herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Hochzeit
The German phrase for 'happy wedding' is herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Hochzeit.
herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Hochzeit is the standard and most common way to congratulate a couple on their marriage in German.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'heartfelt congratulations to the wedding'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly translate 'happy wedding' literally as glückliche Hochzeit, which sounds unnatural in German.
Did you know?
- In some traditional German wedding customs, guests perform Polterabend, where they smash porcelain plates to bring the couple good luck before the wedding.
- A common German wedding game involves the newlyweds sawing a log together with a two-person saw to demonstrate their ability to work as a team.
- The word Hochzeit comes from hoch, meaning 'high', and Zeit, meaning 'time'. It originally referred to a 'high celebration' rather than just a wedding ceremony.
Examples in context
- Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Hochzeit! Eure Feier gestern war einfach traumhaft!Congratulations on your wedding! Your celebration yesterday was simply amazing!
Example conversation
Felix and Julia meet at a wedding reception.
- FelixJulia, herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Hochzeit!Julia, happy wedding!
- JuliaVielen Dank, Felix!Thank you very much, Felix!
- FelixDie Feier ist wirklich sehr schön.The celebration is truly very beautiful.
- JuliaDas freut mich sehr zu hören.I am very happy to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Glückwunsch, Hochzeit, zur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
