Alles Gute zum Hochzeitstag
Alles Gute zum Hochzeitstag is the German way to say happy wedding anniversary.
This phrase is a greeting used to congratulate a couple on the anniversary of their marriage.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'All good for the wedding day'. The word zum is a contraction of zu (to/for) and dem (the), which is used here to indicate the occasion.
Which one should you use?
Alles Gute zum Hochzeitstag can be used informally to express warm wishes. You may also use Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Hochzeitstag, which means 'heartfelt congratulations on your wedding anniversary'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Hochzeitstag is a compound noun consisting of Hochzeit (wedding) and Tag (day).
Did you know?
- The word Hochzeit in the phrase is a compound of hoch (high) and Zeit (time), suggesting that a wedding is the 'high time' or the peak moment of a celebration.
- In Germany, it is traditional to name specific anniversaries after materials, such as the Rosenhochzeit for the 10th anniversary or the Goldene Hochzeit for the 50th.
- The word alles is related to the Gothic word allata, which shows how the concept of 'everything' has remained stable in Germanic languages for centuries.
Examples in context
- Alles Gute zum Hochzeitstag!Happy wedding anniversary!
- Ich wünsche euch alles Gute zum Hochzeitstag.I wish you both a happy wedding anniversary.
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are celebrating their anniversary at a restaurant.
- HannahAlles Gute zum Hochzeitstag, Lukas!Happy wedding anniversary, Lukas!
- LukasDanke, Hannah, dir auch alles Gute!Thanks, Hannah, happy anniversary to you too!
- HannahEs ist ein toller Tag.It is a great day.
- LukasJa, das stimmt.Yes, that's true.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hochzeitstag, alles, zum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
