If you’re on your journey to learning English, the holiday season is a great time to pick up new words you’ll hear almost everywhere. From shopping to school events to simple conversations with friends, Christmas vocabulary shows up a lot during December. Here are a few useful words and phrases you’ll likely hear around the holidays:

“Stocking” – A large sock hung by the fireplace, usually filled with small gifts.
 “Wrapping paper” – The colorful paper used to cover presents.
 “Holiday card” – A card people send to friends or family to share good wishes.
 “Decorations” – Items like lights, ornaments, and wreaths used to make homes festive.
 “Gift exchange” – A group activity where everyone gives and receives a present.

These words may seem simple, but they come up often. They appear in movies, can be seen while shopping for gifts, or heard while talking with coworkers. Christmas is a major holiday in the US and is widely celebrated here.

Adding a few of these words to your daily routine, even casually, can make your ESOL practice feel a little more fun, a little more festive, and help provide confidence to join into holiday conversations!

The English Island wishes all a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!