Halloween Vocabulary in English: The Best Words and Phrases About the Scariest Holiday

Ghostly Greetings!

It's now October, sweet pumpkin. Which means it's finally that time of year again *evil laugh*: Halloween! *more evil laughs*

We can't speak for everyone, but Halloween is definitely one of our favorite holidays. Maybe it's because on October 31st, it can be fun to be an evil character, at least once a year. Or maybe it's because we like to go to Starbucks to get our pumpkin spice latte. Or, the real reason could be that we can finally share with you the spookiest Halloween vocabulary words in English!

We honestly don't know. But come along on our Halloween journey; maybe, we'll find out eventually.

The Most Thematic Halloween Words in English: Everything you need for October 31st

1. Halloween

It is unthinkable to learn any word related to Halloween without first reviewing and analyzing the word Halloween itself.

Nowadays, Halloween has simply become a holiday that gives people a chance to relax, let off steam, and have a fun night letting out their inner child who may be dressed up as a mummy, Harley Quinn, or even their favorite Star Wars character.

But, believe it or not, Halloween has not always been about candy, candy corn, costumes, carved pumpkins, and horror movies. If you want to dig deeper into the history of this holiday, here is an interesting article about the origin of Halloween on History Channel's website.

Halloween had a different name in the past. It was known as “All Hallows Eve,” or what we now know as “All Saints’ Day.” Thus, its modern name is a shortened and combined version of the original with the beginning "Hallow-" (it has a similar meaning to "holy)" and the ending "-een" (which is equivalent to "evening", meaning "night"). In other words, Halloween is the night before a holy day: All Saints' Day, which is November 1st.

The origins of the holiday go back to ancient times. About 2,000 years ago, the territory of modern England and northern France was inhabited by indigenous tribes called Celts. And before their New Year (which was November 1st) they celebrated a festival called Samhain (pronounced "Saoin" or "Sáuin"). This referred to the belief that on that very night, the border between the worlds of the living and the dead almost disappeared, and the spirits could return to Earth for one night. The celebration included the construction of huge sacred bonfires to make sacrifices and the use of creepy costumes to ward off evil.

Over time, this tradition merged with Roman and Christian customs, transforming into what we know today as Halloween. And although it still retains elements of those ancient Celtic rituals, it has been adapted to a much more commercial and festive context, thus becoming the night of fun, candy exchange and theme parties that we popularly know today.

2. Pumpkin

Just as you know perfectly well which famous brand we are referring to when we mention that it has an apple as its official logo, we might think that the almost official logo of Halloween is a pumpkin, which is usually carved.

Pumpkins became an iconic symbol of Halloween thanks to the Irish who immigrated to the United States in the 19th century. They brought with them their old traditions, including warding off evil spirits by putting vegetables with faces carved on them on their porches.

When the Irish arrived in America, they discovered pumpkins and decided to use them to scare away the spirits on Samhain on October 31st. Later, pumpkins with carved faces were named jack-o-lanterns, which have Irish origins and also have an interesting history.

3. Jack-o-lantern

There is a legend about a man named Jack who was a terrible person all his life, but somehow made a deal with the Devil so that he would not take his soul. When Jack died, he was denied entry to heaven because of his heinous behavior and acts on Earth. But his soul was not taken by the Devil to hell either.

It is believed that his soul has been wandering the world ever since, so people started wearing pumpkins with scary faces to keep Jack's evil spirit away from their homes.

Now, pumpkins are a must in every home during October and especially on Halloween, and the tradition of finding and carving pumpkins to put in our homes will never stop being fun.

4. Trick-or-treating

“Trick-or-treat!” is what children usually say when they go from house to house asking for candy in their neighborhood during Halloween. “Trick-or-treating” is one of the best traditions of this holiday, or at least that is our perception, since it is much more common in the United States than in Europe.

Children, usually under 12 years old, dress up and try their luck asking for candy. If a “mysterious creature” knocks on the door, the owner of the house has to open it and give candy as a “sacrifice”; otherwise, there will be consequences. If children do not receive candy, which is usually chocolate, candy corn or lollipops, they will be mischievous.

Punishment can range from decorating a house with a pile of toilet paper to throwing raw eggs at a home, a car or even a person. So, if Halloween is a traditional holiday where you live, make sure you have your candy ready!

5. Coffin / casket

Both the word “casket” and “coffin” refer to a coffin. That is, a long, narrow box, usually made of wood, that is used to bury or cremate a dead body.

It may sound creepy, but many people in the United States have coffins in their houses. But don’t be scared, this doesn’t mean they are maniacs or occultists. They use them to decorate their homes and make them spooky for the holiday.

If you want to know how coffins became one of the most related symbols to Halloween, the truth is that we don’t have a historical answer for you. But, let’s think logically. If Halloween is about death, it’s no wonder that coffins have become very popular along with the holiday.

Zombies come out of their coffins, vampires sleep in their coffins, and what’s more, any dead character you choose for your Halloween costume can also wear a coffin as an accessory.

