Discover the German days of the week and their origin in this complete guide. Learn the pronunciation, etymology, and cultural significance of each day.
Days of the week in any language play a vital role in our daily lives. They shape our routines, help us plan and organize our schedules, and give us a sense of structure. The German language has unique names for the days of the week, which might seem strange and difficult to remember for English speakers. However, with a little bit of practice, it can be quite easy to master the days of the week in German.
Monday – Montag
In German, Montag marks the start of the workweek. It is Monday in English, which is derived from the Old English “Monandaeg,” which means “Moon’s Day,” and the Latin “dies lunae,” which means “day of the moon.”
Tuesday – Dienstag
The second day of the week in German is Dienstag. In English, it is Tuesday, which comes from the Old English word “Tiwesdæg,” named after the Nordic god of war, Tiw. The word “Dienstag” is derived from the Latin word “dies Martis,” meaning “day of Mars.”
Wednesday – Mittwoch
The third day of the week in German is Mittwoch. In English, it is Wednesday, which comes from the Old English word “Wodnesdæg,” named after the Nordic god of wisdom, Woden. The word “Mittwoch” is derived from the Middle High German word “mîn woch,” meaning “midweek.”
Thursday – Donnerstag
Donnerstag is the name of the fourth day of the week in German. It is Thursday in English, which is derived from the Old English term “unresdaeg,” which honors Thor, the Norse thunder deity. The Middle High German term “donnerstag,” which means “thunder day,” is whence the phrase “Donnerstag” originates.
Friday – Freitag
Freitag is the German word for the fifth day of the week. Frigg was the Nordic goddess of love and fertility, and her name translates to “Frigg’s day” in English from the Old English phrase “Frgedaeg,” which means “Frigg’s day.” The Middle High German term “vriateg,” which means “free day,” is whence the name “Freitag” originates.
Saturday – Samstag
Samstag is the German word for the sixth day of the week. Sater, the Nordic deity of agriculture, was the source of the Old English phrase “Saeterndg,” which means “Sater’s day” in English. The Middle High German term “samstag,” which means “Sabbath day,” is whence the word “Samstag” originates.
Sunday – Sonntag
In German, Sunday is the seventh day of the week. The word “Sunntag” is derived from the Middle High German word “sunnuntac,” which means “day of the sun.” The word “Sunntag” comes from the Old English word “Sunnandaeg,” which means “Sun’s day.”
German days in a week
In conclusion, the German days of the week have a long history and are rooted in Norse and Latin mythology. A fantastic method to advance your language abilities and broaden your comprehension of German culture is to learn German words for the days of the week. You’ll be able to recall the days of the week in German naturally and easily with practice.
