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Compilation of common Valentine’s Day words in English

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Are you getting ready for Valentine’s Day? This article by PREP provides you with a diverse collection of English Valentine’s Day words, including activities, gifts, idioms, and greetings to help you express your sweetest emotions on this special day.

Compilation of common Valentine’s Day words in English

I. English Valentine’s Day words
II. Get to know about Red Valentine, White Valentine, and Black Valentine
III. English idioms about love related to Valentine’s Day
IV. Valentine’s day messages in English

I. English Valentine’s Day words

A Valentine’s Day is an occasion to express love and affection. To help you enhance your communication skills, here are some common Valentine’s Day vocabulary:

1. Activities for Valentine’s Day

Words associated with Valentine's day	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Date	/deɪt/	A social or romantic meeting with someone	I have a date with my boyfriend this evening.
Celebrate	/ˈselɪˌbreɪt/	To mark an important event or occasion with activities or festivities	We celebrate Valentine’s Day every year.
Gift exchange	/ɡɪft ɪksˈʧeɪndʒ/	The act of giving presents to each other	We love doing gift exchanges on Valentine’s Day.
Romantic dinner	/rəˈmæntɪk ˈdɪnər/	A special meal shared with someone to create a loving atmosphere	They had a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant.
Send a card	/sɛnd ə kɑːd/	To mail or give a greeting card to someone	I sent him a Valentine’s card this morning.
Couple’s dance	/ˈkʌplz dæns/	A dance performed by two people in a romantic setting	The couple’s dance at the party was beautiful.
Love letter	/lʌv ˈlɛtər/	A written message expressing love for someone	He wrote her a love letter for Valentine’s Day.
Surprise party	/sərˈpraɪz ˈpɑːrti/	A celebration planned in secret to surprise someone	They threw a surprise party for their friends.
Proposal	/prəˈpəʊzl/	An act of asking someone to marry you	He made a beautiful proposal on Valentine’s Day.
Love song	/lʌv sɒŋ/	A song about love and romance	This is my favorite love song.
Romantic getaway	/rəʊˈmæntɪk ˈɡɛtəweɪ/	A short vacation taken with a romantic partner	They planned a romantic getaway to Paris.
Heartfelt message	/ˈhɑːtfɛlt ˈmɛsɪdʒ/	A sincere and deeply emotional message	I received a heartfelt message from my partner.
Kiss	/kɪs/	A touch with the lips as a sign of love or affection	They shared a sweet kiss under the stars.
Go to the cinema	/ɡəʊ tə ðə ˈsɪnəmə/	To watch a movie at a theater	We plan to go to the cinema this weekend.
Walking in the park	/ˈwɔːkɪŋ ɪn ðə pɑːrk/	Spending time walking outdoors in a park	They spent the afternoon walking in the park.
Have a picnic	/hæv ə ˈpɪknɪk/	To eat a meal outdoors, usually in a scenic location	Let’s have a picnic by the lake on Valentine’s Day.
Go stargazing	/ɡəʊ ˈstɑːɡeɪzɪŋ/	To look at the stars, usually for enjoyment	We love to go stargazing on clear nights.
Take a trip	/teɪk ə trɪp/	To go on a journey or vacation	They decided to take a trip to Paris for Valentine’s.

2. Valentine's gifts

Valentines words	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Flower	/ˈflaʊər/	A plant's blossom, often given as a gift	A bouquet of flowers is a common Valentine gift.
Chocolate	/ˈʧɒklət/	A sweet treat made from cocoa	Ann received a box of chocolates as a Valentine’s gift.
Jewelry	/ˈʤuːəlri/	Decorative accessories like rings or necklaces	He bought her a necklace for Valentine’s Day.
Stuffed animal	/stʌft ˈænɪməl/	A soft toy filled with stuffing	A stuffed animal is a sweet gift for Valentine’s.
Perfume	/pɜːfjuːm/	A fragrant liquid worn on the body	She wore the perfume he gave her for Valentine.
Teddy bear	/ˈtɛdi bɛər/	A plush toy bear	John gave Susan a cute teddy bear on Valentine's Day.
Heart-shaped pendant	/hɑːt ʃeɪpt ˈpɛndənt/	A necklace charm in the shape of a heart	He bought her a heart-shaped pendant as a token of his love.
Romantic card	/rəʊˈmæntɪk kɑːrd/	A card expressing love and affection	I received a romantic card from my partner.
Love coupons	/lʌv ˈkuːpɒnz/	Personalized vouchers for romantic gestures	He made a booklet of love coupons for her.
Gift basket	/ɡɪft ˈbæskɪt/	A basket filled with presents	A gift basket filled with chocolates and flowers is a perfect Valentine's gift.
Handmade gift	/ˈhændmeɪd ɡɪft/	A present made by hand rather than bought	I gave her a handmade gift that I spent hours making.
Mug	/mʌɡ/	A cup used for drinking hot beverages	I gave him a Valentine's mug with our picture on it.
Bouquet	/buːˈkeɪ/	A collection of flowers arranged together	David gave his wife a beautiful bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day.
Handbag	/ˈhændbæɡ/	A small bag used for carrying personal items	She received a lovely handbag as a Valentine's gift.
Cosmetics	/kɒzˈmɛtɪks/	Beauty products like makeup and skincare	My sister loves receiving cosmetics as gifts.

