das  Vierteljahr

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfiːɐ̯tlˌjaːɐ̯/

📅 What does "das Vierteljahr" mean?

Das Vierteljahr refers to a period of three months. It literally translates to "quarter year". This term is often used to divide the year into four sections, especially in economic or planning contexts.

• Meaning 1: A period of three consecutive months. Synonym: das Quartal.

There are no different meanings based on the article, as "Vierteljahr" is always neuter: das Vierteljahr.

📚 Grammar of "das Vierteljahr" in Detail

"Vierteljahr" is a neuter noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

1. Der Geschäftsbericht wird für jedes Vierteljahr veröffentlicht.
   (The business report is published for each quarter.)
2. Im ersten Vierteljahr des Jahres ist es oft noch kalt.
   (In the first quarter of the year, it's often still cold.)
3. Wir planen unsere Urlaube meist ein Vierteljahr im Voraus.
   (We usually plan our holidays a quarter year in advance.)
4. Die letzten drei Vierteljahre waren wirtschaftlich sehr erfolgreich.
   (The last three quarters were very successful economically.)

💡 How to use "das Vierteljahr"?

"Das Vierteljahr" is used to name a specific three-month period. It's more common in formal contexts, such as:

• Business and Finance: For Quartalsberichte (quarterly reports), budget planning, tax deadlines (e.g., Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung - preliminary VAT return).
• Planning and Administration: When setting goals, project phases, or timelines.
• Statistics: For presenting data over specific periods of the year.

In general conversation, people often just say "drei Monate" (three months). The synonym "das Quartal" is used almost interchangeably, especially in business contexts, although "Quartal" might sometimes be perceived as slightly more international or technical.

Typical phrases:

• im ersten/zweiten/dritten/vierten Vierteljahr (in the first/second/third/fourth quarter)
• pro Vierteljahr (per quarter)
• ein ganzes Vierteljahr lang (for a whole quarter)

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of das Jahr (the year). A part of it, even a quarter (Viertel), stays neuter: das Vierteljahr. Or imagine: Das small, manageable quarter – small and neuter like das Kind (the child).

Meaning Mnemonic: Viertel (quarter) + Jahr (year) = Simply a quarter of a year. How many months in a year? 12. What's a quarter of 12? Exactly, 3 months! 🗓️

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Vierteljahr

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Wie lange arbeiten Sie schon hier?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ein Vierteljahr, Chef!"
Sagt der Chef: "Hmm, kommt mir viel länger vor. Mindestens drei Monate!"

(The boss asks the new employee: "How long have you been working here?"
The employee replies: "A quarter year, boss!"
The boss says: "Hmm, seems much longer to me. At least three months!")

✍️ Poem about the Vierteljahr

Ein Vierteljahr, wie schnell es flieht,
Drei Monde ziehen, man es kaum sieht.
Ob Frühling, Sommer, Herbst či Schnee,
Ein Stück vom Jahr, tut niemals weh.
Im Plan, im Bericht, da steht es klar,
Das Vierteljahr, ist wieder da.

(A quarter year, how fast it flies,
Three moons pass by, barely seen by eyes.
Whether spring, summer, autumn or snow,
A piece of the year, never brings woe.
In plans, in reports, it stands out clear,
The quarter year is here again, dear.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Teil vom großen Ganzen,
genau ein Viertel, ohne Schwanken.
Drei Monate gehören mir,
viermal im Jahr steh ich vor deiner Tür.
Was bin ich?

(I am part of the whole thing,
exactly a quarter, without wavering.
Three months belong to me,
four times a year, I'm at your door, you see.
What am I?)
Solution: Das Vierteljahr (The quarter year)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Vierteljahr" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Viertel: Derived from the number "vier" (four), it means the fourth part of something (quarter).
• Jahr: The familiar unit of time consisting of 12 months (year).

Cultural Context:

The division of the year into quarters (Vierteljahre or Quartale) is deeply rooted in economic and administrative processes in German-speaking countries. Many companies report their results quarterly, and government statistics or tax deadlines often follow this rhythm.