Vocabulary · Seasons and celebrations
Christmas in English
A1
Christmas in English: Santa Claus and Father Christmas, the Christmas tree and its decorations, presents, carols, Christmas dinner and the best ways to wish someone a happy Christmas. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The day and its characters
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas(n.) | the celebration of the birth of Jesus | /ˈkrɪsməs/ | “Merry Christmas!” |
| Santa Claus(n.) | the man who brings Christmas presents | /ˈsæntə klɔːz/ | “Santa Claus comes on Christmas Eve.” |
| Father Christmas(n.) | the man who brings Christmas presents | /ˈfɑːðə ˈkrɪsməs/ | “In Britain, kids write to Father Christmas.” |
| elf(n.) | Santa's small magic helper | /elf/ | “The elves make the toys.” |
| reindeer(n.) | a large deer that pulls Santa's sleigh | /ˈreɪndɪə/ | “Santa has nine reindeer.” |
| Christmas Eve(n.) | the day before 25 December | /ˈkrɪsməs iːv/ | “Children hang up their stockings on Christmas Eve.” |
| Christmas Day(n.) | the main day of celebration, 25 December | /ˈkrɪsməs deɪ/ | “Christmas Day is December 25th.” |
Symbols and decorations
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas tree(n.) | a fir decorated with lights and ornaments | /ˈkrɪsməs triː/ | “We decorate the tree together.” |
| star(n.) | a shape with five or more points | /stɑː/ | “A star goes on top of the tree.” |
| ornament(n.) | a small decoration you hang on a tree | /ˈɔːnəmənt/ | “I love the gold ornaments.” |
| lights(n.) | small lamps that shine on the tree | /laɪts/ | “The lights are twinkling.” |
| stocking(n.) | a big sock for small presents | /ˈstɒkɪŋ/ | “Hang your stocking by the fireplace.” |
| wreath(n.) | a ring of leaves for the door | /riːθ/ | “A wreath hangs on the door.” |
| snowflake(n.) | a tiny ice crystal that falls in winter | /ˈsnəʊfleɪk/ | “Snowflakes are falling.” |
| mistletoe(n.) | a plant with white berries | /ˈmɪsltəʊ/ | “They kissed under the mistletoe.” |
Presents and traditions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| present(n.) | something you give to someone | /ˈprezənt/ | “I got lots of presents.” |
| gift(n.) | a present (a slightly more formal word) | /ɡɪft/ | “Thank you for the gift.” |
| wrapping paper(n.) | colourful sheets to cover presents | /ˈræpɪŋ ˌpeɪpə/ | “Choose your wrapping paper.” |
| Christmas card(n.) | a folded greeting sent to friends and family | /ˈkrɪsməs kɑːd/ | “I sent a Christmas card to Grandma.” |
| carol(n.) | a traditional Christmas song | /ˈkærəl/ | “We sing carols at school.” |
| Christmas dinner(n.) | the big family meal on 25 December | /ˈkrɪsməs ˈdɪnə/ | “Christmas dinner is at 2 p.m.” |
| fireplace(n.) | an opening in the wall for burning wood | /ˈfaɪəpleɪs/ | “Santa comes down the chimney into the fireplace.” |
Christmas wishes
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merry Christmas!(phrase) | the classic greeting on 25 December | /ˈmeri ˈkrɪsməs/ | “Merry Christmas, everyone!” |
| Happy Holidays!(phrase) | a greeting for all end-of-year celebrations | /ˈhæpi ˈhɒlɪdeɪz/ | “Happy Holidays from our family!” |
| Season's Greetings(phrase) | a formal greeting for cards and businesses | /ˈsiːzənz ˈɡriːtɪŋz/ | “Season's Greetings to all our clients.” |
Common mistakes to avoid
christmas ❌: always use a capital letter
In English, the names of celebrations always start with a capital letter: Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year. This is true in the middle of a sentence too: write We love Christmas, never We love christmas.
/ˈkrɪstməs/ ❌: the t is silent
Christmas is pronounced /ˈkrɪsməs/: you do not say the t. Other words have a silent t too: listen, castle, whistle. Saying /ˈkrɪstməs/ is a very common mistake.
Merry birthday ❌: merry goes with Christmas
In the UK and the US, people say Merry Christmas. Happy Christmas also exists in the UK (Queen Elizabeth II used it, for example), but it is less common. Merry means happy and cheerful, and today people use it almost only with Christmas. For a birthday, say Happy birthday, never Merry birthday.
Elfs ❌: special plurals for elf and reindeer
The usual plural of reindeer does not change: one reindeer, nine reindeer, like sheep and fish. Elf has an irregular plural: elves (the f becomes v, as in leaf → leaves).
Practice quiz
Related pages: Christmas
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Christmas?+
Christmas is pronounced /ˈkrɪsməs/: the t is silent! The short written form is Xmas, but you only see it in informal writing, like cards and adverts. To wish someone a good Christmas, say Merry Christmas! or Happy Holidays!
What is the difference between Santa Claus and Father Christmas?+
They are the same person with two names. Santa Claus (or just Santa) is the American name. Father Christmas is the older British name. Today, British children use both names, so choose the one that fits the country you are talking about.
What are the most important Christmas words?+
The key words are Christmas tree, present (or gift), Santa Claus, reindeer, elf, stocking, carol, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and snowflake. With these words, you can understand most texts about Christmas.
Why do people say Happy Holidays?+
In the United States, Happy Holidays includes all the celebrations at the end of the year: Christmas, Hanukkah (a Jewish festival), Kwanzaa (an African-American celebration) and New Year. It is more inclusive than Merry Christmas, so shops, adverts and people at work often use it.
How do you write a Christmas card in English?+
A classic message is: Dear [Name], Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! With love, [Your name]. For a warmer message, you can write: I hope your Christmas is full of joy, laughter and lots of presents.
What do people eat at Christmas in the UK and the US?+
In the UK, Christmas dinner is usually at lunchtime. People eat roast turkey with stuffing (a mix of bread and herbs cooked with the meat) and Brussels sprouts. After that comes Christmas pudding, a dark, heavy cake full of dried fruit. In the US, the meal is similar: turkey, ham or roast beef, with mashed potatoes and pies.
What are some famous Christmas songs in English?+
Famous carols and Christmas songs include Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Silent Night and Deck the Halls. Many children learn them at school. They are a fun way to practise words like merry, bells and sleigh (the vehicle that Santa's reindeer pull).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/christmas
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.