kilometre

Everyday

1. A kilometre is a unit for long distances. A kilometre is 1000 metres. It is written km. tree →
2. A kilometre takes about 12 to 15 minutes to walk. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a unit of distance for trips, roads and speeds (kilometres per hour, km/h); changing km to m (× 1000). In geography: distances between towns and countries on maps. In everyday life: road signs in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland show km; the USA and UK use miles. Phrases: «kilometres per hour», «a 5-kilometre run», «kilometres away».

Examples

• The school is 2 kilometres away. tree →
• A car goes 60 kilometres an hour. tree →
• She walks 3 kilometres every day. tree →
• 1 kilometre = 1000 metres. tree →
• The speed limit near the school is 40 kilometres an hour. tree →
• We ran a 5-kilometre fun run for charity. tree →
• Half a kilometre is 500 metres. tree →
• The next town is 30 kilometres down the road. tree →

Note

«Kilometre» (UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland), «kilometer» (USA). «Kilo-» means 1000 (kilogram = 1000 grams). A mile is about 1.6 km. Maths: a unit: add km only to km; with «per hour» it makes a speed. Trap: mixing km and m without changing units.