der Geburtstag
Meaning and Usage
"Der Geburtstag" in German means "the birthday". It refers to the anniversary of the day on which a person was born and is commonly celebrated with family and friends.
Linguistic Analysis
"Der Geburtstag" is a compound word, formed by the combination of "die Geburt" (birth) and "der Tag" (day). The word "Geburt" derives from the verb "gebären", which means "to give birth". The word "Tag" comes from the Old High German word "tag" and is related to the English word "day".
Comparisons between German and English
The German word "der Geburtstag" directly translates to "the birthday" in English. Both languages use a compound word to express the concept of the anniversary of one's birth.
Cultural Context
In Germany, celebrating birthdays is an important tradition, often involving gatherings with family and friends, giving gifts, and enjoying cake and other treats. It's common to wish someone "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag" (All the best for your birthday) or simply "Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag" (Congratulations on your birthday).
Example Sentences
- Es ist mein Geburtstag heute. (It's my birthday today.)
- Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! (Happy birthday!)
Memory Tips
Associate "Geburtstag" with the English word "birthday" and practice using it in context to reinforce memory retention.
Additional Vocabulary
- Die Feier (the celebration)
- Der Kuchen (the cake)
- Die Geschenke (the presents)
- Der Geburtstagswunsch (the birthday wish)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
Gender: masculine Plural: die Geburtstage
Conjugation (for verbs)
N/A - "Geburtstag" is a noun and doesn't have a verb conjugation.