Cool MateHoliday vs Vacation
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Holiday
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Vacation
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
| Holiday | Vacation | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɒlədeɪ//ˈhɒlədi/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɑːlədeɪ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/veɪˈkeɪʃn//vəˈkeɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/veɪˈkeɪʃn//vəˈkeɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A special day when people relax and celebrate. | A break from work or school to relax or travel. |
| Example | I am going on holiday to the beach next week. | I am going on a vacation to the beach next week. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | annual, Christmas, Easter, be entitled to, get, have, time, entitlement, pay, during the holidays, in the holidays, on holiday, enjoyable, exciting, fun-filled, go on, have, take, destination, resort, venue, on (a) holiday, a holiday of a lifetime, bank, federal, national, celebrate, spend, break, weekend, season, bank, federal, national, celebrate, spend, break, weekend, season | summer, winter, annual, get, go on, have, trip, destination, resort, on vacation, school, paid, spring, use, day, leave, time, on vacation |
| Antonyms | workday, regular day | work, commitment |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'vacation' — 'holiday' refers to a day, while 'vacation' refers to a trip., Using 'holiday' as a verb — it is not a verb., Mixing up terms for holidays in different cultures. | 'Vacation' is often confused with 'vacationing' — remember that 'vacation' is a noun., Learners sometimes use 'on vacation' instead of 'in vacation' — the correct phrase is 'on vacation'. |
| Usage notes | Used for official days off work or personal vacations. More formal when referring to public holidays; informal when discussing personal activities. | Use 'vacation' in both formal and informal contexts when discussing time off. In American English, 'vacation' is common, while British English often uses 'holiday' instead. |
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Frequently asked questions: Holiday vs Vacation
What's the difference between Holiday and Vacation?
Holiday: A special day when people relax and celebrate. Vacation: A break from work or school to relax or travel.
Are Holiday and Vacation the same CEFR level?
Holiday: A1, Vacation: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Holiday and Vacation?
Holiday: noun, Vacation: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Holiday: I am going on holiday to the beach next week. Vacation: I am going on a vacation to the beach next week.
Can I use Holiday and Vacation interchangeably?
Not always. Holiday and Vacation are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.