Summer is the perfect time to hit the beach and catch some rays.

But, uh, what do all those words mean? What does it mean to hit the beach?

Does it mean that you’re punching the sand on the beach with your fists?

No, of course not—that would just be silly. Actually, hit the beach is just a casual way of saying “go to the beach.” To catch some rays means to get a tan. Sounds like a good time to us!

As you can see, knowing beach vocabulary is very useful, especially for fun times in the summer.

After all, the beach is a great place to relax and have a good time.

Visiting the beach is wonderful way to pass the time when the weather is hot, so it has a whole set of fun, colorful vocabulary words.

Some beach words give a different meaning to words you already know. Others will be brand new words for you, because they’re rarely used in other conversations that aren’t about the beach. No matter what else, though, most beach vocabulary is very fun and playful!

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Have You Heard English Beach Slang in the Movies?

“Hang ten, dude!”

Have you heard those words before? To hang ten means to stand on a surfboard and hold onto the board with your (ten) toes.

You’ve probably never heard these words used in person (unless you have some surfer friends). However, you might have heard them in TV shows and movies about beaches, summer and surfing!

There are lots of movies and TV shows that show beach bums using beach slang. Beach bums is a slang phrase for people who hang out by the beach, go surfing and don’t do much else. TV shows like “Baywatch” and movies like “Psycho Beach Party” are full of these characters, who seem like they live on the beach and never leave. Wherever you see them, though, they all seem to talk the same way, like Jeff Spicoli from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

There is a lot of specific surfing and beach slang that you might hear people from California and other coastal areas using.

For example, you might hear terms like gnarly and rad, which both mean “awesome.” These slang words are especially common in older movies and shows. You might also hear words like dude (a very informal way to say “guy”) and beach bunny (a girl who spends a lot of time at the beach).

Worried you won’t understand a new beach word—or any new English word—when you watch real English TV and movies? FluentU can help with that.

FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

Just click or tap any word in the subtitles for an instant definition while you watch. Every video also comes with flashcards and fun quizzes to make sure you remember the words you’ve learned.

You’ll hear several of the words from our list below in this funny video about the types of people you’ll see at the beach. To watch that video (and the full video library) with all the learning features, sign up for a free FluentU trial here.

Learn more English beach slang here, for fun! Just remember, this kind of slang can usually only be used at the beach, unless you’re making a joke.

Staying Safe: Beach Warnings and Cautions

Learning to speak surfer slang is fun, but there are some more important vocabulary words you should learn first.

When you go to any beach, you need to be able to understand the warning signs. Many beaches post warnings about things to watch out for. You should always read the signs on the beach so that you know about potential dangers in and around the water, and anything else you should know about the beach.

Know these essential beach safety words before you hit the beach in an English-speaking country:

• High tide: The tide is the rise and fall of the sea or ocean. When the tide is high, the water reaches farther up the beach, and can get much deeper. Know when the high tide comes in, so you can avoid getting caught in deep water (or getting your things swallowed up by the water).

• Rip current: A current is water that’s moving in one direction. A rip current is a potentially dangerous narrow current that pulls water away from the shore. Rip currents are sometimes also called “undertows” because they can feel like the water is dragging you down.

• Hazard: A hazard is something that is a dangerous. This isn’t just a beach term, it’s used in many other places, so you should know it for your general safety! On the beach, hazards might be tides, currents, mud, sharks or other dangers. Don’t walk or swim in an area with a hazard sign.

• Jetties: A jetty is a line of large and heavy rocks that extends into the water in a straight line. Jetties are meant to keep the water under control near the shore. They are also meant to help boats and other water vehicles to come home safely. Otherwise, jetties can be dangerous. People aren’t allowed to walk out on them because there’s a risk of getting hurt between the rocks, or being pulled under the water by a strong current.

Once you know these safety words, you can then enjoy the more fun vocabulary of the beach!

33 English Beach Vocabulary Words for Summer Fun

By the beach

1. Boardwalk

Many beaches have a place where visitors can walk above the sand. These walkways, known as boardwalks, are usually made of boards or large wooden planks. Boardwalks are perfect for enjoying the beach without having to deal with any of the sand or water!

