- Do you ever get confused about whether to say “on the weekend” or “at the weekend”?
- Struggling to describe your fantastic (or not-so-fantastic) weekend plans naturally?
- Wish you could talk about your weekend experiences with the confidence of a native speaker?
Mastering collocations isn’t just about memorizing words; it’s about learning which words naturally go together in English. This not only makes your speech and writing sound more fluent and native-like but also significantly improves your comprehension and reduces common errors. Dive into the world of ‘weekend’ collocations and elevate your English!
Essential Collocations using Weekend as a Noun
Activities & Plans
When you’re talking about what you do or plan for your two days off, these collocations are invaluable.
- Weekend plans: What you intend to do during the weekend.
- What are your weekend plans? Anything exciting?
- Weekend getaway: A short trip, usually to a nearby place, for the weekend.
- We booked a lovely weekend getaway to the mountains.
- Weekend trip: Similar to a getaway, but can imply a slightly longer or more structured journey.
- They went on a weekend trip to visit their relatives.
- Weekend break: A short holiday lasting a weekend.
- I’m really looking forward to a weekend break in Paris.
- Weekend warrior: Someone who works a regular job during the week but participates in demanding activities (like sports or home improvement) on the weekend.
- My dad is a true weekend warrior; he’s always fixing something around the house.
Describing the Weekend
Adjectives often pair with ‘weekend’ to give specific details about its nature.
- Long weekend: A weekend that includes an extra day off (e.g., a public holiday on Friday or Monday).
- We’re having a long weekend next month, so we’re planning a beach trip.
- Extended weekend: Similar to a long weekend, suggesting more than the usual two days.
- Thanks to the bank holiday, we had an extended weekend for sightseeing.
- Relaxing weekend: A weekend spent resting and unwinding.
- After a stressful week, all I want is a relaxing weekend at home.
- Busy weekend: A weekend filled with many activities or commitments.
- It was a pretty busy weekend with all the chores and family visits.
- Eventful weekend: A weekend during which many interesting or significant things happened.
- They had an incredibly eventful weekend, including a surprise party and a concert.
- Rough weekend: A difficult or unpleasant weekend.
- He had a rough weekend after catching a bad cold.
Verbs with Weekend
These verbs describe actions or experiences related to the weekend.
- Spend the weekend: To pass the weekend in a particular place or doing something.
- We usually spend the weekend at my grandparents’ farm.
- Have a good/great/terrible weekend: To experience a weekend of a certain quality.
- I hope you have a great weekend!
- She had a terrible weekend because of the unexpected storm.
- Enjoy the weekend: To have a pleasant and satisfying weekend.
- Please enjoy the weekend, you’ve earned it!
- Make the most of the weekend: To use the weekend effectively or to its fullest potential.
- Let’s make the most of the weekend and go hiking.
- Look forward to the weekend: To anticipate the weekend with pleasure.
- Everyone in the office is looking forward to the weekend.
- Work on the weekend: To carry out one’s job duties during the weekend.
- Sometimes, I have to work on the weekend to finish projects.
Prepositions with Weekend
Prepositions are crucial for indicating when or where something occurs relative to the weekend. Note the US/UK difference!
- On the weekend (US English): To refer to something happening during the weekend.
- What are you doing on the weekend?
- At the weekend (UK English): To refer to something happening during the weekend.
- Are you going anywhere special at the weekend?
- Over the weekend: During the entire duration of the weekend, often implying something that happened or will happen from Friday evening to Sunday night.
- I finished reading a novel over the weekend.
- They discussed the proposal over the weekend.
- For the weekend: To indicate the duration or purpose of an activity.
- He’s visiting his sister for the weekend.
- We packed enough clothes for the weekend.
Common Collocations with Weekend as a Verb
While primarily a noun, “weekend” can occasionally function as a verb, though this usage is less common in everyday conversation for ESL learners and often implies spending the weekend in a particular place.
- To weekend (somewhere): To spend the weekend at a specific location.
- They often weekend in the Hamptons during the summer.
- We’re planning to weekend at a cozy cabin by the lake.
Master Summary: Essential Weekend Collocations
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend plans | Noun + Noun | What you intend to do during Saturday/Sunday |
| Weekend getaway | Noun + Noun | A short trip for leisure on the weekend |
| Long weekend | Adjective + Noun | A weekend with an extra day off |
| Relaxing weekend | Adjective + Noun | A weekend spent resting and unwinding |
| Spend the weekend | Verb + Noun | To pass the weekend in an activity or place |
| Have a good/great weekend | Verb + Adjective + Noun | To experience a pleasant weekend |
| Look forward to the weekend | Verb Phrase + Noun | To anticipate the weekend with pleasure |
| On the weekend (US) / At the weekend (UK) | Preposition + Noun | During the weekend |
| Over the weekend | Preposition + Noun | Throughout the entire duration of the weekend |
| To weekend (somewhere) | Verb | To spend the weekend at a specific place |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to sound more authentic when talking about the weekend.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I want to do a weekend. | I want to have a relaxing weekend. / I want to go away for the weekend. |
| My weekend was good. | I had a good weekend. / My weekend was great! |
| What are your weekend’s plans? | What are your weekend plans? |
| I rested in the weekend. | I rested on the weekend (US) / at the weekend (UK) / over the weekend. |
| I wait for the weekend. | I look forward to the weekend. |
| Go to weekend in the mountains. | Weekend in the mountains. / Go for a weekend getaway to the mountains. |
“I’m so glad it’s Friday! I’ve been really looking forward to the weekend. My weekend plans involve a quiet evening tonight, then a weekend getaway to the coast with friends. We’re hoping to make the most of the weekend by hiking and trying some new restaurants. After a really busy weekend last week, I’m excited for a more relaxing weekend this time around. What about you? Are you doing anything special over the weekend?”
