Vocabulary · Irish culture
St Patrick's Day in English
A2
St Patrick's Day in English: the date and its story, Irish symbols like the shamrock and the leprechaun, parades, music and the phrases people say. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The day and its date
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Patrick's Day(n.)“Saint Patrick's Day is on March 17th.” | Ireland's national day, on 17 March | /seɪnt ˈpætrɪks deɪ/ |
| Paddy(n.)“Paddy is a nickname for Patrick.” | a short, friendly name for Patrick | /ˈpædi/ |
| Ireland(n.)“Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.” | an island country west of Britain | /ˈaɪələnd/ |
| Irish(adj.)“My grandmother is Irish.” | from Ireland | /ˈaɪrɪʃ/ |
| patron saint(n.) | the holy protector of a country | /ˈpeɪtrən seɪnt/ |
| national holiday(n.) | a day off for the whole country | /ˈnæʃənəl ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ |
Symbols and creatures
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| shamrock(n.)“The shamrock has three leaves.” | a small three-leaf plant, symbol of Ireland | /ˈʃæmrɒk/ |
| four-leaf clover(n.) | a rare lucky plant | /fɔː liːf ˈkləʊvə/ |
| leprechaun(n.)“Leprechauns hide pots of gold.” | a little man from Irish stories | /ˈleprəkɔːn/ |
| pot of gold(n.) | a leprechaun's hidden treasure | /pɒt əv ɡəʊld/ |
| rainbow(n.) | an arc of colours in the sky | /ˈreɪnbəʊ/ |
| harp(n.) | a big string instrument, symbol of Ireland | /hɑːp/ |
| Celtic cross(n.) | an Irish stone cross with a ring | /ˈkeltɪk krɒs/ |
| green(adj.)“Everyone wears green on Saint Patrick's Day.” | the colour of grass and leaves | /ɡriːn/ |
Parades and celebrations
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| parade(n.)“The Dublin parade is huge.” | a big public march with music | /pəˈreɪd/ |
| pub(n.) | a traditional bar in Ireland or Britain | /pʌb/ |
| Guinness(n.) | a famous dark Irish drink for adults | /ˈɡɪnəs/ |
| bagpipes(n.) | a Scottish and Irish wind instrument | /ˈbæɡpaɪps/ |
| Irish dance(n.) | fast traditional steps with straight arms | /ˈaɪrɪʃ dɑːns/ |
| folk music(n.) | old traditional songs and tunes | /fəʊk ˈmjuːzɪk/ |
| fiddle(n.) | an informal word for a violin | /ˈfɪdl/ |
Expressions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Saint Patrick's Day!(phrase) | the greeting for 17 March | /ˈhæpi seɪnt ˈpætrɪks deɪ/ |
| Luck of the Irish(phrase) | a lot of good fortune | /lʌk əv ði ˈaɪrɪʃ/ |
| Sláinte!(phrase) | an Irish wish for good health | /ˈslɑːntʃə/ |
| Kiss me, I'm Irish(phrase) | a funny slogan on 17 March T-shirts | /kɪs miː aɪm ˈaɪrɪʃ/ |
| top of the morning(phrase) | an old-fashioned way to say hello | /tɒp əv ðə ˈmɔːnɪŋ/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
A shamrock has four leaves ❌
The shamrock has three leaves, not four. In the legend, Saint Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity. The four-leaf clover is a different symbol: it means good luck, not Ireland.
Saint Patricks Day ❌: write the apostrophe
Write Saint Patrick's Day or St Patrick's Day, with 's (the day of Patrick), like Valentine's Day. Irish people often say Paddy's Day, never Patty's Day: Patty is a girl's name.
Practice quiz
Related pages: St Patrick's Day
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What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
When is St Patrick's Day?+
St Patrick's Day is on 17 March. People think it is the day Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, died in the 5th century. It is Ireland's national day and a public holiday in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Why do people wear green on St Patrick's Day?+
Green is the colour of Ireland, which people call the Emerald Isle. It is also the colour of the shamrock and of the Irish countryside. A fun tradition says that leprechauns pinch people who do not wear green on 17 March.
What is a shamrock?+
A shamrock is a small plant with three leaves, and a symbol of Ireland. In the legend, Saint Patrick used it to explain the Christian Holy Trinity (three in one). Do not confuse it with the four-leaf clover, a symbol of good luck.
What do you say on St Patrick's Day?+
Say Happy St Patrick's Day!, or Happy Paddy's Day! with friends. You may also hear Sláinte! (say “slawn-cha”). It is an Irish word that means “health”: people say it to wish each other good health.
Where is St Patrick's Day celebrated?+
In Ireland, of course, but also in the United States (New York, Boston, Chicago), where millions of people have Irish roots. Chicago even colours its river green! London, Sydney and Buenos Aires also have big parades.
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/st-patricks-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.