2. Shore

The area where the sand meets the water is called the shore.

3. Coast

The coast is the part of the land that’s close to the sea or ocean. Beaches are always located on the coast. If you live in a place that’s close to the ocean, you’re in a coastal region.

On the other hand, if there’s no large body of water anywhere near your city, you’re landlocked. This means you are surrounded by land, and there’s no ocean nearby. No beaches for you!

4. Sandbar

Sometimes the force of the water pushes sand up to form a narrow island. This sand island is called a sandbar. Sandbars can sometimes be called reefs, especially if they’re made of coral (colonies of very small animals) or rocks instead of sand.

5. Tide pool

When the tide goes from high to low, it can leave behind a tide pool, or a small pool of water. Tide pools are homes to all sorts of interesting creatures!

6. Waves

Waves are made when water moves towards the shore. Waves can be calm, or rise up high and leave behind a white foam.

7. Soft serve

Nothing beats soft serve ice cream! It is a soft, creamy, melt-on-your-hands ice cream that is served in cones. Soft serve ice cream is a perfect summer treat.

8. Salt water taffy

Salt water taffy isn’t made from ocean water, but it’s made with salt and water. This sticky candy was first created on the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but it can now be found in beaches all around the United States.

9. Driftwood

Pieces of wood that are washed onto the shore by the water are called driftwood. That’s because to drift means to be slowly carried by water (or air). The wood drifts to the shore in the ocean tides.

10. Dock

A dock (also called a wharf) is a structure that goes from the shore into the water. It’s used for tying ships down so they don’t drift away (in fact, tying a ship to a dock is called docking.) When a dock rises high above the water and extends much further away from the shore, it’s called a pier.

11. Conch shell

You might find seashells on the shore, but be on the lookout for conch shells, too.

These are seashells with a spiral pattern (a pattern that starts at a point and circles out and away from this point). They say that if you put a large conch shell to your ear, you can hear the ocean!

Beach clothes and accessories

12. Bathing suit

A bathing suit (also called a swimsuit) is, quite simply, the outfit you wear to swim.

It’s not the same as a business suit (a formal jacket you wear to professional events) or a birthday suit (the clothes you were born in… or in other words, completely naked!). Unless, of course, you’re at a nude beach, which is a beach that allows people to walk around and swim with no clothes on.

13. Bikini

A bikini is a woman’s two-piece bathing suit, which leaves the stomach and back exposed. There are a number of variations on the bikini, like the tankini (a two-piece bathing suit with a tank top for the top part) and the monokini (a bikini connected into a single-piece bathing suit by a strip of fabric).

Don’t worry, we native speakers don’t remember all these terms, either. When in doubt, just call it a bikini!

14. Trunks

Trunks are the male versions of swimsuits, and they usually just look like pairs of shorts. There is no top part.

15. Cover-ups

Some women like to wear cover-ups at the beach. Cover-ups are light pieces of clothing that are either worn over or wrapped on top of a bikini.

Some women wear cover-ups so they won’t get too tan or burned from the sun. They’re used for modesty, because some people don’t want to expose lots of skin. They’re also used sometimes just because they look nice and fashionable, or for warmth when the beach gets chilly at night.

16. Sunglasses

Sunglasses are dark glasses worn to protect your eyes from the sun. Sunglasses are a must-have item at the beach, but of course you can wear them any time you need to keep your eyes safe from bright lights (though probably not from explosions).

17. Sunscreen

Sunscreen, also called sunblock is a cream or spray applied to the body to keep it from getting burned by the sun. The SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, tells you how effective the sunscreen is. The higher the number, the less sun will get to your skin.

18. Flip-flops

Sandals that have one strap in the front that connects between the big toe and the second toe are called flip-flops. It’s easy to see why: they flip and flop around a lot!

19. Beach towel

A bath towel is what you use to dry yourself when you come out of the bath or shower. A beach towel is the same, but for the beach. Beach towels are usually larger than regular towels, so you can lay them down on the sand and then lay down on top of them.

20. Beach chair

The beach even has its own special chairs. Beach chairs are usually portable (easy to move around) and are made of metal poles with fabric stretched between them to form a back and a seat.

