Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Samstag | /ˈzamstaːk/ (standard) /ˈzamstax/ |
masculine |
| Sonnabend | /ˈzɔˌnaːbənt/ /ˈzɔnˌʔaːbənt/ (standard) |
masculine |
| Sabbat | /ˈzabat/ | masculine |
| Satertag | East Frisian, Westphalian, masculine |
The noun Samstag refers to the day of the week. You may also see the term am Samstagabend used to refer specifically to Saturday evening.
Which one should you use?
While Samstag is the standard form, Sonnabend is a common alternative used primarily in Northern and Eastern Germany. In a religious context, Sabbat refers specifically to the Sabbath rather than the general calendar day.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Sonnabend is used primarily in Northern and Eastern Germany. The form Satertag is used in East Frisian and Westphalian regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing 'on Saturday', use the preposition 'am' with the masculine noun, as in am Samstag. To say 'every Saturday', use the accusative form jeden Samstag. You can also use Samstags as an adverb to mean 'on Saturdays' or 'routinely on Saturdays'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzamstaːk/
Did you know?
- The word Samstag is a descendant of the Greek word σάββατον, which means 'Sabbath'.
- The Northern German term Sonnabend literally translates to 'Sunday eve' rather than 'Saturday'.
- In older Germanic traditions, the day name for Saturday was actually tied to the concept of 'Sunday eve' because the day was thought to begin at sunset.
Examples in context
- Ist heute schon Samstag?Is it already Saturday?This sentence is useful for asking if it is already Saturday.Tatoeba #830653 by Esperantostern, translation #10821842 by sundown
- Hast du am Samstag frei?Do you have Saturday off?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has Saturday off.Tatoeba #2331518 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2265775 by _undertoad
- Ich bin seit Samstag hier.I've been here since Saturday.This sentence is useful for stating how long you have been somewhere since Saturday.Tatoeba #726001 by Dejo, translation #259645 by CN
- Wir haben am Samstag eine Besprechung.We have a meeting on Saturday.
- Ich gehe am Samstag einkaufenI'll go shopping on Saturday
- Am Samstag gehe ich ins Kino.On Saturday, I'm going to the cinema.
- Möchtest du am Samstagabend mit mir ausgehen?Would you like to go out with me on Saturday evening?
- 213 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning their weekend activities.
- MaximilianGehen wir am Samstag ins Kino?Are we going to the cinema on Saturday?
- LauraJa, der Samstag passt mir gut.Yes, Saturday works well for me.
- MaximilianSoll ich Tickets für uns kaufen?Should I buy tickets for us?
- LauraDas wäre toll, danke!That would be great, thanks!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “saturday” translations and entries Samstag, Sonnabend, Sabbat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sabbat, Samstag, Sonnabend, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