3. Other common Valentine’s Day words

Valentine’s Day words about love	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
Heart	/hɑːrt/	The organ symbolizing love and emotion	My heart belongs to you.
Love	/lʌv/	A deep feeling of affection	Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day.
Sweetheart	/ˈswiːthɑːrt/	A beloved person	He is my sweetheart.
Admire	/ədˈmaɪə/	To respect and appreciate someone	I truly admire you.
Affection	/əˈfɛkʃən/	A feeling of love or fondness	They express their affection on Valentine's Day.
Romance	/ˈrəʊmæns/	A love relationship	They share a beautiful romance.
Crush	/krʌʃ/	A strong but temporary attraction	She has a crush on him.
Love affair	/lʌv əˈfɛə/	A romantic relationship, often secret	They had a secret love affair.
Soulmate	/ˈsəʊlmeɪt/	A perfect life partner	He believes she is his soulmate.
Heartthrob	/ˈhɑːtθrɒb/	A very attractive man	He is the heartthrob of the school.
Commitment	/kəˈmɪtmənt/	A promise or dedication	They made a lifelong commitment to each other.
Passion	/ˈpæʃən/	Strong emotions or enthusiasm	Their passion for each other is undeniable.
Adoration	/ˌædəˈreɪʃən/	Deep love and admiration	She gazed at him with pure adoration.
Cherish	/ˈʧɛrɪʃ/	To treasure and appreciate	He will always cherish their memories.
Devotion	/dɪˈvəʊʃən/	Deep loyalty and dedication	Her devotion to him was evident.
Enchantment	/ɪnˈʧɑːntmənt/	A magical or captivating feeling	The whole evening was full of enchantment.
Tenderness	/ˈtɛndənəs/	Gentle affection and care	He showed his tenderness in the most caring way.
Lovebirds	/ˈlʌvˌbɜːdz/	A couple in love	The two of them are absolute lovebirds.
Infatuation	/ɪnˌfætʃʊˈeɪʃən/	Intense but short-lived passion	His infatuation with her grew stronger every day.
Yearning	/ˈjɜːnɪŋ/	A deep longing or desire	She felt a deep yearning to be with him.
Lovesick	/ˈlʌvsɪk/	Feeling emotionally unwell due to love	Jack was feeling lovesick after they parted ways.

II. Get to know about Red Valentine, White Valentine, and Black Valentine

A Valentine’s Day is not just a single celebration with a universal meaning; it is divided into different occasions, each carrying its own message and significance for different groups of people. Below is a clear distinction between the three Valentine’s Days:

Red Valentine (Valentine’s Day) is the most widely known and celebrated day of love, taking place on February 14 each year. It is a time for couples to express their love through meaningful gifts, heartfelt messages, and romantic gestures. This day honors love, romance, and deep emotional connections between partners. Common gifts exchanged on this occasion include red roses, chocolates, Valentine’s cards, and romantic dinners.
White Valentine (White Day) is observed on March 14, exactly one month after Red Valentine. Though not as popular, White Valentine holds a special meaning, often serving as a day for men to reciprocate the affection shown by those who gave them gifts on Valentine’s Day. It is an opportunity for gift recipients from February 14 to express gratitude and return the gesture of love. This occasion allows men to show their appreciation, respond to romantic gestures from women, and demonstrate care and sincerity.
Black Valentine (Black Day) is a lesser-known and unique celebration that takes place on April 14 each year. Unlike the other two Valentine’s Days, this occasion is dedicated to those who are single, those without a romantic partner, or those who did not receive affection on Red Valentine. Black Valentine is not about romantic love but rather an opportunity for singles to embrace and celebrate themselves. It is a time for self-care, enjoying fun activities with friends, or even attending special singles’ gatherings.

III. English idioms about love related to Valentine’s Day

In addition to Valentine’s Day words, here are some common English idioms about love:

Head over heels in love – Deeply in love.
Example: Linda is head over heels in love with her boyfriend.
Match made in heaven – A perfect couple.
Example: Linda and John are truly a match made in heaven; they have so much in common.
Falling for someone – Developing strong romantic feelings for someone.
Example: He’s been falling for her ever since they met at the party.
Love at first sight – Instant romantic attraction.
Example: It was love at first sight when they locked eyes across the room.
Tie the knot – Get married.
Example: After dating for five years, they decided to tie the knot.
Be in the doghouse – Be in trouble with one’s partner.
Example: He forgot their anniversary, and now he's definitely in the doghouse.
Puppy love – Young or adolescent love.
Example: Their relationship is just puppy love; they’re still in high school.
Have a soft spot for someone – To have a special fondness for someone.
Example: I have a soft spot for her because she’s always so kind.
Heart skips a beat – Feeling excitement or nervousness in love.
Example: Every time I see her, my heart skips a beat.
Wear your heart on your sleeve – To openly show one’s emotions.
Example: He wears his heart on his sleeve, so you can always tell when something’s wrong.

IV. Valentine’s day messages in English

Now that you've learned essential Valentine’s Day words, here are some heartfelt Valentine’s day wishes you can send to your special someone on this romantic occasion:

Happy Valentine’s Day! You are the love of my life.
Wishing you all the love and happiness in the world.
May your day be filled with love, laughter, and joy.
You complete me. Happy Valentine’s Day!
You make every day feel like Valentine’s Day.
To my one and only, Happy Valentine’s Day!
You are my heart’s desire.
May our love last forever.
I love you more than words can say.
Happy Valentine’s Day, my sweet Valentine!

See more:

100+ Valentine’s day messages in English for loved ones

Valentine’s Day is not only an occasion to express love to your significant other but also a great opportunity to learn and use English love words. Hopefully, through this article, you have gained useful Valentine’s Day words to use on this special day. Don't forget to apply the idioms and Valentine’s wishes to make your day even more romantic!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.