German · Greetings & Essentials
"Merry Christmas!" in German: frohe Weihnachten!
frohe Weihnachten!
Merry Christmas in German is frohe Weihnachten! Say it from Christmas Eve onward. Cards often write Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr.
Christmas Eve text
Frohe Weihnachten! Seid ihr schon beim Essen?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce frohe Weihnachten!
Say it
FROH-eh vine-NAHKH-ten
/ˈfʁoːə ˈvaɪ̯naxtn̩/
FROH-eh vine-NAHKH-ten. Soft ch in Weihnachten; stress NAHKH.
"Merry Christmas!" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| frohe Weihnachten! | merry Christmas! Standard wish. | Standard wish. |
| Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr | merry Christmas and a happy new year Card line. | Card line. |
| schöne Weihnachten | lovely Christmas Warm alternative. | Warm alternative. |
| Weihnachtstage | Christmas days Holiday period. | Holiday period. |
How to use frohe Weihnachten! in real life
- 1Christmas Eve text
Frohe Weihnachten! Seid ihr schon beim Essen?
Merry Christmas! Are you already at the meal?
Full phrase first.
- 2Office goodbye
Allen frohe Weihnachten und erholt euch!
Merry Christmas everyone, and rest well!
Group wish.
- 3Neighbor at the door
Frohe Weihnachten — hier sind Plätzchen.
Merry Christmas — here are cookies.
Spoken with a gift.
Mistakes English speakers make with frohe Weihnachten!
Incorrect: Merry Christmas!
Correct: Frohe Weihnachten!
Use the German headword phrase.
Incorrect: frohes Weihnachten
Correct: frohe Weihnachten
Weihnachten takes plural-style frohe, not frohes.
Good to know
Many Germans open gifts on Heiligabend (24 Dec) and say frohe Weihnachten then. Wishing too early can feel odd; from the 24th it is welcome. English Merry Christmas appears in ads, but spoken wishes stay German.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Calling family on Christmas Eve
ChatPal
Frohe Weihnachten! Habt ihr den Baum schon an?
Merry Christmas! Is the tree already lit?
You
Frohe Weihnachten! Ja, und der Braten duftet.
Merry Christmas! Yes, and the roast smells great.
ChatPal
Schön. Sag Oma auch frohe Weihnachten von mir.
Nice. Tell Grandma merry Christmas from me too.
You
Mach ich. Frohe Weihnachten nochmal!
Will do. Merry Christmas again!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Merry Christmas!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Merry Christmas!" in German
How do you say merry Christmas?
Frohe Weihnachten!
On a card with New Year?
Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr.
When to say it?
From Christmas Eve; many avoid very early wishes.
Alternative?
Schöne Weihnachten is also warm.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
