CHRISTMAS vocabulary🎄 Get ready for Christmas✨

Deutsch
#1

Hello dear German learners ! :snowflake:

If you are celebrating Christmas, I wish you „ FROHE WEIHNACHTEN “ = a Merry Christmas :christmas_tree::dizzy: . I hope you will have a great time with your family and friends :relaxed:

I would like to introduce you to typical vocabulary that we use at Christmas time in Germany, Austria and other German-speaking countries. I will also show you how you can use the vocabulary words in sentences.

:star:WEIHNACHTEN = CHRISTMAS

Ich wünsche euch frohe Weihnachten!

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

:star:WEIßE WEIHNACHTEN = WHITE CHRISTMAS :snowflake:

Ich hoffe auf weiße Weihnachten.

I hope for a white Christmas.

:star:DER HEILIGABEND = CHRISTMAS EVE :candle:

Freust du dich schon auf den Heiligabend?

Are you looking forward to Christmas Eve?

:star:DAS CHRISTKIND = THE CHRISTCHILD

The Christkind (“Christ-child”) is the traditional Christmas gift-bringer in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other european countries.
The Christkind is usually described as a childlike angel figure. :angel:
Young children often believe in the ,Christkind” , similar to the way children in the US believe in Santa Claus.
The Christkind brings children their Geschenke (presents) on December 24th and leaves them underneath the Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree). :christmas_tree: :hugs:

Das Christkind kommt bald!

The Christkind ist coming soon!

:star:DAS FAMILIENTREFFEN = FAMILY REUNION :family_man_woman_girl:

Wie war euer Familientreffen?

How was your family reunion?

:star:DER WEIHNACHTSBAUM = CHRISTMAS TREE :christmas_tree:
:star:SCHMÜCKEN= DECORATE

Ich schmücke unseren Weihnachtsbaum gerne mit bunter Weihnachtsdekoration.

I like to decorate our Christmas tree with colorful Christmas decorations.

:star:DIE WEIHNACHTSEINKÄUFE = CHRISTMAS SHOPPING :shopping:

Ich mag keine Weihnachtseinkäufe, aber ich mag die Weihnachtszeit.

I don’t like Christmas shopping, but I like the Christmas season.

:star:DIE GESCHENKE = THE PRESENTS :gift:

:star:AUSPACKEN = UNWRAP

Ich liebe es Weihnachtsgeschenke auszupacken.

I love to unwrap Christmas gifts.

:star:SCHENKEN = GIFT/ TO GIVE SOMEONE A PRESENT :ribbon:

Er schenkt mir eine hausgemachte Marmelade.

He gives me a homemade jam as a gift.

Er schenkte ihr einen großen Überraschungskorb.

He gave her a big surprise basket.

:star:DAS WEIHNACHTSESSEN = THE CHRISTMAS DINNER :pie: :plate_with_cutlery:

Das Weihnachtsessen schmeckt lecker. Danke!

The Christmas dinner tastes delicious. Thank you!

:star:DIE KIRCHE = THE CHURCH

:star:DAS WEIHNACHTSLIED = CHRISTMAS SONG / CHRISTMAS CAROL :musical_note:

Der Chor singt Weihnachtslieder in der Kirche.

The choir sings Christmas carols in the church.

:star:DER WEIHNACHTSURLAUB = THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY / VACATION

Genieße deinen Weihnachtsurlaub!

Enjoy your Christmas holidays!

:star:DER SCHNEE = SNOW :cloud_with_snow: :snowflake:
Es schneit seit drei Tagen.

It has been snowing for three days.

Heute Nacht hat es geschneit!

It snowed tonight!

:star:DER SCHNEEMANN = THE SNOWMAN :snowman_with_snow:

Lass uns einen Schneemann bauen.

Let’s build a snowman.

:star:DAS WEIHNACHTSGEBÄCK = CHRISTMAS COOKIES :cookie: :cookie:

:star:BACKEN = BAKE

Wir backen dieses Jahr viel Weihnachtsgebäck.

