesucht, bevor wir die Reise begonnen haben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo cercato la città sulla mappa prima di iniziare il viaggio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Procurámos a cidade no mapa antes de começar a viagem.
💬 Everyday Conversations
Looking at a map
finding a city before a trip
A: Where is the city we're going to visit?
B: It's in the north, near the mountains.
🇪🇸 B: Está al norte, cerca de las montañas.
🇫🇷 A: Où se trouve la ville que nous allons visiter ?
🇫🇷 B: Elle est au nord, près des montagnes.
🇩🇪 A: Wo ist die Stadt, die wir besuchen werden?
🇩🇪 B: Sie liegt im Norden, in der Nähe der Berge.
🇮🇹 A: Dove si trova la città che andiamo a visitare?
🇮🇹 B: È a nord, vicino alle montagne.
🇵🇹 A: Onde fica a cidade que vamos visitar?
🇵🇹 B: Fica a norte, perto das montanhas.
finding a city before a trip
A: Where is the city we're going to visit?
B: It's in the north, near the mountains.
Show translations
🇪🇸 A: ¿Dónde está la ciudad que vamos a visitar?🇪🇸 B: Está al norte, cerca de las montañas.
🇫🇷 A: Où se trouve la ville que nous allons visiter ?
🇫🇷 B: Elle est au nord, près des montagnes.
🇩🇪 A: Wo ist die Stadt, die wir besuchen werden?
🇩🇪 B: Sie liegt im Norden, in der Nähe der Berge.
🇮🇹 A: Dove si trova la città che andiamo a visitare?
🇮🇹 B: È a nord, vicino alle montagne.
🇵🇹 A: Onde fica a cidade que vamos visitar?
🇵🇹 B: Fica a norte, perto das montanhas.
Talking about the landscape
asking what is across the valley
A: What is on the other side of the valley?
B: There is a large forest and, farther away, a lake.
🇪🇸 B: Hay un bosque grande y, más lejos, un lago.
🇫🇷 A: Qu'y a-t-il de l'autre côté de la vallée ?
🇫🇷 B: Il y a une grande forêt et, plus loin, un lac.
🇩🇪 A: Was ist auf der anderen Seite des Tals?
🇩🇪 B: Es gibt einen großen Wald und weiter weg einen See.
🇮🇹 A: Cosa c'è dall'altra parte della valle?
🇮🇹 B: C'è una grande foresta e, più lontano, un lago.
🇵🇹 A: O que há do outro lado do vale?
🇵🇹 B: Há uma floresta grande e, mais longe, um lago.
asking what is across the valley
A: What is on the other side of the valley?
B: There is a large forest and, farther away, a lake.
Show translations
🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué hay al otro lado del valle?🇪🇸 B: Hay un bosque grande y, más lejos, un lago.
🇫🇷 A: Qu'y a-t-il de l'autre côté de la vallée ?
🇫🇷 B: Il y a une grande forêt et, plus loin, un lac.
🇩🇪 A: Was ist auf der anderen Seite des Tals?
🇩🇪 B: Es gibt einen großen Wald und weiter weg einen See.
🇮🇹 A: Cosa c'è dall'altra parte della valle?
🇮🇹 B: C'è una grande foresta e, più lontano, un lago.
🇵🇹 A: O que há do outro lado do vale?
🇵🇹 B: Há uma floresta grande e, mais longe, um lago.
📝 Example Sentences
🏙️ The capital is located beside a river that runs through the entire city.
a river goes through the capital city
🇫🇷 French: La capitale est située au bord d'une rivière qui traverse toute la ville.
🇩🇪 German: Die Hauptstadt liegt an einem Fluss, der durch die gesamte Stadt fließt.
🇮🇹 Italian: La capitale è situata accanto a un fiume che attraversa tutta la città.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A capital fica junto a um rio que atravessa toda a cidade.
a river goes through the capital city
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: La capital está situada junto a un río que atraviesa toda la ciudad.🇫🇷 French: La capitale est située au bord d'une rivière qui traverse toute la ville.
🇩🇪 German: Die Hauptstadt liegt an einem Fluss, der durch die gesamte Stadt fließt.
🇮🇹 Italian: La capitale è situata accanto a un fiume che attraversa tutta la città.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A capital fica junto a um rio que atravessa toda a cidade.
