German word

Sommerferien

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈzɔmɐˌfeːʁi̯ən/

Meaning

  • nounsummer vacation

Example

Die Kinder haben lange Sommerferien.

The children have a long summer vacation.

Illustration for Sommerferien (summer vacation)

More examples

Am Ende der Sommerferien haben viele Schüler Prüfungen.

At the end of summer vacation, many students have exams.

Core concept

Classrooms close for several weeks in summer, leaving pupils free from lessons.

Common phrases

  • am Ende der Sommerferien

    at the end of summer vacation

  • die Sommerferien verkürzen

    shorten summer vacation

  • während der Sommerferien einen Sprachkurs belegen

    take a language course during summer vacation

Similar words

Ferien: A holiday period from school or work, often lasting more than a few days.
Urlaub: Leave from work or daily life taken for rest, travel, or recreation.
Schulferien: The school holiday period when pupils have no lessons.
Sommerurlaub: An individual's summer holiday, often involving travel or relaxation.

Definition in German

Sommerferien nennt man die mehrwöchige schulfreie Periode im Sommer, in der vor allem Schüler frei haben.

Word origin

The compound Sommerferien joins Sommer with Ferien, whose older German forms go back to Latin feriae, meaning festival days or holidays.

Usage tips

  • Ferien usually refers to a school break, whereas Urlaub more often means an individual's leave from work.

Opposites

Word lists with this word