Vocabulary · US culture
Memorial Day in English
B1
Memorial Day in English: the last Monday in May, when Americans remember the soldiers who died in wars, with ceremonies, flags and cemeteries, and the first long weekend of summer. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The holiday and its meaning
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day(n.)“Memorial Day is the last Monday in May.” | a US day to remember dead soldiers | /məˈmɔːriəl deɪ/ |
| remembrance(n.) | thinking about people who have died | /rɪˈmembrəns/ |
| tribute(n.) | something that shows respect | /ˈtrɪbjuːt/ |
| federal holiday(n.) | a day off across the US | /ˈfedərəl ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ |
| long weekend(n.) | three days off, Saturday to Monday | /lɒŋ wiːˈkend/ |
| unofficial start of summer(phrase) | the moment the warm season begins | /ˌʌnəˈfɪʃəl stɑːt əv ˈsʌmə/ |
Soldiers and the armed forces
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| soldier(n.)“We honor fallen soldiers.” | a person who fights in an army | /ˈsəʊldʒə/ |
| veteran(n.) | a person who once served in the army | /ˈvetərən/ |
| army(n.) | the soldiers who fight on land | /ˈɑːmi/ |
| navy(n.) | the part of the military at sea | /ˈneɪvi/ |
| marine(n.) | a soldier who fights from ships | /məˈriːn/ |
| troops(n.) | a group of soldiers | /truːps/ |
| service member(n.) | a person in the armed forces | /ˈsɜːvɪs ˈmembə/ |
| fallen(adj.) | killed in a war | /ˈfɔːlən/ |
| war(n.) | fighting between countries or groups | /wɔː/ |
Remembrance and ceremonies
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cemetery(n.)“Arlington Cemetery hosts the main ceremony.” | a place where dead people are buried | /ˈsemətri/ |
| grave(n.) | the place where one person is buried | /ɡreɪv/ |
| wreath(n.) | a ring of flowers or leaves | /riːθ/ |
| poppy(n.) | a red flower for remembering soldiers | /ˈpɒpi/ |
| ceremony(n.) | a formal, serious public event | /ˈserəməni/ |
| flag at half-staff(phrase) | lowered on the pole to show sadness | /flæɡ ət hɑːf stɑːf/ |
| salute(n.) | a hand to the head, showing respect | /səˈluːt/ |
| moment of silence(n.) | a short time when nobody speaks | /ˈməʊmənt əv ˈsaɪləns/ |
| taps(n.) | a sad trumpet tune at military funerals | /tæps/ |
Weekend celebrations
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| parade(n.) | people marching through the streets | /pəˈreɪd/ |
| BBQ(n.) | cooking food outside on a grill | /ˌbiːbiːˈkjuː/ |
| picnic(n.) | a meal you eat outside | /ˈpɪknɪk/ |
| fireworks(n.) | colourful explosions in the night sky | /ˈfaɪəwɜːks/ |
| sale(n.) | a time when shops lower prices | /seɪl/ |
| beach(n.) | the sandy place next to the sea | /biːtʃ/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Memorial Day = Veterans Day ❌
These are two different American holidays. Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) honours the soldiers who died in wars. Veterans Day (11 November) honours all veterans, alive and dead. Do not mix them up, especially when you talk to Americans.
Cemetary ❌: write cemetery
Cemetery has one m, three e's and no a. The common mistake is cemetary. Tip: think e-e-e, as in cEmEtEry.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Memorial Day
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Frequently asked questions
When is Memorial Day?+
Memorial Day is on the last Monday in May in the United States. It has been a federal holiday (a holiday for the whole country) since 1971. It makes a three-day long weekend, and many Americans see it as the unofficial start of summer.
What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?+
Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) honours the soldiers who died in wars. Veterans Day (11 November) honours all veterans (people who served in the armed forces), alive or dead. People often mix them up, but the difference is important to Americans.
How do Americans celebrate Memorial Day?+
In the morning, there are ceremonies in military cemeteries, like Arlington National Cemetery. People put wreaths on graves, and flags fly at half-staff (lower on the pole; in the UK, half-mast). At 3 p.m., there is a moment of silence, the National Moment of Remembrance. In the afternoon, people have barbecues, go to the beach or go shopping in the sales.
What is the origin of Memorial Day?+
It started after the American Civil War (1861-1865) as Decoration Day: people decorated the graves of soldiers from both sides. It became official in 1868. After the First World War, it honoured the dead of all American wars. The name Memorial Day became official in 1967.
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/memorial-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.