🌋 From the valley, you can see the top of the volcano on clear days.
the volcano peak is visible when the sky is clear
🇫🇷 French: Depuis la vallée, on peut voir le sommet du volcan les jours clairs.
🇩🇪 German: Vom Tal aus kann man an klaren Tagen den Gipfel des Vulkans sehen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dalla valle si può vedere la cima del vulcano nei giorni sereni.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Do vale se pode ver o topo do vulcão nos dias limpos.
the volcano peak is visible when the sky is clear
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Desde el valle se puede ver la cima del volcán en los días despejados.🇫🇷 French: Depuis la vallée, on peut voir le sommet du volcan les jours clairs.
🇩🇪 German: Vom Tal aus kann man an klaren Tagen den Gipfel des Vulkans sehen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dalla valle si può vedere la cima del vulcano nei giorni sereni.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Do vale se pode ver o topo do vulcão nos dias limpos.
🏜️ In some parts of the desert, it hardly rains throughout the year.
some desert areas get almost no rain
🇫🇷 French: Dans certaines parties du désert, il ne pleut presque pas pendant toute l'année.
🇩🇪 German: In manchen Teilen der Wüste regnet es fast das ganze Jahr nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: In alcune parti del deserto non piove quasi mai durante tutto l'anno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Em algumas partes do deserto quase não chove durante o ano todo.
some desert areas get almost no rain
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: En algunas partes del desierto casi no llueve durante todo el año.🇫🇷 French: Dans certaines parties du désert, il ne pleut presque pas pendant toute l'année.
🇩🇪 German: In manchen Teilen der Wüste regnet es fast das ganze Jahr nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: In alcune parti del deserto non piove quasi mai durante tutto l'anno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Em algumas partes do deserto quase não chove durante o ano todo.
🌲 A large forest covers the mountains west of the lake.
trees cover the mountains on the west side of the lake
🇫🇷 French: Une grande forêt couvre les montagnes à l'ouest du lac.
🇩🇪 German: Ein ausgedehnter Wald bedeckt die Berge westlich des Sees.
🇮🇹 Italian: Una vasta foresta copre le montagne a ovest del lago.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Uma floresta extensa cobre as montanhas a oeste do lago.
trees cover the mountains on the west side of the lake
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Un bosque extenso cubre las montañas al oeste del lago.🇫🇷 French: Une grande forêt couvre les montagnes à l'ouest du lac.
🇩🇪 German: Ein ausgedehnter Wald bedeckt die Berge westlich des Sees.
🇮🇹 Italian: Una vasta foresta copre le montagne a ovest del lago.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Uma floresta extensa cobre as montanhas a oeste do lago.
🏝️ The small island is several kilometers from the coast.
the island is not close to the mainland
🇫🇷 French: La petite île se trouve à plusieurs kilomètres de la côte.
🇩🇪 German: Die kleine Insel liegt mehrere Kilometer von der Küste entfernt.
🇮🇹 Italian: La piccola isola si trova a diversi chilometri dalla costa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A pequena ilha fica a vários quilómetros da costa.
the island is not close to the mainland
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: La pequeña isla está a varios kilómetros de la costa.🇫🇷 French: La petite île se trouve à plusieurs kilomètres de la côte.
🇩🇪 German: Die kleine Insel liegt mehrere Kilometer von der Küste entfernt.
🇮🇹 Italian: La piccola isola si trova a diversi chilometri dalla costa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A pequena ilha fica a vários quilómetros da costa.
🗺️ On the map, we can see the borders between the different countries.
the map shows where one country ends and another begins
🇫🇷 French: Sur la carte, nous pouvons voir les frontières entre les différents pays.
🇩🇪 German: Auf der Karte können wir die Grenzen zwischen den verschiedenen Ländern sehen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sulla mappa possiamo vedere i confini tra i diversi paesi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: No mapa podemos ver as fronteiras entre os diferentes países.
the map shows where one country ends and another begins
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: En el mapa podemos ver las fronteras entre los diferentes países.🇫🇷 French: Sur la carte, nous pouvons voir les frontières entre les différents pays.
🇩🇪 German: Auf der Karte können wir die Grenzen zwischen den verschiedenen Ländern sehen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sulla mappa possiamo vedere i confini tra i diversi paesi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: No mapa podemos ver as fronteiras entre os diferentes países.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the best word or phrase from the lesson.
Read the situation. Choose the best word or phrase from the lesson.
Question 1 of 8
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❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%