Apedia

Merry Happy Hear Christmas People Good Means One's

Id ESLPod_0091_CN
Episode Id ESLPod 91
Episode Title Thanksgiving
Title Happy and "Merry"
Text

In the U.S., it is common to hear someone wish a friend "Happy Birthday" or "Merry Christmas." What do "happy" and "merry" mean?

Both "merry" and "happy" are used in expressions to wish other people a good holiday or celebration. When we use it in this "context" (situation), both "merry" and "happy" mean the same thing. However, these two words actually have slightly different meanings.

"Happy" means feeling or showing pleasure and "contentment" (being satisfied with one's life or one's situation). If you get a "promotion" (better, higher-level job) at work, you may feel happy. If you wake up to a beautiful day with good weather, you may feel happy.

"Merry" means cheerful and "lively" (active; full of energy). While happy is used all the time these days, merry is considered an old-fashioned word that is most often found in older "literature" (books and other writings). If you read Charles Dickens or Louisa May Alcott, for example, you may come across sentences like these:

- "The streets were full of merry people celebrating the new year."

- "Everyone at the party had a merry time."

These days, the only time you'll see or hear "merry" is in the phrase "Merry Christmas." For most other holidays and celebrations, we use "happy," such as in: "Happy New Year," "Happy Halloween," and "Happy Thanksgiving."

Topics Relationships + Family

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Flown flag half-staff government person president u.s day

Previous card: Room service food hotel guests delivered eat restaurants

Up to card list: ESLPod Culture Note