🎆 New Year's Day

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for talking about New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, midnight, fireworks, toasts, and New Year's resolutions. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic New Year Vocabulary

🎉 New Year's Eve
the night of December 31
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Nochevieja
🇫🇷 French: Réveillon du Nouvel An
🇩🇪 German: Silvester
🇮🇹 Italian: Vigilia di Capodanno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Véspera de Ano Novo
🎆 New Year's Day
January 1, the first day of the year
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Año Nuevo
🇫🇷 French: Jour de l'An
🇩🇪 German: Neujahr
🇮🇹 Italian: Capodanno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ano Novo
Midnight
twelve o'clock at night
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Medianoche
🇫🇷 French: Minuit
🇩🇪 German: Mitternacht
🇮🇹 Italian: Mezzanotte
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Meia-noite
🎇 Fireworks
bright lights and sounds in the sky
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fuegos artificiales
🇫🇷 French: Feux d'artifice
🇩🇪 German: Feuerwerk
🇮🇹 Italian: Fuochi d'artificio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fogos de artifício
🥂 Toast
raising glasses to wish someone well
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Brindis
🇫🇷 French: Toast
🇩🇪 German: Trinkspruch
🇮🇹 Italian: Brindisi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Brinde
🎯 New Year's resolution
a promise to change something in the new year
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Propósito de Año Nuevo
🇫🇷 French: Résolution du Nouvel An
🇩🇪 German: Neujahrsvorsatz
🇮🇹 Italian: Proposito per il nuovo anno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Resolução de Ano Novo

🟡 New Year's Celebration Vocabulary

🎊 Party
a gathering to have fun together
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fiesta
🇫🇷 French: Fête
🇩🇪 German: Party / Feier
🇮🇹 Italian: Festa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Festa
🍾 Champagne
a sparkling drink often used for a toast
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Champán
🇫🇷 French: Champagne
🇩🇪 German: Champagner
🇮🇹 Italian: Champagne
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Champanhe
🎉 Confetti
small pieces of paper thrown at a celebration
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Confeti
🇫🇷 French: Confettis
🇩🇪 German: Konfetti
🇮🇹 Italian: Coriandoli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Confete
⏱️ Countdown
counting the last seconds before midnight
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cuenta regresiva
🇫🇷 French: Compte à rebours
🇩🇪 German: Countdown
🇮🇹 Italian: Conto alla rovescia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Contagem regressiva
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family and friends
the people you often celebrate with
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Familia y amigos
🇫🇷 French: Famille et amis
🇩🇪 German: Familie und Freunde
🇮🇹 Italian: Famiglia e amici
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Família e amigos
🎉 Celebration
a special time to mark a happy occasion
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Celebración
🇫🇷 French: Célébration
🇩🇪 German: Feier
🇮🇹 Italian: Celebrazione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Celebração

▶️ New Year Actions

🎉 To celebrate
to mark a special day with joy
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Celebrar
🇫🇷 French: Célébrer
🇩🇪 German: Feiern
🇮🇹 Italian: Festeggiare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Celebrar
⏱️ To count down
to say the last numbers before midnight
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hacer la cuenta regresiva
🇫🇷 French: Faire le compte à rebours
🇩🇪 German: Den Countdown zählen
🇮🇹 Italian: Fare il conto alla rovescia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fazer a contagem regressiva
🥂 To make a toast
to raise glasses and say good wishes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Brindar
🇫🇷 French: Porter un toast
🇩🇪 German: Anstoßen
🇮🇹 Italian: Fare un brindisi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fazer um brinde
🎇 To watch fireworks
to look at lights in the sky
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ver los fuegos artificiales
🇫🇷 French: Regarder les feux d'artifice
🇩🇪 German: Feuerwerk ansehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Guardare i fuochi d'artificio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assistir aos fogos de artifício
🌙 To stay up until midnight
to not go to bed before 12:00 a.m.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quedarse despierto hasta la medianoche
🇫🇷 French: Rester éveillé jusqu'à minuit
🇩🇪 German: Bis Mitternacht wach bleiben
🇮🇹 Italian: Restare svegli fino a mezzanotte
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ficar acordado até a meia-noite
🎯 To make New Year's resolutions
to decide on goals for the coming year
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hacer propósitos de Año Nuevo
🇫🇷 French: Prendre des résolutions du Nouvel An
🇩🇪 German: Neujahrsvorsätze machen
🇮🇹 Italian: Fare propositi per il nuovo anno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fazer resoluções de Ano Novo

