🦃 Thanksgiving
In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for talking about Thanksgiving, family gatherings, holiday meals, gratitude, and autumn traditions. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.
🟢 Basic Thanksgiving Vocabulary
🦃 Thanksgiving
a holiday for family, food, and giving thanks
🇫🇷 French: Action de grâce
🇩🇪 German: Erntedankfest / Thanksgiving
🇮🇹 Italian: Giorno del Ringraziamento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dia de Ação de Graças
a holiday for family, food, and giving thanks
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Acción de Gracias🇫🇷 French: Action de grâce
🇩🇪 German: Erntedankfest / Thanksgiving
🇮🇹 Italian: Giorno del Ringraziamento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dia de Ação de Graças
🦃 Turkey
the main bird often served at Thanksgiving dinner
🇫🇷 French: Dinde
🇩🇪 German: Truthahn
🇮🇹 Italian: Tacchino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Peru
the main bird often served at Thanksgiving dinner
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pavo🇫🇷 French: Dinde
🇩🇪 German: Truthahn
🇮🇹 Italian: Tacchino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Peru
🥧 Pumpkin pie
a sweet dessert made with pumpkin
🇫🇷 French: Tarte à la citrouille
🇩🇪 German: Kürbiskuchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Crostata di zucca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Torta de abóbora
a sweet dessert made with pumpkin
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pastel de calabaza🇫🇷 French: Tarte à la citrouille
🇩🇪 German: Kürbiskuchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Crostata di zucca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Torta de abóbora
🍽️ Family dinner
a meal shared with relatives
🇫🇷 French: Dîner en famille
🇩🇪 German: Familienessen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cena in famiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jantar em família
a meal shared with relatives
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cena familiar🇫🇷 French: Dîner en famille
🇩🇪 German: Familienessen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cena in famiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jantar em família
🙏 Gratitude
the feeling of being thankful
🇫🇷 French: Gratitude
🇩🇪 German: Dankbarkeit
🇮🇹 Italian: Gratitudine
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gratidão
the feeling of being thankful
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gratitud🇫🇷 French: Gratitude
🇩🇪 German: Dankbarkeit
🇮🇹 Italian: Gratitudine
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gratidão
👨👩👧👦 Family
the people you are related to
🇫🇷 French: Famille
🇩🇪 German: Familie
🇮🇹 Italian: Famiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Família
the people you are related to
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Familia🇫🇷 French: Famille
🇩🇪 German: Familie
🇮🇹 Italian: Famiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Família
🟡 Thanksgiving Food & Traditions
🥔 Mashed potatoes
soft cooked potatoes mixed until smooth
🇫🇷 French: Purée de pommes de terre
🇩🇪 German: Kartoffelpüree
🇮🇹 Italian: Purè di patate
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Purê de batatas
soft cooked potatoes mixed until smooth
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Puré de papas🇫🇷 French: Purée de pommes de terre
🇩🇪 German: Kartoffelpüree
🇮🇹 Italian: Purè di patate
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Purê de batatas
🍞 Stuffing
bread mixture often cooked with the turkey
🇫🇷 French: Farce
🇩🇪 German: Füllung
🇮🇹 Italian: Ripieno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Recheio
bread mixture often cooked with the turkey
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Relleno🇫🇷 French: Farce
🇩🇪 German: Füllung
🇮🇹 Italian: Ripieno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Recheio
🥣 Gravy
a sauce poured over meat and potatoes
🇫🇷 French: Sauce
🇩🇪 German: Bratensoße
🇮🇹 Italian: Sugo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Molho
a sauce poured over meat and potatoes
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Salsa de carne🇫🇷 French: Sauce
🇩🇪 German: Bratensoße
🇮🇹 Italian: Sugo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Molho
🍂 Autumn
the season when Thanksgiving is celebrated
🇫🇷 French: Automne
🇩🇪 German: Herbst
🇮🇹 Italian: Autunno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Outono
the season when Thanksgiving is celebrated
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Otoño🇫🇷 French: Automne
🇩🇪 German: Herbst
🇮🇹 Italian: Autunno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Outono
🏈 Football game
an American football match often watched on the holiday
🇫🇷 French: Match de football américain
🇩🇪 German: Footballspiel
🇮🇹 Italian: Partita di football americano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jogo de futebol americano
an American football match often watched on the holiday
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Partido de fútbol americano🇫🇷 French: Match de football américain
🇩🇪 German: Footballspiel
🇮🇹 Italian: Partita di football americano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jogo de futebol americano
🧡 To give thanks
to say what you are grateful for
🇫🇷 French: Rendre grâce
🇩🇪 German: Dank sagen
🇮🇹 Italian: Ringraziare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dar graças
to say what you are grateful for
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Dar gracias🇫🇷 French: Rendre grâce
🇩🇪 German: Dank sagen
🇮🇹 Italian: Ringraziare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dar graças
💬 Common Thanksgiving Phrases
🦃 Happy Thanksgiving!
a greeting used on the holiday
🇫🇷 French: Joyeux Thanksgiving !
