Sonnabend

== German == === Etymology === From Middle High German sunābent, sunnenābent, from Old High German sunnūnāband (literally “Sunday eve”) (9th c.), calqued on Old English sunnanǣfen. In the Germanic reckoning, the day begins at sunset. Compare Low German Sünnavend, West Frisian snjoen, sneaun, sneon. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈzɔˌnaːbənt/, /ˈzɔnˌʔaːbənt/ (standard) IPA(key): /ˈzɔ.namt/ (colloquial) === Noun === Sonnabend m (strong, genitive Sonnabends or Sonnabendes, plural Sonnabende) (Northern Germany, Eastern Germany) Saturday Synonym: Samstag ==== Usage notes ==== Sonnabend is still commonly used by older generations in northern Germany, whereas most younger people have adopted the southern/western Samstag. Since Sonnabend was the day's only official name in the German Democratic Republic, the word still enjoys a stronger position in eastern Germany, although the dominant Samstag is also gaining ground among the young. Outside of these areas, Sonnabend might be used in the context of Roman Catholic masses held on Saturday evening, in order to emphasise that such masses count for fulfilling Sunday obligation. This is rare, however. ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === See also === days of the week: Tage der Woche (appendix): Montag · Dienstag · Mittwoch · Donnerstag · Freitag · Samstag/Sonnabend · Sonntag [edit] === Further reading === “Sonnabend”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[1] (in German) “Sonnabend” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961. “Sonnabend” in Duden online