A room or small wooden building that is heated to a high temperature so that people can sweat in it. It describes both the place itself and the activity of using a sauna.
example
Nach dem Sport gehen wir zur Entspannung immer in die Sauna.
After exercising, we always go to the sauna to relax.
Usage tips
Correct preposition
Pay attention to the case after the preposition 'in'. Movement toward the place is expressed with the accusative ('in die Sauna gehen' — to go to the sauna), while being at the place is described with the dative ('in der Sauna sein' — to be in the sauna).
EXAMPLE
Am Samstag gehen wir mit Freunden in die Sauna.
On Saturday, we are going to the sauna with friends.
Typical collocations
The activity is often described with the phrase 'in die Sauna gehen' (to go to the sauna). A single sweating session is called a 'Saunagang' (sauna session). So you can, for example, say 'drei Saunagänge machen' (to do three sauna sessions).
EXAMPLE
Ein Saunagang dauert meistens zwischen 8 und 15 Minuten.
A sauna session usually lasts between 8 and 15 minutes.
Word family
The verb 'saunieren' is derived from the noun 'die Sauna'. It means 'in die Sauna gehen' (to go to the sauna) or 'die Sauna benutzen' (to use the sauna) and is a compact alternative to the phrase 'in die Sauna gehen'.