English Vocabulary in a Flight

While most flight attendants/passengers speak a language you understand, it’s always a good idea to have these commonly used English words in your arsenal when you’re flying.

Flight Vocabulary

• Flight attendant – A steward or stewardess on an aircraft.

• Cabin crew – The members of an aircraft crew who attend to passengers.

• Steward/stewardess – A person who looks after the passengers on a ship, aircraft, or train and brings them meals.

• Passenger safety – the safety of on board passengers.

• Captain – The pilot in command of a civil aircraft.

• Pre-flight safety demonstration – a safety demonstration before a plane takes off on safety procedures in the event of an emergency.

• Emergency exits – a special exit only used during an emergency.

• Seat belt – A belt or strap securing a person to prevent injury, esp. in a vehicle or aircraft.

• Lavatory – toilet.

• Armrest – A padded or upholstered arm of a chair or other seat on which a sitter’s arm can comfortably rest.

• Reading light – a personal light you can turn on when main lights on the aircraft are off.

• Overhead luggage compartment – a storage container usually above passenger seats in a plane.

• Foot rest – A support for the feet or a foot, used when sitting.

• In-flight entertainment – entertainment on-board an aircraft that may include movies, music and games.

• Blanket – A large piece of woolen or similar material used as a bed covering or other covering for warmth.

• Estimated time of arrival (ETA) – the estimated time at which the aircraft will arrive at its destination.

• Estimated time of departure (ETD) – the estimated time at which the aircraft will depart.

• Unaccompanied minor (UM) – a young child travelling alone without an adult.

• Passenger manifest – a list of all passengers on the aircraft and where they are seated.

• Galley – The kitchen in a ship or aircraft.

• Food trolley – A small table on wheels that conveys food and water.

• Turbulence – Violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid.

• Coffee – A drink made from the roasted and ground beanlike seeds of a tropical shrub.

• Tea – A hot drink made by infusing the dried, crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water.

• Beef – The flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food.

• Fish – A limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins and living wholly in water.

• Water – A colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid.

Can you think of more English vocabulary for a flight to add to this list? You can find more vocabulary related to airports here: Travel English: key words for the airport.

Ready to give your English vocabulary a big boost online? Join EF English Live today.