[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/km/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [K](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/k/) / km # km abbreviation (km, short for kilometre/kilometer); also said «k» or «klicks» (casual) «km» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Km is the short way to write kilometre, a unit for long distances. 1 km is 1000 metres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#m1) 2. Km/h or km per hour is a unit of speed: how many kilometres something goes in one hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#m2) 3. (casual, Australia, NZ, Canada) A «k» or «kay» is a kilometre in speech: «it's 5k to town», «a 10k run». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#m3) 4. (slang, military) A «klick» is a kilometre. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#m4) 5. (formal) In official writing km is often spelled out: «a distance of five kilometres». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#m5) 6. In some book references, KM is a short way of writing the title of Grimm's collection of German fairy tales. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#m6) ### In the lessons In maths, a unit of distance; with «per hour» a speed (distance = speed × time). In science and geography, distances between towns and on maps are given in km. In everyday life and safety: road signs, speed limits (in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland in km/h; in the USA and UK in miles). In sport: 5k and 10k fun runs. In casual talk the unit is often dropped («it's like 3 from here»). In the exam voice: «a distance of 3 kilometres is traversed». Phrases: «km away», «km per hour», «km/h», «a 5k», «k's» (Australia). ### Examples - The school is 3 km away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x1) - He drives 60 km an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x2) - She walked 5 km on Monday and 4 km on Tuesday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x3) - How many metres are in 2 km? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x4) - The speed limit near the school is 40 km/h. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x5) - The marathon is about 42 km long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x6) - The next town is 15 km away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x7) - A brisk walk covers about 5 km in an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x8) - ran a 5k this arvo, legs are dead (casual, Australia) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x9) - it's like 3 k's to the beach, we walking or what (casual) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x10) - 2 km?? in this heat? you're having a laugh (rough) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x11) - A cyclist traverses a distance of 18 km at a uniform speed of 12 km/h; determine the duration of the journey. (formal exam) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/#x12) ### Note Write km with no s and no dot: 5 km, not 5 kms. Read it as «kilometres». British spelling kilometre, American kilometer. A unit; «km per hour» is a speed (distance = speed × time). Trap: change km and m to the same unit before adding. A mile is longer than a km (about 1.6 km). Casual «5k» in running means 5 km, but «5k» about money means 5000 dollars or pounds — read what it counts. Trap: in casual talk the unit may be left out; it is still km if the people use km. ## In Jewish tradition In maths, a unit of distance; with «per hour» a speed (distance = speed × time). In science and geography, distances between towns and on maps are given in km. In everyday life and safety: road signs, speed limits (in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland in km/h; in the USA and UK in miles). In sport: 5k and 10k fun runs. In casual talk the unit is often dropped («it's like 3 from here»). In the exam voice: «a distance of 3 kilometres is traversed». Phrases: «km away», «km per hour», «km/h», «a 5k», «k's» (Australia). ### Examples - This would indicate that the author km w also of an order of the vowel letters, as 'isy = 'ISSy = i, u, o, e, a. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/K/km/#x1) ### Note Write km with no s and no dot: 5 km, not 5 kms. Read it as «kilometres». British spelling kilometre, American kilometer. A unit; «km per hour» is a speed (distance = speed × time). Trap: change km and m to the same unit before adding. A mile is longer than a km (about 1.6 km). Casual «5k» in running means 5 km, but «5k» about money means 5000 dollars or pounds — read what it counts. Trap: in casual talk the unit may be left out; it is still km if the people use km. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «km» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/km/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«km» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/km.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «km» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/K/km/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«km» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/km.html) on Mova free.