{"id":147946,"date":"2024-01-09T06:13:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T11:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/esl-winter-vocabulary\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T23:14:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T04:14:01","slug":"esl-winter-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/esl-winter-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"140+ Winter Vocabulary Terms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While snow and winter holidays are fun, you may also hear people talking (and complaining!) about the cold weather.\u00a0Sometimes, this can be confusing\u2014especially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/american-english-slang-words-esl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">if there&#8217;s slang involved<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Wintertime definitely has its own unique vocabulary, phrases and idioms.\u00a0In this post, we&#8217;re covering <strong>over 140 winter terms<\/strong>, from weather and activities to holidays and more. Keep reading to learn all of the essential English winter vocabulary to get you through until spring.<\/p>\n<p>[fluentu-toc skip=3]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<h2>Winter Weather and Nature Terms<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/winter-scene.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-87946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/winter-scene.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"326\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are many terms for winter weather, and especially for the different types of winter storms. Take a look:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Avalanche<\/strong> \u2014 snow, ice and rocks that fall quickly and suddenly down a mountain<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black ice<\/strong> \u2014 a thin, nearly invisible ice layer on roads that is extremely slippery and dangerous<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blanket of snow<\/strong> \u2014 when the ground and other objects are completely covered by a layer of snow<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blizzard<\/strong> \u2014 storm with lots of snow and strong winds<\/li>\n<li><strong>Driving ban<\/strong> \u2014 official, temporary rule against driving due to weather conditions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Evergreen trees<\/strong> \u2014 trees like pine, fur and spruce that keep their green color all year, even in winter<\/li>\n<li><strong>Freezing rain<\/strong> \u2014 rain that freezes on the ground or other objects, creating ice<\/li>\n<li><strong>Frost<\/strong> \u2014 ice crystals that form on surfaces due to freezing temperatures<\/li>\n<li><strong>Frostbite<\/strong> \u2014 injury caused by freezing of skin and tissues<\/li>\n<li><strong>Glacier<\/strong> \u2014 a very large block of ice found in northern parts of the world and formed by packed snow over time<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hail<\/strong> \u2014 frozen rain that falls from the sky as chunks of ice<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ice storm<\/strong> \u2014 weather event with freezing rain causing ice buildup<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nor&#8217;easter<\/strong> \u2014 powerful storm affecting the northeastern U.S. with strong winds and heavy snow or rain<\/li>\n<li><strong>Polar vortex<\/strong> \u2014 large area of low pressure and cold air that causes extremely low temperatures<\/li>\n<li><strong>Salt<\/strong><strong>\/<\/strong><strong>Sand the roads<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 spreading salt or sand on roads to melt ice or make the road easier to drive on<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sleet<\/strong> \u2014 a mixture of snow and rain<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slush<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014wet, messy snow on the ground, usually caused by sleet<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow squall<\/strong> \u2014 intense, brief snowstorm with gusty winds<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowblind<\/strong> \u2014 not being able to see when the sun shines on white snow<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowdrift<\/strong> \u2014 mound of snow formed by the wind<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowflakes<\/strong> \u2014 unique ice crystals that fall as snow<\/li>\n<li><strong>State of emergency<\/strong> \u2014 government declaration allowing for emergency actions and resources; people should usually remain at home<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowed in<\/strong> \u2014 unable to leave a building or place because snow is blocking the way<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thaw<\/strong> \u2014 the process of snow or ice melting because of warmer temperatures<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thundersnow<\/strong> \u2014 thunder and lightning occurring during a snowstorm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Whiteout<\/strong> \u2014 reduced visibility due to blowing snow; can only see white outside<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wind chill<\/strong> \u2014 very cold air that makes the temperature feel colder than it really is<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winter wonderland<\/strong> \u2014 a beautiful scene of fresh snow covering the landscape<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;The town looks so pretty with a fresh <strong>blanket of snow<\/strong> in the morning.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;Look outside! There&#8217;s <strong>frost<\/strong> on everything. It looks magical!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;Don&#8217;t leave for work yet. The city government will <strong>salt the roads<\/strong> soon so it will be safer to drive.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;<\/em><em>Even though the temperature is 20 degrees, the <strong>wind chill<\/strong> makes it feel like -5!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;Last week we had a <strong>winter wonderland<\/strong>. This week it&#8217;s Snowmageddon!