By Vahid Alaghehband
Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November: in 2026 it's on Thursday, November 26. In Canada, it's on the second Monday of October. The usual greeting is Happy Thanksgiving!
Here's what Thanksgiving is, the vocabulary of the dinner, phrases to say thank you and a short quiz.
What is Thanksgiving?
It's a holiday in the United States and Canada to give thanks for the year. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, it's linked to the harvest feast shared in 1621 by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people, and Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday in 1863. Today it's mostly a family dinner with turkey.
Thanksgiving vocabulary
| Word | Example |
|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Happy Thanksgiving! |
| turkey | We eat turkey on Thanksgiving. |
| stuffing | My mom makes the stuffing. |
| mashed potatoes | Can you pass the mashed potatoes? |
| gravy | Put some gravy on the turkey. |
| cranberry sauce | Cranberry sauce is sweet and sour. |
| pumpkin pie | Pumpkin pie is my favorite dessert. |
| corn | There's corn on the table. |
| feast | It's a big family feast. |
| leftovers | We eat leftovers the next day. |
| parade | We watch the parade on TV. |
| grateful / thankful | I'm grateful for my friends. |
| to give thanks | We give thanks for the year. |
| harvest | It started as a harvest celebration. |
Phrases to say thank you
- Happy Thanksgiving!
- I'm thankful for my family.
- I'm grateful for your help.
- What are you thankful for?
- Thanks for having me. (to your host)
- Everything was delicious.
Mini quiz
Complete each sentence, then open the answer.
I'm thankful ___ my friends.
Show answer
for: thankful for / grateful for + what you appreciate.
Thanksgiving is ___ November.
Show answer
in: months take in.
In 2026, Thanksgiving is ___ November 26.
Show answer
on: dates take on.
Practice saying thank you with Vozi Coach
With Vozi Coach you can talk about this topic by voice or text and practice these phrases at your level.
Explore Vozi Coach →Read next: Black Friday: online shopping English and Christmas vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving in 2026?
In the United States, Thursday, November 26, 2026 (the fourth Thursday of November). In Canada, it's the second Monday of October.
What do people eat on Thanksgiving?
Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
Thankful or grateful?
They mean almost the same and both take for. Grateful sounds slightly more formal.
