Luggage – means the bags, suitcases, and cases you take with you when you travel. We use this word when talking about airports, hotels, trains, business trips, holidays, lost bags, or travel rules.
Pronunciation Tips for “Luggage”
Audio (UK):
Audio (US):
Say LUH-gij, with the stress on the first syllable. The final sound is soft, like the ending of “village” or “message”.
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Countability & Article Rules for “Luggage”
This is the first grammatical mistake students face in “luggage”. In the English language, “luggage” is a non-countable noun. Learn this point now to make your travel English much more correct.
|
Grammar point |
Correct form |
Example |
|---|---|---|
|
General meaning |
luggage |
|
|
With no article |
luggage |
Please collect your
|
|
With some |
some luggage |
She left
|
|
With a lot of |
a lot of luggage |
We had
|
|
One item |
a piece of luggage |
One
|
|
Several items |
two pieces of luggage |
Passengers may check in
|
Types of “Luggage” You Hear in Travel English
“Luggage” is a generic term; however, actual circumstances of traveling call for a more precise term. When using the term “luggage” alone, you get your point across but people will still wonder what type of “luggage” you are referring to.
|
Type of luggage |
Meaning |
Example |
|---|---|---|
|
suitcase |
A rectangular travel case, often with wheels |
My
|
|
carry-on bag |
A small bag you take into the plane cabin |
You can bring one
|
|
checked luggage |
Bags placed in the aircraft hold |
|
|
hand luggage |
Bags you carry with you on board |
Liquids in
|
|
backpack |
A bag carried on your back |
He travelled through Italy with only a
|
|
duffel bag |
A soft, sporty travel bag |
She packed her gym clothes in a black
|
Collocations With the Word “Luggage”
It will be easier for you to communicate more naturally, as collocations are typical for the English language. For example, when in reality you do not “have luggage,” you “pack,” “check,” “collect,” “store,” or even “lose” it.
|
Collocation |
Meaning |
Example |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Put clothes and items into your bags |
I packed my
|
|
|
Give bags to the airline before a flight |
We had to
|
|
|
Pick up your bags after travel |
Please
|
|
|
Keep bags somewhere for a short time |
The hotel can
|
|
|
Have bags go missing during travel |
The airline
|
|
|
Officially pick up bags after a flight |
Passengers can
|
|
|
Move bags by hand |
He offered to
|
|
|
Check how heavy the bags are |
They
|
Common Mistakes Learners Make with “Luggage”
Most errors that result from “luggage” arise due to translation from other languages. The most significant issue is countability. “Luggage” is not a countable noun in English, similar to furniture and equipment. Follow the correction patterns provided below for more fluent sentences.
|
Why is it wrong |
||
|---|---|---|
|
I have two luggages.
|
I have two pieces of luggage.
|
“Luggage” has no regular plural form. |
|
She bought a new luggage.
|
She bought a new suitcase.
|
Say “a suitcase” for one item. |
|
My luggages are heavy.
|
My luggage is heavy.
|
Use singular grammar with uncountable nouns. |
|
Where are my luggage?
|
Where is my luggage?
|
“Luggage” takes a singular verb. |
|
I need to buy a luggage for the trip.
|
I need to buy a suitcase for the trip.
|
“A luggage” is not natural in standard English. |
