die  Saison

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/zaˈzoːn/

🗓️ What does 'die Saison' mean?

Die Saison (noun, feminine) refers to a specific period of the year characterized by particular events, activities, or climatic conditions. It can relate to the four seasons (Jahreszeiten), but also to periods for specific activities like sports (Sport), tourism (Tourismus), fashion (Mode), or the sale of certain products.

• Seasonal (related to time of year): The period when something typically occurs or is available (e.g., Erdbeer-Saison - strawberry season, Ski-Saison - ski season).
• Sports: The playing period or competition period of a sport (e.g., Fußball-Saison - football/soccer season).
• Tourism: The period with high tourist numbers (Hauptsaison - peak season) or low numbers (Nebensaison - off-season).
• Fashion/Cultural: The period when certain collections are current or specific events take place (e.g., Mode-Saison - fashion season, Theater-Saison - theater season).

🚨 The word originates from French ('saison') and is always used with the article 'die' in German, indicating its feminine gender.

🧐 Grammar of 'die Saison' in Detail

'Die Saison' is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

1. Die Ski-Saison beginnt normalerweise im Dezember.
   (The ski season usually starts in December.)
2. Wir fahren immer in der Nebensaison in den Urlaub, weil es günstiger ist.
   (We always go on vacation during the off-season because it's cheaper.)
3. Die Mannschaft hatte eine sehr erfolgreiche Saison.
   (The team had a very successful season.)
4. Wann endet die Spargelsaison dieses Jahr?
   (When does the asparagus season end this year?)
5. Viele Geschäfte haben einen Ausverkauf am Ende der Saison.
   (Many shops have a sale at the end of the season.)

🗣️ How to use 'Saison'?

'Saison' is often used in compound words to clarify the specific period:

• Hauptsaison / Nebensaison: In tourism, to distinguish between periods with high and low travel volume, respectively (peak season / off-season).
• Spielzeit / Saison: Often interchangeable in a sports context, though 'Saison' can sound more international. 'Spielzeit' also means playing time in a match.
• Saisonarbeit / Saisonarbeiter: Refers to work that is only available at certain times of the year (e.g., harvest help - seasonal work / seasonal worker).
• Saisonal: The adjective describes things that are only available or common during a specific season (e.g., saisonales Gemüse - seasonal vegetables).

Compared to 'Jahreszeit' (spring, summer, autumn, winter), 'Saison' is more flexible and refers to periods defined by activities or availability, which do not always have to strictly adhere to the four calendar seasons.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Saison'

Article Mnemonic: Think of 'die Fashion-Saison' – fashion is often associated with the feminine, just like die Saison.

Meaning Mnemonic: 'Saison' sounds like the French word for season. Imagine planning special activities for each 'Saison': skiing in winter (Ski-Saison), swimming in summer (Bade-Saison), harvesting apples in autumn (Apfel-Saison). It's a specific 'slice' or 'season' of the year for something.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. 'Die Fußball-Jahreszeit' sounds incorrect; 'die Fußball-Saison' is correct.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum freuen sich Schneemänner auf die nächste Saison?
Weil sie dann wieder cool sind! 😉

(Why do snowmen look forward to the next season?
Because then they'll be cool again!)

📜 Poem about 'die Saison'

Ob Frühling, Sommer, Herbst und Schnee,
jede Saison hat ihre Idée.
Mal blüht der Flieder, mal fällt das Laub,
mal ruht der Sportplatz, mal wird's laut im Staub.
Die Erdbeer-Saison, süß und rot,
die Urlaubszeit, ein Reiseangebot.
So wechselt stets das ganze Jahr,
die Saison ist immer wieder da.

(Whether spring, summer, autumn, and snow,
every season has its own idea/flair.
Sometimes lilac blooms, sometimes leaves fall,
sometimes the sports field rests, sometimes it gets loud in the dust.
The strawberry season, sweet and red,
the holiday time, a travel offer.
Thus the whole year always changes,
the season is always here again.)

🧩 Riddle

Ich komme und gehe, Jahr für Jahr,
bin mal für Spargel, mal für Skier da.
Im Sport entscheid' ich über Sieg und Ehr',
im Urlaub bin ich mal voll, mal leer.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Saison)

(I come and go, year after year,
I'm here sometimes for asparagus, sometimes for skis.
In sports, I decide over victory and honor,
On vacation, I'm sometimes full, sometimes empty.

What am I?
Answer: die Saison / the season)

🌍 Other Information

Word Origin: The word 'Saison' was borrowed in the 17th century from the French saison, which originally meant 'sowing time' and goes back to the Latin satio (sowing). The meaning then expanded to 'season of the year' and later to specific periods for certain activities.

Compounds: There are many compound words with 'Saison' in German, such as: Saisonauftakt (season start), Saisonende (season end), Saisonkarte (season ticket), Saisonhöhepunkt (season highlight), Saisonvorbereitung (pre-season training).