How to Say Happy New Year in German
Learn how to say Happy New Year in German. 'Frohes neues Jahr!' is the full phrase; 'Guten Rutsch!' wishes a good slide into the year. Pronunciation and traditions.
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To say Happy New Year in German, say 'Frohes neues Jahr!' (FRO-es NOY-es YAR), meaning 'Happy New Year.' Before New Year's Eve, Germans wish each other 'Guten Rutsch!' (GOO-ten ROOTCH), literally 'good slide,' meaning a smooth start to the new year. After midnight, switch to 'Frohes neues Jahr!'
Frohes neues Jahr
/FRO-es NOY-es YAR/ — German
How to Say Happy New Year in German
German has a charming two-part system for the turn of the year: a wish for the journey into the new year, and a wish once you have arrived. Learn both and you will sound perfectly natural whether it is December 29th or January 1st.
The Main Phrase: Frohes neues Jahr
Frohes neues Jahr! — pronounced FRO-es NOY-es YAR — is the direct equivalent of “Happy New Year.” You use it at midnight and throughout early January. Word for word it is frohes (happy/joyful) + neues (new) + Jahr (year).
A common shortened form is simply “Frohes Neues!” (Happy New!), which everyone understands and uses casually.
Guten Rutsch: The Pre-New-Year Wish
Before the year actually turns, Germans say Guten Rutsch! — literally “good slide.” It wishes you a smooth, easy “slide” into the coming year. The full, more formal version is “Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!” (A good slide into the new year). You say this in the days leading up to December 31st, often as you part from someone you won’t see again before the holiday.
| Phrase | When | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Rutsch! | Before NYE | Good slide (into the year) |
| Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! | Before NYE | A good start to the new year |
| Frohes neues Jahr! | At/after midnight | Happy New Year |
| Frohes Neues! | At/after midnight | Happy New! (casual) |
| Prost Neujahr! | Midnight toast | Cheers to the new year |
| Schönen Silvester! | Dec 31 | Have a nice New Year’s Eve |
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frohes | FRO-es | ”o” as in “go” |
| neues | NOY-es | ”eu” = “oy” |
| Jahr | YAR | ”J” = “y,” long “a” |
| Guten | GOO-ten | ”u” as in “moon” |
| Rutsch | ROOTCH | ”u” short, “tsch” = “ch” |
Silvester: New Year’s Eve
In German, New Year’s Eve is Silvester, named after Pope Sylvester I whose feast day is December 31st. Germans celebrate Silvester with fireworks (Feuerwerk), sparkling wine (Sekt), lead-pouring fortune games (Bleigießen, now wax-based), and the famously rewatched British comedy sketch Dinner for One. To wish someone a good evening, say “Schönen Silvester!”
Toasting at Midnight
When the clock strikes twelve, raise your glass of Sekt and say one of:
- Frohes neues Jahr! — Happy New Year!
- Prost Neujahr! — Cheers to the new year!
- Prosit Neujahr! — (the traditional, slightly formal toast)
- Auf ein gutes neues Jahr! — To a good new year!
Useful Sentences
- Ich wünsche dir und deiner Familie ein frohes neues Jahr! — I wish you and your family a happy new year!
- Guten Rutsch, wir sehen uns nächstes Jahr! — Good slide, see you next year!
- Alles Gute für das neue Jahr! — All the best for the new year!
So: say Guten Rutsch! on the way in, raise a glass with Frohes neues Jahr! at midnight, and you will mark the German new year exactly like a local.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Guten Rutsch mean?
'Guten Rutsch!' literally means 'good slide' and is used in the days before New Year's Eve to wish someone a smooth, good start ('slide') into the new year. The full version is 'Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!' Once midnight passes, Germans switch to 'Frohes neues Jahr!'
How do you pronounce Frohes neues Jahr?
It is FRO-es NOY-es YAR. 'Frohes' is FRO-es ('o' as in 'go'), 'neues' is NOY-es ('eu' = 'oy'), and 'Jahr' is YAR (the 'J' sounds like English 'y,' long 'a'). Stress falls on the first syllable of each word.
When do you say Guten Rutsch vs. Frohes neues Jahr?
Use 'Guten Rutsch!' (good slide) in the days leading up to New Year's Eve, as a wish for a smooth transition. Use 'Frohes neues Jahr!' (Happy New Year) at midnight on January 1st and afterward, once the new year has actually begun. The two cover before and after the turn of the year.
What do Germans say at midnight on New Year's Eve?
At midnight Germans say 'Frohes neues Jahr!' or 'Prost Neujahr!' (Cheers to the new year) while toasting with Sekt (sparkling wine). 'Prosit Neujahr!' is the more traditional toast. New Year's Eve itself is called 'Silvester,' so you may also hear 'Schönen Silvester!'
What is Silvester in Germany?
'Silvester' is the German name for New Year's Eve, December 31st, named after Pope Sylvester I whose feast day falls on that date. Germans celebrate with fireworks, Sekt, and the comedy sketch 'Dinner for One.' To wish a nice New Year's Eve, say 'Schönen Silvester!' or 'Frohes Silvester!'