Thanksgiving in English: words, traditions and greetings

Thanksgiving in the US falls on the fourth Thursday of November, and it’s one of the most important family holidays. Here are the key words and phrases you need to talk about it.

Key words for the holiday

On this day, families gather around a big table. In the morning many people watch the parade on TV, then the football game, and in the evening they sit down to a large holiday dinner. The main dish is the turkey. Canada also has a Thanksgiving, but it is in October. For food words, see Food and drink vocabulary.

• a turkeya big roasted bird; the main dish of the holiday
• stuffingbread mixed with herbs, often baked next to the turkey
• mashed potatoessoft, mashed potatoes; no article
• cranberry saucea sweet red sauce, usually served with turkey
• gravya sauce made from the juices of the meat
• pumpkin piea traditional dessert
• a paradea street show with floats and bands; the best-known is in New York
• a football gameAmerican football, often on TV that day
• a family dinnera meal with the whole family

Greetings and ways to say thank you

The simplest greeting is Happy Thanksgiving! To say what you are grateful for, use I’m thankful for…. Here are some phrases, from casual to more formal:

• Happy Thanksgiving!a short, friendly greeting for a text or a quick hello
• Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!a warm wish for a card or a family message
• Thanks for coming to dinner!what you say to your guests
• I’m so thankful for you.warm and personal; use it with a close friend or family
• Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.polite; good for a colleague or a client

Many learners whose first language is «українська» or Russian say thank for, a direct translation of «дякую за». The correct form is thank you for or thanks for, followed by a noun or -ing: Thank you for your help.

Check yourself

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones! To practise these phrases in real conversation, book a free trial lesson with us.