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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

The German words and phrases you need to know to survive the holidays

With festivities around the corner, we've put together a few words and phrases that will come in handy.

Published: 13 December 2023 17:00 CET
Updated: 22 December 2023 16:21 CET
The German words and phrases you need to know to survive the holidays
The Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz (© stadt wien marketing, Johannes Wiedl)

Christmas and New Year’s can be a wonderful time of year. But it’s also a bit (or very) stressful. And if you’re spending it as a foreigner in Austria, you might feel a bit overwhelmed at times.

So here are some festive phrases to familarize yourself with, so you can feel a bit more relaxed over Christmas and in the days leading up to the New Year.

Greetings at Christmas
 
Let’s start with the basics. Merry Christmas is Fröhliche Weihnachten or Frohe Weihnachten. But here are a few more greetings you could use:
 
Besinnliche Feiertage: have a peaceful/reflective holiday time
 
Frohes Fest: happy holidays
 
Schöne Festtage: have a lovely festive time
 
Erholsame Feiertage: have a relaxing/rejuvenating festive time.
 

Preparations
 
The time leading up to Christmas is Advent time (die Adventszeit). Many Austrians celebrate by baking cookies (die Kekse) and enjoying time with family or friends at a Christmas market (der Christkindlmarkt) where they might glug down some mulled wine (der Glühwein).
 
Then, of course Saint Nicholas Day (der Nikolaustag) is on December 6th. On the evening of the 5th, children leave out shoes in the hope that Saint Nicholas will fill them with chocolates.

 
Festive traditions
 
Austrians tend to buy and decorate their Christmas tree (Weihnachtsbaum, Tannenbaum) on the 23rd or 24th December, although it often happens a bit earlier nowadays. They might get together as a family to put decorations (der Baumschmuck) on it.
 
Baubles (die Christbaumkugeln or die Kugeln) are hung on the branches along with Christmas tree lights (die Christbaumkerzen) and tinsel (Lametta).
 
When it comes to presents, families open them on December 24th. And as to who’s delivering them? Well, that’s still a debate.
 
In Austria, children expect gifts from the Christkind. 

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For members

GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German phrase of the day: Bekannt wie ein bunter Hund

We all have that friend who seemingly knows everyone else around them, no matter where they go. In German, you can use this colourful idiom to describe your people-loving pal.

Published: 10 April 2024 17:03 CEST
German phrase of the day: Bekannt wie ein bunter Hund

Why do I need to know it? 

It’s an effective way to describe someone’s outgoing personality, and dropping it in everyday conversation will serve you well in this dog-loving country.  

What does it mean? 

The phrase translates directly to “known like a colourful dog,” based on the idea that in a world full of dogs with one or two-coloured coats, a multicoloured canine would certainly stand out. 

Originally, the expression was deployed as an insult, used to describe someone who stood out for their negative characteristics. In English, it would be similar to saying that someone “sticks out like a sore thumb.”  

Nowadays, though, the phrase has lost its negative connotations. You can use it in a positive sense to describe a conspicuous friend with many connections or someone who is famous in their neck of the woods. 

Use it like this: 

Jeder kennt meinen Freund Thomas. Er ist bekannt wie ein bunter Hund.

Everybody’s heard of my friend Thomas. He’s known all over town.

In Wien ist der DJ bekannt wie ein bunter Hund.

This DJ is well-known in Vienna.

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