Sonnabend
German
Etymology
From Middle High German sunābent, sunnenābent, from Old High German sunnūnāband (literally “Sunday eve”) (9th c.), calqued on Old English sunnanǣfen. In the Germanic reckoning, the day begins at sunset. Compare Low German Sünnavend, West Frisian snjoen, sneaun.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈzɔnˌ(ʔ)aːbənt/ Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "standard" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
- IPA(key): /ˈzɔnamt/ Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "colloquial usage" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
Audio: (file)
Noun
Sonnabend m (genitive Sonnabends or Sonnabendes, plural Sonnabende)
- (Northern Germany, Eastern Germany) Saturday
- (Roman Catholicism, rather rare) Saturday evening (as being within the time period of roughly 30 hours in which the faithful may attend mass to fulfil their Sunday obligation)
Usage notes
- Sonnabend is still commonly used by older generations in northern Germany, whereas most younger people have adopted the southern/western Samstag. Since Sonnabend was the day's only official name in the German Democratic Republic, the word still enjoys a stronger position in eastern Germany, although the dominant Samstag is also winning ground among the young.
Declension
Synonyms
- (Saturday): Samstag
- (Saturday evening): Samstagabend; Vorabend (includes holidays)
Related terms
Further reading
- “Sonnabend” in Duden online
Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old English
- German 3-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German 2-syllable words
- German terms with audio links
- German lemmas
- German nouns
- German masculine nouns
- Northern German
- de:Roman Catholicism
- German terms with rare senses
- DDR German
- de:Days of the week