schönen Urlaub!
/ˈʃøːnən ˈuːɐ̯ˌlaʊ̯p/word by word
The English phrase "enjoy your holiday" is expressed in German as schönen Urlaub!
You use these expressions to wish someone a pleasant holiday.
Meaning: wishing someone good holidays (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase schönen Urlaub literally translates to "nice holiday."
Which one should you use?
In German, there is a distinction between the types of breaks being discussed. Urlaub refers to a specific period of leave from work, whereas Ferien is typically used for school or university breaks.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form schönen Urlaub uses the masculine accusative ending. This is because the phrase is an elliptical expression for [Ich wünsche dir einen] schönen Urlaub (I wish you a nice holiday).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃøːnən ˈuːɐ̯ˌlaʊ̯p/
When do people say it?
When someone wishes you a good holiday, a common and polite way to respond is Danke, gleichfalls! (Thanks, same to you!).
Did you know?
- Germans often use the phrase Schönen Feierabend! in a similar way to schönen Urlaub, but it specifically wishes someone a nice evening after their workday ends.
- If you use the word Ferien while talking to a coworker about their time off, you might sound like you are treating them like a schoolchild.
- The word Urlaub is actually a close relative of the German verb erlauben, which means 'to permit'.
Examples in context
- Genießen Sie Ihren Urlaub in den Bergen!Enjoy your holiday in the mountains!
- Ich wünsche dir einen schönen Urlaub!I wish you a nice holiday!
Example conversation
Maximilian is leaving for his summer vacation at the office.
- SarahWohin fliegst du?Where are you flying to?
- MaximilianNach Spanien. Ich freue mich sehr!To Spain. I am very excited!
- SarahSchönen Urlaub!Have a nice holiday!
- MaximilianVielen Dank, Sarah!Thank you very much, Sarah!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enjoy your holiday” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (schönen, Urlaub) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Urlaub, CC BY-SA 4.0.
