Schönen Feierabend
/ˈʃøːnən ˈfaɪ̯ərˌaːbənt/word by word
The German phrase for "have a nice evening" is Schönen Feierabend.
Schönen Feierabend is used specifically to wish someone a good evening once they have finished their professional duties for the day. If you want to wish someone a nice evening in a general sense, you can use Schönen Abend! or Schönen Abend noch!
Which one should you use?
While Schönen Abend is a general wish for a nice evening, Schönen Feierabend specifically implies the person is leaving work or finishing their tasks.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria, you can use the regional expression An guadn Omd! to say "Have a nice evening."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Schönen Feierabend uses the accusative case because it is a shortened version of 'Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schönen Feierabend' (I wish you a nice evening).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃøːnən ˈfaɪ̯ərˌaːbənt/
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to Schönen Feierabend is Danke, gleichfalls! (Thanks, likewise!).
Did you know?
- The concept of Feierabend is so central to German life that there are specific laws and union agreements designed to protect this time from employer intrusion.
- The word Feierabend contains the word Feier, which means 'celebration' or 'party'. This suggests that your time after work is not just a break, but a time meant for celebration.
- While Schönen Abend is a general wish, saying Schönen Feierabend to someone who is not working or is unemployed would be confusing or accidentally sarcastic.
Examples in context
- Schönen Feierabend!Have a nice evening!
- Ich wünsche dir einen schönen Feierabend.I wish you a nice evening.
- Macht alle einen schönen Feierabend.Everyone, have a nice evening.
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are leaving the office after work.
- JuliaIch gehe jetzt nach Hause. Schönen Feierabend, Julian!I am going home now. Have a nice evening, Julian!
- JulianDanke, Julia! Dir auch einen schönen Feierabend.Thanks, Julia! Have a nice evening to you too.
- JuliaBis morgen!See you tomorrow!
- JulianTschüss!Bye!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (schönen, Feierabend) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Feierabend, CC BY-SA 4.0.
