🇺🇸 July 4th

⏱ 10 min read

Independence Day, also called the Fourth of July, is celebrated in the United States every year on July 4. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Many people celebrate with fireworks, parades, barbecues, concerts, picnics, and family gatherings. In this lesson, you'll learn useful English vocabulary and everyday expressions related to Independence Day.

🟢 Basic Independence Day Vocabulary

🇺🇸 Independence Day

🇪🇸 Spanish: Día de la Independencia
🇫🇷 French: Fête de l'Indépendance
🇩🇪 German: Unabhängigkeitstag
🇮🇹 Italian: Giorno dell'Indipendenza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dia da Independência
🎆 Fourth of July

🇪🇸 Spanish: Cuatro de Julio
🇫🇷 French: Quatre juillet
🇩🇪 German: Vierter Juli
🇮🇹 Italian: Quattro luglio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quatro de Julho
🏳️ American flag

🇪🇸 Spanish: Bandera estadounidense
🇫🇷 French: Drapeau américain
🇩🇪 German: Amerikanische Flagge
🇮🇹 Italian: Bandiera americana
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bandeira americana
🎇 Fireworks

🇪🇸 Spanish: Fuegos artificiales
🇫🇷 French: Feux d'artifice
🇩🇪 German: Feuerwerk
🇮🇹 Italian: Fuochi d'artificio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fogos de artifício
🎺 Parade

🇪🇸 Spanish: Desfile
🇫🇷 French: Défilé
🇩🇪 German: Parade
🇮🇹 Italian: Parata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desfile
🎉 Celebration

🇪🇸 Spanish: Celebración
🇫🇷 French: Célébration
🇩🇪 German: Feier
🇮🇹 Italian: Celebrazione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Celebração

🟡 Fourth of July Traditions

🍔 Barbecue

🇪🇸 Spanish: Barbacoa
🇫🇷 French: Barbecue
🇩🇪 German: Grillfest
🇮🇹 Italian: Barbecue / Grigliata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Churrasco
🧺 Picnic

🇪🇸 Spanish: Pícnic
🇫🇷 French: Pique-nique
🇩🇪 German: Picknick
🇮🇹 Italian: Picnic
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Piquenique
🎵 Concert

🇪🇸 Spanish: Concierto
🇫🇷 French: Concert
🇩🇪 German: Konzert
🇮🇹 Italian: Concerto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Concerto
🎶 National anthem

🇪🇸 Spanish: Himno nacional
🇫🇷 French: Hymne national
🇩🇪 German: Nationalhymne
🇮🇹 Italian: Inno nazionale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Hino nacional
❤️ Patriotic

🇪🇸 Spanish: Patriótico
🇫🇷 French: Patriotique
🇩🇪 German: Patriotisch
🇮🇹 Italian: Patriottico
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Patriótico
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family gathering

🇪🇸 Spanish: Reunión familiar
🇫🇷 French: Réunion de famille
🇩🇪 German: Familientreffen
🇮🇹 Italian: Riunione di famiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Reunião de família

🍔 Traditional Food & Celebration

🍔 Hamburger

🇪🇸 Spanish: Hamburguesa
🇫🇷 French: Hamburger
🇩🇪 German: Hamburger
🇮🇹 Italian: Hamburger
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Hambúrguer
🌭 Hot dog

🇪🇸 Spanish: Perrito caliente
🇫🇷 French: Hot-dog
🇩🇪 German: Hotdog
🇮🇹 Italian: Hot dog
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cachorro-quente
🌽 Corn on the cob

🇪🇸 Spanish: Mazorca de maíz
🇫🇷 French: Maïs en épi
🇩🇪 German: Maiskolben
🇮🇹 Italian: Pannocchia di mais
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Espiga de milho
🥧 Apple pie

🇪🇸 Spanish: Pastel de manzana
🇫🇷 French: Tarte aux pommes
🇩🇪 German: Apfelkuchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Torta di mele
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Torta de maçã
🍋 Lemonade

🇪🇸 Spanish: Limonada
🇫🇷 French: Limonade
🇩🇪 German: Limonade
🇮🇹 Italian: Limonata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limonada
🍉 Watermelon

🇪🇸 Spanish: Sandía
🇫🇷 French: Pastèque
🇩🇪 German: Wassermelone
🇮🇹 Italian: Anguria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Melancia

🧠 Useful Grammar

Celebrate

Use celebrate when talking about holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.

