Weihnachten

See also: weihnachten

German

Etymology

From Middle High German wīhenahten ‎(“Christmas”), from a dative plural ze den wīhen nahten ‎(“in the holy nights”). Compare modern weihen ‎(“to hallow”) and Nacht. The oldest form (1170) is a singular diu wīhe naht (“the Holy Night”); the somewhat later plural is used to refer to the Christmas days and nights collectively. A relation with earlier heathen festivals is not endorsed by the etymological standard sources, though the possibility is admitted. Compare Weihnacht.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvaɪ̯ˌnaxtən/, [ˈvaɪ̯ˌnaχtən], [ˈvaɪ̯ˌnaχtn̩]

• audio

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Noun

Weihnachten n ‎(genitive Weihnachten or Weihnachtens, plural Weihnachten)
Weihnachten pl

1. Christmas

   Es ist Weihnachten.‎ ― It's Christmas.

   Frohe Weihnachten!‎ ― Merry Christmas!

   Wir wünschen Ihnen frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!‎ ― (formal) We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Usage notes

• Weihnachten is originally a plurale tantum. The plural is still invariably used in wishes: Frohe, gesegnete, schöne, ... Weihnachten! Otherwise the word is most often treated as a neuter singular: Weihnachten ist ein christliches Fest. (“Christmas is a Christian holiday.”) Particularly in Austria and Switzerland it may alternatively be plural, then requiring the definite article: Die Weihnachten sind ein christliches Fest. It can also be used as a true plural when referring to Christmases in different years: Die letzten drei Weihnachten war er krank. (“He was sick for the past three Christmases.”)

Synonyms

• Weihnacht f

Derived terms

Derived terms

weihnachtlich Weihnachtsbaum Weihnachtsferien Weihnachtsfest Weihnachtsgebäck

Weihnachtsgeld Weihnachtsgeschenk Weihnachtsmann Weihnachtsmarkt

See also

• Advent, Nikolaus, Heiligabend

External links

• Weihnachten in Duden online
• Weihnachten in DWDS