IMPROVING VOCABULARY

Autumn/fall vocabulary

 Fall is an old term for the season, originating in English in the 16th century or earlier. It was originally short for fall of the year or fall of the leaf, but it commonly took the one-word form by the 17th century, long before the development of American English.

Autumn came to English from the French word ‘’Automne’’ in the 15th or 16th century, but it didn’t gain popularity or wide usage until the 18th century. After that, while Fall became the preferred term in the U.S., Autumn became so dominant in British English that Fall as a term for the season was eventually considered archaic.

The reason why Americans use Fall and British use Autumn is that around the same time the English went over to North America, the most popular word to describe the third season had changed from Autumn to Fall.

Whatever word you use Autumn or Fall there are plenty of words we can use to expand our vocabulary and practice them the more we can. Because each month of this wonderful season has great importance we can use a variety of words or phrases to talk about the most important events in each month.

Let’s have a look and see what each month surprises us with.

SEPTEMBER

European Day of Languages

 

Celebrated on 26 September, the European Day of Languages (EDL) is a means of promoting awareness among the general public of the importance of language learning and protecting linguistic heritage. On the occasion of the day, a range of events is organized across Europe, including those for children, television and radio programs, language classes, and conferences.

Unique words 

Albanian

vetullhen: an eyebrow arched like the crescent moon

Bosnian

gunj: a vest worn by the shepherds during winter, made from sheepskin

Croatian

pivopija: someone who likes to drink beer, literally "beer drinker"

Czech

prozvonit: to call someone's mobile from your own without the other person picking up with the intention of leaving your number in their phone's memory

Danish

hyggelig: its “literal” translation into English gives connotations of a warm, friendly, cozy demeanor

Dutch

regelneef: a person who loves organizing even without being asked to

English

higgledy-piggledy: disordered, jumbled, not neat and tidy. According to Oxford Dictionary, probably used initially with reference to the disordered herding together of pigs

Estonian

koerailm: cat-and-dog weather; really bad weather

Finnish

hiukaista: to feel hungry for something salty 

French

chabrot: to put red wine in your soup, when there is little soup left

Georgian

genatsvale: I appreciate you very much

German

Zechpreller: someone who leaves without paying the bill 

Greek

meraki: doing something with soul, creativity, or love: putting something of yourself into what you're doing

Hungarian

csókolgat: to shower with kisses

Icelandic

eldhus-fifi (Old Icelandic): an idiot who sits all day by the fire

Irish

plubairnigh: a verb specifically used to describe that distinctive thick, bubbling sound that porridge makes when it is boiling. "Bhí an leite ag plubairnigh sa phota" ("The porridge was 'plubairnigh-ing' in the pot").

Italian

mammismo: maternal control and interference that continues into adulthood

Latvian

vientuliba: loneliness, solitude

Lithuanian

davatka: a person who is too pious and likes to gossip

Norwegian

kram snø: snow which is sticky (excellent for making snow-balls and snowmen)

Portuguese

hico-esperto: used to describe someone who is smart enough to take advantage of situations even if damaging someone else's interests

Romanian

dor: a feeling of melancholy as a result of the desire to see someone or something you love

Russian

teplushka: heated goods van used for carrying people

zalipat': stand in gaze

Serbian

inat: spite, defiance; when you do or don't do something (often to your detriment) just to prove someone else wrong

Slovak

prezvoniť: to call someone's mobile from your own without the other person picking up with the intention of leaving your number in their phone's memory

Slovenian

Zlovešč: someone who predicts harm/evil

Spanish

chupotero: a person who works little but has several salaries

malaje: saying about a person: disagreeable, that has bad (wrong) shade 

Swedish

lappsjuka: a melancholy through being so isolated

fika: coffee break or an overall word for buns and other snacks that you eat on coffee-breaks

 

OCTOBER

Haloween

The history of Halloween dates back to a pagan festival called Samhain. Hundreds of years ago, people dressed up as saints and went door-to-door, which is the origin of Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating.

 

List of Halloween Words for Kids

Costumes                           Monster                                 Disguise                   pirate                      broomstick                          Haunted House              Trick or Treat        Spider web                        crow                                        cat                          October                   Jack-O'-Lantern                    Scarecrow                    vampire                                                                                                  

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists.

Thanksgiving Related Words and Phrases

Appreciation                                 baking                       banquet                  get together

Cards                                            celebrate                       family                       travel

Cooking                                        festival                        gathering                 Gratitude                    

harvest                                       overeating                     Autumn                  candles                        

   fall                                                wreath                          Native Americans 

  leaves                                               pumpkin                        scarecrows             turkey              

  corn                                            floral arrangements