💬 Common New Year Phrases

🥂 Let's make a toast to the New Year.
raising glasses to welcome the year ahead
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Hagamos un brindis por el Año Nuevo.
🇫🇷 Portons un toast au Nouvel An.
🇩🇪 Stoßen wir auf das neue Jahr an.
🇮🇹 Facciamo un brindisi al nuovo anno.
🇵🇹 Vamos fazer um brinde ao Ano Novo.
🎇 We're going to watch the fireworks.
we plan to look at the lights in the sky
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Vamos a ver los fuegos artificiales.
🇫🇷 Nous allons regarder les feux d'artifice.
🇩🇪 Wir werden das Feuerwerk ansehen.
🇮🇹 Andremo a vedere i fuochi d'artificio.
🇵🇹 Vamos assistir aos fogos de artifício.
🎯 My New Year's resolution is to exercise more.
my goal for the year is to move more
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Mi propósito de Año Nuevo es hacer más ejercicio.
🇫🇷 Ma résolution du Nouvel An est de faire plus d'exercice.
🇩🇪 Mein Neujahrsvorsatz ist, mehr Sport zu treiben.
🇮🇹 Il mio proposito per il nuovo anno è fare più esercizio.
🇵🇹 Minha resolução de Ano Novo é fazer mais exercícios.
🎉 We're celebrating with family and friends.
we mark the day with people close to us
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Celebramos con familia y amigos.
🇫🇷 Nous fêtons avec la famille et les amis.
🇩🇪 Wir feiern mit Familie und Freunden.
🇮🇹 Festeggiamo con la famiglia e gli amici.
🇵🇹 Estamos comemorando com a família e os amigos.

🎆 Cultural Note

New Year's Eve is celebrated on December 31 in many countries. People often enjoy a special meal, watch fireworks, count down to midnight, and wish each other a Happy New Year.

Making New Year's resolutions is especially common in English-speaking countries. Popular resolutions include exercising more, eating healthier, saving money, learning a new skill, or spending more time with family.

Beginner Tip: In English, people usually say "Happy New Year!" from New Year's Eve through the first days of January. It's one of the most common holiday greetings you'll hear.

❓ Useful Questions About New Year's

🎉 How do you celebrate New Year's?
asking what someone does for the holiday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cómo celebras el Año Nuevo?
🇫🇷 French: Comment fêtes-tu le Nouvel An ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie feierst du Neujahr?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come festeggi il Capodanno?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como você comemora o Ano Novo?
🎇 Are you going to watch the fireworks?
asking if someone will look at the sky show
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Van a ver los fuegos artificiales?
🇫🇷 French: Allez-vous regarder les feux d'artifice ?
🇩🇪 German: Werdet ihr das Feuerwerk ansehen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Andrete a vedere i fuochi d'artificio?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vocês vão assistir aos fogos de artifício?
🥂 Are you going to make a toast at midnight?
asking if glasses will be raised at 12:00
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Van a brindar a la medianoche?
🇫🇷 French: Allez-vous porter un toast à minuit ?
🇩🇪 German: Werdet ihr um Mitternacht anstoßen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Farete un brindisi a mezzanotte?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vocês vão fazer um brinde à meia-noite?
🎯 What is your New Year's resolution?
asking about someone's goal for the year
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuál es tu propósito de Año Nuevo?
🇫🇷 French: Quelle est votre résolution du Nouvel An ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist dein Neujahrsvorsatz?
🇮🇹 Italian: Qual è il tuo proposito per il nuovo anno?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual é a sua resolução de Ano Novo?
Are you going to stay up until midnight?
asking if someone will wait for 12:00 a.m.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Vas a quedarte despierto hasta la medianoche?
🇫🇷 French: Vas-tu rester éveillé jusqu'à minuit ?
🇩🇪 German: Bleibst du bis Mitternacht wach?
🇮🇹 Italian: Rimarrai sveglio fino a mezzanotte?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você vai ficar acordado até a meia-noite?
🎊 Who are you going to celebrate with?
asking which people will join the celebration
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Con quién vas a celebrar?
🇫🇷 French: Avec qui vas-tu fêter ?
🇩🇪 German: Mit wem wirst du feiern?
🇮🇹 Italian: Con chi festeggerai?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Com quem você vai comemorar?