For extra comfort, bring along a beach lounger, which is large reclining chair that’s big enough to lie down on. Who said going to the beach means you need to touch sand?

Beachside activities

21. Sandcastle

One common beach pastime is building sand castles. These are structures made of packed wet sand. You’ll need a bucket and a shovel (or a spade, if you’re in the UK), which is a flat spoon-like tool used for moving dirt and sand around.

22. Beach ball

A beach ball is a large, inflatable ball, usually using slices of bright colors. Beach balls are light and can float in the water and the wind, which makes them both excellent and terrible for beaches.

23. Frisbee

A frisbee is a flat disc that’s thrown by spinning it. Catching frisbees is a great beach activity, but frisbees are also used in picnics and by some pretty awesome dogs.

24. Badminton

Like tennis, badminton uses two rackets to pass a ball between two people. The smaller rackets and special feathered ball (called a birdie) make it great for a game on the beach.

25. Volleyball

Volleyball is a sport where two teams pass a special ball over a net (a volley is the passing of a ball before it touches the ground). In beach volleyball, a beachball can be substituted for a volleyball, and the sand makes the perfect surface to dive onto for that last minute save.

26. Kite

Kites use a frame and fabric or paper to float up in the air. You hold a string attached to the kite and let it fly high. Flying a kite needs a good wind, and plenty of space. The beach is the perfect place!

27. Sunbathing

Sometimes, all you want to do is lie down and enjoy the sun. Sunbathing is when you bathe in the sun instead of the water; in other words, you let the sun’s rays wash over you. Sunbathing is usually done with the intention of getting a tan, and is sometimes also called suntanning.

On the water

28. Life preserver

Even if you know how to swim, it’s important to stay safe when you go out onto the water. A life preserver, or a life jacket, is a vest made from an inflated material that will help you float if you fall in the water.

29. Surfboard

Remember those beach bum movies? The characters in those movies probably used a surfboard.

A surfboard is a long, narrow board that surfers take out into the water and stand on. If you do it right, you can ride a wave—meaning you stay on top of a wave until it comes crashing down.

30. Boogie board

A boogie board is like a small version of a surfboard. Instead of standing on one, you lie down and use it to paddle out into the water.

31. Motorboat

A regular boat uses oars (long wooden paddles) or a sail (a large piece of fabric that catches the wind) to move. A motorboat uses a motor, or engine. Motorboats can go pretty fast!

32. Snorkle

If you want to see underwater but don’t want to go too far from the surface, try using a snorkle. A snorkle is made of swimming goggles and a long tube bent upwards. The goggles let you see underwater, and the tube lets you keep breathing without “coming up for air” (coming to the surface of the water to breathe).

33. Scuba

Scuba diving is a fantastic way to see even deeper under the water. Scuba is an acronym (a shortening of words) that stands for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.” Most native speakers don’t know that, though! Scuba diving uses a full suit and a tank of air to allow divers to swim down deeper than snorkeling, and for longer periods of time.
If you weren’t excited about going to the beach before, we know you are now.

And now you also know how to tell all your friends about your beach trip in English!

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Descriptive Essay about the Beach

A descriptive essay about the beach is one of the write ups you may be required to come up with in your English learning courses. It’s about giving a vivid depiction of your encounters at the seashore. In our previous post about how to write a descriptive essay, we explained the need for students to paint the picture of the object in the readers mind. The main objective is to make the audience feel as if they were involved in the experience.

This kind of writing will inspire you to explore your linguistic prowess as well as imagination. The success is achieved if your audience resonates with your words. To make this possible, you need to have ‘thoughts that glow’ as well as ‘words that flow’.

If you’re required to write a descriptive essay about the beach, there are things you should put to consideration. This post is all about helping you get a grade A in such an assignment.

