Weihnachten - essential German words and phrases for Christmas

The festivities begin on the forth Sunday before Christmas, or the first day of Advent. Families set up Advent wreathes (Adventskränze) , traditionally with four candles, one of which is lit each Sunday before Christmas, counting down the weeks. Christmas / Advent markets (Christkindlmärkte / Weihnachtsmärkte) traditionally start at this time and shops stay open later.

On the eve of 6th December, St Nicholas’ Day (Nikolaus), children put their shoes or boots (Nikolaus-Stiefel) by the fireplace or outside their bedroom door. If they have been good, their Nikolaus-Stiefel will be full of edible treats in the morning, but if they’ve been bad they will only receive a tree branch (Rute).

On Christmas Eve (Heiligabend), the Christmas tree (Weihnachtsbaum / Christbaum / Tannenbaum) is revealed. Children eagerly look forward to seeing it as they are not allowed to do so before then. German Christmas trees are decorated in a similar way to those in the UK and USA with tinsel (Lametta), lights (Lichter), candles (Kerzen), and edible decorations such as nuts, apples and sweets. Presents (Geschenke) are put under the trees and plates piled with fruit (Obst), nuts (Nüsse), marzipan (Marzipan), chocolate (Schokolade) and home-made seasonal biscuits (Weihnachtsgebäck) and laid out. When the children hear a bell, the can go in to see the tree.

Families sing Christmas carols (Weihnachtslieder) and open presents, and everyone wishes one another Merry Christmas (Fröhliche Weihnachten / Frohe Weinachten / Frohes Fest). Some people go to midnight Mass (Christmette), where there will traditionally be a display of the crib in the stable (Krippe) and a re-enactment of the story of Christmas (Krippenspiel).

Christmas Eve is a time for feasting. The traditional dish eaten on Christmas day is roast goose (Gänsebraten / Weihnachtsgans) stuffed with apples (Äpfel) and prunes (Backpflaumen) or chestnuts (Esskastanien) with dumplings (Knödel) and red cabbage (Rotkohl). Also popular is carp (Karpfen / Weihnachtskarpfen).  In some regions the Christmas feast takes place on Christmas day (der erste Weihnachtsfeiertag) and simple dishes are served on Christmas eve, such as stew (Eintopf) or sausages (Würstchen) with potato salad (Kartoffelsalat).

For dessert there various kinds of sweet bread, such as Christstollen (long loaves of sweet bread with nuts, raisins and dried fruit), Lebkuchen (spiced ginger bread, normally chocolate covered), Marzipan and Dresden Stollen (a type of moist bread filled with fruit).

On 26th December (der zweite Weihnachtsfeiertag), a holiday in Germany, people generally visit family and friends.

Chat-up lines in German

Hat es sehr wehgetan, als du vom Himmel gefallen bist?

Did, it hurt, when you fell from heaven?

Glaubst du an die Liebe auf den ersten Blick, oder soll ich nochmal vorbeilaufen?

Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?

Ich hab meine Telefonnummer verloren. Kann ich deine haben?

I’ve lost my phone number. Can I have yours?

Bist du oft hier?

Do you come here often?

Ich hab in der Zeitung gelesen, das Küsse glücklich machen. Darf ich Dich glücklich machen?

I read in the paper that kisses makes people happy – can I make you happy?

Wenn Du Lust auf einen Kuss hast, sag nichts – lächel’ nur .. !

If you want a kiss, don’t say anything…just smile.

Du hast schöne Augen!

You have beautiful eyes!

Der Barkeeper hat gesagt, dass dieser Drink unwiderstehlich macht, und jetzt wollte ich Dich fragen, ob er es schon wirkt.

The barman said that this drink would make me irresistible, has it worked?

[Mit den Händen auf ihren Schultern]: Oh – das sind Schulterblätter. Ich dachte, es wären Flügel.

(With your hands on their shoulders): Oh, they’re shoulder blades, I thought they were wings.

Ich hatte einen wirklich schlechten Tag. Ich würde mich gleich besser fühlen, wenn ein bezauberndes Mädchen mich anlächeln würde. Würdest Du für mich lächeln?

I’ve had a really bad day. It would make me feel better if a lovely girl smiled at me – can you smile for me?

Wie wär’s wenn wir morgen zusammen frühstücken.

How about we have breakfast together tomorrow?

“Wie fühlt man sich, wenn man die schönste Frau im Raum ist?”

How does it feel to be the prettiest girl in the room?

Was gibt es sonst noch für Sehenswürdigkeiten in Deiner Stadt, außer Dir?

What sights are there in your city, aside from you?

Hast Du mal einen Stift .. ? Ich möchte mir Deine Nummer aufschreiben.