The funny thing is that in Italy, for example, people are used to seeing coffins not only during Halloween. Posters advertising coffins can be found all over Italian cities. And that's really creepy.

6. Broomstick

It is perhaps almost impossible to find someone who has never seen the Harry Potter films. So we can assume that you have seen a “broomstick” in them. A broomstick. Or, in this case, a magic broomstick.

According to Oxford Languages, the world’s leading dictionary publisher, a broomstick is a brush with branches at one end and a long handle that, according to children’s literature, witches fly with.

The image of witches riding broomsticks has a very interesting and somewhat mysterious origin. In times past, some people, who were called witches, used certain ointments made from herbs with hallucinogenic properties. These ointments were applied to objects such as broomsticks, and it is believed that witches used them to induce altered states of consciousness.

In these experiences, witches were said to be able to feel as if they were flying, which fueled the idea that they rode broomsticks. Therefore, this connection with flight was never seen literary, but was based on the hallucinations caused by using these herbs.

7. Cauldron

A cauldron is also mostly associated with witches during Halloween. It is a large, usually black pot that is used for cooking, in this case, all sorts of potions and poisons.

Nowadays, children use cauldrons on Halloween to collect candy while trick-or-treating, and adults use them to decorate their homes. You may have also seen the pink magic cauldrons on TikTok. You need to mix all the magic ingredients in a pot to make a stuffed animal out of them. If it works for you, please let us know in the comments.

Spooky Halloween Words You Need to Know

The following words on our Halloween vocabulary list in English might give you the creeps. But they are helpful at this time of year, so don't you dare forget them, or we'll put a spell on you... Just kidding, of course!

1. Boo

"Boo" is an exclamation word that will suddenly scare someone who doesn't expect you to be near them.

On Halloween and even throughout October, you can not only scare people by saying "Boo!", but also by saying hi to them in a funny way. And if you decide to dress up as a ghost for Halloween this year, that will be your number one word to use.

It will make you scary; well, we hope so. Check out this picture of Salem the cat from the 90s series "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch":

Outside of Halloween, "boo" can also be used to boo someone or something you don't agree with, and in the United States it can also be used as a noun to refer to loved ones, such as your boyfriend or girlfriend, and sometimes even a close friend (a play on the French word "beau" meaning "admirer"). 

2. Boogeyman

"There is the boogeyman! He is outside! Look, there is the boogeyman outside!" That's what you can hear in the iconic movie Halloween. So let's go find out who the boogeyman is.

According to the Collins Dictionary, the “boogeyman” is an imaginary evil character with supernatural powers. Usually, it's an imaginary goblin who is supposed to take away naughty children. But in the Halloween movie series, the “boogeyman” has a real name: Michael Audrey Myers.

So when talking about a “boogeyman,” it depends on the context whether the person is referring to Michael Audrey Myers or just talking in general. Either way, be careful when you use the restroom in the middle of the night. A “boogeyman” could be waiting for you under your bed when you get back.

3.  Grave + gravestone

If you live in a private residence in the United States, there should be at least one gravestone in your yard as a Halloween decoration. It's almost a rule.

The word "grave" refers to a tomb, a dug hole where someone is buried when they die. And a gravestone is a monolith that marks the place where the person was buried. Gravestones look different in each country, but the ones depicted in movies and Halloween decorations were brought from American cemeteries.

Traditionally, they're shaped like a rounded-top piece of stone and come with text stating the name of the buried person, their date of birth and death, and perhaps a quote or message from their family. But, in a cartoonish way, tombstones also have R.I.P. written on them. It's short for "Rest in peace."

The word "grave" is used in different idioms. For example:

• “Silent as a grave”: To keep completely silent.
• “Take [a secret] to the grave”: To never reveal a secret.
• “Dancing on their grave”: To celebrate the failure or even death of a person who is not pleasant.
• “Turn in one's grave”: To describe how someone who has already passed away might react negatively to something.  
• “Dig one's own grave”: When someone does something that will affect them negatively.
• “Have one foot in the grave”: To almost being dead.

4. Hocus Pocus

Typically, magicians use the phrase “hocus pocus” to distract the audience while they perform their magic trick. However, we love it when they pull rabbits out of a hat!

This phrase can also be used in everyday life to emphasize that something is just a distraction hiding more important things. For example, “His kiss was just a hocus pocus; he didn't want me to see his ex passing by.”

5. Poltergeist

Remember the friendly ghost Casper? He's technically a "poltergeist," but a very sweet and kind one. Unfortunately, not all of them are like that.

Generally, when people say "poltergeist" they mean a ghost that has the ability to cause physical disturbances, such as moving things around the house or making macabre noises.

Some people believe that it's possible to detect "poltergeists" with special devices (but not like the ones in the movie Ghostbusters) and get rid of them with some rituals.

