die  Hochsaison

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/hoːxzaˈzoːn/

🏖️ What does "die Hochsaison" mean?

Die Hochsaison translates to peak season or high season in English. It refers to the time of year when a particular place or industry (especially tourism) experiences the highest demand, the largest number of visitors, and often the highest prices. It's the main travel period, often dependent on climatic conditions (e.g., summer at the seaside, winter in ski resorts) or holiday periods.

Basically, it's the busiest time!

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Hochsaison

"Hochsaison" is a feminine noun, therefore it uses the article die. It is mostly used in the singular as it refers to a specific period. A plural ("die Hochsaisons") is grammatically possible but rarely used.

Declension Singular

Example Sentences

• In der Hochsaison sind die Hotels oft ausgebucht.
  (During peak season, hotels are often fully booked.)

• Wir vermeiden es, während der Hochsaison zu reisen, weil alles teurer ist.
  (We avoid travelling during the high season because everything is more expensive.)

• Der Beginn der Hochsaison variiert je nach Urlaubsregion.
  (The start of the peak season varies depending on the holiday region.)

💡 How "die Hochsaison" is used

The term die Hochsaison is intrinsically linked to tourism and the travel industry. It is used in reference to:

• Holiday destinations: Summer on the coast, winter in the mountains.
• Events: The period around major festivals or trade fairs can be considered a local Hochsaison.
• Economic aspects: Higher prices for flights, accommodation, and services are typical.

The opposite is the Nebensaison (off-season: less busy, often cheaper) and sometimes the Zwischensaison (shoulder season).

Occasionally, the term might be used metaphorically for a time of peak activity or demand in other industries, but this is less common.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Hochsaison"

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful: Don't confuse it with "Hochzeit" (wedding)! Although both contain "hoch", they mean completely different things.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Hotelgast den Portier: "Sagen Sie mal, ist hier immer so viel los?"
Antwortet der Portier: "Nein, nur in der Hochsaison."
Fragt der Gast: "Und wann ist die?"
Portier: "Immer genau dann, wenn Sie hier sind!"

English: A hotel guest asks the concierge: "Tell me, is it always this busy here?"
The concierge replies: "No, only during peak season."
The guest asks: "And when is that?"
Concierge: "Always exactly when you are here!"

📜 Poem about Hochsaison

German:
Die Sonne brennt, der Strand ist voll,
Die Preise steigen – na toll!
Die Kinder schreien, die Schlange lang,
Musik erfüllt den Feriengang.
Es ist die Zeit, laut und begehrt,
Die Hochsaison, hoch verehrt.
Wer Ruhe sucht, der reist sodann,
Wenn Herbst und Nebel zieh'n ins Land.

English:
The sun burns hot, the beach is packed,
The prices rise – well, isn't that whacked!
The children scream, the queue extends,
Music fills the holiday trends.
It is the time, loud and desired,
Die Hochsaison, highly admired.
Who seeks tranquility should then roam,
When autumn mist finds its new home.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich komme jedes Jahr zur gleichen Zeit,
mal im Sommer, mal wenn's schneit.
Die Preise klettern hoch hinaus,
und viele Menschen strömen aus dem Haus.
Hotels sind voll, am Strand kein Platz,
ich bin der Reise höchster Schatz (oder Frust?).

Wer bin ich?
... Die Hochsaison

English:
I come each year around the same time,
Sometimes in summer, sometimes when snowflakes chime.
The prices climb up to the sky,
And many people leave their homes nearby.
Hotels are full, no space on the beach,
I am travel's highest treasure (or pain within reach?).

What am I?
... Die Hochsaison (Peak season)

🧩 Additional Information

Word Composition

The word "Hochsaison" is a compound noun, formed from:

• Hoch: Adjective meaning "high", "main", or "peak".
• Saison: Noun (from French "saison" = season), meaning a specific period of the year.

Together, it literally means the "high season" or "peak time of year".