We bake a lot of Christmas cookies this year.

:star: DER GLÜHWEIN & PUNSCH = MULLED WINE & PUNCH

Am Weihnachtsmarkt gibt es heißen Glühwein und Punsch!

At the Christmas market there is hot mulled wine and punch!

:star: WEIHNACHTS-GEWÜRZE = CHRISTMAS SPICES

cinnamon = Zimt

clove = Nelke

aniseed = Anis

star anise = Sternanis

:star: DER LEBKUCHEN = GINGERBREAD

Ich liebe Lebkuchen, er schmeckt sehr lecker!

I love gingerbread, it tastes very delicious!

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If you know any other important vocabulary or phrases for the Christmas season, feel free to write them in the comments! :hugs:

Lovely greetings! :stars: Kristyna

18 Likes
#2

Danke schön @Kristyna for this vocabulary :hugs:.

I would like to add this phrase, which I find funny but cool:

"Guten rutsch ins neue jahr!" —> Literally to have a good slide into the new year :grin:.

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#3

Das ist sehr hilfreich. Dankeschön @Kristyna ! :blush: :christmas_tree: :snowman_with_snow:

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#4

Hi Sandra, actually the origin is the jewish “git rosch” for “good head (beginning)” of the year. It is only by coincidence similar to “Rutsch”

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Expression: Guten Rutsch!
#5

I didn´t know that @Tutorthomas :face_with_monocle:. Thank you for sharing this! :blush: :bulb:

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#6

Hi Kristyna :christmas_tree:
Thank you for your post, it’s very helpful :gift:I just remembered an other expression used by my family in Switzerland.

:gift:Die Weihnachtsbescherung = Die Bescherung ist ein christlicher weihnachtlicher Brauch, bei dem Geschenke ausgetauscht werden.
(The Bescherung is a Christian Christmas custom in which gifts are exchanged.)

You can find more interesting information about the origin of this expression.

Wish you all merry Xmas :christmas_tree:and a happy New Year :confetti_ball:
:clinking_glasses:Bettina

6 Likes
#7

Great selection, @Kristyna, and the example sentences are so helpful! :imma_star:

For some more Christmas Vocabulary, check out this post: Kekse vs. Plätzchen

3 Likes
#8

Thank you Kristyna for this vocabulary!

  • would there be a non-religious option like “season’s greetings” (in French we refer to “end of the year celebrations”)?
  • also I like the expression “zwischen den Jahren” :smile_cat:
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#9

Hi @Alico ! :relaxed:

You can say „ FROHE FEIERTAGE! " . This would probably be the best equivalent for season’s greetings. :wave:

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#10

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Try saying this word after a few glasses of Glühwein, or even with no Glühwein at all! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: Weihnachtsbaumbeleuchtung. So ein schönes, langes Wort!

People have been decorating Christmas trees since the 17th century, but before the first electric Christmas lights were invented in 1880, the trees were decorated with wax candles. In Germany, people lit the candles of their Christmas tree for Advent, probably as an extension of the custom of burning a candle in the window so that people outside could see that Christians lived there. Even after electric Christmas lights were invented they remained a luxury of the rich for years to come, so many continued to use candles instead …and often kept a bucket of water and sand nearby, too. :wink:

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#11

I noticed in the German news this year they were warning people that use candles on the tree not to leave the candles burning when they leave the room. I thought that would be blatantly obvious and found it funny. Thanks for the background!

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#12

Merry Christmas! :stars:
I have extended the Christmas vocabulary list from last year for our german students :arrow_up: :hugs:
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas time :purple_heart:
Kristyna

5 Likes
#13

Thanks @Kristyna for the great list :smiley:
…and I would add “der Weihnachtsmarkt” :christmas_tree:
“Auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt gibt es viele Leckereien, Geschenkideen und Glühwein”

And here are some ideas for the weekend in Berlin:

This small one is only tomorrow and in Berlin Wedding

@dencooler you might be interested in that :thinking:

7 Likes