das  Jahr

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/jaːɐ̯/

📅 What does "das Jahr" mean?

Das Jahr (noun, neuter) refers to a unit of time generally corresponding to the period it takes the Earth to orbit the sun once. It usually comprises 12 Monate (months), 52 Wochen (weeks), or 365 Tage (days) (366 in a Schaltjahr - leap year).

• Main meaning: Period of 365/366 days; calendar year.
• Other meanings: Can also refer to a specific year of life or an academic/school year (e.g., im ersten Jahr - in the first year).

There is only one article for "Jahr": das.

📚 Grammar of "das Jahr" in Detail

"Jahr" is a noun with the article das (neuter). It declines as follows:

Example Sentences

1. Das letzte Jahr war sehr ereignisreich. (Last year was very eventful.)
2. Am Ende des Jahres machen wir Urlaub. (At the end of the year, we're going on vacation.)
3. In diesem Jahr möchte ich Deutsch lernen. (This year, I want to learn German.)
4. Ich wünsche dir ein frohes neues Jahr! (I wish you a happy new year!)
5. Die letzten zehn Jahre vergingen wie im Flug. (The last ten years flew by.)
6. Die Ereignisse der letzten Jahre haben viel verändert. (The events of the last years have changed a lot.)
7. Wir denken oft an die gemeinsamen Jahre zurück. (We often think back to the years together.)
8. Mit den Jahren wird man weiser. (One gets wiser with the years.)

💡 How is "Jahr" used?

• Timekeeping: Indicating calendar years (e.g., im Jahr 2024 - in the year 2024, das Jahrtausend - the millennium).
• Duration: Indicating a span of time (e.g., Ich lebe seit fünf Jahren hier - I have been living here for five years).
• Age: Stating one's age (e.g., Er ist 30 Jahre alt - He is 30 years old).
• Periods: Describing periods like Schuljahr (school year), Studienjahr (academic year), Geschäftsjahr (fiscal year).
• Idioms: "Jahr für Jahr" (year after year), "alle Jahre wieder" (every year again / regularly recurring), "in die Jahre kommen" (to get on in years / to grow old).

It is often used with prepositions like in (in this year), im (in the year X), pro (per year), seit (since/for a year), über (over years).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Jahr"

1. Article Mnemonic: Many German time units indicating a period or section are neuter: das Quartal (quarter), das Jahrzehnt (decade), das Jahrhundert (century), das Jahrtausend (millennium)... and also das Jahr. Imagine a neutral 'it' (like das Kind - the child) counting its Jahre (years) on its fingers. (Though note exceptions like die Woche, der Monat, der Tag).

2. Meaning Mnemonic: The German word "Jahr" sounds very similar to the English "year". Think of "Happy New Year!" becoming "Frohes Neues Jahr!". Easy!

↔️ Synonyms & Opposites

⚠️ Careful: Don't confuse "Jahr" with "Uhr" (hour / clock) or "Haar" (hair) – they might sound slightly similar to learners!

😂 A Little Time Joke

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist älter, die Sonne oder der Mond?" Antwortet Fritzchen: "Der Mond natürlich! Der scheint nachts, wenn es dunkel ist. Die Sonne scheint nur am Tag, wenn es eh schon hell ist!"

English Translation: The teacher asks: "Which is older, the sun or the moon?" Little Fritz answers: "The moon, of course! It shines at night when it's dark. The sun only shines during the day when it's already light anyway!"

(Okay, not directly about 'Jahr', but about time and perspective!)

📜 Poem about the Year

German:
Das Jahr beginnt mit leisem Schritt,
bringt Schnee und Eis oft mit sich mit.
Dann taut es auf, der Frühling lacht,
der Sommer strahlt in voller Pracht.

Der Herbst malt Blätter bunt und fein,
so zieht das Jahr ins Land hinein.
Zwölf Monde zieh'n, die Zeit verrinnt,
bis bald ein neues Jahr beginnt.

English Translation:
The year begins with quiet tread,
Often brings snow and ice instead.
Then it thaws, the spring does laugh,
The summer shines on its behalf.

Autumn paints leaves colorful and fine,
Thus the year moves through the land and time.
Twelve moons pass by, time slips away,
Until a new year starts its day.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich habe vier Zeiten, doch keine Uhr,
hab' 365 Stufen auf meiner Flur.
Mal geb' ich einen Tag dir mehr,
komm' immer wieder, rundumher.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I have four seasons, but no clock to see,
Have 365 steps on my hallway for thee.
Sometimes I give you one day more,
I always return, coming 'round the door.

What am I?

Solution: Das Jahr (The Year)

✨ Other Interesting Facts

• Word Compounds: "Jahr" is part of many German words, e.g.: Jahreszeit (season), Jahrhundert (century), Jahrgang (vintage/year group), Jahresabschluss (annual financial statement), Schaltjahr (leap year), Neunjahr (New Year).
• Etymology: The word "Jahr" comes from the Old High German "jār" and has Indo-European roots related to "to go" or "to move" (in the sense of a cycle).
• Schaltjahr (Leap Year): A year with 366 days (an extra day in February) to align the calendar with the astronomical solar year.