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26 Nov 2020
- Spanish (Colombia)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
-
English (US)
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Question about English (US)
What does Imagine you are in another country, and you are talking to someone. And that person tells you, "hey, today is a holiday here".. So what Would you understand for that day? mean?
What does Imagine you are in another country, and you are talking to someone. And that person tells you, "hey, today is a holiday here".. So what Would you understand for that day? mean?
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27 Nov 2020
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- English (US)
- English (UK)
"holiday" is more general, it can refer to all special days of observance (regardless of whether school/work is closed), however often people will assume you mean that school/work is closed if you don't specify. Like if I told a friend from school that next Monday is a holiday, the friend would likely assume that I mean there is no school on Monday.
The terms "public holiday", "federal holiday" (only applicable in countries with a federal system of government like the US and Canada), "statutory holiday" (only applicable in British Commonwealth countries like the UK, Canada, Australia etc.) and "bank holiday" (only applicable in the UK) indicate that the holiday has special government recognition and that most schools/businesses are closed.
"National holiday" also usually indicates schools/businesses are closed, however it doesn't necessarily always mean that. Technically it just means that the holiday is recognized nationally as opposed to only being recognized locally/regionally.
Highly-rated answerer
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- English (US)
- English (UK)
If someone says "today is a holiday here" it generally means that schools and non-essential workplaces are closed for the day usually to recognize or celebrate a special event (like Christmas).
In British/UK English, "holiday" can also be used to refer to a vacation where you take time off from work or school (usually to travel somewhere). However, "today is a holiday here" would still be understood to mean that you are referring to a public holiday (where schools/businesses are closed). Note: In the UK, public holidays are often referred to as "bank holidays".
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Highly-rated answerer
- Spanish (Colombia)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
@pythonpoole but what about if I'm talking about Valentine's day, Easter, or mother's day? People could work those days, right?
- Spanish (Colombia)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
I mean, is it ok to say they are holidays too?
- English (US)
- English (UK)
Yes, other special celebration days are sometimes also referred to as holidays even when most people still have to work (or attend school).
However if you just said "today is a holiday here" without further explanation, it would generally be assumed that you are saying schools/workplaces are closed.
Sometimes people use the term "public holiday" (or "bank holiday" in the UK) to specify they mean a holiday where schools/workplaces are closed to help avoid confusion.
However I don't think there is a special term used to describe a holiday where schools/workplaces remain open (if there is, I can't think of the term right now).
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Highly-rated answerer
- Spanish (Colombia)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
@pythonpoole bro, thanks a lot.I don't feel like I'm a fool, but I like to ask a lot of questions when I don't understand a topic. I have been looking for a lot of information on this topic. I just want to close this topic.
If I tell a foreign friend (who speaks English) that today is a holiday, then he will understand that today there is no study or work (except in hospitals, police stations or some industries), right?
But if I am referring to Mother's Day or Valentine's Day (common days of work or study), I would have to clarify what kind of holiday is today? What word or phrase would you use for that? How would the people I'm talking to understand what I mean?
If I tell a foreign friend (who speaks English) that today is a holiday, then he will understand that today there is no study or work (except in hospitals, police stations or some industries), right?
But if I am referring to Mother's Day or Valentine's Day (common days of work or study), I would have to clarify what kind of holiday is today? What word or phrase would you use for that? How would the people I'm talking to understand what I mean?
- English (US)
- English (UK)
That's correct, and you're asking a very good question.
To be honest, I can't think of a word or phrase that simply means holiday but without a break from school/work.
You could maybe say something like "it's a holiday but not a public holiday", or "it's a holiday but we don't get time off school/work".
You could alternatively describe the day without using the word holiday like "It's a special day today where we celebrate..."
I really wish I had a better answer, but I cannot think of a simple way in English to describe such a day. Usually you would just refer to the day by its name (like Halloween, Valentine's Day etc.) without actually using the term holiday.
Sometimes, in formal/official contexts, holidays are more generally referred to as observances or days of observance (which doesn't indicate whether or not school/work is affected).. but these terms are not typically used in casual/everyday language.
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Highly-rated answerer
- Spanish (Colombia)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
@pythonpoole My friend, I really thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions. I feel that I am getting closer to finding an optimal answer. What happens is that after searching in many English-Spanish dictionaries, the word "holiday" (American) would be translated as "feriado" and it means that you do not work or study and many businesses close that day. In addition, there is mostly some type of celebration such as independence, New Years's day, or an important battle is commemorated, etc. But obviously if we talk about days like "Mother's Day" or "Valentine's Day" then we work or study and businesses open normally.
But for example I read a sentence that said "Thursday is a holiday" and I was wondering what translation to give it. Now what if I am translating what a person says, for example "Thursday is a holiday", then how should I understand that "holiday"? or how would you understand it?
And one last question, is "holiday", "national holiday", public holiday ", "federal holiday" and "bank holiday " the same?
But for example I read a sentence that said "Thursday is a holiday" and I was wondering what translation to give it. Now what if I am translating what a person says, for example "Thursday is a holiday", then how should I understand that "holiday"? or how would you understand it?
And one last question, is "holiday", "national holiday", public holiday ", "federal holiday" and "bank holiday " the same?
- English (US)
- English (UK)
"holiday" is more general, it can refer to all special days of observance (regardless of whether school/work is closed), however often people will assume you mean that school/work is closed if you don't specify. Like if I told a friend from school that next Monday is a holiday, the friend would likely assume that I mean there is no school on Monday.
The terms "public holiday", "federal holiday" (only applicable in countries with a federal system of government like the US and Canada), "statutory holiday" (only applicable in British Commonwealth countries like the UK, Canada, Australia etc.) and "bank holiday" (only applicable in the UK) indicate that the holiday has special government recognition and that most schools/businesses are closed.
"National holiday" also usually indicates schools/businesses are closed, however it doesn't necessarily always mean that. Technically it just means that the holiday is recognized nationally as opposed to only being recognized locally/regionally.
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Highly-rated answerer
- Spanish (Colombia)
- Spanish (Spain)
- Spanish (Mexico)
@pythonpoole thanks a lot for your time and patient bro 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
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