🇩🇪 German: Frohes Thanksgiving!
🇮🇹 Italian: Buon Giorno del Ringraziamento!
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feliz Dia de Ação de Graças!
a greeting used on the holiday
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!🇫🇷 French: Joyeux Thanksgiving !
🇩🇪 German: Frohes Thanksgiving!
🇮🇹 Italian: Buon Giorno del Ringraziamento!
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feliz Dia de Ação de Graças!
🍽️ We're having Thanksgiving dinner together.
the family meal is shared at one table
🇫🇷 French: Nous dînons ensemble pour Thanksgiving.
🇩🇪 German: Wir essen gemeinsam zu Thanksgiving.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ceniamo insieme per il Giorno del Ringraziamento.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vamos jantar juntos no Dia de Ação de Graças.
the family meal is shared at one table
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Vamos a cenar juntos en Acción de Gracias.🇫🇷 French: Nous dînons ensemble pour Thanksgiving.
🇩🇪 German: Wir essen gemeinsam zu Thanksgiving.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ceniamo insieme per il Giorno del Ringraziamento.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vamos jantar juntos no Dia de Ação de Graças.
🙏 I'm thankful for my family.
I feel grateful for my relatives
🇫🇷 French: Je suis reconnaissant pour ma famille.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin dankbar für meine Familie.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono grato per la mia famiglia.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sou grato pela minha família.
I feel grateful for my relatives
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy agradecido por mi familia.🇫🇷 French: Je suis reconnaissant pour ma famille.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin dankbar für meine Familie.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono grato per la mia famiglia.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sou grato pela minha família.
🥧 Would you like another piece of pumpkin pie?
offering more dessert
🇫🇷 French: Voulez-vous une autre part de tarte à la citrouille ?
🇩🇪 German: Möchtest du noch ein Stück Kürbiskuchen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Vuoi un'altra fetta di crostata di zucca?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você gostaria de outro pedaço de torta de abóbora?
offering more dessert
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quieres otro pedazo de pastel de calabaza?🇫🇷 French: Voulez-vous une autre part de tarte à la citrouille ?
🇩🇪 German: Möchtest du noch ein Stück Kürbiskuchen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Vuoi un'altra fetta di crostata di zucca?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você gostaria de outro pedaço de torta de abóbora?
🦃 Cultural Note
Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November and in Canada on the second Monday of October. It is one of the biggest family holidays in the United States. Families and friends often travel long distances to share a special meal together and spend time with loved ones.
Traditional Thanksgiving foods often include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables, and pumpkin pie. Many people also watch American football or Thanksgiving parades on television.
Beginner Tip: During Thanksgiving, it's common to tell people what you're thankful for. A simple sentence like "I'm thankful for my family." is a very natural English expression.
❓ Useful Questions About Thanksgiving
🦃 How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
asking what someone does on the holiday
🇫🇷 French: Comment fêtes-tu Thanksgiving ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie feierst du Thanksgiving?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come festeggi il Giorno del Ringraziamento?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como você comemora o Dia de Ação de Graças?
asking what someone does on the holiday
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cómo celebras el Día de Acción de Gracias?🇫🇷 French: Comment fêtes-tu Thanksgiving ?
🇩🇪 German: Wie feierst du Thanksgiving?
🇮🇹 Italian: Come festeggi il Giorno del Ringraziamento?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Como você comemora o Dia de Ação de Graças?
🍽️ Who's coming to dinner?
asking which guests will eat with you
🇫🇷 French: Qui vient dîner ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer kommt zum Abendessen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi viene a cena?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem vem para o jantar?
asking which guests will eat with you
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién viene a cenar?🇫🇷 French: Qui vient dîner ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer kommt zum Abendessen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi viene a cena?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem vem para o jantar?
🦃 Are you cooking the turkey?
asking who will prepare the main dish
🇫🇷 French: Est-ce que tu cuisines la dinde ?
