schönes Wochenende
To say "happy weekend" in German, you say schönes Wochenende.
This phrase is used to wish someone a pleasant time during the upcoming weekend.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, schönes Wochenende translates to "beautiful weekend".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase schönes Wochenende uses the neuter nominative/accusative adjective ending -es to agree with the neuter noun Wochenende. In casual conversation, Schönes Wochenende! is often used as a standalone exclamation without a verb.
When do people say it?
A common way to respond to a weekend wish is to say Danke, gleichfalls! (Thanks, likewise!).
Did you know?
- Unlike English where 'happy' is the go-to adjective, Germans use schönes (beautiful) because 'happy' in German, glücklich, often implies a deep state of fortune or luck.
- The word Woche comes from a root meaning 'to weave', as the early Germanic peoples viewed the passage of time as a weaving process.
- The word Wochenende is a relatively modern addition to the language, entering general use around 1920 as a direct result of the English word 'weekend'.
Examples in context
- Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende!I wish you a nice weekend!
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are leaving the office on a Friday afternoon.
- MaximilianTschüss, Julia! Schönes Wochenende!Bye, Julia! Have a nice weekend!
- JuliaDanke, Maximilian! Dir auch ein schönes Wochenende!Thanks, Maximilian! A nice weekend to you too!
- MaximilianVielen Dank, bis Montag!Thanks a lot, see you Monday!
- JuliaBis Montag!See you Monday!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wochenende, CC BY-SA 4.0.