&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/em>(Snowmaggedon is a funny word for extreme, heavy snowfall that combines &#8220;snow&#8221; and &#8220;Armageddon,&#8221; which means &#8220;the end of the world&#8221;)<\/p>\n<h2>Winter Objects and Tools<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/fireplace.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88098\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/fireplace.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With all of the special winter weather comes special winter tools and objects for dealing with that weather. Here are useful words to know:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Blankets<\/strong> \u2014 thick, warm covers for cold weather, used on a bed or couch<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fireplace<\/strong> \u2014 a place for containing and maintaining a fire for indoor heating<\/li>\n<li><strong>Generator<\/strong> \u2014 a machine that helps power electricity<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hand warmers<\/strong> \u2014 small packets that create heat for warming hands in cold weather<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icicles<\/strong> \u2014 long, pointed ice formations that hang from surfaces, formed by frozen water<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ice scraper<\/strong> \u2014 a tool used to remove ice from vehicle windows and surfaces<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ice skates<\/strong> \u2014 footwear with metal blades for gliding on ice, used for ice skating<\/li>\n<li><strong>Skis<\/strong> \u2014 long, narrow and flat equipment worn on boots to glide over snow, one for each foot<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sled<\/strong> \u2014 a small piece of wood, plastic or metal used to slide across snow, usually down a hill<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sleigh<\/strong> \u2014 a vehicle with a seating area used for traveling over snow or ice, often pulled by horses or dogs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowball<\/strong> \u2014 a round ball of snow, often used for snowball fights or building snow structures<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowman<\/strong> \u2014 a figure made of snow, typically consisting of three stacked snowballs with accessories like sticks, stones and carrots to create a face and arms<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowshoes<\/strong> \u2014 flat objects attached to the bottom of shoes or boots to make walking on snow easier<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow blower<\/strong> \u2014 a machine used to clear snow from larger areas like driveways and walkways<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow chains<\/strong> \u2014 chains put on the tires of vehicles to make driving in snow and ice easier and safer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow globe<\/strong> \u2014 a decorative object containing water, snow-like particles and a scene or figure inside a sealed glass dome<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow plow<\/strong> \u2014 a special vehicle that clears snow from roads or large surfaces<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow shovel<\/strong> \u2014 a tool for clearing snow from driveways, paths and sidewalks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;If we lose power during the storm, the <strong>generator<\/strong> will turn on immediately.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;The car isn&#8217;t buried by snow, but I do need to use the <strong>ice scraper<\/strong> and scrape the windows today.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;My sister wants to take a <strong>sleigh<\/strong> ride in the park tonight.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;His dad went on a work trip and brought home <strong>snow globes<\/strong> for each of the children.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;We can&#8217;t go anywhere yet. We have to wait for the <strong>snow plow<\/strong> to clear the streets.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Winter Clothes<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/woman-in-winter-clothes-looking-at-snowy-landscape.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/woman-in-winter-clothes-looking-at-snowy-landscape.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"381\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you plan on having fun outside during winter, you need to wear clothing that keeps you warm, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beanie<\/strong> \u2014 close-fitting hat, typically made of knit material<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ear muffs<\/strong> \u2014 soft coverings for the ears connected with a band across the head<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fleece<\/strong> \u2014 a soft, warm fabric similar to a sheep&#8217;s wool; used for lightweight winter clothes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gloves<\/strong><strong>\/<\/strong><strong>Mittens<\/strong> \u2014 hand coverings for cold protection; gloves have individual finger slots and mittens do not<\/li>\n<li><strong>Headband<\/strong> \u2014 a band of fabric worn around the head to protect the ears from cold<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leggings<\/strong><strong>\/<\/strong><strong>Tights<\/strong> \u2014 thin pants usually worn for extra protection against cold; may have fleece on the inside<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parka<\/strong> \u2014 hooded, thick jacket for extreme cold, often waterproof or water-resistant<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scarf<\/strong> \u2014 long fabric worn around the neck for warmth and protection from wind chill<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shawl<\/strong> \u2014 a wrap-around, blanket-like piece of clothing used for warmth and style<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow boots<\/strong> \u2014 thick, waterproof shoes for protection against cold and snowy weather<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snow pants<\/strong> \u2014 thick, waterproof pants for extreme cold or snow activities<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowsuit<\/strong> \u2014 a one-piece outfit that combines a jacket and trousers for snow protection<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sweater<\/strong> \u2014 knitted, long-sleeve shirt for additional warmth<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thermal socks<\/strong> \u2014 special thick socks for warmth<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thermal underwear<\/strong> \u2014 a pants-like layer worn underneath clothing for extra warmth; also called long underwear<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vest<\/strong> \u2014 a close-fitting, sleeveless piece of clothing worn over a shirt<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winter coat<\/strong> \u2014 a heavy, thick jacket designed for cold weather<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;I like your <strong>beanie<\/strong>! It looks very warm, and it&#8217;s cute.