Halloween Words: 101 Halloween Words, Phrases, Adjectives, and Vocabulary
Every October, I end up looking for Halloween words. Sometimes it’s for a crossword puzzle or helping with a Halloween worksheet.
Other times I just need a good list of spooky words because a child has announced they’re writing “the scariest Halloween story ever,” and suddenly we can’t think of anything besides ghost and pumpkin.
If you’ve found yourself doing the same thing, you’re in the right place.
I’ve gathered Halloween words by category so they’re easier to use, whether you’re teaching a classroom Halloween unit, homeschooling, creating spelling lists, writing stories, or just looking for a few fun words to get everyone in the Halloween spirit.
You may also want to use:
What are some Halloween words?
Common Halloween words include ghost, witch, pumpkin, vampire, zombie, skeleton, bat, spider, haunted house, trick-or-treat, candy corn, cauldron, broomstick, jack-o’-lantern, and mummy.
You’ll also find a free Halloween word search, plus printable Halloween word wall cards and a Write the Room activity if you’re looking for something a little more hands-on. The picture-supported vocabulary cards work well for beginning readers, English language learners, and students who benefit from visual supports.
Halloween Words List
Some Halloween words show up every year because they’re simply part of the season. These are the words children are most likely to hear in books, movies, decorations, and classroom activities.
- Autumn
- Bat
- Black cat
- Black cloak
- Black magic
- Blood
- Bone
- Broomstick
- Cauldron
- Cauldron Bubble
- Cauldron stew
- Cackle
- Candy
- Candy corn
- Cemetery
- Chills
- Coffin
- Costume
- Creepy
- Crypt
- Curse
- Cursed
- Dark
- Dark Forest
- Dark magic
- Darkness
- Death
- Demon
- Disguise
- Dress Up
- Dusk
- Eerie
- Enchantress
- Fangs
- Fog
- Frankenstein
- Full moon
- Ghost
- Ghostly
- Ghoul
- Goblet
- Grave
- Graveyard
- Graveyard shift
- Grim reaper
- Halloween
- Haunt
- Haunted
- Haunted House
- Hex
- Hocus Pocus
- Horror
- Howl
- Jack-o-lantern
- Macabre
- Moon
- Moonlit
- Moonlight
- Mummy
- Mystery
- Night
- Nightshade
- Occult
- October
- Ouija board
- Phantom
- Possession
- Potion
- Pumpkin
- Raven
- Scarecrow
- Scary
- Scream
- Shadow
- Shadowy
- Sinister
- Skeleton
- Skull
- Sorcery
- Specter
- Spine-tingling
- Spider
- Spirits
- Spooky
- Supernatural
- Tomb
- Tombstone
- Trick
- Trick-or-treat
- Undead
- Vampire
- Vampire bat
- Werewolf
- Werewolf howl
- Wraith
- Witch
- Wizard
- Zombie
These also make great vocabulary words for upper elementary students who are working on descriptive writing.
Halloween Adjectives
One of the easiest ways to make a Halloween story more interesting is to replace ordinary describing words with more vivid ones.
Instead of saying the house was “old,” maybe it was eerie. Instead of saying the forest was “dark,” perhaps it was shadowy or sinister. Choosing stronger adjectives helps young writers paint a picture for the reader instead of simply telling them what happened.
Some favorite Halloween adjectives include:
- Bloodcurdling
- Ghastly
- Ghoulish
- Eerie
- Creepy
- Spine-Chilling
- Freaky
These adjectives can be used to add a spooky and eerie atmosphere to any Halloween story or event. Whether you are describing a haunted house, a creepy costume, or a terrifying scream, these adjectives will help you set the mood and create a sense of fear and suspense.
Halloween Nouns
Nouns are the people, places, animals, and things that make Halloween…well…Halloween.
- ghost
- witch
- pumpkin
- cauldron
- vampire
- cemetery
- costume
- candy corn
- jack-o’-lantern
- zombie
These are just a few examples of popular Halloween costumes. People can get creative and come up with their own unique costumes as well. It’s all about having fun and getting into the Halloween spirit.
Halloween Verbs
If your students are writing Halloween stories, don’t forget action words.
Halloween verbs help stories come alive. Some examples include:
- haunt
- creep
- crawl
- cackle
- float
- glow
- hide
- scream
- shriek
- cast
- brew
- wander
- chase
- vanish
- appear
Students often remember to describe their monster but forget to make it do anything. A good verb instantly makes writing more interesting.
Halloween Words and Phrases
Single vocabulary words are great, but phrases can make writing sound more natural.
Some favorites include:
- trick or treat
- bump in the night
- things that go bump in the night
- double, double toil and trouble
- witching hour
- haunted house
- full moon
- pumpkin patch
- graveyard shift
- black magic
- walking dead
- under a full moon
Children often enjoy working these into stories or Halloween party invitations.
Halloween Writing Activities
Once you’ve built a good Halloween vocabulary list, it’s easy to turn those words into learning activities.
One of my favorites is a simple Write the Room activity. Instead of sitting at a desk, children walk around the classroom looking for Halloween vocabulary cards, then write each word on their recording sheet. It gets kids moving while reinforcing reading and spelling at the same time. The printable set also includes tracing pages for emerging writers and colorful Halloween word wall cards that can stay on display throughout your Halloween unit.
Another easy activity is to challenge students to use five or ten Halloween words in an original story. You can also sort the words into nouns, verbs, and adjectives, alphabetize them, or use them as weekly spelling words. It’s amazing how many literacy activities can come from one good vocabulary list.
Popular Halloween Words
Halloween is a time of year where spooky and creepy things are celebrated. It’s a holiday that is filled with costumes, candy, and decorations.
One of the most fun aspects of Halloween is the vocabulary that is associated with it. Here are some popular Halloween words that are sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.
Ghosts
Ghosts are one of the most popular Halloween symbols. They are often depicted as white, transparent figures that float through the air. Ghosts are associated with haunted houses, cemeteries, and other spooky locations.
Some popular Halloween ghost words include:
- Apparition
- Phantom
- Specter
- Spirit
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are another popular Halloween symbol. They are often carved into jack-o-lanterns and used as decorations. Pumpkins are also used in recipes, such as pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. Some popular pumpkin words include:
- Jack-o-lantern
- Pumpkin patch
- Pumpkin spice
- Pumpkin carving
Monsters
Monsters are a staple of Halloween. They are often depicted as scary creatures that lurk in the shadows.
Some popular monster words include:
- Werewolf
- Vampire
- Zombie
- Frankenstein
Witchcraft
Witchcraft is another popular theme of Halloween. It is associated with spells, potions, and magic. Some popular witchcraft words include:
- Cauldron
- Spellbook
- Broomstick
- Coven
Halloween Spelling Words
Teachers ask for Halloween spelling words every year because seasonal word lists are simply more fun than random spelling lists.
You might choose shorter words like bat, ghost, moon, and spider for younger students, while older students are ready for words like supernatural, apparition, cemetery, enchantress, or macabre.
When the words connect to something exciting that’s happening in the classroom, students tend to be much more engaged.
Halloween vocabulary isn’t just about learning spooky words. It’s an opportunity to build stronger readers, writers, and communicators while leaning into a season that most kids already love.
Whether you’re looking for a Halloween word list, descriptive words for creative writing, spelling words, or printable classroom activities, I hope this collection saves you a little time. And if you’re using these words in the classroom, don’t forget to grab the free Halloween word search, printable Halloween word wall cards, and Write the Room activity while you’re here.
