Merry Christmas In Austrian: A Quick Guide To Writing It

If you're planning a trip to Austria for the holidays, you might want to learn how to wish the locals a Merry Christmas. In Austrian, you would say Frohe Weihnachten, which is a slight variation of the German phrase. So, if you're in Vienna, make sure to spread the festive cheer by greeting people with a warm Frohe Weihnachten!

How to pronounce 'Frohe Weihnachten'

The German language is known for its complex rules and intricate grammar, and the phrase "Frohe Weihnachten" is no exception. Here's a detailed guide on how to pronounce this popular Christmas greeting:

Pronunciation Guide for "Frohe Weihnachten"

• The phrase “Frohe Weihnachten” directly translates to "Merry Christmas" in German and is widely used during the festive season.
• When pronouncing "Frohe Weihnachten," it's important to remember that the “h” in both "Frohe" and "Weihnachten" is silent or, at most, a very subtle breath. So, the correct pronunciation is "fro-eh vei-nakhten," with a slight emphasis on the "ei" sound.
• The “ch” in "Weihnachten" is a guttural sound, quite different from the English pronunciation of "ch." It's a sound that comes from the back of the throat and is similar to the "ch" sound in the Scottish word "loch."
• "Weihnachten" is a unique word with a complex history. While it used to be a feminine plural, it is now mostly used as a neuter singular noun. However, in some rural areas, especially in Austria and Switzerland, "Weihnachten" is still used as a plural.
• If you want to avoid the grammatical intricacies of "Weihnachten," you can use alternative phrases such as “Frohes Fest" (meaning "A happy celebration") or "Schöne Feiertage" (meaning "Happy Holidays").

Other Holiday Greetings

• Fröhliche Weihnachten: Merry Christmas, with an emphasis on a more vivid form of joyfulness.
• Frohes neues Jahr: Happy New Year.
• Alles Gute zum neuen Jahr: All the best for the New Year.
• Fröhliches Hanukkah: Happy Hanukkah.
• Die Grüße der Jahreszeit: Season's greetings.
• Der Weihnachtsmann kommt: Santa Claus is coming.

So, the next time you want to wish someone "Merry Christmas" in German, remember to pronounce "Frohe Weihnachten" as "fro-eh vei-nakhten," with a silent "h" and a guttural "ch." This will surely impress your German friends and showcase your dedication to proper pronunciation!

How to say 'Merry Christmas' in Austrian German

If you're celebrating Christmas in Austria and want to spread some festive cheer, you'll be pleased to know that wishing someone a Merry Christmas in Austrian German is a nice and common thing to do. It's a warm and friendly expression that can be used among friends, family, and colleagues, and even strangers!

So, how do you say it? Well, if you're in Austria, you have less of a mouthful to say than if you were in Germany: it's simply "Frohe Weihnachten". This is a slight variation of the German phrase, "Fröhliche Weihnachten".

Let's break that down:

• "Frohe" ['fʁoː.ə]: The 'o' sound is pronounced like the 'o' in 'go', and the 'e' is a soft schwa sound, like the 'a' in 'ham'.
• "Weihnachten" ['vaɪ̯.nax.tən] is one of those tricky German words to pronounce. The 'w' is pronounced like the English 'v', the 'ei' like the 'i' in 'fine', the 'ch' sound is formed in the back of the throat, and "ten" is pronounced just like the English number.

There are also some other ways to express joyous and cheerful Christmas greetings in Austrian German:

• "Fröhliche Weihnachten!" (Joyful Christmas!)
• "Schöne Weihnachten!" (Beautiful Christmas!)
• "Frohes Weihnachtsfest!" (A joyful Christmas celebration!)
• "Ein Frohes Fest!" (A joyful celebration!)

How to write a Christmas card in Austrian German

If you're looking to write a Christmas card in Austrian German, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, "Merry Christmas" in Austrian German is "Frohe Weihnachten". This is a slight variation of the German phrase, "Fröhliche Weihnachten".

• "Frohes Weihnachtsfest!" ("Happy Christmas celebration!")
• "Fröhliche Weihnachten!" ("Joyful Christmas!")
• "Schöne Weihnachten!" ("Beautiful Christmas!")
• "Frohe Feiertage!" ("Happy holidays!")
• "Schöne Feiertage!" ("Beautiful holidays!")
• "Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!" ("Merry Christmas and a happy new year!")

When writing your card, it's important to keep in mind the formality of the relationship you have with the recipient. In German, you would use "Sie" for formal relationships and "du" for friends and family. Additionally, German nouns are always capitalized, and are usually preceded by an article such as "der", "die", or "das", which mean "the" in English.

• "Ich wünsche dir/euch/Ihnen ein frohes Weihnachtsfest!" ("I wish you a happy Christmas celebration!")
• "Mögen all eure/Ihre Weihnachtswünsche in Erfüllung gehen!" ("May all your Christmas wishes come true!")
• "Ich hoffe, Sie/du haben/hast eine schöne Zeit mit Ihrer/deiner Familie." ("I hope you have a nice time with your family.")
• "Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesundes neues Jahr!" ("Merry Christmas and a healthy new year!")

Christmas traditions in Austria

Merry Christmas in Austrian (or Austrian German) is 'Frohe Weihnachten'!

Austria is known for its slow-paced, laid-back attitude to Christmas, with celebrations starting in late November or early December. The Advent period is very important, with families making or buying an Advent wreath, usually made of fir or spruce, and decorated with four candles that are lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Christmas markets are also a big part of the festive season in Austria, with towns and cities setting up markets selling Christmas food, drinks, and decorations. Gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, and hot spiced wine are all popular treats.

The main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve, often consisting of fried carp, followed by chocolate and apricot cake. Presents are also exchanged on Christmas Eve, brought by the Christkind, a golden-haired baby with wings who symbolises the newborn Christ.

On 5 December, Austrians celebrate Krampus Day. Krampus is a horned devil who runs through the streets of alpine villages, banging cowbells and rattling chains to scare children into behaving. The following day is the feast day of St Nicholas, who parades through towns dressed in a traditional robe and mitre, carrying a book that records children's good and bad deeds. St Nicholas is often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, a devilish assistant who dresses in rags and carries a sack to take naughty children away.

Another important figure is Perchta, an Alpine goddess who punishes bad children and rewards good ones. In the Salzburg region, there are processions of people wearing beautiful or ugly masks to represent Perchta.

How to say 'Happy New Year' in Austrian German

If you're celebrating the new year in Austria, there are several ways to say "Happy New Year" in Austrian German.

The most common phrase is "Frohes Neues Jahr!", which is used across German-speaking countries and means exactly the same as "Happy New Year!". You can use this phrase with anyone—friends, family, or even a stranger.

Before midnight on New Year's Eve, you're likely to hear Austrians saying, "Guten Rutsch!", which means "Good slide!". It's used to wish someone a smooth transition into the new year.

There's also a more formal option: “Ein glückliches neues Jahr!”, which means "A Happy New Year".

If you're unsure of which greeting to use, a standard phrase that is widely accepted across German-speaking countries is "Alles Gute zum neuen Jahr!", meaning "Best wishes for the new year!".

Frequently asked questions