Saturday in German: Samstag
Pronounced ZAHMS-tahk — literally “Sabbath day”.
Saturday in German at a Glance
| German word | Samstag |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | ZAHMS-tahk (Sams·tag) |
| Literal meaning | Sabbath day |
| Abbreviation | Sa |
From Greek sábbaton — the Hebrew Sabbath — via early Christian missionaries along the Rhine. Northern and eastern Germany traditionally says Sonnabend (“sun-eve”, the eve of Sunday) instead; both are correct.
How to Pronounce Samstag
ZAHMS-tahk — syllable by syllable: Sams·tag.
- The German -ag ending sounds like “-ahk” — Tag (“day”) rhymes with “dock”, not “tag”.
- German w sounds like English v: Mittwoch is “MIT-vokh”.
- The ch in Mittwoch is the rough back-of-throat sound in Scottish “loch”.
Example Sentences with Samstag
How to Say “Happy Saturday” in German
“Schönen Samstag!” (literally “[have a] nice Saturday!”) is the everyday German wish — you'll hear “Schönen Montag noch!” from cashiers and colleagues, with noch (“still”) added once the day is underway.
All 7 Days of the Week in German
German days mix Norse gods, the sun, the moon and pure pragmatism: Wednesday is simply “mid-week” (Mittwoch), and northern Germans call Saturday “sun-eve” (Sonnabend). Six of the seven names end in -tag, the German word for “day”. The week starts on Monday.
| English | German | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Montag | MOHN-tahk |
| Tuesday | Dienstag | DEENS-tahk |
| Wednesday | Mittwoch | MIT-vokh |
| Thursday | Donnerstag | DON-ners-tahk |
| Friday | Freitag | FRY-tahk |
| Saturday | Samstag | ZAHMS-tahk |
| Sunday | Sonntag | ZON-tahk |
See the full guide: Days of the Week in German.
Cultural Notes: Saturday in German-Speaking Countries
Samstag is errand day — shops close early in many towns, and by law almost everything is shut by Sunday. Hearing Sonnabend instead of Samstag instantly marks a speaker as northern or eastern German.
Did You Know?
From Greek sábbaton — the Hebrew Sabbath — via early Christian missionaries along the Rhine. Northern and eastern Germany traditionally says Sonnabend (“sun-eve”, the eve of Sunday) instead; both are correct. Curious how English got its name for Saturday? See our guide to the origins of the days of the week.
How to Use Samstag in a Sentence
Use am for “on”: am Samstag = on Saturday (am is short for an dem). For “every Saturday” use the adverb samstags or jeden Samstag. All seven days are masculine: der Samstag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Saturday in German?
Saturday in German is Samstag, pronounced “ZAHMS-tahk”. It literally means “Sabbath day”.
What does Samstag mean in English?
From Greek sábbaton — the Hebrew Sabbath — via early Christian missionaries along the Rhine. Northern and eastern Germany traditionally says Sonnabend (“sun-eve”, the eve of Sunday) instead; both are correct.
How do you pronounce Samstag?
It's pronounced “ZAHMS-tahk” — broken into syllables: Sams·tag.
How do you say “Happy Saturday” in German?
Schönen Samstag!. “Schönen Samstag!” (literally “[have a] nice Saturday!”) is the everyday German wish — you'll hear “Schönen Montag noch!” from cashiers and colleagues, with noch (“still”) added once the day is underway.
How is Saturday abbreviated in German?
Saturday (Samstag) is abbreviated Sa on German calendars and schedules.
Is Samstag capitalized in German?
Yes — always. German capitalizes every noun, so it's der Samstag. Only the adverb samstags (“on Saturdays”) is written lowercase.
How do you say “on Saturday” in German?
am Samstag — short for an dem Samstag. For the habitual “every Saturday”, use samstags or jeden Samstag.
How do you say “today is Saturday” in German?
Heute ist Samstag.