Do you have a pen? I’d like to write your number down.

20 essential holiday phrases in German

Hello Hallo
Goodbye Auf Wiedersehen/ Tschüss (informal)
Please Bitte
Thank you Danke
Yes Ja
No Nein
Excuse me/sorry Entschuldigung
My name is… Ich heisse

What is your name? Wie heissen Sie?
Nice to meet you Schön Sie kennenzulernen
Where do you come from? Woher kommen Sie?
I come from Great Britain/America Ich komme aus Grossbritannien/Amerika
How are you? Wie geht es Ihnen?
Where is…? Wo ist…?
I would like (2 bottles of water) Ich möchte (zwei Flaschen Wasser)
How much is that? Wieviel kostet das?
How do I get to…? Wie komme ich zum (m/n)/zur(f)…?
I don’t understand Ich vestehe nicht
I’m sorry, I don’t speak German Es tut mir leid, ich spreche kein Deutsch
Do you speak English? Sprechen Sie Englisch?

20 essential holiday phrases in Spanish

Hello Hola
Goodbye Adiós
Please Por favor
Thank you Gracias
Yes
No No
Excuse me/sorry Disculpe/Perdone
My name is… Mi nombre es/Me llamo…
What is your name? ¿Cómo te llamas?
Nice to meet you Encantada de conocerte
Where do you come from? ¿De dónde eres?
I come from Great Britain/America Soy de Gran Bretaña/América
How are you? ¿Qué tal estás?
Where is…? ¿Dónde está…?
I would like (2 bottles of water) Me gustaría/ ¿Me puede dar? (dos botellas de agua)
How much is that? ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
How do I get to…? ¿Cómo puedo ir a…?
I don’t understand No (lo) entiendo
I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish Lo siento, no hablo español
Do you speak English? ¿Hablas inglés?

20 essential holiday phrases in French

Hello Bonjour
Goodbye Au revoir
Please S’il vous plaît
Thank you Merci
Yes Oui
No Non
Excuse me/sorry Excusez-moi/désolé(e)
My name is… Je m’appelle

What is your name? Comment vous vous appelez?
Nice to meet you Enchanté(e)
Where do you come from? Vous venez d’où?
I come from Great Britain/America Je viens de Grande Bretagne/des États-Unis
How are you? Ça va?
Where is…? Où est…?
I would like (2 bottles of water) Je voudrais (deux bouteilles d’eau)
How much is that? C’est combien?
How do I get to…? Comment aller à…?
I don’t understand Je ne comprends pas
I’m sorry, I don’t speak French Je suis désolé(e), je ne parle pas le français…
Do you speak English? Parlez-vous anglais?

Skiing vocabulary in Italian: on-piste and off-piste essentials

Lift pass Ski pass / un pass per lo ski lift
Ski lift Ski lift
Skis Gli sci
To ski Sciare
To hire (skis) Noleggiare
Off-piste Fuori-pista
Piste map Carta della pista
Ski equipment Articoli da sci
Ski jacket Giacca da sci
Goggles Occhiali da sci
Ski pole Racchette da sci
Ski boots Scarponi da sci

Gloves Guanti
Hat Cappello
Ski school Scuola di sci
Ski instructor Maestro di sci
Chalet Chalet / bungalow
Help! Aiuto!
Watch out! Attenzione!
I need a doctor Ho bisogno di un dottore
Snow Neve
Snow forecast Previsioni meteo
Avalanche risk Rischio valanghe
Closed Chiuso
Bad weather warning Avviso di valanga
Cross-country skiing Sci di fondo
Downhill skiing Sci alpino
Mulled wine Vin brulé
A beer please Una birra per favore

Skiing vocabulary in Spanish: on-piste and off-piste essentials

Lift pass Abono / forfait
Ski lift Teleférico
Skis Esquís
To ski Esquiar
To hire (skis) Alquilar (esquís)
Off-piste Fuera de pista
Piste map Mapa de pista
Ski equipment Artículos de esquí
Ski jacket Chaqueta de esquí
Goggles Gafas de esquí
Ski pole Bastón de esquí
Ski boots Botas de esquí

Gloves Guantes de esquí
Hat Gorro de esquí
Helmet Casco
Ski school Escuela de esquí
Ski instructor Instructor/a de esquí
Chalet Chalet
Help! ¡Socorro!
Watch out! ¡Cuidado!
I need a doctor Necesito un médico
It’s an emergency Es una urgencia / emergencia
Snow Nieve
Snow forecast Previsión de nieve
Avalanche risk Riesgo de avalancha
Closed Cerrado
Bad weather warning Advertencia de mal tiempo
Cross-country skiing Esquí de fondo
Downhill skiing Esquí alpino
Mulled wine Vino caliente
A beer please Una cerveza por favor

