# kilometres per hour

CEFR A2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kilometres-per-hour
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

A way to measure speed. It shows how many kilometres something travels in one hour.

For teachers: A unit of speed expressing the distance in kilometres travelled over a period of one hour, commonly abbreviated as km/h.

## Examples

- The speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour.
- He was driving at 120 kilometres per hour on the motorway when the police stopped him.
- The winds were recorded at over two hundred kilometres per hour, strong enough to tear the roofs from buildings and uproot ancient trees.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The speed is 50 kilometre per hour." but "The speed is 50 kilometres per hour." — When the number is greater than one, 'kilometre' must be plural ('kilometres').

## Usage notes

- This is often abbreviated as 'km/h' or 'kph', especially in writing.
- Teaching tip: Contrast this with 'miles per hour' (mph), used in the US and UK; 1 mile is approximately 1.6 kilometres.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.