Valentine’s Day traditions, vocabulary and phrases
Valentine’s Day Vocabulary in English
Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrating love that is observed on February 14th in many countries around the world. According to legend, the holiday gets its name from one of the Christian martyrs named Valentine who secretly married couples during the time of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. The legend says he also gave them flowers and valentines – special cards wishing love. This tradition continues to this day. Another legend says that Saint Valentine lived in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, who banned soldiers from marrying. Valentine secretly wed couples in love but was caught and condemned to death. While in prison he fell in love with his blind jailor’s daughter and healed her. Before his execution he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine”.
Here are some popular English phrases that can be used to express feelings on Valentine’s Day:
- I love you with all my heart.
- You’re my soulmate.
- You make me happy.
- You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.
- Happy Valentine’s Day!
Celebrating Valentine’s Day Around the World
Here are some interesting facts and traditions related to celebrating Valentine’s Day in different countries:
- In England, Valentine’s Day is a special holiday. Women bake heart-shaped sweet pies for their husbands. England also has a tradition of sending anonymous valentine cards, written backwards from right to left or with the left hand.
- In the USA, Valentine’s Day is also a popular holiday of love and friendship. On this day, people give each other valentines, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, toys, perfumes and other gifts. Candlelit dinners, romantic getaways, walks, movie dates and other activities for couples are also common in America. One symbol of the holiday is Cupid – a little angel with a bow and arrows who shoots people in the heart and makes them fall in love.
- In South Korea, people who don’t have a partner gather together on April 14th and eat black noodles to mourn their loneliness.
- In Italy, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of springtime. Lovers meet near fountains or in gardens, where they exchange kisses and gifts. Giving a key to the heart, symbolizing eternal love, is also a popular Italian Valentine’s Day tradition.
- In Brazil, Valentine’s Day is not celebrated on February 14th but rather on June 12th. This day is called Lovers’ Day or St Anthony’s Day, the patron saint of marriage and love. On this day, people decorate their homes with flowers, cards and streamers.
- Valentine’s Day is not a holiday in many countries, but increasingly more young people are adopting this Western tradition. In some countries it is seen as contradicting the local culture and morals. People protest open displays of affection on this day, like kissing or hugging, especially in public places.
Our goal is to explore new vocabulary and phrases related to Valentine’s Day, as well as romantic language for lovers.
Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
Valentine’s Day Vocabulary: Here are some useful vocabulary words and phrases related to Valentine’s Day:
- Valentine’s Day [ˈvæl.ən.taɪnz deɪ]
- Meaning: A day to celebrate love and affection, observed on February 14th.
- Example: “We exchanged gifts and went out for dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day.”
- kiss [kɪs]
- Meaning: To touch with the lips as a sign of love, greeting, or respect.
- Example: “They shared a passionate kiss under the moonlight.”
- Cupid [ˈkjuː.pɪd]
- Meaning: In Roman mythology, the god of love; often depicted as a winged, chubby boy with a bow and arrow.
- Example: “According to legend, Cupid’s arrows cause people to fall in love.”
- propose [prəˈpoʊz]
- Meaning: To ask someone to marry you.
- Example: “He chose Valentine’s Day to propose to his girlfriend.”
- Secret admirer [ˈsiː.krɪt ədˈmaɪərər]
- Meaning: Someone who admires another person romantically but keeps their identity hidden.
- Example: “She received anonymous love letters from a secret admirer on Valentine’s Day.”
- Lovebirds [ˈlʌv.bɜːrdz]
- Meaning: A term used to describe a couple who are very affectionate and loving towards each other.
- Example: “They’re such lovebirds, always holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes.”
- Date [deɪt]
- Meaning: A social or romantic appointment or engagement.
- Example: “He asked her out on a date for Valentine’s Day.”
- Love is in the air [lʌv ɪz ɪn ðər]
- Meaning: An idiomatic expression indicating that love and romance are everywhere.
- Example: “With all the flowers and chocolates being sold, you can tell that love is in the air.”
- Have a crush on someone [hæv ə krʌʃ ɒn ˈsʌmwʌn]
- Meaning: To have romantic feelings for someone, especially if they are not reciprocated.
- Example: “She’s had a crush on him since they were kids.”
- Puppy love [ˈpʌpi lʌv]
- Meaning: Romantic love experienced by young people, often fleeting and innocent.
- Example: “Their relationship started as puppy love, but it grew into something deeper over time.”
- Crush [krʌʃ]
- Meaning: A brief but intense infatuation for someone.
- Example: “She developed a crush on her co-worker after working closely together on a project.”
- Love is blind [lʌv ɪz blaɪnd]
- Meaning: An idiomatic expression meaning that when you’re in love, you can’t see the faults or imperfections of the person you love.
- Example: “She’s so blinded by love that she doesn’t realize he’s not good for her.”
