Days of the week in German

Die Wochentage

Welcome to another fun lesson, this time for mastering the weekdays in German!

Not only will you discover the German names for each day, but you’ll also see them used in context with entertaining phrases.

Coupled with audio examples, this resource is designed to make the German weekdays second nature to you.

Ready to make your calendar conversations in German a breeze?

Let’s dive in and have fun!

Tackling the Weekdays in German

Today I’m going to share what one of my students thinks about the days of the week in German.

While this is a fun practice lesson, it will help you not only learn the days of the week in German but also strengthen other areas of your German.

All you have to do is listen to the main sentences many times. With each repetition, your familiarity with the German language will grow, and the words will start to feel more natural. It’s like creating a new linguistic pathway in your brain – the more you traverse it, the clearer and easier it becomes.

Let’s go! In this lesson, we’ll tackle all 7 days in German – or are there 8? 😉

A Student’s View of the Weekdays in German

📢 Listen to the Example Sentences for the Days of the Week

Montag
Monday

Möge dein Kaffee stark sein und dein Montag kurz.

May your coffee be strong and your Monday be short.

Dienstag
Tuesday

Dienstag ist nur Montags hässlicher Bruder.

Tuesday is just Monday’s ugly brother.

Mittwoch
Wednesday 

Mittwoch! Ein wenig besser, aber immer noch nicht Samstag.

Wednesday! A little better but still not Saturday.

Donnerstag
Thursday 

Es ist Donnerstag. Ich kann das Wochenende von hier schon riechen.

It’s Thursday. I can smell the weekend from here.

Freitag
Friday 

Warum ist Montag so weit weg vom Freitag, aber Freitag so nah am Montag?

Why is Monday so far from Friday but Friday so close to Monday?

Samstag
Saturday 

Mein Samstag lief ziemlich gut, bis ich merkte, dass es Sonntag war.

My Saturday was going pretty well until I realized it was Sunday. 

Sonntag
(in some areas also “Sonnabend”)
Sunday 

Ich brauche wirklich einen Tag zwischen Samstag und Sonntag.

I really need a day between Saturday and Sunday.

Why Are There 8 Names for the Days of the Week in German?

In German, there are eight names for the days of the week because Saturday has two names: “Samstag” and “Sonnabend.”

“Samstag” is commonly used in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, derived from the Latin word “sabbatum.”

“Sonnabend,” meaning “Sunday eve,” is more common in northern and eastern Germany.

Both terms are correct and used interchangeably, reflecting regional differences in the German language.

📹 Video about the German days of the week