What Is the British Term for “Turn Signal”?

In British English, a “turn signal” is called an “indicator.” Drivers commonly say “use your indicators” or “indicate right/left,” and the control on the steering column is known as the “indicator stalk.” While “direction indicator” appears in formal documentation, “indicator” is the everyday term across the UK.

How the Term Is Used in the UK

In everyday driving, British motorists and instructors consistently use “indicator” both for the lamps themselves and for the act of signaling. For instance, a driving instructor might say, “Check your mirrors, then indicate left.” Road signs and highway codes typically reference “signals,” but when referring to the vehicle’s lights specifically, “indicators” is standard.

The Highway Code (UK) emphasizes signaling intentions to other road users; in practice, Britons describe this as “indicating.” The lever controlling the signal is widely called the “indicator stalk” or “indicator lever.”

Related Terms and Variations

Multiple automotive and colloquial terms appear around signaling in British English. The list below outlines the most common variants and how they’re typically used in the UK.

• Indicator: Everyday British term for the turn signal lights on a vehicle.
• Direction indicator: A more formal or technical term, sometimes seen in documentation or parts catalogs.
• Indicator stalk (or lever): The control on the steering column used to activate the indicators.
• Indicate: The verb used by drivers and instructors (e.g., “Indicate right at the junction”).
• Signal: A general term that can refer to using indicators or other signaling methods; common in rules and instruction.
• Hazard warning lights (“hazards”): The all-direction flashing lights used to signal a stationary vehicle or a hazard; distinct from indicating a turn.
• Blinker: Widely understood due to American media but not standard in British usage.

While several terms overlap in meaning, “indicator” remains the primary British word for what Americans call a “turn signal,” with “hazards” reserved for the four-way warning function.

Linguistic and Regional Notes

Across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, “indicator” is the dominant term, making it a safe choice in all UK regions. Drivers may also hear “signal” used more generically in training contexts or official guidance, but it doesn’t replace “indicator” when naming the light or control.

Examples in Context

The following examples illustrate typical British usage in conversation and instruction.

• “Don’t forget to put your indicators on before pulling out.”
• “Use the indicator stalk to signal left at the next roundabout exit.”
• “Indicate early to give cyclists time to react.”
• “Switch on your hazard warning lights if you have to stop on the hard shoulder.”

These examples show how “indicator” functions as both a noun and a practical part of driver instruction, with “indicate” as the corresponding verb.

Summary

The British term for “turn signal” is “indicator,” with “direction indicator” as a formal variant. Drivers say “to indicate,” and the control is the “indicator stalk.” While “blinker” is recognized from American usage, it is not standard in the UK, and “hazard warning lights” are a separate function referred to as “hazards.”

What is the English word for turn signal?

Definitions of turn signal. a blinking light on a motor vehicle that indicates the direction in which the vehicle is about to turn. synonyms: blinker, trafficator, turn indicator.

What is a turn signal called?

Any flashing light can be called a blinker, but it usually refers to the turn signal on a car. Before you suddenly turn left, be sure to put your blinker on. A light that blinks on and off is a blinker, and it may be used to signal your plans to change direction in a car, or to send some kind of signal.

What is the correct term for blinker?

A blinker, or turn signal, is a type of automotive lighting. Blinker may also refer to: Blinders, also called “blinkers” or “winkers,” a piece of horse tack used on a horse’s bridle to restrict the horse’s vision.

What is a turn signal called in England?

indicator
The term “blinker” for a car’s turn signal is commonly used in the United States and Canada. In other regions, such as the UK, the term “indicator” is more commonly used.