Frequently Asked Questions about Weekend Collocations
Is it “on the weekend” or “at the weekend”?
Both are correct, but their usage differs geographically. “On the weekend” is standard in American English, while “at the weekend” is more common in British English. For example: “What are you doing on the weekend?” (US) vs. “What are you doing at the weekend?” (UK). Both mean the same thing and are widely understood.
Can “weekend” be used as a verb?
Yes, “weekend” can be used as a verb, meaning “to spend the weekend.” However, this usage is less common than its noun form and is often associated with spending the weekend in a specific place, e.g., “They often weekend in the countryside.” For most English learners, focusing on its use as a noun is more practical for everyday conversation.
What is a “long weekend”?
A “long weekend” is a weekend that is extended by an extra day off, usually a public holiday that falls on a Friday or a Monday. This gives people three consecutive days for leisure instead of the usual two. It’s a popular time for weekend getaways or special events.
How do I ask someone about their weekend plans?
You can ask: “What are your weekend plans?”, “What are you doing on the weekend (US)/at the weekend (UK)?”, or “Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?” These are all natural and common ways to inquire.
What’s the difference between a “weekend trip” and a “weekend getaway”?
Both refer to short journeys taken over the weekend. A “weekend getaway” often implies a trip specifically for relaxation, escaping routine, or a romantic break, usually to a peaceful or scenic location. A “weekend trip” is a more general term and could be for any purpose, such as visiting family, attending an event, or sightseeing, without necessarily implying a “getaway” from stress.
Are there any formal or informal collocations for ‘weekend’?
Most collocations with ‘weekend’ are neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts (e.g., “weekend plans,” “spend the weekend“). Phrases like “weekend warrior” are more informal. The choice of preposition (“on” vs. “at”) doesn’t reflect formality but rather regional dialect.
I'm going to bookmark this for future reference. It's a clear breakdown. Thanks, Translateen.com!
You're most welcome, Jessica! We're glad you found it valuable enough to bookmark. Our aim is to provide reliable and easy-to-understand resources for English learners worldwide. Happy learning!
I am looking for materials to teach my intermediate students about natural English. This article is perfect! Do you have more resources on collocations for other common nouns?
We're delighted this article is useful for your intermediate students, Ravi! Collocations are indeed a fantastic way to boost natural English. Yes, we certainly do have more resources! We regularly publish articles on various collocation topics and other linguistic facts. Keep an eye on our 'Vocabulary' and 'Grammar' sections, and feel free to suggest topics you'd like us to cover!
I'm a native Irish speaker learning English, and the difference between 'getaway' and 'trip' is something I always struggle with in subtle ways. This really helps to clarify it.
That's wonderful to hear, Naoise! English, even for native speakers of other languages in the UK/Ireland, has these subtle nuances that can be tricky. We're glad our explanation helped you differentiate between 'getaway' and 'trip.' These small distinctions can make a big difference in sounding truly fluent!
This is so useful! I was literally just wondering about 'at the weekend' and 'on the weekend' yesterday. It's like you read my mind!
We're thrilled to be so in tune with our learners' needs, Chen! It's a very common point of confusion, and we're happy we could provide clarity right when you needed it. Keep those questions coming – they help us create even more useful content!
The article is very clear and concise. I'm going to try to use 'weekend plans' more often in my conversations. Thanks!
That's a fantastic goal, Maria! Active application is the best way to solidify new vocabulary. We're confident you'll integrate 'weekend plans' into your speech seamlessly. Let us know how it goes!
I sometimes say 'weekend holiday'. Is that okay or does 'weekend break' sound more natural?
Hi Tomáš! 'Weekend holiday' is understandable, but 'weekend break' or 'weekend trip/getaway' are much more common and natural collocations in English for a short period off work or school over the weekend. 'Holiday' usually implies a longer period away. Focusing on 'weekend break' will definitely make you sound more fluent!
Thank you for explaining why collocations are important – not just memorizing, but understanding which words go together. It makes so much sense now!
You've grasped the core message perfectly, Aisha! Understanding *why* words naturally pair together, rather than just memorizing lists, is fundamental to true fluency and comprehension. It builds intuition for the language. Keep exploring English with that curious mindset!
Are these collocations generally formal or informal? Can I use 'weekend getaway' in a professional email, for example?
That's a great question about formality, David. Most of the collocations discussed here, like 'weekend plans,' 'weekend trip,' and 'weekend break,' are quite neutral and can be used in a variety of contexts, including professional ones. 'Weekend getaway' is slightly more informal, implying relaxation or escape, but it can still be perfectly acceptable in a professional email to colleagues, especially if discussing holiday plans. For a very formal business communication, you might simply say 'a short trip' or 'a short break.'
This is a lifesaver for my IELTS speaking test preparation. I always wanted to sound more fluent when talking about my free time. These collocations are perfect!
That's fantastic to hear, Priya! Using natural collocations like these can definitely boost your fluency and lexical resource score in exams like IELTS. Practicing them will help you speak with more confidence and sound more like a native speaker. We wish you the best of luck with your preparation!
What about 'weekend activities'? Is that a common collocation too? I often say it.
Absolutely, Kenji! 'Weekend activities' is a very common and natural collocation. It refers to the various things you might do during your two days off. For example: 'My favorite weekend activities include hiking and cooking.' You're using it perfectly!