Summer vocabulary

Summer has arrived in the UK! It's warm and sunny this week and the forecast says it could be 32 degrees on Friday! That's too hot for me! Today's post is a list of vocabulary which you might find useful to talk about the summer.​

​Vocabulary

Sun cream / sunscreen / suntan lotion
This is cream that you put onto your skin so you don’t burn in the sun.

Swimming costume / swimsuit / swimming suit / bathing suit / bathing costume
A piece of clothing that women wear for swimming or on the beach.

Bikini
A two-piece swimsuit for women.

Swim shorts / trunks / swimming trunks / Speedos
These are what men wear for swimming. Speedos is a brand name which has come to mean the small tight style of trunks.

Sunbathe
This means to lie in the sun to relax and get a suntan.

Bucket and spade
These are popular toys for children to play with on the beach. The spade is used to dig and the bucket is a round container used to put sand or water in.

Sandcastle
This is a model of a castle made out of sand. It’s mande by filling a bucket with wet sand and then turning it upside-down.

Deckchair 
A kind of chair which is easy to fold up and carry. The seat is made out of a strip of fabric. It’s often found on the beach.

Sun lounger (also sun-lounger or sunlounger)
A kind of bed used for sunbathing, maybe on the beach or in the garden.

Sandals
Open shoes that are worn in the summer.

Flip-flops
A type of sandal with a V-shaped strap which goes between the toes.

Paddling pool
This is a container which you can fill with water for children to play in, usually in the garden.

Parasol
This is like an umbrella but it provides protection from the sun, not the rain. It can be small enough for one person to carry or big enough to shelter a small table outside.
 
In the shade
If you are in the shade, you are outside but out of direct sunlight.

Summer solstice
The longest day of the year, usually 21st June.

Idioms

One swallow does not make a summer
Just because one good thing happens, it doesn’t mean more good things will follow. Just one sign doesn’t mean that a situation will improve.

Make hay while the sun shines
You should take advantage of a good situation while you can because it might not last.

Soak up the sun
To sit or lie in the sun and enjoy it as much as possible.


You might also like this post about summer weather vocabulary.


If you would like to know how to improve your English vocabulary and how to remember new words, this "English Vocabulary Challenge" e-book will help you:
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