der  Jahresbeginn

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈjaːɐ̯əsbəˌɡɪn/

📅 What does "der Jahresbeginn" mean?

Der Jahresbeginn means the beginning of a calendar year, typically referring to January 1st and the days or weeks immediately following. It's the time when a new year starts.

It has only this one meaning and uses the article der.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Jahresbeginn

The noun "Jahresbeginn" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Singular

Plural

The plural form "die Jahresbeginne" is used very rarely, as the singular is generally used in a collective sense or when referring to specific years. If used, the declension is as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Wir planen unseren Urlaub immer direkt zum Jahresbeginn.
   We always plan our vacation right at the beginning of the year.

2. Viele Menschen fassen gute Vorsätze für den Jahresbeginn.
   Many people make New Year's resolutions for the beginning of the year.

3. Die Kälte des vergangenen Jahresbeginns war ungewöhnlich stark.
   The cold at the beginning of last year was unusually intense.

🚀 When to use "Jahresbeginn"?

"Jahresbeginn" is used to refer to the first period of a year. Depending on the context, this can mean New Year's Day (January 1st) itself, the first week of January, or sometimes the entire month of January.

• Typical contexts: Planning (e.g., Budgetplanung zum Jahresbeginn - budget planning at the start of the year), New Year's resolutions, weather reports for the first weeks of the year, seasonal events.
• Comparison: Jahresanfang is a very common synonym and often interchangeable. Neujahr refers more specifically to January 1st and the associated celebrations.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article: Think of DER starting pistol 🏁 – the starting signal for the new year is DER Jahresbeginn.

Meaning: The word is a compound: Jahr (year) + Beginn (beginning). So it literally means the beginning of the year.

↔️ Opposites and Alternatives: Around the Jahresbeginn

⚠️ Similar, but not identical words

• Jahreszeit: Refers to the seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).
• Jahrhundertbeginn: The beginning of a century.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum sind Kalender zum Jahresbeginn so beliebt?
Why are calendars so popular at the beginning of the year?

Weil ihre Tage gezählt sind! 😉
Because their days are numbered! 😉

✍️ Poem for the Beginning of the Year

Der Schnee liegt leis' zum Jahresbeginn,
Ein neues Buch, was steht da drin?
Mit Vorsatz gut und frischem Mut,
Tut dieser Neubeginn so gut.
Die Uhr schlug zwölf, das Jahr ist neu,
Auf dass es Gutes bring', uns treu.

The snow lies softly at the year's beginning,
A new book, what is written within?
With good intent and fresh courage bright,
This new beginning feels so right.
The clock struck twelve, the year is new,
May it bring good things, loyal and true.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich komme nach der längsten Nacht,
hab' frischen Wind und Plan gebracht.
Man feiert mich mit Sekt und Knall,
und wünscht sich Glück auf jeden Fall.

Was bin ich?

I come after the longest night,
have brought fresh wind and plans so bright.
People celebrate me with bubbly and bang,
and wish for luck from the whole gang.

What am I?

Solution: Der Jahresbeginn (The beginning of the year)

🧩 Word Building Blocks

The word "Jahresbeginn" is a compound noun (ein Kompositum), made up of:

• Das Jahr: The year (a time unit of 365 or 366 days). The connecting 's' (Fugen-s) "es" is used.
• Der Beginn: The beginning or start of something.

Together, they form the logical meaning: The beginning of the year.