🇺🇸 July 4th
In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for talking about Independence Day, the Fourth of July, fireworks, parades, barbecues, and family celebrations. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.
🟢 Basic Independence Day Vocabulary
a U.S. holiday celebrating national independence
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Día de la Independencia🇫🇷 French: Fête de l'Indépendance
🇩🇪 German: Unabhängigkeitstag
🇮🇹 Italian: Giorno dell'Indipendenza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dia da Independência
another name for Independence Day
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Cuatro de Julio🇫🇷 French: Quatre juillet
🇩🇪 German: Vierter Juli
🇮🇹 Italian: Quattro luglio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quatro de Julho
the official flag of the United States
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Bandera estadounidense🇫🇷 French: Drapeau américain
🇩🇪 German: Amerikanische Flagge
🇮🇹 Italian: Bandiera americana
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bandeira americana
bright explosions of light in the sky
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Fuegos artificiales🇫🇷 French: Feux d'artifice
🇩🇪 German: Feuerwerk
🇮🇹 Italian: Fuochi d'artificio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fogos de artifício
a public procession with music and floats
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Desfile🇫🇷 French: Défilé
🇩🇪 German: Parade
🇮🇹 Italian: Parata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desfile
a special event to mark an important day
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Celebración🇫🇷 French: Célébration
🇩🇪 German: Feier
🇮🇹 Italian: Celebrazione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Celebração
🟡 Fourth of July Traditions
an outdoor meal cooked on a grill
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Barbacoa🇫🇷 French: Barbecue
🇩🇪 German: Grillfest
🇮🇹 Italian: Barbecue / Grigliata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Churrasco
a meal eaten outdoors
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Pícnic🇫🇷 French: Pique-nique
🇩🇪 German: Picknick
🇮🇹 Italian: Picnic
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Piquenique
a live music performance
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Concierto🇫🇷 French: Concert
🇩🇪 German: Konzert
🇮🇹 Italian: Concerto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Concerto
the official song of a country
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Himno nacional🇫🇷 French: Hymne national
🇩🇪 German: Nationalhymne
🇮🇹 Italian: Inno nazionale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Hino nacional
showing love for your country
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Patriótico🇫🇷 French: Patriotique
🇩🇪 German: Patriotisch
🇮🇹 Italian: Patriottico
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Patriótico
a time when relatives get together
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Reunión familiar🇫🇷 French: Réunion de famille
🇩🇪 German: Familientreffen
🇮🇹 Italian: Riunione di famiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Reunião de família
🍔 Traditional Food & Celebration
a cooked meat patty in a bun
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Hamburguesa🇫🇷 French: Hamburger
🇩🇪 German: Hamburger
🇮🇹 Italian: Hamburger
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Hambúrguer
a sausage served in a long bun
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Perrito caliente🇫🇷 French: Hot-dog
🇩🇪 German: Hotdog
🇮🇹 Italian: Hot dog
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cachorro-quente
cooked corn still on the ear
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Mazorca de maíz🇫🇷 French: Maïs en épi
🇩🇪 German: Maiskolben
🇮🇹 Italian: Pannocchia di mais
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Espiga de milho
a sweet dessert made with apples
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pastel de manzana🇫🇷 French: Tarte aux pommes
🇩🇪 German: Apfelkuchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Torta di mele
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Torta de maçã
a sweet drink made from lemons
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🇪🇸 Spanish: Limonada🇫🇷 French: Limonade
🇩🇪 German: Limonade
🇮🇹 Italian: Limonata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Limonada
a large sweet fruit with red flesh
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Sandía🇫🇷 French: Pastèque
🇩🇪 German: Wassermelone
🇮🇹 Italian: Anguria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Melancia
🧠 Useful Grammar
use this verb for holidays and special days
Use celebrate when talking about holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.
We celebrate Independence Day every July.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
use this verb for fireworks, parades, and shows
Use watch for fireworks, parades, concerts, and sporting events.
We're going to watch the fireworks tonight.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
use this verb for clothes and colors
People often wear red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July.
Many people wear red, white, and blue.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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
a greeting used on July 4
Show translations
🇪🇸 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!
an invitation to see the fireworks together
Show translations
🇪🇸 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 plan to cook outdoors today
Show translations
🇪🇸 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 begins at 10:00
Show translations
🇪🇸 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. The United Kingdom marks national occasions differently and does not have a single independence day.
❓ Useful Questions
asking if someone will see the fireworks
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
asking if someone will cook outdoors
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
asking the location of the parade
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
asking what someone does on the holiday
Show translations
🇪🇸 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
asking about plans for the holiday
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.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🇫🇷 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.
🇩🇪 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.
🇮🇹 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.
🇵🇹 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 start at 9:00
Show translations
🇪🇸 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 saw the parade as a group
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
people hold and move the flag in the air
Show translations
🇪🇸 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 cooked outdoors behind the house
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
the group liked the live music
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
another common holiday greeting
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¡Feliz Cuatro de Julio!🇫🇷 French: Joyeux 4 juillet !
🇩🇪 German: Schönen 4. Juli!
🇮🇹 Italian: Buon Quattro Luglio!
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feliz Quatro de Julho!
🏆 Final Practice
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
