Learn German: Days & Time Periods

Mastering the names of days and specific time periods is a foundational step in learning German, as these words allow you to coordinate plans and describe your routine. This lesson introduces the seven days of the week, relative time markers, and the various parts of a day. You will find that most German days end with the suffix -tag, such as Montag ([ˈmoːntaːk]) and Freitag ([ˈfʁaɪtaːk]). One notable exception is Mittwoch ([ˈmɪtvɔx]), which translates literally to "mid-week." A helpful pattern to remember is that all days of the week and most times of day, like Der Nachmittag ([deːɐ̯ ˈnaːxmɪtaːk]), are masculine. However, Die Nacht ([diː naxt]) and its derivative Die Mitternacht ([diː ˈmɪtɐnaxt]) are feminine.

The vocabulary also covers relative terms that are essential for fluid conversation. For instance, you can use Übermorgen ([ˈyːbɐmɔʁɡn̩]) for the "day after tomorrow" or Vorgestern ([ˈfoːɐ̯ɡɛstɐn]) for the "day before yesterday." Pay close attention to Morgen ([ˈmɔʁɡn̩]); depending on the context, it can mean "tomorrow" or "the morning." To describe frequency, you might use Täglich ([ˈtɛːklɪç]) for "daily" or Wöchentlich ([ˈvœçntlɪç]) for "weekly." Learning these terms, along with compound words like Das Wochenende ([das ˈvɔxn̩ʔɛndə]) for "the weekend," provides the necessary framework for discussing your schedule and navigating daily life in a German-speaking environment.