🇩🇪 German: Kochst du den Truthahn?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cucinerai il tacchino?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você vai cozinhar o peru?
asking who will prepare the main dish
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Vas a cocinar el pavo?🇫🇷 French: Est-ce que tu cuisines la dinde ?
🇩🇪 German: Kochst du den Truthahn?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cucinerai il tacchino?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você vai cozinhar o peru?
🥧 Would you like some pumpkin pie?
offering a slice of dessert
🇫🇷 French: Voulez-vous de la tarte à la citrouille ?
🇩🇪 German: Möchtest du etwas Kürbiskuchen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Vuoi un po' di crostata di zucca?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você gostaria de um pouco de torta de abóbora?
offering a slice of dessert
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quieres un poco de pastel de calabaza?🇫🇷 French: Voulez-vous de la tarte à la citrouille ?
🇩🇪 German: Möchtest du etwas Kürbiskuchen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Vuoi un po' di crostata di zucca?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você gostaria de um pouco de torta de abóbora?
🙏 What are you thankful for?
asking what someone feels grateful about
🇫🇷 French: De quoi es-tu reconnaissant ?
🇩🇪 German: Wofür bist du dankbar?
🇮🇹 Italian: Per cosa sei grato?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pelo que você é grato?
asking what someone feels grateful about
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Por qué estás agradecido?🇫🇷 French: De quoi es-tu reconnaissant ?
🇩🇪 German: Wofür bist du dankbar?
🇮🇹 Italian: Per cosa sei grato?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pelo que você é grato?
🏈 Are you watching the football game?
asking if someone will watch American football
🇫🇷 French: Regardes-tu le match de football américain ?
🇩🇪 German: Schaust du das Footballspiel?
🇮🇹 Italian: Guarderai la partita di football americano?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você vai assistir ao jogo de futebol americano?
asking if someone will watch American football
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Vas a ver el partido de fútbol americano?🇫🇷 French: Regardes-tu le match de football américain ?
🇩🇪 German: Schaust du das Footballspiel?
🇮🇹 Italian: Guarderai la partita di football americano?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você vai assistir ao jogo de futebol americano?
💬 Everyday Conversation
Thanksgiving Dinner
talking about plans and who cooks the meal
A: What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
B: I'm having dinner with my family.
A: Who's cooking the turkey?
B: My grandmother always makes Thanksgiving dinner.
🇪🇸 B: Voy a cenar con mi familia.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Quién cocina el pavo?
🇪🇸 B: Mi abuela siempre prepara la cena de Acción de Gracias.
🇫🇷 A: Que fais-tu pour Thanksgiving ?
🇫🇷 B: Je vais dîner avec ma famille.
🇫🇷 A: Qui cuisine la dinde ?
🇫🇷 B: Ma grand-mère prépare toujours le dîner de Thanksgiving.
🇩🇪 A: Was machst du zu Thanksgiving?
🇩🇪 B: Ich esse mit meiner Familie zu Abend.
🇩🇪 A: Wer kocht den Truthahn?
🇩🇪 B: Meine Großmutter kocht immer das Thanksgiving-Essen.
🇮🇹 A: Cosa farai per il Giorno del Ringraziamento?
🇮🇹 B: Cenerò con la mia famiglia.
🇮🇹 A: Chi cucina il tacchino?
🇮🇹 B: Mia nonna prepara sempre la cena del Giorno del Ringraziamento.
🇵🇹 A: O que você vai fazer no Dia de Ação de Graças?
🇵🇹 B: Vou jantar com minha família.
🇵🇹 A: Quem vai cozinhar o peru?
🇵🇹 B: Minha avó sempre prepara o jantar de Ação de Graças.
talking about plans and who cooks the meal
A: What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
B: I'm having dinner with my family.
A: Who's cooking the turkey?
B: My grandmother always makes Thanksgiving dinner.
Show translations
🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué vas a hacer para el Día de Acción de Gracias?🇪🇸 B: Voy a cenar con mi familia.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Quién cocina el pavo?
🇪🇸 B: Mi abuela siempre prepara la cena de Acción de Gracias.
🇫🇷 A: Que fais-tu pour Thanksgiving ?
🇫🇷 B: Je vais dîner avec ma famille.
🇫🇷 A: Qui cuisine la dinde ?
🇫🇷 B: Ma grand-mère prépare toujours le dîner de Thanksgiving.
🇩🇪 A: Was machst du zu Thanksgiving?
🇩🇪 B: Ich esse mit meiner Familie zu Abend.
🇩🇪 A: Wer kocht den Truthahn?
🇩🇪 B: Meine Großmutter kocht immer das Thanksgiving-Essen.
