Christmas tree
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Christmas tree
A conifer, usually a fir or spruce, that is put up indoors or outdoors at Christmastime and decorated with lights, baubles, and other ornaments.
Am Heiligabend versammelt sich die Familie um den leuchtenden Weihnachtsbaum.
On Christmas Eve, the family gathers around the glowing Christmas tree.
The word is made up of 'Weihnachten' (Christmas) and 'Baum' (tree). The 's' in the middle is a linking s, which connects the two parts of the word. So it is literally a 'tree for Christmas.'
Viele Familien kaufen ihren Weihnachtsbaum schon Anfang Dezember.
Many families buy their Christmas tree as early as the beginning of December.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with the Christmas tree. You can 'aufstellen' (put up), 'schmücken' (decorate), or 'loben' (praise) a Christmas tree. The lights on the tree can be 'anzünden' (lit) or 'einschalten' (switched on).
Die Kinder helfen jedes Jahr, den Weihnachtsbaum zu schmücken.
The children help decorate the Christmas tree every year.
Presents are typically 'unter dem Weihnachtsbaum' (under the Christmas tree). The decorations, e.g. baubles or candles, are 'am Weihnachtsbaum' (on the Christmas tree).
Die Geschenke liegen schon verpackt unter dem Weihnachtsbaum.
The presents are already wrapped under the Christmas tree.
Christmas tree / fir tree
Der Weihnachtsbaum is always a conifer put up and decorated during the Christmas season. Der Tannenbaum can mean the same thing in a Christmas context, but it can also simply mean an undecorated conifer. Without a Christmas context, only Tannenbaum is unambiguously appropriate.
Am Heiligabend leuchtet der geschmückte Weihnachtsbaum im Wohnzimmer.
On Christmas Eve, the decorated Christmas tree shines in the living room.
Im Sommer steht ein hoher Tannenbaum ungeschmückt am Waldrand.
In summer, a tall fir tree stands undecorated at the edge of the forest.
