Vocabulary · English-speaking culture
Mardi Gras in English
B1
Mardi Gras in English: the different names of the day, New Orleans and Louisiana, parades, floats and beads, the three colours, king cake and the Sydney festival. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The celebration and its names
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Mardi Gras(n.)“Mardi Gras is huge in New Orleans.” | the carnival day before Lent | /ˈmɑːdi ɡrɑː/ |
| Fat Tuesday(n.) | the American English name for Mardi Gras | /fæt ˈtjuːzdeɪ/ |
| Shrove Tuesday(n.) | the day before Lent (UK name) | /ʃrəʊv ˈtjuːzdeɪ/ |
| carnival(n.) | a big street party with costumes | /ˈkɑːnɪvəl/ |
| Lent(n.) | the 40 days before Easter | /lent/ |
| Ash Wednesday(n.) | the first day of Lent | /æʃ ˈwenzdeɪ/ |
| Carnival season(n.) | the party weeks before Lent | /ˈkɑːnɪvəl ˈsiːzən/ |
New Orleans and Louisiana
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans(n.) | the famous Mardi Gras city in Louisiana | /njuː ˈɔːliənz/ |
| Louisiana(n.) | a US state on the Gulf of Mexico | /luːˌiːziˈænə/ |
| French Quarter(n.)“The French Quarter is packed during Mardi Gras.” | the old centre of New Orleans | /frentʃ ˈkwɔːtə/ |
| Bourbon Street(n.) | a famous party street in New Orleans | /ˈbɜːbən striːt/ |
| Cajun(adj./n.) | from the Acadian people of Louisiana | /ˈkeɪdʒən/ |
| Creole(adj./n.) | from Louisiana's mixed European and African culture | /ˈkriːəʊl/ |
| jazz(n.) | music born in New Orleans | /dʒæz/ |
Parades and traditions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| parade(n.) | people marching or driving through the streets | /pəˈreɪd/ |
| float(n.) | a decorated vehicle in a parade | /fləʊt/ |
| krewe(n.) | a club that organises a parade | /kruː/ |
| beads(n.)“They throw beads from the floats.” | cheap colourful necklaces thrown from floats | /biːdz/ |
| mask(n.) | something that covers your face | /mɑːsk/ |
| costume(n.) | special clothes to look like someone else | /ˈkɒstjuːm/ |
| doubloon(n.) | a big fake coin thrown at parades | /dʌˈbluːn/ |
| to throw(v.) | to send something through the air | /θrəʊ/ |
| to catch(v.) | to take something that is flying | /kætʃ/ |
Colours, food and Sydney
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| purple(adj.) | the colour of justice at Mardi Gras | /ˈpɜːpəl/ |
| green(adj.) | the colour of faith at Mardi Gras | /ɡriːn/ |
| gold(adj.) | the colour of power at Mardi Gras | /ɡəʊld/ |
| king cake(n.)“The king cake hides a tiny baby figurine.” | a ring cake with a hidden baby | /kɪŋ keɪk/ |
| gumbo(n.) | a thick Cajun soup or stew | /ˈɡʌmbəʊ/ |
| jambalaya(n.) | a spicy Cajun rice dish | /ˌdʒæmbəˈlaɪə/ |
| Sydney Mardi Gras(n.) | a big LGBT+ festival in Australia | /ˈsɪdni ˈmɑːdi ɡrɑː/ |
| pride(n.) | feeling good about who you are | /praɪd/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Mardi Gras and Pancake Day are different days ❌
It is the same day with different names. Shrove Tuesday is the traditional British name (a religious day before Lent). Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is the American name, for the big party in New Orleans. Pancake Day is the British food name, because people eat pancakes. Three names, one date: the day before Ash Wednesday.
Red, white and blue ❌: the colours are purple, green and gold
The official colours of Mardi Gras in New Orleans (since 1872) are purple (for justice), green (for faith) and gold (for power). You see them on the beads, the costumes, the floats and the decorations. To remember: “Purple, green, gold: justice, faith, power”.
Sydney Mardi Gras is a carnival before Lent ❌
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is very different from Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It started in 1978 with a march for LGBT+ rights. Today, it is the biggest LGBT+ festival in Oceania, in February and March, with a big parade on Oxford Street. It is not a religious event.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
When is Mardi Gras?+
Mardi Gras is on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter. The date changes every year: it is usually in February or early March. In New Orleans, the Carnival season starts much earlier, on 6 January (Twelfth Night).
Why is Mardi Gras so big in New Orleans?+
Louisiana belonged to France until 1803, when the United States bought it (the Louisiana Purchase). Its Catholic and Creole traditions stayed strong. The first official Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was in 1837. Today, the celebration brings more than 1.4 million visitors.
What is a king cake?+
A king cake is a sweet cake in the shape of an oval ring, like a crown. It is covered in purple, green and gold icing. A tiny baby figure (a symbol of baby Jesus) is hidden inside. The person who finds it buys the next king cake.
What is the difference between Mardi Gras and Sydney Mardi Gras?+
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a Catholic and Creole carnival before Lent. The Sydney Mardi Gras is the biggest LGBT+ festival in Oceania. It takes place in February and March, and it started in 1978 with a march for gay rights. They are two different events with the same name.
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/mardi-gras
© 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.