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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Learn practical Halloween vocabulary and follow the competing historical explanations behind the jack-o’-lantern’s name.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThis episode explains words connected with carving a pumpkin for Halloween and explores two accounts behind “jack-o’-lantern”: a 17th-century English term for an unknown man carrying a light, and an Irish story about Stingy Jack. It also traces how Irish immigrants brought pumpkin-carving traditions to the United States, where pumpkins were more available than turnips.
Cultural note: The article presents historical explanations and a traditional legend; its narrative should not be treated as proof that one account is the sole origin. Halloween draws on traditions that have changed across places and centuries. The story mentions religious ideas about heaven and hell, so treat those as part of the legend rather than universal beliefs.
Keep exploringA familiar holiday object can carry a surprisingly long story. Which words help you picture the process of turning a pumpkin into a lantern?
Phrase guide · 6 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Name the materials and actions used to make a decoration.
Meaning
A carved pumpkin, usually lit from inside, used as a Halloween decoration.
Tone & use
The common U.S. spelling has a hyphen; the term can refer to the decorated pumpkin or its light.
Example
“The children placed a jack-o’-lantern beside the front door.”
Meaning
A small area of farmland where pumpkins grow.
Tone & use
Often used in fall activities; a family might visit one to choose a pumpkin.
Example
“We visited a pumpkin patch and picked two small pumpkins.”
Meaning
Cut a design or shape into a hard surface or material.
Tone & use
Common with wood, stone, and pumpkins; use a safe tool appropriate to the material.
Example
“They carved a simple smiling face into the pumpkin.”
Choose sensory language for a wet or slippery surface.
Meaning
Wet and unpleasantly slippery to the touch.
Tone & use
Often describes a texture; it usually carries a negative or uncomfortable feeling.
Example
“The inside of the pumpkin felt slimy after we removed the seeds.”
Describe a portable light or moving without a fixed direction.
Meaning
Move around without a fixed direction or clear destination.
Tone & use
Can describe walking without a plan or, figuratively, thoughts that move away from a topic.
Example
“We wandered through the outdoor market until we found the music stage.”
Meaning
Clothing worn to look like a different person, character, or thing.
Tone & use
Used for theater, parties, and some cultural celebrations.
Example
“She wore a lantern costume for the neighborhood parade.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
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