Vocabulary · English-speaking culture
Earth Day in English
A2
Earth Day in English: 22 April, the world day for our planet, with the words for nature, climate and pollution, green habits like recycling, and clean energy. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The planet
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Day(n.)“Earth Day is on April 22nd.” | the world day for the planet, 22 April | /ɜːθ deɪ/ |
| Earth(n.) | the planet we live on | /ɜːθ/ |
| planet(n.) | a big world that goes round a star | /ˈplænɪt/ |
| environment(n.) | the natural world around us | /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ |
| nature(n.) | plants, animals and the natural world | /ˈneɪtʃə/ |
| ecosystem(n.) | living things and their natural home | /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ |
| biodiversity(n.) | the variety of life on Earth | /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ |
Climate and pollution
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| climate change(n.)“Climate change is a global threat.” | changes in the Earth's weather over time | /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ |
| global warming(n.) | the Earth slowly getting hotter | /ˈɡləʊbəl ˈwɔːmɪŋ/ |
| pollution(n.) | dirty or harmful things in air or water | /pəˈluːʃən/ |
| greenhouse gas(n.) | a gas that traps heat around the Earth | /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/ |
| carbon footprint(n.) | the CO2 that your activities produce | /ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ |
| fossil fuels(n.) | coal, oil and gas from the ground | /ˈfɒsəl ˈfjuːəlz/ |
| plastic waste(n.) | used bottles, bags and packaging | /ˈplæstɪk weɪst/ |
| deforestation(n.) | cutting down large areas of forest | /diːˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃən/ |
Green habits
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to recycle(v.)“We recycle paper and plastic.” | to make old things into new ones | /riːˈsaɪkəl/ |
| to reduce(v.) | to make something smaller or less | /rɪˈdjuːs/ |
| to reuse(v.) | to use something again | /riːˈjuːz/ |
| to save(v.) | to use less; to keep safe | /seɪv/ |
| to protect(v.) | to keep something safe from harm | /prəˈtekt/ |
| to plant a tree(v.) | to put a young tree in the ground | /plɑːnt ə triː/ |
| to clean up(v.) | to remove litter and dirt | /kliːn ʌp/ |
| sustainable(adj.) | able to continue without harming nature | /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ |
| eco-friendly(adj.) | not harmful to nature | /ˈiːkəʊ ˈfrendli/ |
| green(adj.) | good for the environment | /ɡriːn/ |
Energy and solutions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| renewable energy(n.) | power from sun, wind or water | /rɪˈnjuːəbəl ˈenədʒi/ |
| solar power(n.) | electricity from the sun | /ˈsəʊlə ˈpaʊə/ |
| wind power(n.) | electricity from moving air | /wɪnd ˈpaʊə/ |
| electric car(n.) | a vehicle that runs on a battery | /ɪˈlektrɪk kɑː/ |
| organic(adj.) | grown without chemicals | /ɔːˈɡænɪk/ |
| recycling bin(n.) | a container for paper, glass and plastic | /riːˈsaɪklɪŋ bɪn/ |
| climate march(n.) | a protest walk to save the planet | /ˈklaɪmət mɑːtʃ/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Recycle, Reuse, Reduce ❌: the order matters
The famous green slogan is the Three Rs: Reduce (buy and use less), Reuse (use things again instead of throwing them away), Recycle (when you cannot reuse). Learn them in this order: the first goal is to reduce, not to recycle.
earth orbits the Sun ❌: write Earth
When Earth is the name of our planet, it takes a capital letter, like Mars or Venus: Earth orbits the Sun. With a small letter, earth means the ground or soil: I planted seeds in the earth.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Earth Day
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
Earth Day: learn these words for good
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For teachers“Earth Day” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
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English contestThe “Earth Day” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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Frequently asked questions
When is Earth Day?+
Earth Day is on 22 April every year, in more than 190 countries. It started in the United States in 1970, thanks to Senator Gaylord Nelson. Today it is the biggest environmental event in the world, organised by EarthDay.org.
What is the origin of Earth Day?+
The first Earth Day took place on 22 April 1970 in the United States. Senator Gaylord Nelson was shocked by a big oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969. So he organised a national day to teach people about the environment. 20 million Americans took part. The movement became international in 1990.
How can you celebrate Earth Day at school?+
Classic activities are a poster about the Three Rs, a debate about climate change, a project on endangered species, planting trees at school, or reading a speech by Greta Thunberg. It is the perfect day to learn the words of ecology.
What is the difference between Earth Day and World Environment Day?+
Earth Day (22 April) started in the United States, and it is mostly about educating citizens. World Environment Day (5 June) is an official United Nations day, celebrated since 1974. It is more political. The two days complete each other in the green calendar.
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/earth-day
© 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.