Halloween Vocabulary in English: 70+ Spooky Words & Phrases

Mini cheat sheet: spooky = fun-scary · creepy = uncomfortable-scary · eerie = quiet-scary.

Decorations You See Everywhere

• decoration – Something you put up to make a place look festive. Example: We hung Halloween decorations in the living room.
• pumpkin – Orange squash used for carving and cooking. Example: We picked a huge pumpkin at the farm.
• carve – Cut a shape into something. Example: Let's carve a scary face into the pumpkin.
• pumpkin carving – The activity of making jack-o'-lanterns. Example: Pumpkin carving is messy but fun.
• candle – Wax light often used inside a jack-o'-lantern. Example: We put a candle inside the pumpkin.
• string lights – Small lights on a string used for decoration. Example: The orange string lights make it feel cozy and spooky.
• fog machine – A machine that makes artificial fog. Example: The fog machine made the yard look haunted.
• cobwebs – Spider webs (real or fake). Example: We stretched fake cobwebs across the doorway.
• skeleton – The bones of a body, often a decoration. Example: A plastic skeleton is sitting on our couch.
• skull – The bones of the head. Example: The skull decoration glows in the dark.
• bat – A flying mammal often used in Halloween images. Example: We taped paper bats to the wall.
• spider – An eight-legged creature many people fear. Example: There's a giant fake spider by the window.
• black cat – A Halloween symbol linked to superstition. Example: My costume includes a black cat bag.
• scarecrow – Figure used to scare birds, also fall decor. Example: The scarecrow decoration is cute, not terrifying.

Spooky Outdoor Scenes

• graveyard – Place where people are buried; also a decoration theme. Example: They turned the front yard into a fake graveyard.
• tombstone – Stone marker for a grave. Example: The foam tombstones look surprisingly realistic.
• pumpkin patch – Farm area where you pick pumpkins. Example: We took photos at the pumpkin patch.
• hayride – Ride on a wagon with hay, often at fall events. Example: The hayride was chilly but fun.
• corn maze – Maze made from tall corn plants. Example: We got lost in the corn maze for an hour.

Quick phrase: Let's decorate. = let's start putting up decorations.

Classic Halloween Characters

• witch – Magical character, often with a hat and broom. Example: I'm going as a witch with glittery eyeliner.
• wizard – Male magic-user character. Example: He's dressed as a wizard with a long beard.
• vampire – Creature that drinks blood (fictional). Example: My friend is a vampire with a velvet cape.
• werewolf – Person who turns into a wolf (fictional). Example: The werewolf costume has so much fake fur.
• ghost – Spirit of a dead person (fictional). Example: There's a ghost decoration floating in the hallway.
• zombie – Walking dead creature in stories. Example: The zombie makeup is honestly impressive.
• mummy – Wrapped ancient body; also a costume. Example: He's dressed as a mummy with toilet paper. Bold choice.
• monster – Scary creature, real or imaginary. Example: My little brother is dressed as a green monster.
• ghoul – Creepy monster-like creature in stories. Example: The ghouls in that movie were terrifying.
• goblin – Small ugly creature in fantasy stories. Example: The goblin costume has amazing ears.
• witch hat – Pointy hat worn by witches. Example: My witch hat keeps falling over my eyes.
• broomstick – Broom linked to witches in stories. Example: The witch costume comes with a broomstick.

Party tip: Compliment people's costumes first; then ask about scary movies. This works better than talking about real-life horror like taxes.

Describing How Scary Something Is

• creepy – Uncomfortable and a little scary. Example: That old doll is creepy, not cute.
• eerie – Quiet, strange, and scary. Example: The empty hallway felt eerie at night.
• spine-chilling – Extremely scary; dramatic. Example: That scream was spine-chilling.
• scary – Makes you feel fear. Example: That horror movie is really scary.
• terrifying – Very, very scary. Example: That clown mask is terrifying.

Talking About Being Scared

• jump scare – Sudden scary moment that makes you jump. Example: I hate jump scares in horror movies.
• horror movie – Movie meant to scare you. Example: Let's watch a horror movie and regret it together.
• scary movie night – Watching scary movies with friends. Example: We're doing a scary movie night on Saturday.
• That's scary! – Reaction to something frightening. Example: That's scary! Don't sneak up on me.
• Don't scare me! – Ask someone to stop trying to frighten you. Example: Don't scare me! I'm already nervous.
• I'm easily scared. – You get scared quickly. Example: I'm easily scared, so no haunted houses for me.
• It's so creepy. – Describes an uncomfortable scary feeling. Example: It's so creepy in here—turn on the lights.
• I'm not sleeping tonight. – Joke after something very scary. Example: That movie was terrifying. I'm not sleeping tonight.
• Turn on the lights. – Normal request after a scare. Example: Turn on the lights. I heard something.

