Days of the Week in German

The days of the week in German (die Wochentage) reflect a fascinating blend of Germanic mythology, astronomical influences, and Christian traditions. Like English, German weekday names maintain strong connections to Norse gods, though with some interesting differences.

One unique feature of German days is that they are all capitalized. This isn't because they're considered any more special than in other languages, but because German capitalizes all nouns regardless of type. This grammatical rule applies to days of the week, months, and all other nouns in the German language.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about the German days of the week, from pronunciation and etymology to cultural context and practical usage.

In German, days of the week are always capitalized, unlike in many other languages where they're written in lowercase. This capitalization rule applies to all nouns in German, not just days of the week.

Examples of Correct Capitalization

• Correct: "Ich habe am Montag einen Termin." (I have an appointment on Monday.)
• Correct: "Montag ist der erste Tag der Woche." (Monday is the first day of the week.)
• Incorrect: "Ich habe am montag einen Termin." (Incorrect capitalization)

Are Days of the Week Capitalized in German?

Yes, days of the week in German are always capitalized, regardless of their position in a sentence. This is part of a broader rule in German grammar that requires all nouns to be capitalized. This makes German unique among European languages, as most don't capitalize common nouns.

German days of the week have fascinating etymological origins that blend Germanic mythology, celestial bodies, and Christian influence:

Origins and Meanings

• Montag: From "Mond" (moon) + "Tag" (day) = "Moon's day"
• Dienstag: From Old High German "Ziestag," named after the Germanic god Ziu or Tyr, god of war (equivalent to Mars in Roman mythology)
• Mittwoch: Literally "mid-week" (Mitte der Woche) - unlike other Germanic languages, German doesn't reference the god Wodan/Odin for Wednesday
• Donnerstag: From "Donner" (thunder) + "Tag" (day), named after the Germanic god of thunder, Donar/Thor
• Freitag: Named after the Norse goddess Freya or Frigg, goddess of love and fertility
• Samstag: Derived from Greek "Sambaton," which came from Hebrew "Shabbat" (day of rest)
• Sonntag: From "Sonne" (sun) + "Tag" (day) = "Sun's day"

Days with Prepositions

In German, days of the week are typically used with the preposition "am" (on) when referring to a specific day:

• "Am Montag gehe ich ins Kino." (On Monday I go to the cinema.)
• "Am Dienstag habe ich einen Termin." (On Tuesday I have an appointment.)

Expressing Recurring Events

For activities that happen regularly on a particular day, Germans often use the days in plural form, but this isn't mandatory:

• "Montags gehe ich schwimmen." (On Mondays I go swimming.)
• Alternative: "Jeden Montag gehe ich schwimmen." (Every Monday I go swimming.)

Common Phrases with Days

• "Welcher Tag ist heute?" (What day is today?)
• "Heute ist Freitag." (Today is Friday.)
• "Welcher Tag war gestern?" (What day was yesterday?)
• "Welcher Tag ist morgen?" (What day is tomorrow?)
• "am Montagmorgen" (on Monday morning)
• "am Dienstagnachmittag" (on Tuesday afternoon)
• "am Mittwochabend" (on Wednesday evening)

Abbreviations

In calendars, schedules, and notes, German days of the week are sometimes abbreviated as follows:

• Mo. - Montag
• Di. - Dienstag
• Mi. - Mittwoch
• Do. - Donnerstag
• Fr. - Freitag
• Sa. - Samstag
• So. - Sonntag

In German-speaking countries, certain cultural practices and traditions are associated with specific days of the week:

Business and Social Customs

• Ruhezeiten (Quiet Times): Germany has strict quiet hours (typically between 10 PM and 6 or 7 AM) every day, but these are particularly emphasized on Sundays and public holidays.
• Ladenschlussgesetz (Shop Closing Law): Though regulations have relaxed in recent years, traditionally most shops in Germany were closed on Sundays (Sonntag) due to legal restrictions. This "Sunday rest" (Sonntagsruhe) is still largely observed.
• Feierabend: This German concept, literally "celebration evening," refers to the end of the workday, especially on Friday (Freitag) when the weekend begins. It marks the transition from work to leisure time.

Traditional Food Associations

Some German regions have traditional food associations for specific days:

• Donnerstag (Thursday): In some areas, traditionally the day for green vegetables or legumes
• Freitag (Friday): Traditionally fish day (Fischtag) in Catholic regions
• Sonntag (Sunday): Often reserved for more elaborate family meals, including the tradition of "Sonntagsbraten" (Sunday roast)

Regional Traditions

Some days have special regional significance:

• Rosenmontag ("Rose Monday"): Not a regular weekday name, but an important carnival Monday before Ash Wednesday, especially in the Rhineland region
• Donnerstag (Thursday): "Weiberfastnacht" or "Women's Carnival Day" in certain regions, marking the beginning of street carnival

Pattern Recognition

Notice that all German days end with "-tag" (meaning "day"), except for "Mittwoch" (Wednesday). This pattern helps with both spelling and remembering that these words are all directly related to days.

God and Celestial Connections

Several German days have clear connections to their English counterparts through shared Germanic mythology:

• Montag/Monday: Both relate to the Moon (Mond/Moon)
• Dienstag/Tuesday: Both relate to a war god (Ziu or Tyr)
• Donnerstag/Thursday: Both relate to the thunder god (Donar or Thor)
• Freitag/Friday: Both relate to the goddess Freya or Frigg
• Sonntag/Sunday: Both relate to the Sun (Sonne/Sun)

The Exception: Mittwoch

Remember "Mittwoch" as the exception that breaks the mythological pattern. It literally means "mid-week," which makes logical sense for the middle day of a seven-day week.

German Days of the Week Song

A popular children's song for learning the German days follows a simple, catchy melody:

Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag, Sonntag,
Das sind die sieben Tage in der Woch',
Sieben Tage hat die Woche,
Und dann fängt es wieder von vorne an.

(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
These are the seven days of the week,
Seven days has the week,
And then it starts all over again.)