German Vocabulary • Ostern | Easter

Easter | Spring | Frühling | Ostern | Osterhase | Osterei

An Annotated German-English Glossary of Easter Terms
In this annotated German-English glossary, you’ll find vocabulary and facts related to the Easter celebration and springtime customs in German-speaking Europe.

Also see: German Easter and Springtime Traditions, the English-German version of this glossary and the Easter Greetings section below.

German Language > Easter: German-English > Easter: English-German

ABBREVIATIONS:
adj. (adjective), adv. (adverb), lit. (literary), n. (noun), pl. (plural), sl. (slang), v. (verb), vul. (vulgar)

Glossary Copyright © 2002-2023 Hyde Flippo

A

Auferstehung, die the Resurrection (of Christ)
Aschermittwoch, der Ash Wednesday
»» The Wednesday after Carnival/Mardi Gras, when Lent begins, also marks the start of the Easter cycle. Aschermittwoch gets its name from the ashes of burnt palm fronds from the previous Palm Sunday – used to mark the foreheads of the faithful.

B

bemalen (v.) to decorate, paint (eggs)
»» bemalte Eier, verzierte Eier decorated eggs
»» Ostereier bemalen to decorate Easter eggs
die Blume (-n) flower(s)
bunt colorful

C

Christ, Christi, Christus (all der) Christ
»» The term Christ comes from the Greek “christos” for the Hebrew “messiah” or “anointed one” (der Gesalbte).
Christentum, das Christianity
Christi Himmelfahrt  Ascension Day (40 days after Easter, see dates below)
»» Himmelfahrt, die  Ascension (of Christ)

E

Ei, das (-er) egg(s)
Eierschale, die (-n) egg shell

Osterfeiertage • Daten 2021-2025 Dates of the Easter celebration • From Mardi Gras to Pentecost
Fasching (Mardi Gras) Shrove Tuesday	16. Februar 2021 1. März 2022 21. Februar 2023 13. Februar 2024 4. März 2025
For more about Mardi Gras (Fasching) in German-speaking Europe, see: Fasching and Karneval.
Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday)	17. Februar 2021 2. März 2022 22. Februar 2023 14. Februar 2024 5. März 2025
Palmsonntag (Palm Sunday)	28. März 2021 10. April 2022 2. April 2023 24. März 2024 13. April 2025
Karfreitag (Good Friday)	2. April 2021 15. April 2022 7. April 2023 29. März 2024 18. April 2025
Ostern (Easter)	4. April 2021 17. April 2022 9. April 2023 31. März 2024 20. April 2025
Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension Day)	13. Mai 2021 26. Mai 2022 18. Mai 2023 9. Mai 2024 29. Mai 2025
Pfingsten (Pentecost)	23. Mai 2021 5. Juni 2022 28. Mai 2023 19. Mai 2024 8. Juni 2025
For more about Mardi Gras (Fasching) in German-speaking Europe, see: Fasching and Karneval.

F

färben (v.) to dye, color (eggs, Ostereier)
»» gefärbte Eier colored/dyed eggs
Fasching, der, Fastnacht, die Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday
»» The date for Fasching/Fastnacht depends on the date of Easter.
Faschingsdienstag, der, Fastnachtsdienstag, der Shrove Tuesday
Fastenzeit, die  Lent, the Lenten season
»» Lent, the 40-day Fastenzeit, begins on Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch) and ends at Easter (Ostern).
Frohe Ostern!  Happy Easter!
Frühling, der, Frühjahr, das spring

More on The German Way • Eggs on trees – 5 favourite German Easter traditions • Spring has sprung, officially Two German Way Expat Blog posts about Easter and spring

G

Grab Christi, das Christ’s grave, tomb
Gründonnerstag, der Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday (the day before Good Friday/Karfreitag, part of the Easter Holy Week)

Glossary continues below…

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Ostergrüße | Greetings for Easter

Ostergrüße (Easter Greetings)
If you’d like to send someone Easter greetings or eine Osterkarte (an Easter card) in German, here are some suggested phrases and sentiments you can use.