Spooky Night Atmosphere

• full moon – Moon that looks completely round. Example: The full moon makes the night feel extra spooky.
• howl – Long loud cry (like a wolf). Example: We heard a dog howl in the distance.
• cackle – Loud, evil-sounding laugh (often witches). Example: She did a witchy cackle and everyone laughed.

The Activity

• trick-or-treating – Going from house to house asking for candy. Example: Trick-or-treating starts around six.
• candy bucket – Bucket used to collect candy. Example: Her candy bucket is shaped like a pumpkin.
• treat bag – Small bag of candy given at parties. Example: We handed out treat bags at the school event.
• treat – Sweet snack, especially at Halloween. Example: We made little treat bags for the kids.

Candy & Snacks

• candy corn – Tri-colored candy popular in the U.S. (people love it or hate it). Example: Some people love candy corn, and some people are wrong.
• chocolate bar – Bar of chocolate candy. Example: He traded two lollipops for a chocolate bar.
• lollipop – Candy on a stick. Example: She got a giant lollipop in her bag.
• gummy candy – Chewy candy like gummy bears or worms. Example: I bought gummy candy for the trick-or-treaters.

Useful Door Phrases

• Happy Halloween! – Common greeting on Halloween. Example: Happy Halloween! I love your costume.
• Trick or treat! – What kids say when they knock on a door. Example: Trick or treat! Thank you!
• Here you go. – Phrase when you give someone something. Example: Here you go—have some candy!
• Thank you! – Polite response after getting candy. Example: Thank you! Happy Halloween!
• Save me some candy. – Ask someone to keep candy for you. Example: Save me some candy, okay?

Global English: In North America people often say candy. In the UK and some other places, sweets is common. Both are understood.

• spell – Magic words or actions in stories. Example: The witch in the movie cast a spell.
• curse – Bad spell or negative magic. Example: The old house is rumored to have a curse.
• potion – Magical liquid in stories. Example: The potion bubbled in the cauldron.
• cauldron – Big pot used by witches in stories. Example: The decoration includes a cauldron full of green “goo.”

Everyday English: You can use spell in normal life too – “How do you spell ‘pumpkin’?”

• Kids: Trick or treat! Play
• You: Happy Halloween! Your costumes are adorable.
• You: Here you go—save me some candy, okay?
• Kids: Thank you! Happy Halloween!

Pronunciation help: Trick or treat ≈ “TRIK-uh-TREET” · Halloween ≈ “HAL-oh-WEEN”.

• You: Happy Halloween! What are you dressed as?
• Friend: I'm dressed as a tired vampire. No jump scares, just coffee.
• You: Love your costume—the cape is dramatic in a good way.
• Friend: Thanks! Are you watching any horror movies tonight?
• You: Maybe one. I'm easily scared, so I'm not sleeping tonight.

Pronunciation help: vampire ≈ “VAM-pai-er” · zombie ≈ “ZOM-bee”.

Quick Shadowing Exercise

Choose one dialogue. Press the audio button for key phrases, then repeat them immediately. This is called shadowing and it helps your pronunciation and rhythm.

• Mistake: “I am very scaredy.”
  Better: “I'm a scaredy-cat.” or “I'm easily scared.”
• Mistake: “This movie is very scared.”
  Better: “This movie is very scary.”
  Scared = how you feel. Scary = how something is.
• Mistake: “I wear a mask costume.”
  Better: “I'm wearing a costume with a mask.” or “I'm dressed as a masked vampire.”
• Mistake: “Give me some sweets!” (to a stranger)
  Better: Say “Trick or treat!” and then “Thank you!” when you get candy.
• Mistake: “We made one pumpkin carving.”
  Better: “We did some pumpkin carving.” or “We carved a pumpkin.”
• Mistake: Mixing up cute and scary.
  Tip: Use That's adorable. for baby pumpkins and tiny costumes, and That's terrifying. for realistic clowns.

• 1. What do people usually say on Halloween?
  The most common phrases are “Happy Halloween!” and “Trick or treat!”. People also say things like “Love your costume!”
• 2. How can I sound more natural at a Halloween party?
  Learn a few compliments (Love your costume!), one or two spooky adjectives (creepy, eerie), and a safe joke like “I'm easily scared, so no haunted houses for me.”
• 3. Is Halloween only American?
  Halloween is strongest in North America, but it's now celebrated in many countries. That's why it's useful to know Halloween vocabulary even if it's not a big holiday where you live.
• 4. Do I have to watch horror movies to use this vocabulary?
  Definitely not. You can use most of these words just for decorations, costumes, and small talk about the holiday. Horror movies are optional (your sleep will thank you).
• 5. How many words from this page should I learn?
  Start with 10–15 words that match your life: if you love costumes, learn costume words; if you love snacks, learn candy and fruit words. Add more each year.
• 6. What level of English is this Halloween vocabulary?
  Most words are A2–B2 level. Some like spine-chilling or ghoul are more advanced, but they're great for showing personality.