Let’s learn 50 vocabulary words related to winter and cold weather.
We’re going to learn a lot of words on this topic today, so make sure to download the free lesson PDF! You can use it to help you review and remember the vocabulary more easily.
I’ve got 3 categories of winter vocabulary words:
- Words related to winter weather
- Words related to winter clothes
- Words related to winter activities
Winter Weather
Of course we have snow! When a lot of snow falls quickly, this is a snowstorm or a blizzard. And when just a few snowflakes are falling slowly, we call this flurries. You might get frost on the windows of your house or car – frost is a very thin layer of ice crystals.
To clear a path for your car, you can shovel snow out of your driveway or use a machine called a snowblower. And cities send vehicles called snowplows to clear the snow from the streets.
Another type of winter weather is sleet – that’s when tiny pieces of ice are falling. We can also get freezing rain – this is when it rains, but the rain freezes on the ground. You might see some pretty icicles – long, sharp rods of ice – but it can also be very dangerous because it can create black ice on the roads, making them very slick/slippery.
The temperature can vary in the winter, so if it’s just a little cold, we could describe it as chilly. And when it’s very cold, we can say it’s freezing or frigid outside.
Sometimes there’s also wind chill – this describes the fact that the wind makes it feel even colder than it actually is. The wind can also blow the snow into piles called snowdrifts.
Winter Clothing
With all this wintry weather, you’ll definitely want to bundle up – that means wear warm clothes.
You should have a heavy coat / winter coat – one that is thick and warm – as well as a hat or earmuffs, a scarf for your neck, boots for your feet, and gloves or mittens for your hands. The difference is that gloves have separate fingers whereas mittens only have one area for the thumb and another for the other 4 fingers together.
Kids often wear a snowsuit, which is a warm, puffy suit that resists getting wet.
If you don’t have warm clothes, you’ll be shivering – meaning your body is shaking from the cold – and your teeth will be chattering – that’s when your teeth make small hits together – again, from the cold.
People who are stuck in extremely cold conditions without enough protection can get hypothermia – when your body temperature gets too low – or frostbite – when part of your skin freezes.
When you’re inside, you’ll still want to dress warmly such as in a sweater or sweatshirt, a turtleneck which has a high collar, and nice comfy slippers for your feet.
You’ll definitely want a thick blanket like a quilt or a comforter when you go to bed.
Winter Activities
You can make a fire in your fireplace and sip some hot chocolate or hot cocoa – to sip means to drink it slowly. Many people like to eat soup or stew – a stew is like an extra-thick soup with lots of stuff in it.
Some outdoor winter activities include ice skating and hockey, skiing, and snowboarding.
Kids often build a snowman or have a snowball fight.
Many people enjoy the festive Christmas season, meaning cheerful, celebratory – but January and February can sometimes seem dreary, meaning sad and dull.
They’re counting down the days until the spring thaw – describing a time when ice and snow melt, turn into water – as the weather starts to warm up.
Are you a fan of winter, or do you prefer a different season? Let me know what you think. And make sure to download today’s lesson text so that you can talk about winter more confidently using the vocabulary we learned today.
I’ve got 2,000 more words waiting for you inside my Vocabulary Builder Courses – check them out if you want to learn and practice useful English words in just a few minutes a day.
