How to Say Merry Christmas in German
Learn how to say Merry Christmas in German. 'Frohe Weihnachten' is the main phrase. Pronunciation guide, Happy New Year in German, and German Christmas traditions explained.
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Quick answer
To say Merry Christmas in German, say 'Frohe Weihnachten' (FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten). 'Frohe' means 'happy/merry' and 'Weihnachten' means Christmas (literally 'holy/consecrated nights'). For Happy New Year: 'Frohes neues Jahr' (FROH-es NOY-es YAHR) or the informal toast 'Prosit Neujahr' (PROH-zit NOY-yahr).
Frohe Weihnachten
/FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten/ — German
How to Say Merry Christmas in German
Germany is the birthplace of many modern Christmas traditions — the Advent calendar, the Christmas tree, the Christmas market. Learning the German Christmas greeting connects you to one of the deepest wells of festive tradition.
The Phrase
Frohe Weihnachten — pronounced FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten
Copy the Phrase
The German phrase for “Merry Christmas” is Frohe Weihnachten (FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten).
Pronunciation Breakdown
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frohe | FROH-uh | ’Fr-’ as in free; long ‘o’; unstressed -e |
| Weihnachten | VY-nahkh-ten | ’W’ = V; ‘ei’ = eye; ‘ch’ = ach-Laut |
Key sounds:
- German W = English V: “Weihnachten” starts with a V sound, not a W
- ei in German = the ‘eye’ diphthong: VY, not VEE
- ch in ‘nachten’ = the ach-Laut (back-throat sound, as in Bach/loch)
All German Christmas & New Year Greetings
| German | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Frohe Weihnachten! | FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten | Merry Christmas! |
| Fröhliche Weihnachten! | FRUR-likh-uh VY-nahkh-ten | Merry Christmas! (slightly more formal) |
| Gesegnete Weihnachten! | guh-ZAIG-ne-tuh… | Blessed Christmas! (religious) |
| Frohes neues Jahr! | FROH-es NOY-es YAHR | Happy New Year! |
| Gutes neues Jahr! | GOO-tes NOY-es YAHR | Good New Year! |
| Prosit Neujahr! | PROH-zit NOY-yahr | Toast at midnight |
| Einen guten Rutsch! | AY-nen GOO-ten ROOTSH | Have a good slide (into the New Year)! |
| Frohe Festtage! | FROH-uh FEST-tah-guh | Happy holidays! |
| Schöne Feiertage! | SHUR-nuh FYE-er-tah-guh | Beautiful holidays! |
What Does Weihnachten Mean?
Weihnachten literally means “consecrated nights” or “holy nights”:
- Weih- from weihen = to consecrate, to bless (same root as heilig, holy)
- -nachten from Nacht (night) + plural ending
The name refers to the holy nights from December 24-25 — it is one of the most explicitly sacred names for Christmas in any European language.
German Christmas Culture
Germany gave the world some of its most beloved Christmas traditions:
| Tradition | German Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas tree | Tannenbaum (fir tree) | German tradition, 16th century |
| Advent calendar | Adventskalender | German invention, 19th century |
| Advent wreath | Adventskranz | Hamburg, 1839 |
| Christmas market | Weihnachtsmarkt | Germany/Austria, medieval |
| Silent Night | Stille Nacht | Austria, 1818 |
| Gingerbread house | Lebkuchenhaus | From Hansel & Gretel |
The Unique “Guten Rutsch” Expression
“Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!” — literally “a good slide into the new year” — is uniquely German. The expression comes from Rosch haSchana (the Jewish New Year), and Rutsch may derive from the Yiddish/Hebrew Rosch rather than the German word for “slide.” It’s said in the last days of December as a New Year wish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Frohe Weihnachten?
'Frohe' = FROH-uh: 'fr' as in English 'free,' long 'o,' unstressed 'e.' 'Weihnachten' = VY-nahkh-ten: 'W' in German = 'V' sound; 'ei' = 'ay' (like 'eye'); 'nachten' = nahkh-ten (the 'ch' is the back-throat ach-Laut, like in Bach). Full phrase: FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten.
What does Weihnachten mean literally?
'Weihnachten' comes from 'geweihte Nächte' — 'consecrated nights' or 'holy nights.' The 'Weih-' element is related to the verb 'weihen' (to consecrate, to bless) and 'Nacht' means night. The name refers to the holy nights surrounding December 24-25. It's one of the most explicitly sacred names for Christmas in any language.
How do you say Happy New Year in German?
'Frohes neues Jahr' (FROH-es NOY-es YAHR) = Happy New Year (literally 'happy new year'). Common alternatives: 'Gutes neues Jahr' (GOO-tes NOY-es YAHR) = Good New Year; 'Prosit Neujahr!' (PROH-zit NOY-yahr) = traditional toast at midnight (Prosit = may it be good, from Latin 'prosit'); 'Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!' = a good slide into the New Year (a uniquely German expression).
What is Germany's famous Christmas tradition?
Germany gave the world most modern Christmas traditions: the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum), Advent calendars and Advent wreaths, the Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt), Christmas cookies (Plätzchen), gingerbread houses (Lebkuchenhäuser), and Christmas carols including 'Stille Nacht' (Silent Night, written in Austria 1818). German Christmas culture is deeply influential on worldwide celebration.
How do you say 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' in German?
'Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr!' (FROH-uh VY-nahkh-ten oont ayn GLÜK-likh-es NOY-es YAHR) = Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The compound greeting is common in cards and formal messages. Shorter versions: 'Frohe Festtage!' (Happy holidays/festivals) — more inclusive of New Year; 'Schöne Feiertage!' (Beautiful holidays).