We celebrate Independence Day every July.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Celebramos el Día de la Independencia cada julio.
🇫🇷 French: Nous célébrons la fête de l'Indépendance chaque mois de juillet.
🇩🇪 German: Wir feiern jedes Jahr im Juli den Unabhängigkeitstag.
🇮🇹 Italian: Celebriamo il Giorno dell'Indipendenza ogni luglio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Celebramos o Dia da Independência todo mês de julho.
Watch

Use watch for fireworks, parades, concerts, and sporting events.

We're going to watch the fireworks tonight.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Vamos a ver los fuegos artificiales esta noche.
🇫🇷 French: Nous allons regarder les feux d'artifice ce soir.
🇩🇪 German: Wir werden heute Abend das Feuerwerk anschauen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Stasera guarderemo i fuochi d'artificio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vamos assistir aos fogos de artifício esta noite.
Wear

People often wear red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July.

Many people wear red, white, and blue.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Muchas personas visten de rojo, blanco y azul.
🇫🇷 French: Beaucoup de gens portent du rouge, du blanc et du bleu.
🇩🇪 German: Viele Menschen tragen Rot, Weiß und Blau.
🇮🇹 Italian: Molte persone indossano il rosso, il bianco e il blu.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Muitas pessoas usam vermelho, branco e azul.

💬 Common Fourth of July Phrases

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day!

🇪🇸 Spanish: ¡Feliz Día de la Independencia!
🇫🇷 French: Bonne fête de l'Indépendance !
🇩🇪 German: Schönen Unabhängigkeitstag!
🇮🇹 Italian: Buon Giorno dell'Indipendenza!
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feliz Dia da Independência!
🎆 Let's watch the fireworks.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Vamos a ver los fuegos artificiales.
🇫🇷 French: Allons voir les feux d'artifice.
🇩🇪 German: Lass uns das Feuerwerk anschauen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Andiamo a vedere i fuochi d'artificio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vamos assistir aos fogos de artifício.
🍔 We're having a barbecue today.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Hoy vamos a hacer una barbacoa.
🇫🇷 French: Nous faisons un barbecue aujourd'hui.
🇩🇪 German: Heute machen wir ein Grillfest.
🇮🇹 Italian: Oggi facciamo un barbecue.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Hoje vamos fazer um churrasco.
🎺 The parade starts at ten o'clock.

🇪🇸 Spanish: El desfile empieza a las diez.
🇫🇷 French: Le défilé commence à dix heures.
🇩🇪 German: Die Parade beginnt um zehn Uhr.
🇮🇹 Italian: La parata inizia alle dieci.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O desfile começa às dez horas.

🇺🇸 Cultural Note

Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Many Americans celebrate with fireworks, parades, concerts, picnics, barbecues, and family gatherings. It is one of the biggest national holidays in the United States.

People often decorate with the American flag and wear red, white, and blue. Other countries also celebrate their own national days, such as Canada Day on July 1 and the United Kingdom celebrates national occasions differently, without a single independence day.

❓ Useful Questions

🎆 Are you going to watch the fireworks?

🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Vas a ver los fuegos artificiales?
🇫🇷 French: Vas-tu regarder les feux d'artifice ?
🇩🇪 German: Wirst du das Feuerwerk anschauen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Guarderai i fuochi d'artificio?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você vai assistir aos fogos de artifício?
🍔 Are you having a barbecue?

🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Van a hacer una barbacoa?
🇫🇷 French: Faites-vous un barbecue ?
🇩🇪 German: Macht ihr ein Grillfest?
🇮🇹 Italian: Farete un barbecue?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vocês vão fazer um churrasco?
🎺 Where is the parade?

🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde es el desfile?
🇫🇷 French: Où est le défilé ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo findet die Parade statt?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dov'è la parata?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde é o desfile?
🇺🇸 How do you celebrate Independence Day?

🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cómo celebras el Día de la Independencia?
🇫🇷 French: Comment célèbres-tu la fête de l'Indépendance ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie feierst du den Unabhängigkeitstag?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come festeggi il Giorno dell'Indipendenza?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como você celebra o Dia da Independência?

💬 Everyday Conversation

Celebrating the Fourth of July

A: Are you doing anything for the Fourth of July?
B: Yes, we're having a barbecue with family.
A: Are you going to watch the fireworks?
B: Of course! We always watch them after dinner.

🇪🇸 Spanish:
A: ¿Van a hacer algo para el Cuatro de Julio?
B: Sí, vamos a hacer una barbacoa con la familia.
A: ¿Van a ver los fuegos artificiales?
B: ¡Claro! Siempre los vemos después de cenar.

🇫🇷 French:
A : Vous faites quelque chose pour le 4 juillet ?
B : Oui, nous faisons un barbecue en famille.
A : Allez-vous regarder les feux d'artifice ?
B : Bien sûr ! Nous les regardons toujours après le dîner.

🇩🇪 German:
A: Macht ihr etwas zum 4. Juli?
B: Ja, wir grillen mit der Familie.
A: Schaut ihr euch das Feuerwerk an?
B: Natürlich! Wir schauen es uns jedes Jahr nach dem Abendessen an.

🇮🇹 Italian:
A: Fate qualcosa per il Quattro Luglio?
B: Sì, facciamo un barbecue con la famiglia.
A: Guarderete i fuochi d'artificio?
B: Certo! Li guardiamo sempre dopo cena.

🇵🇹 Portuguese:
A: Vocês vão fazer alguma coisa no Quatro de Julho?
B: Sim, vamos fazer um churrasco com a família.
A: Vocês vão assistir aos fogos de artifício?
B: Claro! Sempre assistimos depois do jantar.

📝 Example Sentences

🎆 The fireworks begin at nine o'clock.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Los fuegos artificiales empiezan a las nueve.
🇫🇷 French: Les feux d'artifice commencent à neuf heures.
🇩🇪 German: Das Feuerwerk beginnt um neun Uhr.
🇮🇹 Italian: I fuochi d'artificio iniziano alle nove.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os fogos de artifício começam às nove.
🎺 We watched the parade together.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Vimos el desfile juntos.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons regardé le défilé ensemble.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben uns gemeinsam die Parade angesehen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo guardato la parata insieme.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assistimos ao desfile juntos.
🏳️ Many people wave American flags.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Muchas personas agitan banderas estadounidenses.
🇫🇷 French: Beaucoup de gens agitent des drapeaux américains.
🇩🇪 German: Viele Menschen schwenken amerikanische Flaggen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Molte persone sventolano bandiere americane.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Muitas pessoas agitam bandeiras americanas.
🍔 We had a barbecue in the backyard.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Hicimos una barbacoa en el patio trasero.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons fait un barbecue dans le jardin.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben im Garten gegrillt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo fatto un barbecue in giardino.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fizemos um churrasco no quintal.
🎵 Everyone enjoyed the concert.

🇪🇸 Spanish: Todos disfrutaron del concierto.
🇫🇷 French: Tout le monde a apprécié le concert.
🇩🇪 German: Alle haben das Konzert genossen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tutti si sono goduti il concerto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Todos aproveitaram o concerto.
🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July!

🇪🇸 Spanish: ¡Feliz Cuatro de Julio!
🇫🇷 French: Joyeux 4 juillet !
🇩🇪 German: Schönen 4. Juli!
🇮🇹 Italian: Buon Quattro Luglio!
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feliz Quatro de Julho!

🏆 Final Practice

Try saying each sentence before pressing play.

  • Happy Independence Day!
  • We're having a barbecue today.
  • Let's watch the fireworks.
  • The parade starts at ten o'clock.
  • Many people wear red, white, and blue.
  • We celebrate Independence Day every July.