Tips on writing the best descriptive essay

• Have experience about the beach. It’s critical that you get conversant with what you are writing about. If you haven’t visited the seashore, try reading widely about the experience. Or, grab a documentary movie.
• Keep your statements clear and concise. Vague information may not only be confusing but also boring.
• Describe every aspect of the beach. Write about the weather, water, soil, sound, smell, sky, horizon, sun, flora and fauna. You can also talk about the people at the beach. Don’t forget your feelings.
• Have a logical organization. You can choose to pick a theme for every paragraph. Or, you can keep a chronological flow. Also, be sure to have an introduction and conclusion paragraph.
• Remember to review your work after writing.

Free Descriptive Essay Samples about the Beach

Sample 1

Last summer, I had the chance to visit my aunt at her coastal home. The octogenarian, I have to admit, lives in one of the world’s most serene places. The beach is a fantastic phenomenon and the fun that comes along with it is overwhelming. Two weeks into the visit, my cousins took me to the seashore, and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I fell in love with the splashing waters and cool breeze. I hated that evening would come and we’d have to leave the blissful sensation of the beach. I nonetheless promised myself to make the most out of the short time we would spend there.

We set out early in the morning with our cameras and light shorts. A light breeze blew and it took my soul with it. I felt like I was in a whole new world. The wind brought fresh air to my nostrils and I just couldn’t help but pump as much as I could. It not only filled my lungs with rejuvenating oxygen, but also my mind with a hope of having the best day of my life. My ears weren’t left behind either. It’s like the fresh air was singing melodious blues as we walked. I was sure experiencing something I’d never experienced before.

We arrived on our scooter right on time for the rising sun. Never in my life had I seen such a majestic view. We’d left home early on right before the sun would mark its territories. And, apparently, our cameras were getting the best work they’d had for years. Towards the east, the sky was literally burning. The first rays were already throwing their warmth across the sky. They were doing just like cheerleaders would do during an NFA match. Or, better still, like the escort guards from the Secret Service do before the Head of State arrives.

The rays did their job pretty fine. They were yellow and glittered like the flames of an enormous camping bonfire! While the sky was showing its beauty, the sea was glittering and reflecting back. It was as if they were partners colluding to welcome a big guest. The yellow glare made our photography interesting and every shot was worth it.

The sun finally hit the surface. The ground acknowledged its presence and started glittering. The tiny sand particles shed silver lights all over the beach. The sweet rays caressed my skin and I now understood why everyone at the seashore liked to expose theirs. It was a gentle warmth, I have to say!

My excitement was rejuvenated. But I couldn’t possibly beat the birds. They shouted with a wild joy. They jumped up and down. I saw several of them chase after sea creatures. It was marvelous watching the birds dive into the water and suddenly shoot up into the sky like rockets. No sooner had we joined them into the diving than people started coming out of their homes. The shore was flocked now. Some came for entertainment while others were looking for fishing grounds. It was a beehive of activities I tell you.

When evening came, it was yet another scenery in the sky as the sun dived into horizons of the sea. People started going back to their homes and the birds gradually became silent. The evening breeze blew, bringing another refreshing smell of the salty water to my nostrils. Waves of water splashed onto the coral reefs as the tides took new positions. The fishermen set out their nets as if their day was just beginning. Suddenly, my aunt was calling. She knew we were having too much fun, and that we’d possibly get late.

Sample 2: A Day at the Beach

We arrive at the seashore at day break. Bright yellow rays of the sun greet us. Their golden mien reflects on the surface of the water. The sun – the main guest – hasn’t arrived yet, but the beach is well lit already. The blue cloudless sky is overly yellow towards the east, which alerts that the sun will be ruling the day beginning soon. A breeze blows by, filled with a refreshing smell of the salty sea water. It gets me reminiscing about my childhood. I get nostalgic of molding magnificence with the sea sand. But today is another day altogether. I’m far older, with a wife, a son, and a daughter. Today is their day. I am just a companion.

The sun is now in full control of the seashore and its effects can be felt by everyone. It’s warm, and the air is filled with moisture from the sea. The ground is mildly warm, and the fine sand particles are glittering like scattered pieces of silver. I can’t help but keep getting strands of my hair off my sight as the wind blows them wildly. My wife’s case is more serious. But she looks gorgeous at the beach and seeing her playing with my kids makes me feel how quick I’ve grown and transformed. I look back at my childhood with a reassuring gaze as I watch my two bundles of joy run alongside their mother in the warm sand at the shore.

