Frohe Weihnachten
The English phrase "happy Christmas" is translated into German as Frohe Weihnachten.
Frohe Weihnachten is the most common way to say "Merry Christmas" in German.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective frohe (happy/joyful) and the noun Weihnachten (Christmas).
Which one should you use?
While Frohe Weihnachten is the standard way to say "Merry Christmas", it is more common in certain formal contexts to say Frohes Fest (Happy Feast).
When do people say it?
A common response to Frohe Weihnachten! is Danke, gleichfalls! (Thanks, likewise!).
Did you know?
- While Weihnachten is a noun, the verb weihnachten exists in German poetry. It was coined by the poet Theodor Storm in 1862 to describe the act of celebrating Christmas.
- The phrase Frohes Fest is often used as a neutral alternative to Frohe Weihnachten to be inclusive of people who do not celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday.
- The adjective froh in Frohe Weihnachten specifically denotes a sense of inner joy or cheerfulness, which differs from glücklich, the more common word for 'happy' or 'lucky'.
Examples in context
- Frohe Weihnachten!Happy Christmas!Tatoeba #942143 by Sudajaengi, translation #1879788 by Asma
- Frohe Weihnachten, Oma und Opa!Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa!
- Ich wünsche euch Frohe Weihnachten!I wish you all a Merry Christmas!
- Frohe Weihnachten und ein frohes neues Jahr!Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are saying goodbye before the holidays.
- JuliaTschüss, Felix! Frohe Weihnachten!Bye, Felix! Happy Christmas!
- FelixDanke, Julia! Dir auch frohe Weihnachten!Thanks, Julia! Happy Christmas to you too!
- JuliaWir sehen uns bald wieder.We will see each other again soon.
- FelixJa, bis bald!Yes, see you soon!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Weihnachten, weihnachten, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
