Winter can be cold, dark, and sometimes challenging. However, knowing the right winter words can make the season feel more comfortable.
Today, let’s look at some important winter vocabulary to help you talk about weather, clothing, and everyday situations during the coldest months.
Weather essentials
Black ice
Black ice forms when water on roads or pavements freezes, creating a thin layer of slippery ice. It’s called black ice because it can be difficult to see on dark surfaces. Always walk or drive carefully if you think there might be black ice!
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with strong winds, making it difficult to see. Blizzards can last for hours or even days. (See some examples in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary).
Hail
Hail is small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky. Hailstorms can happen in winter and in other seasons too. Be careful, hail can be painful!
Sleet
Sleet is partly frozen rain or snow that often turns into water when it hits the ground. It can feel uncomfortable if you get caught outside without proper clothing!
A snow day
A snow day is a day when schools or workplaces close because there is too much snow. Many children look forward to a snow day because it often means staying at home or playing in the snow.
Thaw
A thaw occurs when the weather becomes warmer and the snow or ice begins to melt. After a long winter, a thaw might be a sign that spring is coming. You can also use thaw as a verb (The ice is thawing).
Windchill
Windchill describes how cold it feels when the wind blows. Even if the temperature is -2°C, the windchill might make it feel like -10°C.
Snowed in
If you are snowed in, you can’t leave your home or area because there is too much snow around you.
Clothing for the cold
Parka
A parka is a thick coat with a hood, which is often lined with fake fur. It is designed to keep you warm in freezing temperatures. You can say a parka coat or a parka jacket.
Beanie
A beanie is a type of hat that covers your head and ears. It is made from wool, cotton, or other warm materials.
Handwarmers / Legwarmers
These are small items you can wear on your hands, wrists, or legs to provide extra warmth. Some handwarmers are disposable, and some of them might be electronic.
Thermals
Thermals are a set of tight, warm underclothes that help keep you warm when temperatures drop. You can have a thermal t-shirt, thermal leggings, or thermal socks for example.
Muffs / Earmuffs
There are earmuffs to protect your ears or handmuffs to keep your hands warm. Handmuffs are a long tube of material you can put your hands inside together.
Describing the season
Chilly
Chilly means cold, but not extremely cold. A chilly day usually needs a coat, but you can still walk outside comfortably.
- It’s quite chilly today! You’ll need to wear a coat.
Frosty
Frosty weather includes frost on the ground, which is hard water, or ice. It often forms on car windows overnight.
- It’s frosty outside – I can see my own breath!
Nippy
When the air feels sharp and cold, you can describe it as nippy. It’s an informal word which has a similar meaning to chilly.
- It’s nippy outside, so wear some gloves.
Dreary
Dreary weather is dull and grey, with little or no sunshine. Winter can be dreary if the sun does not come out for days.
- The weather is so dreary today. I wish there was some sun.
Misty
Misty conditions mean light fog in the air, which can make it difficult to see.
- It’s a misty morning. I can’t even see the lake!
Slushy
When snow starts to melt and mix with water on the ground, it becomes slushy and slippery. Imagine an iced drink that has melted – this is also slushy.
- I love the snow, but I hate it when it goes slushy.
Drafty
A drafty room allows cold air to enter through gaps in windows or doors.
- Our flat is so drafty. We need something at the bottom of the doors to stop the wind coming through.
Use these winter words to boost talking about the winter season in English. If you want more language for talking about seasons, take a look at our posts on festive celebrations around the world and spring phrases and idioms.
What’s your favourite seasonal words in the article? How will you use them? Share your ideas below!
Activity
Complete the sentence with the winter vocabulary from the text.
- You can’t see it, but the road is covered in ________, so drive slowly.
- We’re not at school today because it’s a ________ and we can’t leave the house. It’s so thick!
- My friend stayed home today because she was completely ________.
- I don’t have a beanie but I have some ________ you can borrow to protect your ears.
- It is quite ________ in here – let’s close the window to stop the wind coming through!
- The snow has melted and now it’s all ________.
Answers
- black ice
- snow day
- snowed in
- earmuffs
- drafty
- slushy
Billie Jago is an ELT writer and teacher trainer specialising in digital learning materials and assessment resources. She has written for various well-known coursebooks, and writes items for high stakes exams such as the PTE, OTE, IELTS and Cambridge. Alongside materials writing, she delivers international teacher training sessions and is the founder of the ELTcpd professional development platform and YouTube channel. She is also the co-founder of the educational consultancy, OtterEducation.
