Celebrations vocabulary: 64 English words in 8 scenes
Everyday English words for celebrations, grouped into 8 real-life scenes (birthday party, chinese new year, graduation, mid-autumn festival and more), each with pronunciation, a plain definition and an example sentence.
Birthday Party 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| birthday cake | /ˈbɝːθdeɪ keɪk/ | a sweet baked treat for celebrating someone's special day | We put candles on the birthday cake before singing. |
| candles | /ˈkændəlz/ | wax sticks with strings that burn to give light | The candles give off light as they burn. |
| party hat | /ˈpɑːrti hæt/ | a cone-shaped covering worn on the head at celebrations | A party hat makes your head look festive. |
| present | /ˈprezənt/ | something you give someone to make them happy | Wrap the present before you give it to her. |
| confetti | /kənˈfeti/ | small pieces of colored paper thrown during celebrations | People throw confetti into the air to celebrate. |
| balloon | /bəˈluːn/ | a thin rubber bag filled with air or gas | Fill the balloon with air and tie it closed. |
| banner | /ˈbænɚ/ | a row of small flags hung up as decoration | Hang the banner across the wall for decoration. |
| piñata | /pɪnˈjɑːtə/ | a paper figure filled with sweets and hit with sticks | Hit the piñata to get the sweets inside. |
Chinese New Year 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| red envelope | /red ˈen.və.loʊp/ | a paper packet holding money given as a holiday gift | Put gift money inside a red envelope for children. |
| firecracker | /ˈfaɪrˌkræk.ɚ/ | a small tube that makes a loud bang when lit | A firecracker makes a loud bang when lit. |
| spring couplets | /sprɪŋ ˈkʌp.ləts/ | two paper strips with good wishes beside a doorway | We put spring couplets beside our front door. |
| lantern | /ˈlæn.tɚn/ | a hanging light inside a paper cover | A lantern lights the entrance to our home. |
| tangerine | /ˌtæn.dʒəˈriːn/ | a small sweet orange fruit with easy-to-remove skin | Peel a tangerine before eating its sweet pieces. |
| fish | /fɪʃ/ | an animal with fins, cooked whole for a meal | We serve a whole fish for good luck. |
| Chinese knot | /ˌtʃaɪˈniːz nɑːt/ | a traditional decoration made from woven cord for good luck | A Chinese knot brings good luck to our home. |
| gong | /ɡɑːŋ/ | a round metal instrument that sounds when hit | Hit the gong with a soft wooden stick. |
Graduation 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cap and gown | /ˌkæp ən ˈɡaʊn/ | special clothes students wear when they finish school | Students wear a cap and gown at graduation. |
| diploma | /dɪˈploʊ.mə/ | an official paper showing you have finished school | My diploma shows that I finished college. |
| tassel | /ˈtæs.əl/ | a bunch of hanging threads used as decoration | A tassel hangs from the top of this hat. |
| yearbook | /ˈjɪr.bʊk/ | a collection of student photos and memories from a school year | Our yearbook has photos of everyone in our class. |
| card | /kɑːrd/ | a folded piece of paper with a special message | Write a message inside the card for your friend. |
| medal | /ˈmed.əl/ | a round metal prize for doing something well | She won a gold medal for her school project. |
| lei | /ˈleɪ.iː/ | a circle of flowers worn around the neck | She wore a pink lei around her neck. |
| picture frame | /ˈpɪk.tʃɚ ˌfreɪm/ | a border that holds and displays a photo | This picture frame holds our graduation photo. |
Mid-Autumn Festival 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mooncake | /ˈmuːnkeɪk/ | a round Chinese pastry with a sweet filling | We cut the mooncake into pieces to share. |
| paper lantern | /ˈpeɪpɚ ˌlæntɚn/ | a thin, light cover around a light, used for decoration | A paper lantern gives the courtyard a soft light. |
| pomelo | /ˈpɑːməloʊ/ | a large fruit with thick skin and juicy sections inside | Peel the pomelo and share the juicy pieces. |
| taro | /ˈteroʊ/ | a root vegetable with brown skin, eaten cooked | We steam taro until it is soft enough to eat. |
| moon | /muːn/ | the round body that moves around Earth and shines at night | The moon shines above our courtyard at night. |
| osmanthus | /ɑːzˈmænθəs/ | a plant with small flowers that smell sweet | The tiny flowers of osmanthus smell very sweet. |
| rabbit | /ˈræbɪt/ | a small animal with long ears and a short tail | A rabbit has long ears and a short tail. |