You'll find the word "poltergeist" very often in horror movies, try to take notice of it next time you watch that. In real life, you can name a person a poltergeist if they appear in your life occasionally without warning and generate inconveniences.

6. Warlock

Probably, since childhood, we all know who witches are. But what is a male equivalent to that? Just a male witch or a wizard? Not really. 

See, Harry Potter, for instance, is a wizard because he practices good magic. And when people call a woman witch, they mean she does something terrible. So to characterize a man who is connoted to dark and evil magic and witchcraft, you should use the word warlock.

Halloween Description Words to Feel the Spirit of the Holiday

Here are some words that describe Halloween in the best way possible:

1. Supernatural

We all love Dean and Sam from the TV series “Supernatural”. And you've probably heard this word before in other contexts, but do you really know what it means?

It's an adjective that describes the supernatural, meaning some force that goes beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. For example, if you've spotted a poltergeist or seen a ghost, that could be a sign of supernatural activity.

2. Eerie

If you are struggling to find a suitable synonym for such words as mysterious and creepy, try to use eerie instead. That will level your speech and show you have a solid Halloween vocabulary.

3. Drop-dead 

As an adjective, the word drop-dead is used to emphasize that someone or something is beautiful. It can be a perfect compliment for a women's Halloween costume. She's drop-dead gorgeous!

4. Ghoulish

A ghoul is an evil spirit or phantom robs graves and feeds on dead bodies. So, when people use and adjective ghoulish, they mean something awful, shocking, cruel, and monstrous. Like, Jeffry seemed to be a nice person, but then we all saw his true nature; it was ghoulish.

5. Haunted

Houses full of ghosts and poltergeists are usually a fun attraction on Halloween. But nobody calls them like that. So to express that something is full of ghosts and poltergeists, it is better to use the word haunted.

6. Bloodcurdling

Bloodcurdling is used to show that something is full of terror or horror. What can be bloodcurdling? A scream or a story that you tell late at night in a cemetery on Halloween, looking for some adrenaline.

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13 Halloween Sayings You Need To Know

At this point, you can operate with a good number of scary Halloween words. But it won't be superfluous to remember some holiday sayings for greeting people in October and wishing them the best Halloween ever. They are full of wordplay!

1. Eat, drink and be scary!
2. Halloween is a real treat. 
3. Have a fang-tastic night. 
4. Happy Haunting!
5. Have a bootiful Halloween. 
6. Don't be a scared cat. 
7. I witch you a Happy Halloween. 
8. Stop in for a spell. 
9. Please park all brooms at the door. 
10. Caution! Witch Crossing. 
11. Boo to you from our crew. 
12. If you want a tasty sweet…
13. Be sure to holler trick or treat!

Halloween Vocab: 13 Iconic Movie Quotes For Creepy Vibe

And, of course, our Halloween vocabulary list wouldn't be complete without lit quoted from the iconic themed movies. Turn these movies on a spooky night and try to memorize them in context and get some more Halloween vocabulary.

• "It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare." – Halloween
• "No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel." – Scream 
• "What an excellent day for an exorcism." – The Exorcist
• "Wendy, I'm home!" – The Shinning 
• "I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker color" – The Addams Family.
• "This is my costume. I'm a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone else." - The Addams Family.
• "Oh look, another glorious morning. Makes me sick." – Hocus Pocus
• "It's a full moon tonight. That's when all the weirdos are out." – Hocus Pocus
• "Go to hell!" "I've been there, thank you. I found it quite lovely." — Hocus Pocus
• "Well, it says to form a circle of salt to protect from zombies, witches, and old boyfriends." — Hocus Pocus.
• "Come with me if you want to live." — Casper the Friendly Ghost
• "It's not a tornado that's coming. It's something much, much worse." — Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
• "Who doesn't enjoy a good scare every now and again? Especially this time of year." — Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

How do you learn Halloween vocabulary with Promova?

Halloween vocabulary is not limited to what we provide you with. And if you don't want to do the research yourself, you can always seek professional help. The best thing about our platform Promova is that it's cross-functional. You can hire a native-level tutor to get assistance with your themed learning. Just sign up for an individual lesson on Promova, let your experienced tutor know about your desire to learn Halloween vocabulary, and they will prepare a unique class just for you. 

Also, in the Promova application, you can find a themed word game. It is called 12 Synonyms for Spooky. Check it out and provide yourself with even more Halloween words.

Conclusion

With this article, you learned basic and advanced Halloween vocabulary in English. Now you're fully ready to tell scary stories, quote iconic movies, and go out partying (the adult version of trick-or-treating) this coming October 31st.

If you want to integrate English more into your life and learn as much as you can, it's also important to consider immersing yourself in the culture around the language. Although you may not have Halloween traditions in your country like they do in the United States, there's no harm in trying to implement them in your free time. Just check out this pumpkin farm near Naples, Italy that recently went viral.

Keep learning more Halloween vocabulary in English while watching a chilling movie or carving a spooky face into your pumpkin!