zebra crossing
Medium-High (UK)/ Low-Medium (US)Neutral, everyday (UK). Formal/descriptive (US).
Definition
Meaning
A designated place on a road, marked with broad black and white stripes, where pedestrians have priority to cross.
A synonym for a marked pedestrian crosswalk, particularly one with the classic alternating stripe pattern.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to a pedestrian crossing with a distinctive visual pattern. Implies legal protection and driver obligation to stop.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily British. While understood in American English, it is a specific cultural borrowing. The generic American term is 'crosswalk'.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries neutral, official connotations. In the US, it can sound quaintly British or descriptively precise.
Frequency
Very common in UK speech and official communication. Rare in spontaneous US speech, where 'crosswalk' or 'pedestrian crossing' is used.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cross at the [zebra crossing]stop for [pedestrians on a zebra crossing]the [zebra crossing] is located nearVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(informal, UK) 'It's not a zebra crossing!' (said to someone hesitating or changing direction unpredictably).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in urban planning, logistics, and health & safety documents.
Academic
Found in urban studies, transportation research, and civil engineering.
Everyday
Common in giving directions and discussing road safety.
Technical
A specific type of 'grade-separated pedestrian facility' in traffic engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council decided to zebra-cross the High Street next year.
- They are zebra-crossing the junction for safety.
American English
- The city plans to install a zebra crossing at the intersection.
adjective
British English
- The zebra-crossing regulations are clear.
- He ignored the zebra-crossing priority.
American English
- The zebra-crossing pattern is highly visible.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look both ways before you cross at the zebra crossing.
- The children waited by the zebra crossing.
- Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are already on a zebra crossing.
- The new zebra crossing has made it much safer to get to the park.
- The council's proposal to remove the zebra crossing was met with strong local opposition.
- Studies show that well-marked zebra crossings significantly reduce accidents.
- While the zebra crossing nominally gives pedestrians priority, its effectiveness is contingent on driver compliance and visibility.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the black and white stripes looking like a zebra's coat laid across the road.
Conceptual Metaphor
SAFETY IS A MARKED PATH / THE ROAD IS A JUNGLE (with safe passages).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation ('зебровый переход'). The correct Russian equivalent is 'пешеходный переход'.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it /ˈziː.brə/ in a UK context. Using it generically in American English where 'crosswalk' is expected.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is the most common direct equivalent to 'zebra crossing' in American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the UK, the Highway Code states drivers MUST give way to pedestrians who have stepped onto a zebra crossing. Failure to do so is an offence.
A zebra crossing has black and white stripes and gives pedestrians continuous priority. A pelican crossing (now largely called a 'puffin' crossing) is signal-controlled with traffic lights for both cars and pedestrians.
Yes, you will be understood, but it will be perceived as a British term. The default, neutral term in the US is 'crosswalk'.
It is named for the distinctive alternating black and white stripes painted on the road surface, which resemble the stripes of a zebra.