Rural
/ˈrʊrəl/
adjectiveB1
Definition
Rural means relating to the countryside or areas outside big cities and towns. These places usually have fewer people, more nature, and often farming or open land. It is the opposite of urban, which means city areas.
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See It in Action
Related to the countryside or farming areas
- •She grew up in a rural village surrounded by fields.
- •Rural areas often have fewer shops and schools than cities.
- •Many people in rural communities work in farming or nature jobs.
Describing a quiet, less crowded place away from cities
- •They moved to a rural town to enjoy peace and fresh air.
- •Rural roads can be narrow and less busy than city streets.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rural" like "country" (A1 word), but more about the area where people live with nature and farms, not just the idea of country itself
- ✓Picture wide open fields, farms, animals, and small houses far from busy streets and tall buildings
- ✓It’s the feeling of fresh air, quiet, and space, like visiting a village or a farm instead of a noisy city
- ✓Sounds like "ROO-ruhl" → imagine a rooster ("roo") crowing early in the morning on a quiet farm
- ✓Think of stories or movies where characters live in small villages or farming communities, far from city life
- ✓NOT like "urban" (city life with many people and buildings), rural is calm and natural
- ✓NOT like "suburban" (areas near cities but mostly houses), rural is more open and less crowded
- ✓NOT like "wild" (untouched nature), rural usually has people living and farming there
Try Other Words
- •Countryside: the land outside cities, often natural and green (Use when talking about nature and open land)
- •Farming area: place mainly used for agriculture (Use when focusing on farming)
- •Village: a small group of houses in the countryside (Use when talking about small rural communities)
- •Pastoral: related to farming and peaceful country life (Use in literary or formal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "rur-" from Latin "rūrus" meaning countryside + suffix "-al" meaning "related to"
- •Etymology: From Latin origin, entered English in the late 15th century meaning related to the countryside or country life
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe farming and country life, the meaning expanded to describe any area outside cities
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe places, communities, or lifestyles outside urban areas, often in government, geography, and social studies
Reflect & Connect
•How does living in a rural area change the way people live compared to city life?
•Can a place be partly rural and partly urban? How would you describe such a place?
Fill in the blanks
1.People in rural areas often depend on ___ like farming or fishing for their jobs.
2.A rural town usually has ___ population and fewer tall buildings than a city.
3.Unlike urban places, rural areas have more ___ and open space.
4.Sometimes, rural roads are ___ and less busy than city streets.
5.Moving to a rural area can mean enjoying ___ air and quiet surroundings.
6.The government often supports rural communities to improve ___ like schools and hospitals.
7.A village is a small ___ area, which is usually rural but not always urban.