Frohes Osterfest! Happy Easter! (“happy easter celebration”)
Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!
Österliche Grüße von… Easter greetings from… (your name)

Herzliche Ostergrüße! Viel Spaß beim Eiersuchen!
Heartfelt/Warmest Easter greetings! Have fun with your (Easter) egg hunt.
Wir wünschen euch von Herzen ein frohes Osterfest und sonnige Frühlingstage!
We wish you (all) sincerely a happy Easter celebration and sunny spring days!
Zu Ostern wünsche ich dir stressfreie Tage und viel Erfolg bei der Eiersuche.
For Easter I wish you stress-free days and good luck (“much success”) hunting for eggs.
Ein frohes und gesegnetes Osterfest! Wir wünschen euch viele bunte Eier und erholsame Feiertage!
A happy and blessed Easter! We wish you (all) many colorful eggs and restful holidays!

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H

Häschen, das (-); Hase, der (Hasen) bunny (bunnies)
»» The Easter bunny is a hare (der Osterhase). A rabbit is das Kaninchen. Another word for bunny rabbit is das Karnickel.
»» The Osterhase tradition dates back to a 1682 published account by the German medical professor Georg Franck.

The Easter Bunny is German – The history of the Easter Bunny (der Osterhase) is fascinating – and German.

J

Jesus von Nazareth (pron. YEH-ZUS) Jesus of Nazareth

K

Karfreitag, der Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday
Karsamstag, der Easter Saturday, Good Saturday
Karwoche, die Holy Week, Passion Week (the week before Easter Sunday)
»» The Friday before Easter commemorates the day of Christ’s Crucifixion. The week leading up to Easter (Holy Week, Passion Week) is known as Karwoche.
Kreuz, das (-e) cross
kreuzigen (v.) to crucify
Kreuzigung, die (-en) crucifixion
Kruzifix, das  crucifix
Küken, das (-)  chick, baby chicken

L

Lilie, die (-n) lily (lilies)

M

Mariä Himmelfahrt Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (15. August)
Maria Magdalene Mary Magdalene

Also see the English-German version of this glossary.

O

Osterbrunnen, der (-) Easter well/fountain (see photo above)
Osterei, das (-er) Easter egg
Osterfeiertag, der Easter celebration/holiday
Osterferien, die (pl.) Easter holiday, vacation
Osterfest, das paschal festival, Easter
»» See Passahfest below for more.
Osterfeuer, das (-) Easter bonfire, Easter fire
»» The Easter bonfire custom is popular in some regions of Germany, mostly in the Northwest. But Easter fires are also found in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and parts of Austria and Switzerland. The fires take place after dark on various days of the Easter celebration, depending on the region.
Osterglocke, die (-n) daffodil (“Easter bell”)
Ostergottesdienst, der (-e) Easter service
Osterhase, der (-n) Easter bunny

The Easter Bunny is German – The history of the Easter Bunny (der Osterhase) is fascinating – and German.

Osterkarte, die (-n) Easter card
Osterlamm, das paschal lamb
Ostermesse, die (-n) Easter mass
Ostermontag, der Easter Monday
Ostern, das (-) Easter
»» an/zu Ostern at Easter
»» an Ostern on Easter (Day)
»» Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!
»» Ein frohes Osterfest! Happy Easter!
Osterstrauch, der (-sträucher) Easter tree, Easter egg tree/branch
Osterwoche, die (-n) Easter week

Free PDF Download! A PDF printable birthday dates calendar for notable people from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, plus the dates of holidays and observations. More: The German Way Birthday and Holiday Calendar

P

Palme, die (-n)  palm, palm tree
Palmsonntag, der Palm Sunday
»» The Sunday before Easter gets its name from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (der Einzug Jesu in Jerusalem) when palm branches were strewn before him.
Palmwedel, der palm frond
Papst, der the pope
Passah, das paschal festival, Passover
Passahfest, das paschal festival, Passover
»» The terms “paschal” and Passah– are derived from Hebrew Pesach and Greek Pascha — and are related to the Jewish Passover.
Passahmahl, das  Passover meal (Seder)
Petersplatz, der St. Peter’s Square (in the Vatican)
Pfingsten, das Pentecost, Whitsun
»» The 50th day after Easter or Passover. (Der 50. Tag nach Ostern.) The seventh Sunday (Whitsunday) after Easter commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (die Herabkunft des Heiligen Geistes auf die Apostel).

R

Rom, das Rome
Römer, die (pl.) the Romans

T

Tulpe, die (-n) tulip

Next | Easter: English-German Vocabulary
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