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;It&#8217;s so cold today that I&#8217;m going to wear <strong>leggings<\/strong> underneath my pants.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget to wear a <strong>scarf<\/strong> when you go sledding to keep your neck warm.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;My friend made me a <strong>sweater<\/strong> to wear to our holiday party.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;I need a new <strong>winter coat<\/strong>. This one isn&#8217;t warm enough.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Winter Activities<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/ice-hockey-on-natural-rink.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/ice-hockey-on-natural-rink.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Winter is not just about snowstorms and freezing cold temperatures. There are many winter activities that are fun to do with friends and family!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Caroling<\/strong> \u2014 singing Christmas songs; in the past, carolers would travel from house to house, singing outside<\/li>\n<li><strong>Curling<\/strong> \u2014 team sport on ice, sliding stones towards a target area, using brooms to control the stone&#8217;s path<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dog sledding<\/strong> \u2014 traveling on snow with a team of dogs pulling a sled or sleigh<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hockey<\/strong> \u2014 fast-paced sport on ice; teams score goals by hitting a puck into the opposing team&#8217;s net<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ice climbing<\/strong> \u2014 climbing frozen waterfalls or icy rocks with special equipment<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ice fishing<\/strong> \u2014 fishing in frozen lakes or ponds through holes cut in the ice<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ice skating<\/strong> \u2014 gliding on ice using ice skates, often on rinks or frozen lakes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Skiing<\/strong> \u2014 sliding on snow using skis, either downhill or across flat terrain<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sledding<\/strong> \u2014 riding down snow-covered hills on a sled, toboggan or snow tube<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowball fight<\/strong> \u2014 a playful fight where people throw snowballs at each other<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowboarding<\/strong> \u2014 riding a single board on snow; similar to skiing but with both feet attached to one shorter board<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowmobiling<\/strong> \u2014 riding motorized vehicles designed for travel on snow<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snowshoeing<\/strong> \u2014 walking or hiking over snow using snowshoes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winter camping<\/strong> \u2014 camping in snowy conditions with special gear for cold temperatures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;<strong>Hockey <\/strong>is a fun sport to play and watch. The players wear ice skates and hit a puck\u00a0into a net with a hockey stick to score goals.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;I like to watch <strong>ice skating<\/strong> during the winter Olympic games. The skaters are so graceful.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;Many people like to go <strong>skiing <\/strong>or <strong>snowboarding <\/strong>in the mountains, but I&#8217;m too scared!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;Every winter, my family and I have a giant <strong>snowball fight<\/strong>. My sister is good at making snowballs, and I&#8217;m good at throwing them!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Winter Food and Drinks<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/Christmas-Gingerbread-House.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88104\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/Christmas-Gingerbread-House.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are common meals and beverages enjoyed during wintertime:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Apple cider<\/strong> \u2014 non-alcoholic beverage made from pressed apples, often served warm and spiced with cinnamon<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baileys Irish Cream<\/strong> \u2014 creamy liqueur often added to hot drinks like coffee or hot chocolate for a cozy winter treat<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baked apples<\/strong> \u2014 apples stuffed with cinnamon, sugar and sometimes nuts, baked until tender and served warm<\/li>\n<li><strong>Candy canes<\/strong> \u2014 striped, peppermint-flavored candy, often seen during the holiday season<\/li>\n<li><strong>Casserole<\/strong> \u2014 a baked dish typically containing meats, vegetables and cheese in a single pan<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chai<\/strong> \u2014 spiced tea blend made with black tea, milk and various spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom and cloves<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chili<\/strong> \u2014 spicy stew made with ground meat, beans, tomatoes and chili peppers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eggnog<\/strong> \u2014 a creamy, rich drink made with eggs, milk and sugar, often spiked with rum or