Dates shape when events happen, so learn the key vocabulary and formats for talking about days, months, and years in German.
Days of the Week
The days of the week each have a gender and come from Old High German or Latin, so practice them in order to plan your week.
| German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| Montag | Monday | |
| Dienstag | Tuesday | |
| Mittwoch | Wednesday | |
| Donnerstag | Thursday | |
| Freitag | Friday | |
| Samstag | Saturday | |
| Sonntag | Sunday |
On Monday I have an appointment.
Months
The months are all masculine in German and come from Latin names, so learn them for talking about seasons and planning ahead.
| German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| Januar | January | |
| Februar | February | |
| März | March | |
| April | April | |
| Mai | May | |
| Juni | June | |
| Juli | July | |
| August | August | |
| September | September | |
| Oktober | October | |
| November | November | |
| Dezember | December |
Seasons
Seasons in German are neuter and used for describing weather and setting activities, so learn their names and typical months.
| German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| der Frühling | spring | |
| der Sommer | summer | |
| der Herbst | autumn | |
| der Winter | winter |
Talking About Dates
Dates in German usually put the day first then the month, and you say the month in the dative case after am for specific days.
Years and Centuries
Years are read as numbers and centuries as ordinal numbers; use Im Jahr to specify a year and im plus ordinal for centuries and decades.
Vocabulary
This short list includes key words for time and date that help you ask and answer questions about when things happen.
| German Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| das Datum | date | |
| der Tag | day | |
| die Woche | week | |
| der Monat | month | |
| das Jahr | year | |
| die Jahreszeit | season | |
| heute | today | |
| gestern | yesterday | |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| German Word | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| der Kalender | calendar | |
| das Datum | date | |
| der Tag | day | |
| die Woche | week | |
| der Monat | month | |
| die Jahreszeit | season | |
| das Jahr | year | |
| das Jahrhundert | century | |
| heute | today | |
| morgen | tomorrow | |
| gestern | yesterday | |
| früh | early | |
| spät | late | |
| am Morgen | in the morning | |
| am Abend | in the evening | |
| jetzt | now |
Summary
Dates turn on knowing the days, months, and key phrases for putting them together; practice saying and writing them in the typical German order.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025