Vocabulary · US culture
Labor Day in English
B1
Labor Day in English: the American holiday for workers, words about work and rights, the BBQs and parades of the long weekend, and the end of summer. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The holiday and its date
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Day(n.)“Labor Day is the first Monday in September.” | a US holiday for workers in September | /ˈleɪbə deɪ/ |
| labor(n.) | work, especially hard physical work | /ˈleɪbə/ |
| labour(n.) | work, especially hard physical work | /ˈleɪbə/ |
| federal holiday(n.) | a day off for the whole USA | /ˈfedərəl ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ |
| long weekend(n.) | a weekend with an extra day off | /lɒŋ wiːˈkend/ |
| end of summer(phrase) | the last days of the warm season | /end əv ˈsʌmə/ |
Work and workers
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| worker(n.) | a person who does a job | /ˈwɜːkə/ |
| employee(n.) | a person who works for a company | /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/ |
| union(n.) | a group that protects workers' rights | /ˈjuːniən/ |
| job(n.) | the work you do for money | /dʒɒb/ |
| workforce(n.) | all the workers of a country or company | /ˈwɜːkfɔːs/ |
| strike(n.) | when workers stop work to protest | /straɪk/ |
| rights(n.) | things the law lets everyone have or do | /raɪts/ |
| achievement(n.) | something good you do with effort | /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ |
Weekend celebrations
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| parade(n.) | a big public march with music | /pəˈreɪd/ |
| BBQ(n.) | a meal cooked outside on a grill | /ˌbiːbiːˈkjuː/ |
| picnic(n.) | a meal you eat outside, on the grass | /ˈpɪknɪk/ |
| cookout(n.) | an American outdoor party with grilled food | /ˈkʊkaʊt/ |
| fireworks(n.) | coloured explosions in the night sky | /ˈfaɪəwɜːks/ |
| beach(n.) | the sandy area next to the sea | /biːtʃ/ |
| pool(n.) | a place with water for swimming | /puːl/ |
| road trip(n.) | a long holiday journey by car | /rəʊd trɪp/ |
Back to school and the end of summer
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| back to school(phrase)“Back to school sales start before Labor Day.” | the return to classes after summer | /bæk tə skuːl/ |
| sales(n.) | a time when shops lower their prices | /seɪlz/ |
| autumn / fall(n.) | the season between summer and winter | /ˈɔːtəm fɔːl/ |
| white shoes(n.) | summer shoes that old rules banned after September | /waɪt ʃuːz/ |
| tailgate(n.) | a party around cars before a game | /ˈteɪlɡeɪt/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Labor Day is not May Day
The workers' day of 1 May, in many countries, is called May Day or International Workers' Day in English. The United States and Canada have their own day, later in the year: the first Monday in September. They chose it to avoid the link with the socialist groups of 1 May.
Labor (US) or labour (UK)?
The spelling changes: labor in American English, labour in British English. It is the same with color/colour and favor/favour. The holiday is American, so write Labor Day (in Canada, it is Labour Day). In the UK, one political party is the Labour Party.
Don't wear white after Labor Day: an old fashion rule
This is an old American tradition from the 19th century: white clothes were only for summer (May to August). The rule is very old-fashioned today, but you still hear it in films and TV series.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Labor Day
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Labor Day in the US?+
Labor Day is on the first Monday in September in the United States and in Canada. It has been a federal holiday since 1894, so it makes a three-day long weekend. Do not confuse it with May Day (1 May), the workers' day in many other countries.
Why is Labor Day in September and not on 1 May?+
For political reasons. In the 1880s, 1 May was linked to socialist and anarchist groups, especially after the Haymarket events in Chicago in 1886. American leaders chose a different day in September. It celebrated workers without this revolutionary link.
What do people do on Labor Day?+
The Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest of the American year. Families have a BBQ or a cookout, go to the beach or the pool one last time, and watch parades in some towns. Shops have big sales before the new school year, and the American football season starts.
Why can't you wear white after Labor Day?+
It is an old fashion rule of rich American families in the 19th century. White clothes meant summer holidays, so wearing white after Labor Day looked wrong. Today, almost nobody follows this rule, but people still joke about it.
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/labor-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.