der  Samstag

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈzamsˌtaːk/

📅 What exactly is 'der Samstag'?

Der Samstag is the German word for Saturday. It's the sixth day of the week according to the German calendar (following ISO 8601), the day between Freitag (Friday) and Sonntag (Sunday). It's part of the weekend (*das Wochenende*) and often a day for leisure (*Freizeit*), errands (*Erledigungen*), or celebrations (*Feierlichkeiten*).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'Samstag'

The word 'Samstag' is a masculine noun. The article is therefore der.

Declension

Here is the declension of 'der Samstag':

The plural 'die Samstage' is used to refer to multiple Saturdays (e.g., 'alle Samstage im Mai' - all Saturdays in May).

💡 Example Sentences

1. Der Samstag ist mein Lieblingstag.
   (Saturday is my favorite day.)
2. Wir treffen uns am Samstag im Park.
   (We are meeting in the park on Saturday.)
3. Die Geschäfte sind samstags oft länger geöffnet.
   (The shops are often open longer on Saturdays. - Adverbial use)
4. Erinnerst du dich an den schönen Samstag am See?
   (Do you remember the beautiful Saturday at the lake?)
5. Wir verbringen die Samstage meistens mit der Familie.
   (We usually spend Saturdays with the family.)

🗣️ How to use 'Samstag'?

'Samstag' is used to refer to the specific day of the week.

• Time references: It's most commonly used for scheduling and specifying time: "Das Fest findet am Samstag statt." (The party takes place on Saturday.)
• Weekend: It's a key word when talking about the weekend: "Was machst du am Samstag?" (What are you doing on Saturday?)
• Regional Variation: In Northern and parts of Central Germany, the word 'der Sonnabend' is also common. Both terms mean the same thing, but 'Samstag' is understood throughout the German-speaking world and is more widespread, especially in Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
• Adverbial form: The word 'samstags' (lowercase) means 'every Saturday' or 'on Saturdays': "Samstags schlafe ich gerne aus." (I like to sleep in on Saturdays.)

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Samstag'

Article Mnemonic: Think of Saturday as the day for *der* 'Satisfying Meal' after a long week. *Der* sounds a bit like 'dear', and Saturday is a dear day for many. This helps remember the masculine article *der*.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you 'Sample' 'staggering' amounts of fun on Samstag (Saturday).

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse 'Samstag' with similar time-related terms. It specifically denotes the day of the week.

😂 A little Joke

Warum freut sich der Kalender so auf den Samstag?
Weil er dann endlich mal abhängen kann – direkt neben dem Sonntag! 😉

(Why is the calendar so looking forward to Saturday?
Because it can finally hang out – right next to Sunday!)

✍️ Poem about 'Samstag'

Der Freitag müde sich verneigt,
Der Samstag froh die Stunden zeigt.
Zeit für Ruhe, Spiel und Spaß,
Ob Sonne scheint, ob Wiesen nass.
Ein Tag zum Leben, Lachen, Sein,
Der Samstag lädt uns alle ein.

(Friday takes a tired bow,
Saturday happily shows the hours now.
Time for rest, games, and fun,
Whether shines the sun, or meadows run (with water).
A day to live, to laugh, to be,
Saturday invites you and me.)

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich komme nach dem längsten Arbeitstag (für viele),
und bringe das Wochenende mit ins Spiel.
Bevor die Kirche Glocken läuten,
welchen Tag tu ich bedeuten?

(I come after the longest workday (for many),
and bring the weekend into play.
Before the church bells chime,
which day do I define?)

Solution: der Samstag (Saturday)

🤓 Trivia / Word Origin

The name 'Samstag' derives from the Greek word 'sabbaton', which in turn comes from the Hebrew word 'Shabbat' (שַׁבָּת), the day of rest in Judaism. The alternative name 'Sonnabend', on the other hand, literally means 'Sunday eve' or 'eve of Sunday'.