💬 Everyday Conversation

Making New Year's Plans
talking about what you will do on December 31
A: What are you going to do on New Year's Eve?
B: I'm going to celebrate with my family.
A: Are you going to watch the fireworks?
B: Yes, and we'll make a toast at midnight.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué vas a hacer en Nochevieja?
🇪🇸 B: Voy a celebrar con mi familia.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Van a ver los fuegos artificiales?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, y brindaremos a la medianoche.

🇫🇷 A: Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire pour le Nouvel An ?
🇫🇷 B: Je vais fêter avec ma famille.
🇫🇷 A: Allez-vous regarder les feux d'artifice ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, puis nous porterons un toast à minuit.

🇩🇪 A: Was wirst du an Silvester machen?
🇩🇪 B: Ich werde mit meiner Familie feiern.
🇩🇪 A: Werdet ihr das Feuerwerk ansehen?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, und wir stoßen um Mitternacht an.

🇮🇹 A: Cosa farai la vigilia di Capodanno?
🇮🇹 B: Festeggerò con la mia famiglia.
🇮🇹 A: Andrete a vedere i fuochi d'artificio?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, e faremo un brindisi a mezzanotte.

🇵🇹 A: O que você vai fazer na véspera de Ano Novo?
🇵🇹 B: Vou comemorar com a minha família.
🇵🇹 A: Vocês vão assistir aos fogos de artifício?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, e faremos um brinde à meia-noite.

📝 Example Sentences

🎆 The fireworks begin at midnight.
the sky show starts at 12:00 a.m.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Los fuegos artificiales empiezan a la medianoche.
🇫🇷 French: Les feux d'artifice commencent à minuit.
🇩🇪 German: Das Feuerwerk beginnt um Mitternacht.
🇮🇹 Italian: I fuochi d'artificio iniziano a mezzanotte.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os fogos de artifício começam à meia-noite.
🥂 Let's make a toast to a happy New Year.
raising glasses with good wishes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Brindemos por un feliz Año Nuevo.
🇫🇷 French: Portons un toast à une bonne année.
🇩🇪 German: Stoßen wir auf ein frohes neues Jahr an.
🇮🇹 Italian: Facciamo un brindisi a un felice anno nuovo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vamos fazer um brinde a um feliz Ano Novo.
🎯 Many people make New Year's resolutions.
lots of people set goals for January
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Muchas personas hacen propósitos de Año Nuevo.
🇫🇷 French: Beaucoup de personnes prennent des résolutions du Nouvel An.
🇩🇪 German: Viele Menschen fassen Neujahrsvorsätze.
🇮🇹 Italian: Molte persone fanno propositi per il nuovo anno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Muitas pessoas fazem resoluções de Ano Novo.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 We're celebrating New Year's with our family.
we mark the holiday with relatives
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Celebramos el Año Nuevo con nuestra familia.
🇫🇷 French: Nous fêtons le Nouvel An avec notre famille.
🇩🇪 German: Wir feiern Neujahr mit unserer Familie.
🇮🇹 Italian: Festeggiamo il Capodanno con la nostra famiglia.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estamos comemorando o Ano Novo com nossa família.
We counted down together.
we said the last seconds as a group
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hicimos la cuenta regresiva juntos.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons fait le compte à rebours ensemble.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben gemeinsam den Countdown gezählt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo fatto il conto alla rovescia insieme.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fizemos a contagem regressiva juntos.
🎉 We hope next year will be even better.
we wish the coming year is happier
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Esperamos que el próximo año sea aún mejor.
🇫🇷 French: Nous espérons que l'année prochaine sera encore meilleure.
🇩🇪 German: Wir hoffen, dass das nächste Jahr noch besser wird.
🇮🇹 Italian: Speriamo che il prossimo anno sia ancora migliore.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esperamos que o próximo ano seja ainda melhor.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%