der Geburtstag
birthday
The anniversary of a person's birth, which is often celebrated.
EXAMPLE
Meine Oma feiert morgen ihren neunzigsten Geburtstag.
My grandma is celebrating her ninetieth birthday tomorrow.
der Geburtstag
birthday
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Meanings
der Geburtstag
birthday
The exact date on which a person was born.
EXAMPLE
Der 3. Oktober ist nicht nur der Tag der Deutschen Einheit, sondern auch mein Geburtstag.
October 3rd is not only German Unity Day, but also my birthday.
Usage tips
Compound word
'Geburtstag' (birthday) is made up of 'die Geburt' (birth) and 'der Tag' (day). The 's' in the middle is a linking s that connects the two words.
EXAMPLE
Der Tag meiner Geburt war ein sonniger Montag.
The day of my birth was a sunny Monday.
Question and answer
The question 'Wann hast du Geburtstag?' (When is your birthday? / When are you celebrating your birthday?) asks about the day of the celebration. The question 'Wann ist dein Geburtstag?' (When is your birthday?) asks about the exact date.
EXAMPLE
Wann hast du Geburtstag? – Ich feiere am Samstag.
When are you celebrating your birthday? – I'm celebrating on Saturday.
Prepositions 'an' and 'zu'
You use 'am Geburtstag' (on the birthday) for events that take place on that day, and 'zum Geburtstag' (for one's birthday) for gifts or congratulations intended for this occasion.
EXAMPLE
Am Geburtstag meiner Tochter backe ich immer einen Kuchen.
On my daughter's birthday, I always bake a cake.
Typical verbs
The most common verbs in connection with birthdays are 'haben' (to have) and 'feiern' (to celebrate). You 'have' a birthday on a certain day, and you can 'celebrate' it.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder hat heute Geburtstag.
My brother has his birthday today.
Compare with
Geburtstag vs Lebensjahr
year of life
Both words can describe the point at which someone reaches a new age. „Geburtstag“ refers to the annual day or occasion, while „Lebensjahr“ is more formal and indicates the year of life a person has reached. Use „Geburtstag“ when you mean the day or the celebration, and „Lebensjahr“ when the focus is on age.
Geburtstag
An ihrem Geburtstag feierte Lena ihren neuen Lebensabschnitt mit Freunden.
On her birthday, Lena celebrated entering a new stage of life with friends.
Lebensjahr
Mit Vollendung des 18. Lebensjahres beginnt für viele Menschen ein neuer Lebensabschnitt.
On completing their 18th year of life, many people enter a new stage of life.
In real life
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