What is an avenue?

Avenue = a straight street (or road) with trees planted along both sides. Avenues are typically wider than streets, sometimes having more lanes and therefore more traffic.

In some cities in the US that are based on a grid system, streets and avenues are the same with the difference that streets run from west to east while avenues run north to south. Note that in other US cities this may be reversed and the streets go north to south and the avenues from west to east. Thus in city centers (downtown), you will almost never find two avenues that intersect.

Example sentences with Avenue:

• It's on the corner of Patriot Street and Sixth Avenue.
• The main avenue that runs through Santiago changes its name four times.
• The spent the afternoon strolling along the tree-lined avenue.
• The widest avenue in the world is in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Alleys, Boulevards, Lanes, and more

An alley is a narrow passageway between or behind buildings. Often there is only enough space for a one vehicle in an alley or for none at all (just for pedestrians).

A boulevard is a wide tree-lined street, similar to an avenue though with a grass median strip (with trees and/or grass).

A court is a short street that ends in a cul-de-sac.

A cul-de-sac is a street that is closed at one end. Sometimes the end of the street has a large round paved area (from above it has the shape of an old light bulb) making it easier for vehicles to turn around and go back out.

A highway is a major public road, usually connecting towns and cities. In some countries UK, NZ etc, the word motorway is used instead of highway.

A lane is a short narrow street usually without a sidewalk/footpath.

A path is not normally paved and is dedicated to pedestrians, not vehicles.

A pedestrian street is a street that has been closed to road vehicles. They are paved and you can only walk along them.

Giving Directions

When giving directions, sometimes people leave out the Street part of a street name. For example:

• Go along Churchill (Street) and once you get to Piccadilly (Street), turn right.