IELTS Speaking Vocabulary - Hometown
In the IELTS test, they might ask you to talk about hometown in the speaking section. This post will introduce you to lot of higher-level vocabulary related to the topic of hometown. One of the four scoring categories that IELTS examiners use to acesss your speaking skills is lexical Resource, which means you will be assessed on your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary in the right context and with the correct meaning. So, if you can show the examiner that you are confident using this unique and interesting vocabulary, you will be more likely to get a 7 or higher band score.
Now, let's watch the video below to learn all interesting vocabulary and idioms about hometown. You can find IELTS speaking questions and samples answers below the video.
What is it like where you live?
Well, I live in Toronto, which is a quite cosmopolitan city in Canada. You can see people from different ethic backgrounds, from all over the world. It is also a very vibrant city. There are a lot of artists, art galleries, and museums.
Where I live is a very lively place. People are always excited on the street, and bars are always packed. But sometimes, I feel it is a bit too hectic on holidays.
I live in the suburbs. It is kind of a rural area. There are a lot of farms, and some of the buildings are run-down. But it is a close-knit community.
I live in a residential area, in a town, in India. It is kind of an old city, really. A lot of buildings are run-down, but we have got some quaint shops.
Could you tell me a bit more about your hometown?
My hometown is located in Italy. It is a sprawling city, so it takes a while to get around in it. But it has developed better public transport recently.
My hometown, Tokyo, is a huge metropolitan city. People there are very urban, and there are a lot of contemporary stores. It is also a very touristic city. You can see tourists all the time.
Words to describe the city:
Cosmopolitan: including people from many different countries.
Urban: in, relating to, or characteristic of a city.
Bustling: (of a place) full of activity.
Lively: full of life and energy; active and outgoing.
Hectic: very busy and fast.
Vibrant: full of energy, color, and life.
Sprawling: spreading out over a large area in an untidy or irregular way.
Contemporary: existing and happening now.
Touristic: relating to or popular with tourists.
Words to describe the town/countryside:
Rural: in, relating to, or characteristic of a countryside.
Run-down: weak or in a bad condition.
Quaint: attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
Close-knit: bound together by strong relationships and common interests.
Outskirts: the outer parts of a town or city.
Suburb: an area on the edge of a large town or city, where people who work in the town or city often live:
Picturesque: visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.
What do you like about your hometown?
What I like about my hometown is that there are many orchards and vineyards. It is a truly picturesque place. Not many places in the world have that kind of view.
I like the convenience and modernness of my hometown. There are a lot of convenience stores, pop-up stores, and futuristic shops. I also like the night view of my city. At night, the high-rise buildings with lights on make for a really beautiful scene.
I like how the people in my hometown are so friendly. It’s a really close-knit community and there are many mom and pop shops, which are hard to find in big cities.
I like its cultural atmosphere. Within the city, you can see beautiful pavement cafes. On the outskirts of the city, there are some quaint stores that sell interesting handmade stuff.
What do you not like about your hometown?
I suppose my least favorite thing about it is the lack of fun things to do or see. Most shops are boarded-up. It’s not the most exciting place, so sometimes I feel a little bored.
What I dislike about my hometown is how expensive it is to live in. The cost of living there is too high. You can hardly find an affordable shop. Upmarket shops are all over the place.
How has your hometown changed over the years?
It has developed much better public transport, especially the metro, which has really improved the overall accessibility of the city. In the suburb, there have been a few improvements as well: several new chain stores and out-of-town supermarkets have appeared, which we didn’t have before.
Words to describe things in the city:
High-rise (adjective): tall with many floors.
High-rise (noun): a tall modern building with many floors.
Pavement cafe: cafe with tables outside on the pavement.
Upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops.
Pop-up shop: a pop-up shop is opened temporarily to take advantage of a faddish trend or seasonal demand.
Words to describe things in the countryside:
Out-of-town: in a place outside the main part of a town.
Boarded up shops: when a shop is boarded up, it means it is no longer in business and that wooden planks have been nailed over its windows.
Orchard: a piece of enclosed land planted with fruit trees.
Vineyard: a plantation of grapevines, typically producing the grapes used in winemaking.
Mom and pop shop: "mom-and-pop" is a colloquial term used to describe a small, family-owned or independent business.
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