How to Say Holiday in German: Your Go-To Guide for “Urlaub”, “Feiertag” & More

Hey everyone, I’m your go-to public holiday assistant. So, a little buddy just hit me up with a question about the title of how to say holiday in German. I figured, hey, this is a pretty common one, so let’s break it down right here. If you’re planning a trip to Germany, chatting with locals, or just genuinely curious, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in.

Alright, so first things first: there’s no single word for “holiday” in German that covers every situation. It all depends on what kind of holiday you’re talking about. Are you talking about a public holiday, a vacation, or a school break? Germans actually have three main words floating around: 费尔塔格, 休假， 和 度假. Each one fits a slightly different vibe, and once you know the difference, you’ll sound like a total pro.

Let’s start with 费尔塔格. This is your official public holiday—think Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Day, or German Unity Day. It’s the kind of day when banks close, people might have the day off from work, and in some places, even stores shut their doors. You’d say something like “Heute ist ein Feiertag” meaning “Today is a public holiday.” If you’re looking at a calendar and see those red dates, those are Feiertage.

Next up is 休假. This is your personal holiday, the one you take off work or school to go travel, relax, or just chill at home. It’s basically “vacation” in American English. So if someone asks “Wann hast du Urlaub?” they’re asking “When’s your vacation?” You can also say “Ich bin im Urlaub” which means “I’m on vacation.” This is the word you’ll use when you’re talking about your own personal time off, whether it’s a week in Spain or a lazy staycation.

Then there’s 度假. This one’s a little trickier because it’s almost always used in plural. Ferien refers to longer breaks, especially school holidays or when a whole business or institution shuts down for a period. So you’ve got “Sommerferien” (summer break), “Weihnachtsferien” (Christmas break), and “Schulferien” (school holidays). It’s less about the official calendar and more about the “let’s all take a break” season vibe. You wouldn’t really use Ferien for a single day off; that’s Feiertag. And you wouldn’t use it for a personal weekend getaway; that’s Urlaub. It’s a group or institutional break.

But wait, there’s even more nuance. If you want to say “holiday” as in a festive day, you might also hear the word “Feiertag” in phrases. And if you’re talking about the holiday season in general, like Christmas time, you might say “die Feiertage” (plural) to mean “the holidays.” So it’s all about context. Also, for the adjective “holiday” like in “holiday season,” you could say “Weihnachtszeit” or “Festzeit.” But honestly, for everyday talk, the big three are Feiertag, Urlaub, and Ferien.

Questions related to how to say holiday in German

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty because people often ask follow-ups like “What’s the difference between Urlaub and Feiertag?” or “Can I use Ferien for a vacation?” Short answer: no, not really. Feiertag is specifically a legal or religious holiday. Urlaub is your personal paid time off. Ferien is a broader break period, like when schools are out. If you mix them up, locals might still get what you mean—especially if you’re a tourist—but you’ll definitely sound more natural if you pick the right one.

Another common question is “How do you wish someone a happy holiday in German?” If it’s a public holiday, you can say “Schöne Feiertage!” (Happy holidays!) or “Frohe Weihnachten” for Christmas. If someone is heading off on vacation, you might say “Guten Urlaub!” or “Schönen Urlaub!” which is like “Have a great vacation!” And for a school break, you’d probably just say “Genieß die Ferien!” (Enjoy the break!). These little phrases will make you sound super friendly and culturally aware.

One more thing that trips people up: the word “holiday” in “public holiday” is actually “gesetzlicher Feiertag” in German, meaning legal public holiday. And if you’re into travel, you’ll want to know that “to go on holiday” is “in den Urlaub fahren.” See how Urlaub slides in there? So if you’re booking a trip to Berlin, you’d say “Ich fahre in den Urlaub nach Berlin.” That’s your trusty vacation sentence right there.

So, to sum it all up: if you’re talking about a day the whole country celebrates—say, German Unity Day or Easter—use 费尔塔格. If you’re talking about your own personal time off from work—your trip to the Alps or your beach week—use 休假. And if you’re talking about school breaks or multi-week shutdowns—like summer break—use 度假. Knowing these three little words will honestly make your German feel a hundred times more natural, and locals will totally appreciate the effort.

public holiday calendar.COM Thanks for reading, I really hope this article helps you fully understand how to say holiday in German. If you’ve got more questions about German holidays, vacation words, or just need help navigating a public holiday calendar, definitely reach out. I’m your holiday little assistant, and I’m always here to help. Catch you next time!