What is the Super Bowl? English for "The Big Game" [Updated]

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Early every year, Americans gather on one Sunday afternoon for a large celebration. It's not a national holiday, but people still plan parties with friends, and many companies can expect an increase in business.

Today's article is all about the Super Bowl, the biggest sporting event in the US that even people who aren't sports fans get excited for.

But what makes it so special? We'll explain the basics of the Super Bowl and introduce the most important English vocabulary you need to talk about it!

What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the final game of the season in the National Football League (NFL), the largest American football organization.

Unlike professional baseball's World Series or the NBA Finals for basketball, the NFL's champions are determined by a single game, not a tournament. This major difference is a big reason for the Super Bowl's popularity.

Why is it Called the “Super Bowl”?

One of the first major football tournaments took place in Pasadena, California, in a stadium called the Rose Bowl. This name came from the stadium's shape and the contest's name: the "Tournament of Roses."

As the tournament's popularity grew, the word "bowl" became common for other large football games around the country — and the Super Bowl is the biggest of all of them.

Super Bowls traditionally take place on Sundays in January or February. Since 2022, "Super Bowl Sunday" has been on the second Sunday in February. 2025's game will take place on February 9.

Super Bowls are counted in Roman numerals; for example, 2025's game is the 59th, which is represented by LIX (L = 50, IX= 9). It will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Why is the Super Bowl So Popular?

Obviously, fans of American football are excited to watch the strongest teams compete in the biggest game of the year. However, the Super Bowl's popularity goes beyond sports.

Super Bowl parties

A table covered in pizza, burgers and other foods for a Super Bowl party

Tickets to the Super Bowl are very expensive — even the cheapest tickets can cost thousands of dollars!

Instead, many people throw large parties at home. These parties are among friends or family members and usually include lots of food and drinks. In fact, Thanksgiving is the only other day in America that is bigger for food.

Popular foods on Super Bowl Sunday include hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, potato chips and lots of soft drinks or alcohol.

Music

Fans cheering as a band performs on a large stage

The Super Bowl isn't just for sports fans; it's for music fans too.

Each game begins with someone singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," (America's national anthem), "America the Beautiful" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in honor of Black History Month.

But that's not all! There is a long break in the middle of the game called "halftime." During this break, a famous musician performs for everyone in the stadium as well as the people watching at home.

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the biggest performances in the entertainment industry. Artists like Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Dr. Dre and Lady Gaga have all performed at the Super Bowl.

These performances sometimes attract more viewers than the actual game! In 2023, 121 million people watched the performance by American singer Rihanna.

Commercials

A man and a woman eating while watching TV along with a small dog

What's so special about commercials during the Super Bowl?

Well, because millions of people watch the game, it's the best chance of the year for companies to advertise their products and services. That's why they pay millions of dollars for commercials that last only a few seconds.

It's common for new products, films, apps and other services to debut in a commercial during the game. The first Apple computer had a famous commercial that played nationally during Super Bowl XVIII in 1984.

Super Bowl commercials are often funny, shocking or very strange, and they are designed to create excitement and interest on social media.

Related article: What "K" and "M" Mean on Social Media

Vocabulary for the Super Bowl and American Football

The Big Game

Because "Super Bowl" is trademarked by the NFL, other businesses cannot legally use it. Instead, it is often called "The Big Game" by both fans and other companies.

Everyone's coming over to my place to watch The Big Game.

Tailgate

A "tailgate" is the part of a truck that folds down in order to move things on or off more easily.

When it comes to football, a "tailgate party" is a small gathering of people around a parked truck in order to eat and drink before a football game.

Lots of different tailgate parties were happening in the stadium's parking lot.

It can also be used as a verb.

It's a bit cold, but we're going to tailgate anyway.

Kickoff

Football games begin when one team kicks the ball across the field. This is called the "kickoff."

The party starts an hour before kickoff.

"Kick off" is also a phrasal verb that means "to begin an event or activity."

I'd like to kick off the party with a toast to my good friends for hosting us.

Related article: New to Phrasal Verbs? Start Here!

Quarterback

Sometimes called a "QB," quarterbacks are the players on a football team who lead a team's offense.

Tom Brady is one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history.

This term is also used in business to refer to a person leading a project.

Because of my experience, my boss asked me to quarterback the launch of our company's newest product.

Play

In football, "play" is a noun for a team's plan during the next portion of the game.

The coach is famous for his unique plays that confuse his opponents.

A "playbook" is a collection of strategies to be used in a game. This word is often used in business and politics as well as sports.

If we want to beat our competitors, we can't rely on the old playbook; we need to try something new.

MVP

In football and many other sports, a player who makes the biggest contribution to the team is named the MVP, or Most Valuable Player.

Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, was named the MVP of Super Bowl LVII.

This term can also be used in situations not related to football.

My daughter was the MVP of the party; she was so helpful in preparing everything for our guests.

Wrap-Up

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in America. It has a big impact on not just sports but also the food, entertainment and marketing industries.

However, the Super Bowl's popularity is not limited to the US; it is gradually becoming well known around the world. This year, why not join a party and experience The Big Game for yourself? Even if you aren't interested in sports, there is still much to enjoy!