Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hochzeit | /ˈhɔxˌt͡saɪ̯t/ /ˈhoːxˌt͡saɪ̯t/ |
feminine |
| Trauung | feminine |
This word is used when discussing the entire celebration, including the party and festivities. You can also use the compound word Hochzeitsreise to mean honeymoon, which literally translates to "wedding trip".
What does it mean word for word?
The word Hochzeit is a compound of hoch (high) and Zeit (time), although its modern meaning is strictly "wedding".
Which one should you use?
While Hochzeit refers to the entire wedding celebration and party, Trauung refers specifically to the marriage ceremony itself, whether it is legal or religious.
How does it change in a sentence?
Hochzeit is a feminine noun. The plural form is Hochzeiten.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhɔxˌtsaɪ̯t/
When do people say it?
In Germany, it is common for couples to have a Standesamtliche Trauung (civil ceremony) before celebrating with a religious ceremony or a large wedding party.
Did you know?
- It is a common German tradition to have a Polterabend, where guests break porcelain plates to bring the couple luck before the Hochzeit.
- Some German couples perform a Baumstamm sägen after the Trauung, where they saw a log together to symbolize their first obstacle as a couple.
- The word Trauung comes from the verb trauen, which is the same verb used for 'to trust'.
Examples in context
- Wie war die Hochzeit?How was the wedding?This is useful for asking how the wedding was.Tatoeba #2185708 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2182526 by Hybrid
- Wann ist die Hochzeit?When's the wedding?This is useful for asking when the wedding is taking place.Tatoeba #1137145 by Esperantostern, translation #1120403 by CK
- Ihre Hochzeit ist morgen.Their wedding is tomorrow.This is useful for stating that a wedding is happening tomorrow.Tatoeba #714427 by Manfredo, translation #492868 by CK
- Alles Gute zur Hochzeit!Happy wedding!
- 233 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are talking about a friend's celebration.
- LukasDie Hochzeit war wirklich wunderschön.The wedding was truly beautiful.
- JuliaJa, die Hochzeit war sehr elegant.Yes, the wedding was very elegant.
- LukasHat dir das Essen bei der Hochzeit geschmeckt?Did you like the food at the wedding?
- JuliaJa, das Essen war fantastisch.Yes, the food was fantastic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wedding” translations and entries Hochzeit, Trauung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
