01
der Tag
day
A period of 24 hours.
example
Die Woche hat sieben Tage.
The week has seven days.
der Tag
day
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Compound words
'Tag' (day) is a very productive base word in the German language. You find it in many compound nouns such as 'Geburtstag' (birthday), 'Feiertag' (holiday), 'Alltag' (everyday life), or 'Wochentag' (weekday).
EXAMPLE
Der Montag ist mein liebster Wochentag.
Monday is my favorite weekday.
Time expressions
For time expressions with 'Tag' (day), the prepositions and case are important. You say 'am Tag' (during the day; dative) for the time of day, but 'jeden Tag' (every day; accusative) for a regular repetition.
EXAMPLE
Am Tag scheint die Sonne.
The sun shines during the day.
Context clue
The meaning 'Tageslicht' (daylight/daytime) is often used in contrast to 'Nacht' (night). The preposition 'am' ('am Tag', during the day) or the adverb 'tagsüber' (during the day) typically point to this meaning.
EXAMPLE
Viele Tiere schlafen am Tag und sind nachts aktiv.
Many animals sleep during the day and are active at night.
Typical collocations
When 'Tag' (day) describes a special occasion, it is often combined with adjectives like 'besonderer' (special), 'wichtiger' (important), 'schöner' (beautiful), or 'großer' (big/great).
EXAMPLE
Unsere Hochzeit war der schönste Tag in meinem Leben.
Our wedding was the most beautiful day of my life.
Fixed expression
The expression 'eines Tages' (one day) is a fixed phrase that uses the genitive. It means 'irgendwann in der Zukunft' (sometime in the future) and often comes at the beginning of a sentence.
EXAMPLE
Eines Tages werde ich fließend Deutsch sprechen.
One day I will speak German fluently.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'etwas an den Tag legen' (to display something) is a fixed unit. The 'etwas' is usually an abstract quality such as courage, patience, curiosity, or a certain behavior.
EXAMPLE
Er hat bei dem Projekt großes Engagement an den Tag gelegt.
He displayed great commitment during the project.
Fixed expression
The expression 'zu Tage treten' (to come to light) means that something hidden or unknown becomes visible. It is often used in a slightly formal or written context.
EXAMPLE
Bei der Renovierung sind alte Wandmalereien zu Tage getreten.
During the renovation, old wall paintings came to light.
Compare with
Tag vs Nacht
night
'der Tag' and 'die Nacht' are opposites here. 'der Tag' means the light time when the sun is shining or it is bright outside. 'die Nacht' means the dark time between evening and morning. Both words can also have other meanings, but in this contrast the main point is light and dark. In everyday life, 'Tag' is often used for work, school, and outdoor activities, while 'Nacht' is more associated with sleep, rest, or things that happen late.
Tag
Am Tag ist der Park voll mit Kindern und Spaziergängern.
During the day, the park is full of children and people out walking.
Nacht
In der Nacht hört man auf dieser Straße fast keine Autos.
At night, you hardly hear any cars on this street.
In real life
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