German word

Jahreswechsel

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈjaːʁəsˌvɛksl̩/

Meaning

  • masculine nounyear-end and New Year

Example

Während des Jahreswechsels sind viele Läden geschlossen.

During the year-end and New Year period, many shops are closed.

Illustration for Jahreswechsel (year-end and New Year)

More examples

Viele nutzen den Jahreswechsel, um gute Vorsätze zu fassen.

Many people use the turn of the year to make good resolutions.

Core concept

A calendar page turns from December to January, marking the brief bridge between two years.

Common phrases

  • zum Jahreswechsel

    at the turn of the year

  • über den Jahreswechsel hinweg

    through the turn of the year

  • gute Vorsätze zum Jahreswechsel

    good resolutions at the turn of the year

Similar words

Silvester: The night of December 31, immediately before the year changes.
Neujahr: January 1 as the first day of the new year.
Jahresende: The last few days before the year ends.
Jahresanfang: The opening days of a new year.

Definition in German

Die Tage rund um den Übergang vom alten zum neuen Jahr, besonders die Zeit von Silvester bis Neujahr.

Word origin

Jahreswechsel combines the genitive form Jahres of Jahr ('year') with Wechsel ('change' or 'alternation') to name the transition from one year to the next.

Usage tips

  • Jahreswechsel usually refers to the transition period rather than only New Year's Eve, which is more specifically Silvester.

Opposites

  • Beständigkeitstabilitynoun

Related words

  • Wechselspielinterplaynoun
  • wechselhaftchangeableadjective

Word lists with this word