bourbon<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gingerbread<\/strong> \u2014 a sweet and spicy cake or cookie flavored with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and molasses; sometimes built into decorated gingerbread houses<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hot chocolate<\/strong> \u2014 a warm, comforting drink made from cocoa powder, milk or water and sometimes sugar<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hot toddy<\/strong> \u2014 soothing drink made with whiskey, honey, lemon and hot water, believed to help with colds and sore throats<\/li>\n<li><strong>Macaroni and cheese<\/strong> \u2014 comforting dish made with pasta and melted cheese sauce, often baked for a crispy topping<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mulled wine<\/strong> \u2014 red wine heated with spices like cinnamon, cloves and orange peel<\/li>\n<li><strong>Peppermint<\/strong> \u2014 a specific type of mint that&#8217;s popular during winter, often added to candy or hot chocolate<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pot roast<\/strong> \u2014 slow-cooked dish made with braised beef and vegetables<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pumpkin pie<\/strong> \u2014 dessert made with spiced pumpkin filling in a pastry crust, often enjoyed during fall and winter holidays<\/li>\n<li><strong>Soup<\/strong><strong>\/<\/strong><strong>Stew<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 hearty, warming dishes made by simmering vegetables, meats or beans in flavorful broth<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spiked cider<\/strong> \u2014 warm apple cider mixed with rum, brandy or whiskey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;I like putting<strong> candy canes<\/strong> in my <strong>hot chocolate<\/strong> for a minty taste.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;My mom makes the best <strong>eggnog<\/strong>. She uses rum and puts a little nutmeg spice on top.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;We make a <strong>pot roast<\/strong> on the first day of winter every year to keep us warm and full.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><em>&#8220;My favorite winter dessert is <strong>pumpkin pie<\/strong> with vanilla ice cream on top.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Winter Holidays and Traditions<\/h2>\n<p>Many cultures have winter holidays. Here are some of the most well-known ones, as well as special traditions and important terms for each.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hanukkah<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/group-of-people-at-table-lighting-a-menorah.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/group-of-people-at-table-lighting-a-menorah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This winter holiday is celebrated by Jewish people for eight days in November or December. The dates change every year based on the <em>lunar<\/em> (moon) cycle.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a time when families come together to remember a story from a long time ago when a small amount of oil lasted for eight days in a temple&#8217;s lamp, even though it was only enough for one day of light.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important terms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dreidel<\/strong> \u2014 a four-sided spinning top used in a traditional holiday game<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gelt<\/strong> \u2014 chocolate coins, often wrapped in gold or silver foil<\/li>\n<li><strong>Latkes<\/strong> \u2014 potato pancakes fried in oil<\/li>\n<li><strong>Menorah<\/strong> \u2014 a special candleholder with nine branches; the central candle is used to light one additional candle each night of the holiday<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Saint Nicholas Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/Bowl-of-speculoos-biscuits.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88106\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/Bowl-of-speculoos-biscuits.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th in many European countries.<\/p>\n<p>Saint Nicholas was known for helping others, especially children and those in need.\u00a0On this day, children put their shoes out overnight, hoping to find little gifts or treats the next morning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important terms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Good deeds<\/strong> \u2014 being nice and giving to charity are extra important on this holiday<\/li>\n<li><strong>Krampus<\/strong> \u2014 this figure might punish <em>naughty<\/em> (bad) children while Saint Nicholas rewards the good ones<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saint Nicholas cookies<\/strong> \u2014 cookies in the shape of Saint Nicholas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Christmas<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/glowing-christmas-tree-and-stockings-on-mantle.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88107\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/glowing-christmas-tree-and-stockings-on-mantle.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, and Christmas Eve is often acknowledged the day before, on the 24th. People celebrate by decorating Christmas trees and giving presents.<\/p>\n<p>For Christians, it&#8217;s a time to remember the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, but many people who are not religious also celebrate Christmas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important terms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Carols<\/strong> \u2014 traditional songs often sung in churches, homes and public places<\/li>\n<li><strong>Christmas tree<\/strong> \u2014 an evergreen tree decorated with lights, ornaments and a star or angel on top; gifts are placed under the tree<\/li>\n<li><strong>Santa Claus<\/strong> \u2014 a folklore figure said to deliver gifts to good children on the night of Christmas Eve<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stockings<\/strong> \u2014 long, decorative songs hung on fireplaces or walls, usually filled with small gifts or treats<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wreath<\/strong> \u2014 branches, berries, ribbons and other decorations arranged in a circle, often hung on front doors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Kwanzaa<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/girl-playing-piano-with-fruit-and-kwanzaa-candelabra.