The long-awaited summertime is finally here. It’s that time to bring out your swimsuits, sunscreen, etc., and head straight for the beach. Who doesn’t love the feeling of the warm sun, the relaxing breeze on their skin, and a chance to kick back and catch a break from busy schedules?
Spending a day at the beach is like every other life event; you must be prepared. This preparation comes with many physical items and, of course, an expanse of vocabulary. Want to have beach vocabulary in the next few minutes? Well, we are here to help you out. Take a look at these English beach-related words you should learn this summer.
Specific Beach Descriptive Words
The specific beach descriptive words are words whose function is to explain structures and items on the beach. Most of the time, this is for easy identification of items or places. Here are a few examples; some are common things you may have seen before.
Boardwalk
The boardwalk is a walkway above the sand along the seafront. This walkway is often made with wooden planks as a low water bridge. The train conductor and innkeeper invented it, Alexander Boardman, in 1860. Initially called Boardman’s Walk, Alexander’s idea was to keep sand out of passenger rail cars and hotel rooms.
Example:
The boardwalk gave us privacy for a chat.
Pier
A pier is a long structure continuing from the land over the sea. Here, people can walk around, or large boats can be tied down to anchor them. Most piers have restaurants, places of entertainment, or even little houses. The pier is mostly used for fishing, boat ducking, and access for cargo and passengers coming off boats and ships.
Example:
My aunt owns a restaurant on the pier.
Sandbar
A sandbar is a tiny island created by moving currents in the sea. This island is a long raised area of sand below the water’s surface. They are also referred to as shoals or sandbanks and are generally narrow and straight.
Example:
We could see a sandbar out in the sea from the shore.
Shore
The shore is the land surrounding the edge of the sea. The shore is the major part of the beach where people walk around and lounge if they wish to be close to the water.
Example:
Anna took a walk along the shore.
Coast
The coast is the line that forms the boundary between land and the ocean or is the land next to the sea. Coasts are usually much wider than the shore, containing residential areas and extending into a much wider expanse of land.
Example:
Blake bought a new house on the coast.
Words related to beach activity
The beach is the best place to lie, soak up the sun’s goodness, or run around and be as physically active as you wish. These beach vocabulary words are common things you can do on the beach for fun and relaxation anytime.
Kayaking
Kayaking is a water sport where passengers paddle a small boat known as a kayak using a double-bladed oar. These kayaks are like canoes where the paddler sits in front with their legs facing forward. But unlike the canoe, the kayak uses a double-blade paddle for movement.
Example:
Want to go kayaking today?
Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball is just like regular volleyball; the only difference is that it is played on the beach. Two teams of equal numbers are required: beach volleyball and a readiness to play.
Example:
Beach volleyball sounds interesting.
Luau
The luau is the Hawaiian party or feast to celebrate special occasions. Some beach resorts offer beach luaus as entertainment and a chance to show off exotic foods, good music, and captivating hula dancing.
Example:
My sister’s wedding reception was luau-themed.
Building Sandcastle
Building sandcastles is a favorite for many children coming to the beach, but it is not just for kids. Even as an adult, you can relive childhood memories by building sandcastles on the beach this summer.
Example:
The children love to build sandcastles.
Beach vocabulary: supplies and items
What is an outing to the beach without the beach essentials? Here’s a list of some things to take to the beach.
Cover-ups
The ideal beach attire ranges from a bikini to a simple crop top and shorts. Cover-ups are light, long-flowing clothing made to cover up the body. This is especially for people who don’t want to show too much skin at the beach for modesty’s sake or to prevent sunburn.
Example:
Megan wore a cover-up over her bikini.
Beach Cooler
Beach coolers are coolers used to keep drinks and beverages chilled on the beach. After running around and lounging on the beach, you need a cold, refreshing drink from the cooler.
Example:
Mom made sure we had a beach cooler with us.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a cream or spray applied to the body to help prevent sunburns after a day on the beach.
Example:
Reapply sunscreen at the beach.
Beach Chair
The beach chairs are portable chairs made of lightweight metal poles and a sturdy fabric stretched between them to form a seat and backrest.
Beach-related words: water conditions
The beach is a land surrounded by a large body of water, and the water sometimes has a mind of its own. It is important to learn and understand the water conditions on the beach. Here are a few words associated with the beach to help you know when it is safe to dive in and when to step back to the shore.
High Tide
High tide is when the sea reaches its highest level, and the water draws closer to the beach or shore. This mostly occurs at night rather than day as a result of the gravitational pull of the moon. It is best to avoid the water during high tides.
Example:
We were warned to stay away from the high tides.
Rip Current
A rip current is a strong, narrow water current that moves away from the shore by cutting through breaking waves.
Example:
The rip currents are coming in strong today.
Jetties
Jetties are a long, narrow structure/walkway that protects a coastline from currents and tides. They are made of wood, earth, stone, or concrete and stretch from the shore into the water.
Example:
The management built a jetty to curb the currents and tides.
Slangs and frequently used phrases related to beach
Believe it or not, the beach is a community, as many people of all races and ages come together to enjoy the sands and sea. They also develop new words and ways to address each other and the activities on the beach. On that note, here are a few common beach slangs you can add to your vocabulary.
Beach Bum
Beach bum is slang used to address someone (usually male) who spends most of their time at the beach doing nothing more. Beach bums could be teenagers or adults living simple, inactive, and lethargic lives on the beach.
Example:
Sam’s only job is being a beach bum.
Hang Ten
Hang ten is a slang term surfers use to refer to riding a surfboard with all ten toes curled over the front edge of the board.
Example:
His teammates dared him to hang ten.
Gnarly
Gnarly is another surfer slang meaning something impressive, stylish, dangerous, or difficult.
Example:
The male surfer had some gnarly moves.
Beach Bunny
A beach bunny is a person who spends a lot of time on the beach. It is the female equivalent of the beach bum.
Example:
Maria spent last summer being a beach bunny.
Whitewater
Whitewater is slang for a stretch of water flowing rapidly with a broken foamy surface.
Example:
The whitewater looks beautiful.
How to learn beach-related vocabulary
This beach vocabulary comes in handy in summer, especially when you’re on vacation in an English-speaking country. So, don’t waste any minute, and add these words and phrases to your list in Word Trainer in the LiveXP app. This feature will help you memorize new vocabulary much faster and with the most efficiency. It works even better than flashcards and is more convenient as you can access Word Trainer from your smartphone wherever you are. Word Trainer ensures you learn new words with a spaced repetition method, acquiring not only translations or meanings but also pronunciation, spelling, and use in context.
LiveXP is also the perfect tool for consolidating your knowledge and practicing using beach words in real-life conversations. The platform offers a variety of English tutors for private lessons to meet your personal needs and preferences. For example, if you’re a sea/ocean fan, like water sports and everything related to the beach, you can find an English tutor who shares your interests. This way, your lessons will become more engaging and fun.
Want to get started? Sign up for the LiveXP website and get a free trial lesson with any tutor to start learning.
Conclusion
One way to learn a new language like English is to master words you can use on different occasions and scenarios, like going to the beach. But beyond this, practice makes perfect. Go to the beach to place yourself in a situation where these beach-related words are the order of the day. Have fun!
Recommended tutors