| rice wine | /ˈraɪs ˌwaɪn/ | an alcoholic drink made from cooked grains | Pour the rice wine into these small cups. |
Wedding 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| wedding dress | /ˈwedɪŋ dres/ | a special piece of clothing a bride wears when getting married | A bride wears a wedding dress for the ceremony. |
| veil | /veɪl/ | a thin cloth covering a bride's head or face | The bride wears a veil over her hair. |
| wedding ring | /ˈwedɪŋ rɪŋ/ | a band worn on a finger to show someone is married | He wears a wedding ring on his finger. |
| tuxedo | /tʌkˈsiːdoʊ/ | a man's formal suit worn for special evening events | He wears a tuxedo with a bow tie. |
| wedding cake | /ˈwedɪŋ keɪk/ | a large sweet dessert served at a marriage celebration | The couple cuts the wedding cake together. |
| champagne | /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ | a pale wine with bubbles, often served at celebrations | We pour champagne into tall glasses to celebrate. |
| invitation | /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ | a card asking someone to come to a special event | The invitation shows the date and place. |
| boutonniere | /ˌbuːtəˈnɪr/ | a flower worn on a man's jacket for a special event | He pins a boutonniere to his jacket. |
Dragon Boat Festival 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| dragon boat | /ˈdræɡən boʊt/ | a long, narrow water vehicle used for team races | A dragon boat carries a team of paddlers. |
| rice dumpling | /ˈraɪs ˌdʌmplɪŋ/ | a food made of sticky grains wrapped in green plant parts | A rice dumpling has sticky rice wrapped in leaves. |
| drum | /drʌm/ | a musical instrument you hit to make a beat | Players hit the drum to guide the paddlers. |
| paddle | /ˈpædəl/ | a tool with a wide end for moving through water | Use the paddle to move the boat forward. |
| sachet | /sæʃˈeɪ/ | a small cloth bag filled with sweet-smelling dried plants | This sachet holds dried plants and smells nice. |
| mugwort | /ˈmʌɡwɝːt/ | a green plant hung by doors during this festival | People hang mugwort by doors during the festival. |
| salted egg | /ˌsɑːltɪd ˈeɡ/ | a preserved oval food with a rich orange center | A salted egg tastes salty and has a rich yolk. |
| bamboo leaves | /bæmˈbuː liːvz/ | long, flat green plant parts used to wrap food | People use bamboo leaves to wrap sticky rice. |
Christmas 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas tree | /ˈkrɪsməs ˌtriː/ | a green plant decorated with lights and balls for the holiday | We decorate the Christmas tree with lights and balls. |
| ornament | /ˈɔːrnəmənt/ | a small decoration hung on branches for the holiday | This ornament hangs from a branch by its loop. |
| stocking | /ˈstɑːkɪŋ/ | a large sock hung up to hold holiday gifts | We hang a stocking to hold small holiday gifts. |
| wreath | /riːθ/ | a ring of leaves used as a decoration | A wreath of green branches decorates our wall. |
| candy cane | /ˈkændi ˌkeɪn/ | a sweet red and white stick with a curved top | This candy cane has a curved top and stripes. |
| gingerbread man | /ˈdʒɪndʒɚbred ˌmæn/ | a sweet cookie shaped like a person | This gingerbread man has white icing and colorful buttons. |
| fireplace | /ˈfaɪrpleɪs/ | a space in a wall where a fire warms the room | The fireplace keeps our living room warm in winter. |
| reindeer | /ˈreɪndɪr/ | a deer with large branching horns that lives in cold places | A reindeer has thick fur and large antlers. |
Halloween 8 words
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| jack-o'-lantern | /ˌdʒæk ə ˈlæntɚn/ | an orange pumpkin with a cut face and light inside | We put a light inside the jack-o'-lantern. |
| witch hat | /ˈwɪtʃ hæt/ | a tall pointed head covering worn with a magic costume | This witch hat has a tall, pointed top. |
| broomstick | /ˈbruːmstɪk/ | a long wooden handle with straw for cleaning floors | Use this broomstick to sweep the porch clean. |
| candy | /ˈkændi/ | a sweet food made with sugar | We give candy to children on Halloween night. |
| spiderweb | /ˈspaɪdɚweb/ | a net made by a small eight-legged animal | A spiderweb catches flies in its thin threads. |
| skeleton | /ˈskelətən/ | all the bones of a body together | This skeleton decoration shows the bones inside a body. |
| bat | /bæt/ | a small animal that flies at night | A bat flies at night to find food. |
| cauldron | /ˈkɑːldrən/ | a large round pot for cooking over a fire | The cauldron holds a bubbling green liquid. |