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88108\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/girl-playing-piano-with-fruit-and-kwanzaa-candelabra.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This African winter holiday lasts for seven days, from December 26th to January 1st.<\/p>\n<p>Each day, families talk about different values, like unity, creativity and purpose. They light candles, share stories, eat special foods and celebrate by singing and dancing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important terms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Kinara<\/strong> \u2014 a special candleholder with seven branches; three candles are red, three are green and one is black<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Seven Principles<\/strong> \u2014 these are unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperation, purpose, creativity and faith; also called Nguzo Saba<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Unity Cup<\/strong> \u2014 a cup that represents family and community, used for pouring and sharing drinks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>New Year&#8217;s<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/new-years-fireworks-in-dark-sky-over-peaceful-town.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88109\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/new-years-fireworks-in-dark-sky-over-peaceful-town.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>New Year&#8217;s Eve is December 31st, and New Year&#8217;s Day is January 1st. It&#8217;s when we say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.<\/p>\n<p>On New Year&#8217;s Eve, people often celebrate with a big party. On New Year&#8217;s Day, everyone starts fresh.\u00a0There are many different New Year&#8217;s traditions around the world.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important terms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Countdown<\/strong> \u2014 counting backwards (usually from 10 to one) at midnight to welcome in the new year<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fireworks<\/strong> \u2014 loud, colorful explosions in the sky<\/li>\n<li><strong>Midnight kiss<\/strong> \u2014 a kiss given at midnight on New Year&#8217;s Eve to start the year in a positive way<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Year&#8217;s Ball Drop<\/strong> \u2014 a famous tradition in Times Square of New York City, where a large ball descends down a pole as part of the countdown to midnight<\/li>\n<li><strong>Resolution<\/strong> \u2014 a personal goal made at the beginning of the year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Lunar New Year<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/lunar-new-year-dragon-dance.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88110\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/lunar-new-year-dragon-dance.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Like Hanukkah, this holiday follows the lunar calendar. The date changes every year, but Lunar New Year usually falls towards the end of winter, in January or February.<\/p>\n<p>Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries, and people celebrate for about two weeks. For good luck, families decorate their homes with red and gold and engage in other special traditions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important terms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Chinese zodiac<\/strong> \u2014 a cycle of 12 animals, each representing a year and its characteristics<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dragon dance<\/strong> \u2014 performed by a team of dancers in a dragon costume to bring good luck; there are also lion dances<\/li>\n<li><strong>Firecrackers<\/strong> \u2014 small explosives, used to scare away evil spirits<\/li>\n<li><strong>Red envelopes<\/strong> \u2014 these contain money and are given as gifts, representing good luck and prosperity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Cold Weather Sayings and Idioms<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/woman-outside-in-cold-with-beanie-and-gloves.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/woman-outside-in-cold-with-beanie-and-gloves.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When the temperature drops, people like to use all sorts of words to describe how cold it is.<\/p>\n<p>For milder cold, you can say the weather is <strong>frosty<\/strong> or <strong>nippy<\/strong>. If it&#8217;s <em>really<\/em> cold, you can use words like <strong>bone-chilling<\/strong> and <strong>frigid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You may hear people use the following phrases to discuss how cold they feel:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;I&#8217;m turning into an icicle.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;I&#8217;m freezing my butt off.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;I can&#8217;t feel my toes.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;I want to hibernate until spring.&#8221; (Like bears do)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That last one means the person wants to stay inside until it&#8217;s warm again!<\/p>\n<p>There are also plenty of idioms related to cold weather:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Be on thin ice<\/strong> \u2014 do something risky that might get you in trouble<br \/>\n<em>\u00a0&#8220;After not showing up for work, Mark is on thin ice with his boss.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Break the ice<\/strong> \u2014 start a conversation to get to know someone or make a social situation more comfortable<br \/>\n<em>&#8220;We had a list of questions to ask in class to help us break the ice with our new partners.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Get cold feet<\/strong> \u2014 to be scared enough to not do something as planned<\/li>\n<li><strong>Give the cold shoulder<\/strong> \u2014 to act unfriendly or to ignore someone<br \/>\n<em>&#8220;She gave me the cold shoulder the day after I embarrassed her at work.