The birds stop singing now. Their entertainment about the new day is gone and they are focused on food search. It’s fun to watch them jump into the water, capture crabs and fishes, before darting into the air at electric speeds, like shooting stars.

My son is dying to swim. I know this side of the ocean isn’t crocodile- or shark-infested, but I still want to be sure. I remember that as young boys, we were so fond of swimming until when one day we saw a scary scaly rock moving on the water. It looked like a submarine that kept emerging and submerging. One boy yelled after he recognized it was a baby crocodile. I just feared reptiles and he saved us from what would be an end of an era for us. After confirming that it is safe to swim, I allow my kids to swim on one of the shallow waters around us.

I notice I am not the only one who cares about my children. A few yards away, a kingfisher is already teaching her chicks how to get food. They descend from the palm tree at the edge of the sea. The baby kingfisher can’t swim but her mum is doing all she can to offer the help. I also take a snap of a school of dolphins. They are far from the beach but with the help of my binoculars, my wife and I enjoy the glamor of seeing them jump up and take dives as they chase a boat.

It’s evening now. My family is happy that they have had as much fun as they’d hoped for. We’ve already eaten roasted fish from the lake for lunch. The beach, flocked with swimmers and sunbathers a few moments ago, is now getting less busy. Fishermen are starting their night shifts. The sun is already diving into the horizon of the water, leaving behind a huge yellow light. Birds start to sing again. It’s time for me to drive my family back home.

Sample 3

The beach is the place I go to whenever I need to relax and forget about all the hustles of life and just enjoy myself. As usual, my last visit to there was a memorable one. Already in my beach attire, a draught blew across the sea sweeping away with it my spirit. The sun split its way through the scattered cumulus clouds as if it was shying away from giving some light. As I took in a breath of fresh air, my nose was tingled by the smell of the salty sea. A mine field of corals made up the beach sand, with an abundance of multicolored sea shells. A bed of blankets was however formed by the sand at the same time. Like my previous visit, this visit was promising to be one filled with immense joy and relaxation.

My heart somehow pounded like a drum-set of an orchestra from the way the beach sand flowed onto my feet and tickled my toes. The feeling was delicate especially given that the sand grains were so fine it was almost impossible to see them through the human eye. The sea waves soothed me through a dulcet lullaby thus drawing me closer to them as I reminisced my childhood. It was like they were giving me an invitation with wide open arms. However, my feet would not oblige at this time because they were penetrated by the frigid waves. So, I just sat down with my head raised to the sky as I watched the sun stretch out and make its way across the sky.

The warm sun rays gradually glowed as minutes passed by, reaching down to me and giving me a shining streak of light as if to tell me, “Hey, hold my hand!” I received an immediate boost of excitement as the blazing light pierced through my cold skin. Tracing its way up the sky, the sun distributed its light to everything it could lay its sight on. Birds flying across the sky trying to claim it for themselves were singing sweet melodies with high spirits into my ears. From the sun rays, the sky turned into an illuminated shimmering blue color from a dark misty indigo one. The scattered rainless clouds that were initially blocking sun rays melted away into thin air and gave way for the water to heat up.

I slowly made my way to the edge of the beach once again and immersed my toe into the now swiftly heating up water. I hastily withdrew it as it felt like it was melting away into the sea in spite of having been numb before. The pungent smell that came from decayed algae filled the air and my acidic stomach responded by turning to its side. I could hear the sounds of fish that were possibly calling for attention from under the sea. I could at the same time tell that the fish were afraid of the sea creatures that were hungrily preying on smaller water creatures for lunch. This was a survival tactic, I could tell.

As the evening was drawing, people poured onto the beach to enjoy the serenity and perfect weather. Children ran up and down as laughter filled up every corner of the beach and people even played beach football and volleyball. The day was finally coming to an end and one by one, people started leaving slowly after what had been a day full of excitement. It was unfortunate that as much as I had wanted to continue staying on the beach and continue undergoing this memorable experience, my turn to go home finally came. I left with a heart filled with happiness and peace and a tired body and promised myself that I would go back there as many times as I would be able to.