German word

Semester

Pronunciation

IPA/zeˈmɛstɐ/

Meaning

  • neuter nounsemester

Example

Im nächsten Semester habe ich viele Prüfungen.

I have a lot of exams next semester.

Illustration for Semester (semester)

More examples

Während des Semesters arbeite ich an mehreren Projekten.

During the semester, I work on several projects.

Core concept

A roughly six-month block in the academic calendar, containing teaching, coursework, and exams.

Common phrases

  • im nächsten Semester

    next semester

  • am Ende des Semesters

    at the end of the semester

  • während des Semesters

    during the semester

Similar words

Sommersemester: The university term running from spring into summer.
Wintersemester: The university term running from autumn into winter.
Semesterferien: A break of several weeks or months after the teaching period.
Vorlesungszeit: The part of the university term when lectures are held.

Definition in German

Ein Abschnitt des akademischen Jahres von etwa sechs Monaten, der Vorlesungen, Übungen und Prüfungen umfasst.

Word origin

Semester comes through German from Latin semestris, meaning six-monthly, formed from sex 'six' and mensis 'month'.

Usage tips

  • Semester is neuter, so the definite form is das Semester and the plural remains die Semester.

Related words

  • Sommersemestersummer semesternoun
  • Wintersemesterwinter semesternoun
  • Semesterferiensemester breaknoun

Word lists with this word