- reak someone’s heart [breɪk ˈsʌmwʌnz hɑːrt]
- Meaning: To cause someone emotional pain or distress by ending a romantic relationship or rejecting them.
- Example: “He broke her heart when he told her he was moving away.”
- Butterflies in the stomach [ˈbʌtərflaɪz ɪn ðə ˈstʌmək]
- Meaning: A feeling of nervousness or excitement in the stomach, often experienced when in love or anticipating something.
- Example: “She always gets butterflies in her stomach before going on a date with him.”
- Endless love [ˈɛndlɪs lʌv]
- Meaning: A love that is never-ending or eternal.
- Example: “Their wedding vows spoke of their endless love for each other.”
- Happily ever after [ˈhæpɪli ˈɛvər ˈæftər]
- Meaning: A fairy tale ending where everything turns out well for the characters.
- Example: “They got married and lived happily ever after.”
- Cupid’s arrow [ˈkjuː.pɪd’s ˈæroʊ]
- Meaning: A metaphorical representation of falling in love, often depicted as being struck by Cupid’s arrow.
- Example: “She felt like she had been hit by Cupid’s arrow the moment she met him.”
- Ship (short for relationship) [ʃɪp]
- Meaning: A romantic relationship between two people.
- Example: “They’re the cutest couple; everyone’s rooting for their ship to sail smoothly.”
- Kitten [ˈkɪt.ən]
- Meaning: A term of endearment used for someone cute or affectionate.
- Example: “He called her his little kitten because she was so playful and adorable.”
- Hug [hʌɡ]
- Meaning: To hold someone tightly in one’s arms, typically as an expression of affection.
- Example: “She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a warm hug.”
- Romantic [roʊˈmæn.tɪk]
- Meaning: Pertaining to or characteristic of romance or love.
- Example: “They spent a romantic evening watching the sunset together.”
- Chocolate [ˈtʃɒk.lət]
- Meaning: A sweet food made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically brown in color.
- Example: “He gave her a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day.”
- Present/Gift [ˈprɛz.ənt] [ɡɪft]
- Meaning: Something given to someone as a token of affection or appreciation.
- Example: “She received a beautiful necklace as a present from her partner.”
- Card [kɑrd]
- Meaning: A piece of paper or small card given to someone to convey greetings or messages of affection.
- Example: “She wrote a heartfelt message in the Valentine’s Day card for her husband.”
- Flower [ˈflaʊər]
- Meaning: The reproductive structure found in flowering plants, often given as a symbol of love and affection.
- Example: “He surprised her with a bouquet of red roses for their anniversary.”
- Jewellery [ˈdʒuːəlri]
- Meaning: Decorative items worn for personal adornment, often given as gifts on special occasions.
- Example: “She received a beautiful necklace and earrings set as a Valentine’s Day gift.”
- Bouquet [buˈkeɪ]
- Meaning: A bunch of flowers, typically arranged in an attractive manner and given as a gift.
- Example: “He presented her with a colorful bouquet of tulips for Valentine’s Day.”
- Couple [ˈkʌpl]
- Meaning: Two people who are in a romantic or marital relationship.
- Example: “They’ve been a couple for five years now.”
- Be in love (with) [bi ɪn lʌv wɪð]
- Meaning: To have strong feelings of affection and attraction towards someone.
- Example: “She’s been in love with him since they first met.”
- Adorable [əˈdɔːrəbl]
- Meaning: Delightful, charming, or cute.
- Example: “They looked adorable together in their matching outfits.”
- To ask out [tuː æsk aʊt]
- Meaning: To invite someone on a date or to spend time together socially.
- Example: “He finally mustered the courage to ask her out on Valentine’s Day.”
- To fall in love [tuː fɔːl ɪn lʌv]
- Meaning: To begin to experience feelings of romantic love for someone.
- Example: “They met in college and quickly fell in love.”
- Darling [ˈdɑːrlɪŋ]
- Meaning: A term of endearment used to address someone with affection.
- Example: “She whispered, ‘Goodnight, darling,’ before kissing him on the cheek.”
- Dear [dɪr]
- Meaning: A polite or affectionate way of addressing someone in writing or speech.
- Example: “She signed her love letter with ‘Yours truly, dear.'”
Popular phrases for lovers
Consider 20 popular phrases for lovers in English:
- “I love you to the moon and back.”
- “You mean the world to me.”
- “You are my sunshine.”
- “You complete me.”
- “Forever and always.”
- “You are the love of my life.”
- “My heart belongs to you.”
- “You are my soulmate.”
- “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
- “You make me a better person.”
- “I cherish every moment with you.”
- “You’re the one for me.”
- “You’re my everything.”
- “I’m crazy about you.”
- “You’re the highlight of my day.”
- “With you, I am home.”
- “You’re my best friend and my lover.”
- “I fall for you more every day.”
- “Being with you feels like magic.”
- “I am forever grateful for you.”