Skiing vocabulary in French: on-piste and off-piste essentials

Lift pass Un forfait
Ski lift Le téléski
Skis Les skis
To ski Skier
To hire (skis) Louer (skis)
Off-piste Hors-piste
Piste map Plan des pistes
Ski equipment Equipement de ski
Ski jacket Une veste
Goggles Lunettes (de ski)
Poles Batons de ski
Ski boots Chaussures de ski

Gloves Gants
Hat Bonnet
Helmet Le casque
Ski school Une école de ski
Ski instructor Moniteur
Chalet Chalet
Sledge Un traîneau
Help! Au secours!
Watch out! Attention!
I need a doctor J’ai besoin d’un secouriste
It’s an emergency C’est une urgence
Snow La neige
Snow forecast La prévision de neige
Avalanche risk Risque d’avalanche
Closed Fermé
Bad weather warning Attention au mauvais temps
Cross-country skiing Le ski de fond
Downhill skiing Le ski alpin
Mulled wine Vin chaud
A beer please Une bière s’il vous plait

Useful skiing-related vocabulary in German

Lift pass Liftpass/Liftkarte
Ski lift Skilift
Skis Skier
To ski Ski fahren
To hire (skis) Ski ausleihen
Off-piste Off-piste or or Nicht Praepariert
Piste map Skikarte or Karte vom Skigebiet
Ski equipment Skiausruestung
Ski jacket Skijacke
Goggles Skibrille
Poles Skistoecke
Ski boots Skistiefel

Gloves Handschuhe
Hat Muetze
Ski school Skischuhle
Ski instructor Skilehrer
Chalet Chalet or Hotel or Gasthaus
Help! Hilfe!
Watch out! Vorsicht!
I need a doctor Ich brauche einen Artz
It’s an emergency Es ist ein Notfall
Snow Schnee
Snow forecast Schneevorhersage
Avalanche risk Lawinengefahr
Closed Geschlossen
Bad weather warning Schlechtwetter Warnung
Cross-country skiing Skilanglauf
Downhill skiing Abfahrt Ski
Mulled wine Gluehwein
A beer please Ein Bier bitte

Italian False Cognates: common mistakes made by foreigners

So you’ve already taken a number of Italian language courses over a span of several months, you’ve attended every lesson, and followed self-study advice to the ‘T’…you think you’ve got the Italian language sorted?

While living in Italy I learned the hard way to be careful what I asked for! These are some common mistakes foreigners make with false cognates in Italy:

1. Don’t ask for ‘peperoni’ on your Pizza unless you have a taste for the hot-n-spicy! The first time I went to my boyfriend’s mother’s house for dinner (in Italy), she asked me if I preferred pepperoni or plain (Margherita) pizza. After requesting pepperoni on my pizza, I discovered the hard way that in Italian ‘peperoni’ are actually hot peppers! Out of embarrassment, I ended up eating the entire pie, sipping water after every burning bite. If you want pepperoni, order ‘salame piccante’ instead.

2. Looking to top your salad off with some crunchy ‘cocomeri’? Then I hope you like oil and vinegar on your watermelon, ‘cause that’s what you just ordered! The Italian word for cucumber is actually ‘cetriolo.’

3. Lost your camera and need to buy a new one? If you tell a salesperson that you’re looking for a ‘camera’, you may not like the response you’ll get. The word ‘camera’ in Italian actually means bedroom! Looking for a snapshot digital machine, then you should request a “macchina fotografica” instead.

4. Commenting on the colorful ‘confetti’ being thrown around at the Venice Carnivale? Well let’s hope you never get pegged in the head with Italian ‘confetti,’ which is the word for sugar-coated almonds. The little colorful pieces of paper being thrown around at carnivals and parties are known as ‘coriandoli.’

5. Need directions to the Gucci ‘fattoria’? If you’re looking for outlet shopping during your stay in Italy, don’t refer to them as ‘fattoria,’ unless you want to buy some farm fresh produce! Factory outlets are actually called “(gli) Outlet,” though the Italian word for factory is ‘fabbrica.’ A case in many where your English actually comes in handy during your stay on the boot!

Known for its vibrant culture, spectacular scenery, friendly people, and world famous cuisine, Italy will always leave you wanting to come back for more. Hopefully these tips will help to make your Italian adventure unforgettable for all the right reasons!

For a list of more false cognates or ‘Amici Falsi,’ you can also check out: 10 Italian False Friends.

Cactus offers Italian immersion courses in Italy, and Italian evening course in the UK, the US & Canada.