vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Vacaciones" is a form of "vacación", a noun which is often translated as "vacation". "Día festivo" is a noun which is often translated as "holiday". Learn more about the difference between "día festivo" and "vacaciones" below.
el día festivo(
dee
-
ah
fehs
-
tee
-
boh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (general)
a. holiday
El martes estará todo cerrado porque es día festivo.Everything will be closed on Tuesday because it's a holiday.
b. public holiday
Tenemos 30 días de vacaciones al año, sin contar sábados, domingos y días festivos.We have 30 days' vacation per year, not counting Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
c. bank holiday
¿Te diste cuenta de que no hay ningún día festivo de aquí a Pascua?Did you notice that there are no bank holidays between now and Easter?
la vacación(
bah
-
kah
-
syohn
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (general)
a. vacation (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Me urge una vacación! Este semestre está bien pesado.I desperately need a vacation! This semester is really tough.
b. holiday (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Estás muy estresado; necesitas irte de vacaciones.You are too stressed out; you should go on holiday.
c. holidays (plural) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Mi padres pasaron las vacaciones de Semana Santa en Argentina.My parents spent the Easter holidays in Argentina.
