Vocabulary · Seasons and celebrations
Summer in English
A1
Summer in English: the season and the weather, the beach, summer clothes, holidays, ice cream and barbecues. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The season
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| summer(n.)“I love summer!” | the hottest season of the year | /ˈsʌmə/ |
| sun(n.) | the star that gives us light | /sʌn/ |
| sunny(adj.) | bright, with a clear sky | /ˈsʌni/ |
| hot(adj.) | with a very high temperature | /hɒt/ |
| warm(adj.) | a little hot, in a nice way | /wɔːm/ |
The beach
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| beach(n.) | sand next to the sea | /biːtʃ/ |
| sand(n.) | tiny grains on the beach | /sænd/ |
| sea(n.) | a large area of salt water | /siː/ |
| ocean(n.) | a very big sea, like the Atlantic | /ˈəʊʃən/ |
| wave(n.) | moving water that rises and falls | /weɪv/ |
| shell(n.) | the hard cover of a sea animal | /ʃel/ |
| sunscreen(n.) | cream that protects your skin | /ˈsʌnskriːn/ |
Clothes and accessories
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| swimsuit(n.) | what you wear in the pool | /ˈswɪmsuːt/ |
| sunglasses(n.) | dark lenses that protect your eyes | /ˈsʌnɡlɑːsɪz/ |
| hat(n.) | something you wear on your head | /hæt/ |
| flip-flops(n.) | open rubber shoes for the beach | /ˈflɪpflɒps/ |
| towel(n.) | a cloth to dry your body | /ˈtaʊəl/ |
Activities and food
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| holiday(n.) | time off school or work | /ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ |
| vacation(n.) | time off school or work | /vəˈkeɪʃən/ |
| to swim(v.) | to move through water | /swɪm/ |
| to sunbathe(v.) | to lie outside to get a tan | /ˈsʌnbeɪð/ |
| ice cream(n.) | a cold, sweet frozen dessert | /aɪs kriːm/ |
| barbecue(n.) | cooking food outside over a fire | /ˈbɑːbɪkjuː/ |
| picnic(n.) | a meal you eat outside | /ˈpɪknɪk/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Holiday (UK) or vacation (US)?
In the UK, say holiday (and holidays in the plural). In the US, say vacation. In the US, a holiday is usually a special day when people do not work, like a public holiday.
Hot ≠ spicy
Hot is about temperature. With food, hot can also mean that it burns your mouth, like chilli. To make this clear, say spicy.
Practice quiz
What's next?
Summer: learn these words for good
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Frequently asked questions
Is it summer holidays or summer vacation?+
Say summer holidays (UK) or summer vacation (US): We're going to Spain for the summer holidays. School's out for the summer means that the school holidays have started.
What are the most useful beach words in English?+
The key words are beach, sand, sea, wave, shell, sunscreen, swimsuit, sunglasses and towel. With them, you can describe a day at the beach.
How do you say it is very hot in English?+
It's hot! means the temperature is high. It's warm means it is nice and pleasant. When it is extremely hot, say It's boiling! or It's scorching! When a room is hot and has no fresh air, say It's stuffy.
What is the difference between summer and summertime?+
Summer is the season, the warmest time of the year. Summertime is the period and the feeling of summer: it is more poetic. A famous song starts with Summertime, and the livin' is easy.
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/summer
© 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.