Difference between parking place and parking lot?

[Sspike]

What is the difference between parking place and parking lot?

[Kitosdad]

A parking place could be any vacant spot in the city.

A parking lot is a designated place for paid-for parking.
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[Esl_Expert]

Hello Sspike,

In the US, the expression "parking place" would generally be used to refer to a place where you can park one car (and not just in the city). Thus, it would usually be just a little bit bigger than the size of a car. The expression "parking spot" is used to mean the same thing.

A "parking lot" is large area in which many cars can park. Many parking lots don't cost anything to park in. For example, in the US, it normally doesn't cost anything to park in the parking lot of a shopping mall, and it normally doesn't cost anything to park in the parking lot where you work. However, not all parking lots can be used free of charge. You normally have to pay to park in parking lots at international airports, for example.
A parking lot consists of many parking places/spaces/spots.

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[Prezbucky]

Another way to refer to "parking place" or "parking spot" is this:

Parking space

Jim: Tom, where are we going to park? This place is packed!
Tom: Have no fear, Jim, a parking space is open over there. We'll be drinkin' brews with the hotties in no time flat!"

(here, "parking" is almost redundant -- Tom could have said "...Jim, a space is open...")
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[Cookie]

So a parking place is bigger than a parking space?

[Esl_Expert]

No, Cookie. In the US, the words place, space, and spot can be used interchangeably when talking about parking. The size for any of them would always be roughly the same: enough to park one car.

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[Alan]

Hi Cookie,

'Space' here to do with parking is exactly that - room enough to park a car in.

'Place' suggests a place designated for parking a car in. As for the sizes involved, that's a matter of opinion.

Alan
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