The countryside – A2 English Vocabulary

The countryside

In this Pre-intermediate Vocabulary Lesson about the Countryside, you will learn essential terms and phrases related to nature and the countryside. The pictures, descriptions, and examples below will help you understand and remember the terms.



1 A hill is a small area of land that is higher than the land around it.

• I walked up the hill, enjoying the views of the surrounding countryside.

2 A mountain is higher than a hill.

• We often go skiing in the mountains in winter.

3 A valley is a low area between mountains or hills.

• We often go walking in the valley at the bottom of the mountain.

4 A field is an area of open land, often covered with grass, that may be used for animals or for growing plants like vegetables or grains.

• The farmer grows wheat and potatoes in this field.

5 A river is a large amount of fresh water that flows towards a sea or an ocean.

• The Thames is the second longest river in the UK.

6 A stream is a tiny river that you find on a mountain or in the countryside.

• The dog was drinking from the stream.

7 A lake is a body of fresh water that is surrounded by land.

• We often take our boat out on the lake near our cottage.

8 A pond is a small body of still water that you find in a garden or park.

• We walked around the pond in the park, throwing bread for the hungry ducks.

9 A forest is a large area of land covered with trees and plants.

• It was dark in the forest because of the tall trees.

10 A wood is an area with trees that is smaller than a forest.

• We often walk the dog in the wood near our house.

11 Nature is everything outside that is not made by people, like trees, animals, rivers, and mountains. We don’t usually use the before nature when it has this meaning.

• Spending time in nature can make you feel happy and relaxed.

12 Wildlife means animals, birds, and plants that live in nature, not with people.

• You see a lot of wildlife when you live in the countryside.

13 A village is a group of homes that is smaller than a town.

• There is a post office in the village and a shop selling basic supplies.

14 A cottage is a small house in a village or in the countryside.

• My grandmother lives in a two-bedroom cottage down the road.

15 A farm is a place with land and buildings used for growing vegetables and keeping animals.

• My father was a farmer, so I grew up on a farm.

16 Crops are vegetables and grains that are grown on a farm.

• We grow potatoes and other crops in that field over there.

17 A farmhouse is a house on a farm where a farmer usually lives.

• The farmer and his family invited me into the farmhouse.

18 A barn is a building on a farm that is used for animals or storage.

• We keep all our equipment in the barn.

19 A fence is something built around a piece of land to keep people or animals in or out.

• I couldn’t see into the garden because of the high fence.

20 A path is a narrow track that is used for walking.

• I walked along the path until I came to the lake.

After completing the exercises in this lesson on the Countryside, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.