Birthday Vocabulary & Phrases

Vocabulary

• Birthday refers to the day a person was born.
• A party is a celebration or social gathering.
• Cake is a sweet dessert served at celebrations.
• Guests are people who attend a party.
• Decorations are elements used to beautify a place.
• Presents are gifts given to someone.
• Games are recreational activities.
• Music is organized sound for entertainment.
• Balloons are inflatable decorative items.
• Candles are wax cylinders that are lit.
• Invitations are formal notices to attend an event.
• Theme is the central idea guiding the party's organization.
• Venue is the location where the party is held.
• Catering is the service of providing food and beverages.
• Entertainment includes activities to amuse guests.

Common Phrases

• "Happy Birthday!" is a celebratory greeting.
• "Let's celebrate!" expresses the intention to have a party.
• "Make a wish" is said before blowing out candles.
• "Blow out the candles" is a tradition during birthday celebrations.
• "Open your presents" is said when it's time to unwrap gifts.
• "Thank you for coming" expresses gratitude to the guests.
• "Enjoy the party!" is a wish for the guests to have fun.
• "It's my birthday" is a statement of fact.
• "I'm turning [age]" indicates the age someone is reaching.
• "The party starts at [time]" informs guests when the party begins.
• "You're invited to my birthday party" is an invitation to attend.
• "What kind of music do you like?" inquires about musical preferences.
• "Do you want some cake?" is an offer of cake.
• "I had a great time" expresses enjoyment of the party.

Party Planning Vocabulary

• Budget refers to the amount of money available for the party.
• Guest list is a record of invited people.
• RSVP is a request to confirm attendance.
• Schedule is a time plan for activities.
• Supplies are the necessary materials.
• Party favors are small gifts for guests.
• Activities include games or shows performed at the party.
• Seating arrangement is the organization of places to sit.
• Decorating is the process of adorning the venue.
• Catering is the service of providing food and drink.
• Entertainment includes options to amuse guests.
• Clean up is the action of tidying up after the party.
• Contingency plan is a preparation for unexpected events.
• Timeline is a sequence of events and their timings.
• Vendor is a person or company that offers services.

Party Planning Phrases

• "What's your budget for the party?" inquires about the allocated funds.
• "How many guests are you inviting?" asks about the number of attendees.
• "Have you sent out the invitations yet?" checks if invitations have been dispatched.
• "What kind of theme are you thinking of?" explores theme ideas.
• "Do you need help with the decorations?" offers assistance with decorating.
• "Let's make a list of everything we need" suggests creating a requirements list.
• "Who's in charge of the music?" assigns responsibility for the music.
• "What time should we start setting up?" asks about the setup commencement time.
• "Don't forget to RSVP by [date]" reminds invitees to confirm attendance.
• "We need to confirm the catering order" emphasizes the importance of finalizing the catering arrangements.
• "Let's plan some fun activities for the guests" suggests planning guest entertainment.
• "We should clean up as soon as the party is over" suggests prompt post-party cleanup.
• "Do we have a backup plan in case of bad weather?" asks about a weather contingency plan.
• "Let's schedule a meeting to discuss the party details" proposes a meeting to discuss details.
• "I'm hiring a vendor for the entertainment" states the hiring of an entertainment vendor.

Example Dialogue: Planning a Birthday Party

• A: "Hi! I'm planning a birthday party for my son. Can you help me?"
• B: "Of course! What's your budget?"
• A: "Around $500."
• B: "Okay. How many guests are you inviting?"
• A: "About 20 kids and 10 adults."
• B: "Great. What kind of theme are you thinking of?"
• A: "He loves superheroes, so maybe a superhero theme."
• B: "That sounds fun! Do you need help with the decorations?"
• A: "Yes, please! And also with the catering."
• B: "We can arrange superhero-themed decorations and a kid-friendly menu. What about entertainment?"
• A: "Maybe a clown or a magician?"
• B: "Perfect. Let's make a list of everything we need and set a schedule."
• A: "That sounds like a plan! Thank you so much!"
• B: "You're welcome! We'll make sure it's a memorable birthday party."

Example Dialogue: At the Birthday Party

• A: "Happy Birthday, [Name]!"
• B: "Thank you so much for coming!"
• A: "I brought you a present. I hope you like it."
• B: "Thank you! You didn't have to."
• A: "Enjoy the party! Everything looks amazing."
• B: "We're about to cut the cake. Do you want some?"
• A: "Yes, please. What kind of cake is it?"
• B: "It's chocolate. My favorite!"
• A: "Great! It smells delicious."
• B: "Make sure to grab a party favor before you leave."
• A: "I will. Thanks again for inviting me."
• B: "You're welcome! I'm glad you could make it."

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to send out invitations is a common planning error.
• Failing to confirm the guest list can lead to miscalculations.
• Underestimating the budget can cause financial strain.
• Not planning for enough food or drinks can leave guests unsatisfied.
• Ignoring dietary restrictions can alienate some guests.
• Not having enough seating can make guests uncomfortable.
• Forgetting about entertainment can result in a boring party.
• Not planning for cleanup adds stress after the party.
• Not having a backup plan for weather can disrupt outdoor parties.
• Not enjoying the party yourself defeats the purpose of hosting.

Birthday Traditions Around the World

• Piñatas (Mexico): Containers filled with candy that are broken with a stick.
• Birthday Noodles (China): Long noodles symbolizing a long life.
• Greasing the Birthday Boy/Girl (Scotland): Smearing the birthday person with grease.
• Throwing Cinnamon (Denmark): Throwing cinnamon at single people turning 25.
• Fairy Bread (Australia): White bread with butter and sprinkles.