Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Frühling | /ˈfʁyːlɪŋ/ | masculine |
| Frühjahr | /ˈfryːˌjaːr/ | neuter |
| (dated)/(poetic) Lenz | masculine | |
| Frühlingszeit | /ˈfʁyːlɪŋsˌt͡saɪ̯t/ | feminine |
| Frühjahrszeit | feminine | |
| Früelig | Alemannic German, masculine |
German uses several words for the season between winter and summer. Frühling is the standard, everyday term. You can use the expression Den Frühling genießen to talk about enjoying spring, or refer to Die ersten Frühlingsblumen when discussing the first flowers that bloom after a long winter. A specific term for the seasonal transition is Die Frühjahrsmüdigkeit, which refers to spring fatigue.
Which one should you use?
Frühling is the standard word for the season used in daily life. In contrast, Frühjahr is a more technical or formal term often found in administrative, botanical or meteorological contexts, such as saying im Frühjahr (in the spring) in a formal sense.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While Frühling is used in normal conversation, Frühlingszeit or Die Frühlingszeit provides a more formal way to refer to the springtime. Frühjahr is also a formal option suitable for technical or official contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Switzerland and Southwestern Germany, the Alemannic dialect uses the form Früelig. In certain areas, particularly in southern Germany, you might encounter the word Lenz.
How does it change in a sentence?
The compound word Frühlingszeit uses a genitive 's' to connect the words, combining Frühling and Zeit to mean the time of spring.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfʁyːlɪŋ/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'spring' can also mean a metal coil or a leap, Frühling refers exclusively to the season.
- The poetic term Lenz is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'Lent', used to describe the same period of seasonal renewal.
- The term Frühjahr literally translates to 'early year', emphasizing the position of the season within the annual cycle.
Examples in context
- Der Frühling ist da.Spring has come.This sentence is useful for stating that spring has arrived using Frühling.Tatoeba #439593 by landano, translation #441964 by CK
- Es ist bald Frühling.It'll be spring soon.This sentence is useful for saying that spring is approaching soon using Frühling.Tatoeba #724039 by kolonjano, translation #5471295 by CK
- Ich mag den Frühling.I like spring.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference for spring using Frühling.Tatoeba #917534 by Sudajaengi, translation #792546 by ryanthewired
- Der Frühling ist da!Spring is here!
- 352 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are talking about the weather while walking in a park.
- MaximilianIst der Frühling schon da?Is spring already here?
- SarahJa, die Sonne scheint endlich wieder.Yes, the sun is finally shining again.
- MaximilianIch liebe diesen warmen Frühling.I love this warm spring.
- SarahIch auch, es ist so schön.Me too, it is so beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spring” translations and entries Frühling, Frühjahr, Frühlingszeit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Frühjahr, Frühling, Frühlingszeit, Lenz, lenz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