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Have a snowball&#8217;s chance in hell<\/strong> \u2014 have no chance of happening<br \/>\n<em>&#8220;I told my friend Mike that he has a snowball&#8217;s chance in hell of dating his favorite celebrity.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>&#8220;Jake got cold feet and left his own wedding!&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Leave someone out in the cold<\/strong> \u2014 to not involve someone or keep them out of group situation<br \/>\n<em>&#8220;My boss left me out in the cold when deciding on the new project with the other managers.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Put a project on ice<\/strong> \u2014 stop working on the project for a short time<br \/>\n<em>&#8220;Let&#8217;s put the marketing project on ice for now.&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As you probably know from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/idioms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">learning about idioms<\/a>, the meanings of these phrases often cannot be understood from the words on their own. Idioms and sayings can be very confusing.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, many of the winter idioms we just went over can be used during any time of the year, even if it&#8217;s not cold outside. To better understand when and how to use these phrases, you can use a program like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FluentU<\/a> to hear them used in real English videos.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n<p><\/p> \r\n<p>You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/fluentu-learn-language-videos\/id917892175\">the iOS app<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.fluentflix.fluentu&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US\">Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><i><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/SimpleText.jpg\" alt=\"FluentU Ad\" \/>\r\n  <p style=\"text-align: center\">\r\n    <button class=\"btn-blue\" style=\"border: none;font-size: 18px;text-align: center;padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;cursor: pointer\">\r\n      Try FluentU for FREE!\r\n    <\/button>\r\n  <\/p>\r\n<\/a>\r\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now that you have learned a lot of winter vocabulary terms, try to use them in your conversations and messages.<\/p>\n<p>You can complain about the weather just like native speakers do. You can <em>break the ice<\/em> with co-workers or the cute person next to you at the bar. Perhaps you will find someone you wouldn&#8217;t mind being <em>snowed in<\/em> with!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\nIf you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials<\/a>, as you can see here:\r\n<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_1990\" style=\"width: 317px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1990\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1990\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/English-5.png\" alt=\"learn-english-with-videos\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1990\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<p>\r\nThe FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_1991\" style=\"width: 317px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1991\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1991\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/English-2.png\" alt=\"learn-english-with-subtitled-television-show-clips\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1991\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<p>\r\nFor example, when you tap on the word \"searching,\" you see this:\r\n<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_1959\" style=\"width: 317px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1959\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1959 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/English-6.png\" alt=\"learn-conversational-english-with-interactive-captioned-dialogue\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1959\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\nLearn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you\u2019re learning.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_1996\" style=\"width: 317px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1996\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1996 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/English-7.png\" alt=\"practice-english-with-adaptive-quizzes\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1996\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more.<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n<p>\r\nThe best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you\u2019re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words\u2014and reminds you when it\u2019s time to review what you\u2019ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While snow and winter holidays are fun, you may also hear people talking (and complaining!) about the cold weather.\u00a0Sometimes, this can be confusing\u2014especially if there&#8217;s slang involved.\u00a0 Wintertime definitely has&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186,"featured_media":252378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"140+ Winter Vocabulary Terms | FluentU English Blog","description":"Using the right winter vocabulary can help you talk about the season better. Whether you want to share your holiday stories or simply discuss the weather, we've got 140+ winter words to help you out! Click here for winter vocab words about clothing, nature, activities, holidays and much more!"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[685,687],"tags":[],"coauthors":[490],"class_list":["post-147946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-vocabulary-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/186"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147946"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":242877,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147946\/revisions\/242877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147946"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=147946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}