Sunday in German: Sonntag
Pronounced ZON-tahk — literally “Sun day”.
Sunday in German at a Glance
| German word | Sonntag |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | ZON-tahk (Sonn·tag) |
| Literal meaning | Sun day |
| Abbreviation | So |
From Old High German sunnūntag, “day of the sun” (die Sonne) — an exact cognate of English Sunday, both translating Latin dies Solis.
How to Pronounce Sonntag
ZON-tahk — syllable by syllable: Sonn·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 Sonntag
How to Say “Happy Sunday” in German
“Schönen Sonntag!” (literally “[have a] nice Sunday!”) 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: Sunday in German-Speaking Countries
German Sundays are famously quiet: the Ladenschlussgesetz keeps nearly all shops closed, and Ruhezeit (quiet time) frowns on mowing, drilling and loud music. It's a day for hikes, cake (Kaffee und Kuchen) and the cult TV crime show Tatort.
Did You Know?
From Old High German sunnūntag, “day of the sun” (die Sonne) — an exact cognate of English Sunday, both translating Latin dies Solis. Curious how English got its name for Sunday? See our guide to the origins of the days of the week.
How to Use Sonntag in a Sentence
Use am for “on”: am Sonntag = on Sunday (am is short for an dem). For “every Sunday” use the adverb sonntags or jeden Sonntag. All seven days are masculine: der Sonntag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Sunday in German?
Sunday in German is Sonntag, pronounced “ZON-tahk”. It literally means “Sun day”.
What does Sonntag mean in English?
From Old High German sunnūntag, “day of the sun” (die Sonne) — an exact cognate of English Sunday, both translating Latin dies Solis.
How do you pronounce Sonntag?
It's pronounced “ZON-tahk” — broken into syllables: Sonn·tag.
How do you say “Happy Sunday” in German?
Schönen Sonntag!. “Schönen Sonntag!” (literally “[have a] nice Sunday!”) 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 Sunday abbreviated in German?
Sunday (Sonntag) is abbreviated So on German calendars and schedules.
Is Sonntag capitalized in German?
Yes — always. German capitalizes every noun, so it's der Sonntag. Only the adverb sonntags (“on Sundays”) is written lowercase.
How do you say “on Sunday” in German?
am Sonntag — short for an dem Sonntag. For the habitual “every Sunday”, use sonntags or jeden Sonntag.
How do you say “today is Sunday” in German?
Heute ist Sonntag.