Thanksgiving in Spanish is el Día de Acción de Gracias. To wish someone a happy Thanksgiving, say ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!
It isn’t a traditional holiday in most Spanish-speaking countries, but many Latino families in the U.S. celebrate it, often adding their own dishes. It’s also an easy way to teach gratitude words, food vocabulary, and fall words in Spanish. As a Spanish teacher and mom, I use it every November.
Below you’ll find the vocabulary to start with, easy sentences, and 10 activities for the classroom or at home.
How Do You Say Thanksgiving in Spanish?
El Día de Acción de Gracias is pronounced DEE-ah deh ahk-see-OHN deh GRAH-see-ahs. It’s celebrated on el cuarto jueves de noviembre (the fourth Thursday of November).
Easy Thanksgiving Sentences in Spanish
- ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! (Happy Thanksgiving!)
- Doy gracias por mi familia. (I give thanks for my family.)
- Estoy agradecido por mis amigos. (I’m thankful for my friends.) Girls say agradecida.
- Comemos pavo con la familia. (We eat turkey with the family.)
- Me gusta el pastel de calabaza. (I like pumpkin pie.)
- ¿Por qué estás agradecido? (Why are you thankful?)
Say one, have kids repeat it, then swap in different words. Doy gracias por ________ is the one I’d teach first.
Thanksgiving in Spanish Activities for Kids
These work on their own or as learning stations. Mixing a few keeps kids interested and keeps the Spanish going.
1. Scavenger Hunt
Hide Thanksgiving words or objects and give clues in Spanish: Busca algo naranja (Find something orange), Busca una hoja (Find a leaf). Kids practice listening and vocabulary while they move.
2. Cook a Thanksgiving Recipe
Cook a simple dish together with the recipe in Spanish. Use short commands: Mezcla los ingredientes (Mix the ingredients), Corta las manzanas (Cut the apples), Hornea (Bake). It teaches food words, and it builds teamwork too.
3. Thanksgiving Crafts
Make turkeys, paper hand turkeys, or a gratitude tree, and give directions in Spanish: Colorea el pavo (Color the turkey), Pega las plumas (Glue the feathers). On a gratitude tree, each leaf says Doy gracias por ________.
4. Thanksgiving in Spanish Storytime
Read a Thanksgiving book, then talk about it in Spanish. Ask ¿Qué crees que va a pasar? (What do you think will happen?) before you start, and let kids answer however they can. More ideas: My Top 10 Spanish Reading Comprehension Strategies
5. Family Dinner Role-Play
Set up a pretend Thanksgiving table and let kids act it out in Spanish:
- ¿Quieres más pavo? (Do you want more turkey?)
- Sí, por favor. (Yes, please.)
- Gracias, está delicioso. (Thank you, it’s delicious.)
6. Fall Nature Walk
Take a walk outside and name what you see: Veo una hoja roja (I see a red leaf). For fall clothing words, see my Clothes in Spanish (Fall) pack.
7. Gratitude Journal
Have kids write or draw what they’re thankful for, using Doy gracias por ________. Then ask ¿Por qué? and give them the start: Me siento agradecido porque ________. I wrote about why that question works here: Emotions in Spanish That Go Beyond Vocabulary.
8. Music and Dance
Put on a Latin American song, like a cumbia or a merengue, and get kids moving. Movement helps the words stick.
9. Ask a Spanish Speaker
If you can, have kids talk with a native Spanish speaker about how they celebrate. A good starter question: ¿Cómo celebras el Día de Acción de Gracias? (How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?)
10. No-Prep Thanksgiving in Spanish Worksheets
When you need something ready, no-prep worksheets give structured practice without any planning. I made two:
- A free Thanksgiving in Spanish freebie to try first.
- Thanksgiving in Spanish: NO-PREP Literacy and Math Activities, a 39-page pack for kindergarten through 2nd grade. It covers syllables, rhyming words, writing prompts about being thankful, counting, shapes, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving in Spanish
How do you say Thanksgiving in Spanish?
El Día de Acción de Gracias.
How do you say Happy Thanksgiving in Spanish?
¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!
When is Thanksgiving?
El cuarto jueves de noviembre (the fourth Thursday of November).
Is Thanksgiving celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries?
It isn’t a traditional holiday in most of them. Many Latino families in the U.S. celebrate it, often adding their own dishes.
How do you say “I’m thankful for” in Spanish?
Doy gracias por (“I give thanks for”) or Estoy agradecido por (“I’m thankful for”). Girls say agradecida.
What are good Thanksgiving activities for Spanish class?
A scavenger hunt, a gratitude journal, a family dinner role-play, and crafts with directions in Spanish.
¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! (Happy Thanksgiving!) I hope these activities help you bring some Spanish into your holiday.
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