Entertainment vocabulary – phrases for leisure activities

Entertainment vocabulary includes all those words and phrases you need for going out and enjoying leisure activities. These words and phrases related to entertainment are vital for enjoying visits to a theatre, cinema, concert hall, nightclub or other place of entertainment.

You might also need entertainment vocabulary to discuss going out or staying in and stating your preferences for what to do with friends or family for fun days and evenings out.

Places of entertainment
theatre, playhouse, cinema, art gallery, museum, park, stadium, zoo, circus, concert hall, opera house, pub, bar, night club, disco, wine bar, cafe, bingo hall, snooker hall, bowling alley, leisure centre, arts centre, exhibition centre, theme park, festival, fairground

 

Leisure vocabulary
walk, stroll, hike, bike ride, ice skating, swimming, horse riding, canoeing, shooting, playing golf, crazy golf, roller blading, skateboarding, (ten pin) bowling, lazer quest, listening to music, playing cards, going to the fair, going to a festival, going to see a live band, going to a gig (usually a small live music event with a band)

Nightclub vocabulary
nightclub, bar, bouncer, doorman, cloakroom, DJ, live music, band, bartender, dance floor, podium (a raised platform often used by dancers in a nightclub)

Cinema vocabulary
cinema, film, movie, popcorn, usher
comedy, musical, thriller, crime, murder mystery, horror, documentary, romantic comedy, western, animation, cartoon

Theatre vocabulary
theatre, usher, ticket office, box office programme
dress circle, stalls, aisle, balcony, box, circle, row, seat, block
performance, play, drama, comedy, tragedy
pantomime / panto (a theatrical performance aimed at children, often based on a fairy tale or nursery rhyme story, featuring jokes and audience participation)
set, stage, wings
interval, matinee
actor, stand-in, director, writer, rehearsals, script
audience
to perform
to go on stage
to applaud, to clap, to ask for an encore (expressions of approval)
to boo, to hiss (expressions of disapproval,e.g. ‘the audience started booing’)

Hint: ‘to boo’ and ‘to hiss’ are expressions of disapproval often used by children attending a pantomime. They boo and hiss at the ‘baddies’ – the bad people in the play.

 

Museums and art gallery vocabulary
museum, art gallery, exhibition, exhibits, collection, photographs, audio-guide, guided tour
painting, drawing, sketch, sculpture, collage
artist, painter, sculptor
landscape, portrait, oil painting, watercolour, chalks
medieval, classical, renaissance, baroque, rococo, pre-raphaelite, impressionist, realist, surrealist, modernist, postmodernist, modern art, postmodern art, pop art
to exhibit (to display art works, e.g. ‘the artist has already exhibited at the London Gallery’, ‘She will exhibit her new pieces this summer’)

Other artistic events 
ballet, opera, dance performance, exhibition, concert, film

Crafts vocabulary
Painting, knitting, sewing, crochet, drawing, sketching, carving, woodwork, metalwork, jewellery making, pottery, baking

 

Entertainment phrases you may want to use:

Arranging to go out

Shall we go out tonight?
Do you fancy going out?
Do you feel like going out tonight?
Shall we go clubbing at the weekend? (‘clubbing’ mean as going to a nightclub)
I fancy going dancing tonight
What’s on at the cinema?
Is there anything good on?
Do you want to get a bite to eat?
What can we do for a cheap night out?
Shall we go down the local? (the ‘local’ means your local pub, the nearest pub to where you live)
Let’s go for a walk / bike ride
Let’s go to the art gallery / museum
Why don’t we try that new restaurant?
Let’s go ice skating / ten pin bowling
Do you want to go to the football?

Planning to stay in

I don’t want to go out drinking tonight
I’m too tired to go out this evening, let’s stay in
Let’s just get a take-away
Let’s just chill tonight and we can go out tomorrow
I fancy just relaxing on the sofa with a film
Do you feel like staying in tonight?
We can stay in and veg out (‘veg’ means relax and do nothing – like a vegetable!)
Why don’t we go back to yours and cook a meal?
Let’s go back to mine and watch a movie

Hint: ‘mine’ means ‘my house’ and ‘yours’ means ‘your house’

At the cinema or theatre

I’d like two tickets for Casino Royale, please
This film has just been released
Do I need to book?
This play has been running for a while now
I’ve reserved two tickets for …
Where do I collect my tickets from?
Could I reserve two tickets, please
Is there a discount for students / pensioners / children?
I’d like to sit near the front/back/in the middle, please

At a nightclub

Where is the cloakroom?
There is a long queue to get in
There is a long queue at the bar
It’s really loud in here
It’s dead in here (‘dead’ is slang for quiet)
The band is brilliant!
This place is rockin’! (‘rocking’ / ‘rockin” is slang for great)
Do you want a drink?
Do you want to dance?

At the theatre

I’d like to buy a programme, please
Did you enjoy the performance?
Shall we head back to our seats?
I’ve reserved tickets online / over the phone
Do you want a drink at the interval?

At an art gallery or museum

Is there an admission charge?
What time do you close?
Can I take photographs?
I’d like to take a guided tour
Where is the cloakroom?

 

General phrases you may see and hear at entertainments venues

Entertainment phrases you may hear

Have you reserved tickets?
Where would you like to sit?
Sorry, we are fully booked
Sorry, we have nothing left
You are seated in block E, row 10, seat 23
There will now be a 15 minute interval
Please take your seats for …
Would you like a programme?
Collect your tickets from the box office
Are you over eighteen?
Have you got any ID?
Can you leave your bags in the cloakroom, please

Entertainment phrases you may see

Keep off the grass
No photography
No flash photography
No video cameras
Free guided tours
Free admission
Cloakroom
Box Office
Gift shop
Emergency exit
PG (‘parental guidance’ – a film classification, warning that the film might contain scenes unsuitable for young children)

 

Share your thoughts on entertainment vocabulary

Are there are phrases or words related to entertainment you are unsure about?

Can you think of other phrases that are useful at an entertainments venue?

What other entertainment vocabulary would you like to learn about? Do you want to learn vocabulary for other specific venues?

Can you think of more entertainment vocabulary for our guide?

Let us know your ideas and thoughts in the comments!