Vocabulary · Seasons and celebrations
Valentine's Day in English
A2
Valentine's Day in English: love and feelings, roses, chocolates and cards, words for couples, and the phrases people write on 14 February. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Love and feelings
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| love(n./v.) | a very strong, warm feeling for someone | /lʌv/ |
| heart(n.)“I gave her a heart-shaped card.” | the symbol of love | /hɑːt/ |
| romance(n.) | love between two people | /rəʊˈmæns/ |
| passion(n.) | a very strong feeling or love | /ˈpæʃən/ |
| kiss(n./v.) | touching someone with your lips | /kɪs/ |
| hug(n./v.) | putting your arms around someone | /hʌɡ/ |
Gifts and symbols
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| rose(n.) | a flower, often red, for love | /rəʊz/ |
| bouquet(n.) | a bunch of flowers | /buˈkeɪ/ |
| chocolate(n.) | a sweet brown food made from cocoa | /ˈtʃɒklət/ |
| Valentine's card(n.) | a love message sent on 14 February | /ˈvæləntaɪnz kɑːd/ |
| gift(n.) | something you give, a present | /ɡɪft/ |
| Cupid(n.) | the Roman god of love | /ˈkjuːpɪd/ |
Couples
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| boyfriend(n.) | a boy or man you are dating | /ˈbɔɪfrend/ |
| girlfriend(n.) | a girl or woman you are dating | /ˈɡɜːlfrend/ |
| partner(n.) | the person you share your life with | /ˈpɑːtnə/ |
| sweetheart(n.) | a loving name for someone you love | /ˈswiːthɑːt/ |
| crush(n.) | a secret feeling for someone you like | /krʌʃ/ |
Useful phrases
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I love you(phrase) | the words for deep love | /aɪ lʌv juː/ |
| Happy Valentine's Day(phrase) | the usual greeting on 14 February | /ˈhæpi ˈvæləntaɪnz deɪ/ |
| Be mine(phrase) | please be my love | /biː maɪn/ |
| Will you be my Valentine?(phrase) | asking someone to be your love | /wɪl juː biː maɪ ˈvæləntaɪn/ |
A common mistake
Valentines Day ❌: add the apostrophe
Write Valentine's Day, with 's (the day of Saint Valentine). Not Valentines Day or Valentine Day. The 's shows that the day belongs to him.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Valentine's Day
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
Valentine's Day: learn these words for good
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Frequently asked questions
When is Valentine's Day?+
Valentine's Day is on 14 February in all English-speaking countries. People give cards, flowers and chocolates to the person they love.
What do you say on Valentine's Day?+
Say Happy Valentine's Day! or write Be my Valentine on a card. A more romantic question is Will you be my Valentine? Your Valentine is the person you love, and a valentine is also the card you send.
What are the symbols of Valentine's Day?+
The main symbols are the heart, the red rose and Cupid, the Roman god of love. Cupid is often shown as a little boy with a bow and arrows.
What is the difference between boyfriend, girlfriend and partner?+
Your boyfriend or girlfriend is the person you are in a romantic relationship with. Partner is more neutral and works for everyone. Some loving names are sweetheart, darling and love.
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/valentines-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.