411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Sonnabend
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
German
Etymology
From de gmh sunābent, gmh sunnenābent, from de goh sunnūnāband Sunday eve (9th c.), calqued on de ang sunnanǣfen. In the Germanic reckoning, the day begins at sunset.
Compare nds Sünnavend, fy snjoen, fy sneaun, fy sneon.
Pronunciation
de /ˈzɔˌnaːbənt/ /ˈzɔnˌʔaːbənt/ standard
de /ˈzɔ.namt/ colloquial
de De-Sonnabend.ogg <<Germany>> (<<Berlin>>)
Noun
m,s:es
de northern Germany Eastern Germany Saturday
de Samstag
de Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch Ist an einem bestimmten Tage oder innerhalb einer Frist eine Willenserklärung abzugeben oder eine Leistung zu bewirken und fällt der bestimmte Tag oder der letzte Tag der Frist auf einen Sonntag, einen am Erklärungs- oder Leistungsort staatlich anerkannten allgemeinen Feiertag oder einen Sonnabend, so tritt an die Stelle eines solchen Tages der nächste Werktag. 1896 Civil Code § 193 Sonn- und Feiertag; Sonnabend https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__193.html Sundays and holidays; Saturdays If a declaration of will has to be given or a service has to be rendered on a certain date, or within a period of time, and if said date, or the last day of said period, falls on a Sunday, on a holiday officially recognised at the relevant location or on a Saturday, then this day shall be replaced by the next workday. https://web.archive.org/web/20260918210226/https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__193.html 18 September 2026
Usage notes
Sonnabend is still commonly used by older generations in northern Germany, whereas most younger people have adopted the southern/western de Samstag. Since Sonnabend was the day's only official name in the German Democratic Republic, the word still enjoys a stronger position in eastern Germany, although the dominant Samstag is also gaining ground among the young.
Outside of these areas, de Sonnabend might be used in the context of Roman Catholic masses held on Saturday evening, in order to emphasise that such masses count for fulfilling Sunday obligation. This is rare, however.
Declension
m,s:es
Derived terms
de Sonnabendabend sonnabendlich Sonnabendmittag Sonnabendmesse Sonnabendmorgen Sonnabendprediger sonnabends Sonnabendvormittag
See also
Further reading
Category:DDR German
de Days of the week