late summer
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late summer
The final phase of summer, typically the period from late August to mid-September, often characterized by warm days and already cooler nights.
Das goldene Licht im Spätsommer ist besonders schön.
The golden light in late summer is especially beautiful.
The word is a simple compound of the adjective 'spät' (late) and the noun 'der Sommer' (summer). So it literally describes 'late summer'.
Der Spätsommer ist meine liebste Jahreszeit.
Late summer is my favorite season.
The pattern 'Spät-' + time expression is very productive in German. If you know this pattern, you will also understand words like 'der Spätwinter' (late winter), 'das Spätjahr' (late year/autumn), or 'der Spätnachmittag' (late afternoon).
Am Spätnachmittag trinken wir gerne einen Kaffee.
In the late afternoon, we like to have a coffee.
When referring to this period of time, German almost always uses the preposition 'in' with the dative. So the correct form is 'im Spätsommer' (in late summer).
Im Spätsommer reifen die Äpfel an den Bäumen.
In late summer, the apples ripen on the trees.
midsummer
Spätsommer and Hochsommer both refer to a warm period in summer. Spätsommer emphasizes the final phase toward the end of the season, while Hochsommer highlights the hottest time. Use Spätsommer for the timing at the end of summer and Hochsommer for the peak summer heat.
Im Spätsommer sind die Tage noch warm, aber die Nächte schon deutlich kühler.
In late summer, the days are still warm, but the nights are already noticeably cooler.
Im Hochsommer ist es oft so heiß, dass wir nur am frühen Morgen spazieren gehen.
In midsummer, it is often so hot that we only go for walks early in the morning.
