David
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What Is the Super Bowl? English for the "Big Game"
Early each year, Americans gather on one special Sunday for a big celebration called the Super Bowl.
Although it's not a national holiday, many people throw parties, and lots of companies expect a boost in business.
But what makes the Super Bowl so special? This article will explain some of the basics and introduce important English words and expressions 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 the World Series in baseball or the NBA Finals in basketball, the NFL's champions are determined by one game, not a tournament. This important 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 a California stadium called the Rose Bowl. This name comes from the stadium's shape as well as the contest: the "Tournament of Roses."
Over time, "bowl" became common for other large football games around the country — and the Super Bowl is the largest 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.
Super Bowls are counted in Roman numerals; for example, 2026's game is the 60th, which is represented by LX (L = 50, X= 10).
Why Is the Super Bowl So Popular?
Of course, 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
Tickets to the Super Bowl are very expensive — even the cheapest tickets can cost thousands of dollars!
Instead, many people throw big parties at home with friends and family. Like most parties, there are lots of food and drinks. In fact, Thanksgiving is the only other day in America that's bigger for food.
Popular foods on Super Bowl Sunday include hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, potato chips and lots of soft drinks or alcohol.
Music
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! During halftime, a long break in the middle of the game, a famous musician performs for everyone in the stadium and 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, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga have all performed at the Super Bowl.
Commercials
What's so special about Super Bowl commercials?
Well, because millions of people are watching, 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, movies, apps and other services to debut in a commercial during the game. The first Apple computer had a famous commercial that played during Super Bowl XVIII in 1984.
Super Bowl commercials are often funny, shocking or very strange, and these days, they're designed to create excitement and interest on social media.
Related article: What "K" and "M" Mean on Social Media
English Vocabulary for the Super Bowl and American Football
The Big Game
Because the name "Super Bowl" is owned by the NFL, other businesses can't legally use it. Instead, it's 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 pickup truck that folds down in order to move things on or off more easily.
Tailgate parties are gatherings of people around a parked truck with food and drinks before a football game.
Lots of different tailgate parties were happening in the stadium's parking lot.
"Tailgate" 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 for the other team to catch. 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 who lead a team's offense.
Tom Brady is one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history.
In business, this word can be a verb that refers to a person leading a project.
Because of my experience, my boss asked me to quarterback our new product launch.
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 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.
Related article: How to Use "Play" Like a Native Speaker
MVP
In football as well as other sports, the 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 is also used outside of sports, like in the example below.
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, its popularity isn't limited to the US; it's becoming well known around the world.
This year, why not join a Super Bowl party and experience the Big Game for yourself? Even if you aren't a sports fan, there is still much to enjoy!
