Weihnachten
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See also: weihnachten
Contents
German[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- Weihnacht f (literary, poetic)
Etymology[edit]
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.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
Weihnachten n (genitive Weihnachten or Weihnachtens, plural Weihnachten)
Weihnachten pl
- Christmas
- Es ist Weihnachten. ― It's Christmas.
- Frohe Weihnachten! ― Merry Christmas!
- 2016, Miriam Malik, Ein Drache zu Weihnachten und andere Weihnachtsgeschichten, story Ein Löwe zu Weihnachten:
- Drei Weihnachten, zwei Ostern und Fasching sowie unzählige Kindergeburtstage hatte ich bereits überstanden.
- I already endured three Christmases, two Easters and carnival as well as countless child's birthdays.
- Drei Weihnachten, zwei Ostern und Fasching sowie unzählige Kindergeburtstage hatte ich bereits überstanden.
Usage notes[edit]
- In the German-speaking countries, Weihnachten includes the 25th as well as the 26th of December and usually also the evening of the 24th (from circa 6 p.m.). The inclusion of the morning and afternoon of the 24th is informal and sometimes frowned upon.
- Weihnachten is originally a plurale tantum with the singular meaning Christmas. This 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, the plurale tantum may alternatively be used, then requiring the definite article: Die Weihnachten sind ein christliches Fest. The neuter singular also has a true plural referring to Christmases in different years: Die letzten drei Weihnachten war er krank. (“He was sick for the past three Christmases.”)
Declension[edit]
neuter noun with singular and plural:
Declension of Weihnachten
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | das | Weihnachten | die | Weihnachten |
| genitive | eines | des | Weihnachtens, Weihnachten |
der | Weihnachten |
| dative | einem | dem | Weihnachten | den | Weihnachten |
| accusative | ein | das | Weihnachten | die | Weihnachten |
Related terms[edit]
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- Weihnachten in Duden online
- Weihnachten in DWDS