🇮🇹 A: Cosa farai per il Giorno del Ringraziamento?
🇮🇹 B: Cenerò con la mia famiglia.
🇮🇹 A: Chi cucina il tacchino?
🇮🇹 B: Mia nonna prepara sempre la cena del Giorno del Ringraziamento.
🇵🇹 A: O que você vai fazer no Dia de Ação de Graças?
🇵🇹 B: Vou jantar com minha família.
🇵🇹 A: Quem vai cozinhar o peru?
🇵🇹 B: Minha avó sempre prepara o jantar de Ação de Graças.
📝 Example Sentences
🦃 We eat turkey every Thanksgiving.
the holiday meal includes turkey each year
🇫🇷 French: Nous mangeons de la dinde chaque Thanksgiving.
🇩🇪 German: Wir essen jeden Thanksgiving Truthahn.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mangiamo il tacchino ogni Giorno del Ringraziamento.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comemos peru todo Dia de Ação de Graças.
the holiday meal includes turkey each year
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Comemos pavo todos los Días de Acción de Gracias.🇫🇷 French: Nous mangeons de la dinde chaque Thanksgiving.
🇩🇪 German: Wir essen jeden Thanksgiving Truthahn.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mangiamo il tacchino ogni Giorno del Ringraziamento.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comemos peru todo Dia de Ação de Graças.
🥧 Pumpkin pie is my favorite dessert.
this sweet pie is the one I like most
🇫🇷 French: La tarte à la citrouille est mon dessert préféré.
🇩🇪 German: Kürbiskuchen ist mein Lieblingsdessert.
🇮🇹 Italian: La crostata di zucca è il mio dolce preferito.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A torta de abóbora é minha sobremesa favorita.
this sweet pie is the one I like most
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: El pastel de calabaza es mi postre favorito.🇫🇷 French: La tarte à la citrouille est mon dessert préféré.
🇩🇪 German: Kürbiskuchen ist mein Lieblingsdessert.
🇮🇹 Italian: La crostata di zucca è il mio dolce preferito.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A torta de abóbora é minha sobremesa favorita.
🙏 We give thanks before we eat.
we say what we are grateful for first
🇫🇷 French: Nous rendons grâce avant de manger.
🇩🇪 German: Wir sagen Danke, bevor wir essen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ringraziamo prima di mangiare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Damos graças antes de comer.
we say what we are grateful for first
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Damos gracias antes de comer.🇫🇷 French: Nous rendons grâce avant de manger.
🇩🇪 German: Wir sagen Danke, bevor wir essen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ringraziamo prima di mangiare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Damos graças antes de comer.
👨👩👧👦 Everyone is happy to be together.
the group enjoys being in the same place
🇫🇷 French: Tout le monde est heureux d'être ensemble.
🇩🇪 German: Alle freuen sich, zusammen zu sein.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tutti sono felici di stare insieme.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Todos estão felizes por estarem juntos.
the group enjoys being in the same place
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Todos están felices de estar juntos.🇫🇷 French: Tout le monde est heureux d'être ensemble.
🇩🇪 German: Alle freuen sich, zusammen zu sein.
🇮🇹 Italian: Tutti sono felici di stare insieme.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Todos estão felizes por estarem juntos.
🍂 Thanksgiving is celebrated in autumn.
the holiday happens in the fall
🇫🇷 French: Thanksgiving est célébré en automne.
🇩🇪 German: Thanksgiving wird im Herbst gefeiert.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il Giorno del Ringraziamento si celebra in autunno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O Dia de Ação de Graças é celebrado no outono.
the holiday happens in the fall
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: El Día de Acción de Gracias se celebra en otoño.🇫🇷 French: Thanksgiving est célébré en automne.
🇩🇪 German: Thanksgiving wird im Herbst gefeiert.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il Giorno del Ringraziamento si celebra in autunno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O Dia de Ação de Graças é celebrado no outono.
🧡 It's a day to be thankful.
the holiday is for showing gratitude
🇫🇷 French: C'est une journée pour être reconnaissant.
🇩🇪 German: Es ist ein Tag, um dankbar zu sein.
🇮🇹 Italian: È un giorno per essere grati.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: É um dia para ser grato.
the holiday is for showing gratitude
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Es un día para estar agradecido.🇫🇷 French: C'est une journée pour être reconnaissant.
🇩🇪 German: Es ist ein Tag, um dankbar zu sein.
🇮🇹 Italian: È un giorno per essere grati.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: É um dia para ser grato.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Question 1 of 8
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