Everyday English · Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating, decorations and staying safe after dark
Halloween & Trick-or-Treating: 18 Everyday English Words
Learn the words children hear and say on Halloween: costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, what to say at the door, and how to stay safe after dark.
What to do
Halloween is on October 31. In many Canadian neighbourhoods, children dress up in costumes after dark and go trick-or-treating: they walk from house to house, ring the doorbell or knock, and say "Trick or treat!" The person at the door gives them a treat, usually candy, and the children say "Thank you!"
Before Halloween, families often decorate their homes and carve pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns. In many neighbourhoods, a porch light that is on is a sign that the family is giving out treats. A dark house usually means they are not.
Adults also use a lot of safety words on Halloween night: stay on the sidewalk, cross at the crosswalk, carry a flashlight, and wear something reflective so drivers can see you. Children with an allergy need an adult to check their treats.
Not every family celebrates Halloween, and that is fine. These words are still useful, because you will hear them at school and around your neighbourhood every October. Read each word, listen to it, and read the example sentence. You do not need to memorise them all today.
Core everyday words
costume
noun · KOS-toomspecial clothes you wear to look like someone or something else
Example: Maya's costume is a bright green dragon.
mask
noun · MASKa cover for the face, often with holes for the eyes
Example: Make sure you can see well through your mask.
jack-o'-lantern
noun · JAK-uh-lan-terna pumpkin with a face cut into it, often lit from inside
Example: Our jack-o'-lantern has a wide, toothy smile.
carve
verb · KARVto cut a shape into something
Example: Dad helps us carve the pumpkin with a small knife.
porch
noun · PORCHa covered area outside the front door of a house
Example: They put three pumpkins on the porch.
porch light
noun phrase · PORCH lytea light outside the front door
Example: The porch light is on, so we can go to that house.
doorbell
noun · DOR-bela button you press to make a sound inside a house
Example: Ring the doorbell once and wait.
trick-or-treat
verb · TRIK-or-TREETto go from house to house in a costume asking for treats
Example: We trick-or-treat on our own street.
treat
noun · TREETsomething nice you are given, often a snack
Example: The neighbour gave each child a treat.
candy
noun · KAN-deesweet food such as chocolate or gummies
Example: My bag is full of candy.
wrapper
noun · RAP-erthe paper or plastic around a piece of candy
Example: Put your wrapper in the garbage, not on the lawn.
flashlight
noun · FLASH-lytea small light you hold in your hand
Example: Carry a flashlight when it gets dark.
reflective
adjective · rih-FLEK-tivshining back when light hits it
Example: Reflective tape on your costume helps drivers see you.
sidewalk
noun · SYDE-wawkthe path beside a street where people walk
Example: Stay on the sidewalk, not on the road.
crosswalk
noun · KROSS-wawka marked place where people cross the street
Example: We cross at the crosswalk, together.
decoration
noun · dek-uh-RAY-shunsomething you put up to make a place look special
Example: The house has bats and cobwebs as decorations.
spooky
adjective · SPOO-keea little scary, often in a fun way
Example: The yard looks spooky with fog and orange lights.
allergy
noun · AL-er-jeewhen a food or other thing makes your body sick
Example: Sam has a peanut allergy, so an adult checks his treats.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning or the word that fits.
1. What is a jack-o'-lantern?
- A lantern made of orange paper
- A pumpkin with a face cut into it
- A person in a pumpkin costume
- A candle shaped like a pumpkin
2. Complete the sentence: "Before you eat, throw the ___ in the garbage."
- candy
- costume
- wrapper
- doorbell
3. In many neighbourhoods, what does a porch light that is on usually tell trick-or-treaters?
- The family is away on vacation.
- Go to the back door.
- The house has run out of candy.
- You are welcome to come to the door.
4. Which item helps drivers see you at night?
- Reflective tape
- A mask
- A pillowcase
- A wig
5. Where should you cross the street?
- Between parked cars
- In the middle of the block
- Wherever is closest to the next house
- At a crosswalk
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Think about what people really say and do on Halloween.
6. Leo says, "I can't eat peanuts. They make me sick." Which word names his problem?
- costume
- treat
- allergy
- decoration
7. Complete the sentence: "This yard is so ___! I love the fog and the creaky sounds."
- sidewalk
- spooky
- wrapper
- porch
8. What is the difference between a costume and a decoration?
- A person wears a costume; a decoration is put on a house or yard.
- They mean the same thing.
- A costume is always scary; a decoration is always funny.
- A decoration is worn; a costume is hung on the door.
9. The neighbour puts a treat in your bag. What should you say?
- "Trick or treat!"
- "Excuse me!"
- "You're welcome!"
- "Thank you!"
10. Which sentence uses "carve" correctly?
- We carve candy into our bags.
- We carve the doorbell.
- We carve a face into the pumpkin.
- We carve our costumes on.
Quick-check answers
- 1. A pumpkin with a face cut into it
A jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin, often lit from inside. - 2. wrapper
The wrapper is the paper or plastic around the candy. You throw it away and eat the candy. - 3. You are welcome to come to the door.
A lit porch light is a common sign that the family is giving out treats. A dark house usually means they are not. - 4. Reflective tape
Reflective tape shines back when car lights hit it. - 5. At a crosswalk
A crosswalk is the marked place for crossing. Drivers expect people there. - 6. allergy
An allergy is when a food or other thing makes your body sick. - 7. spooky
Spooky means a little scary in a fun way. The speaker loves it. - 8. A person wears a costume; a decoration is put on a house or yard.
Both can be spooky or funny. The difference is who or what they are for. - 9. "Thank you!"
You say "Trick or treat!" when the door opens and "Thank you!" after you get a treat. "You're welcome" is the answer to someone else's thank-you. - 10. We carve a face into the pumpkin.
To carve is to cut a shape into something, like a pumpkin.