Urlaub or Ferien? The Trick To Using ‘Vacation’ in German Correctly

Planning a vacation is always an exciting time of booking flights and planning itineraries, but when it comes to using the word for “vacation” in German, it’s easy to get tripped up. There are a few terms Germans use to describe the vacation itself and the trip it takes to get to your final destination—as well as the time off you have for your vacation. You can learn the differences between these German words and add a few phrases to your repertoire for when it’s time to start your next trip as you read on.

Table of Contents

• Urlaub vs. Ferien: The subtle difference and when to use each
• 4 similar words to Urlaub (vacation) and how to use them
• Phrases to use while going on vacation in German
• Feel confident during your German vacation with Rosetta Stone

Urlaub vs. Ferien: The subtle difference and when to use each

If you want to say “vacation” in German, you would decide between der Urlaub vs. die Ferien. Either term can be used as a direct translation of “vacation,” but der Urlaub generally refers to a period of time that you’re allowed to take off work, while die Ferien refers to a period of free time with no obligations, like when a retiree spends a few years traveling abroad.

Understanding the difference between the two will help you explain the context of your free time in a relaxing place to your fellow German speakers. In short, the difference is simply whether you have work to go back to or not. You can use this as a great conversational segway to talking about your profession with new friends as you travel, showing that your German knowledge goes beyond a simple how to say hello in German as you meet new people.

4 similar words to Urlaub (vacation) and how to use them

Here are four words you’ll generally hear used in reference to time off from responsibility when you are learning German:

Reise

The term Reise means “trip” or “journey” in German. For example, the flight you take to the Bahamas is part of the Reise of your vacation, rather than the vacation itself. You can also use the verb form reisen (to travel) when you’re talking about traveling to a destination.

Here’s how you could use Reise (trip):

• Wir haben eine lange Reise vor uns. = We have a long trip ahead of us.
• Meine Reise nach Berlin war fantastisch. = My trip to Berlin was fantastic.

And here’s how you’d typically use reisen (to travel):

• Ich reise jedes Jahr nach Italien. = I travel to Italy every year.
• Er möchte bald nach Asien reisen. = He wants to travel to Asia soon.

Freizeit

Freizeit (free time) is unique from Urlaub (vacation time) and Ferien (time without responsibility) since it refers to any time period, even a few minutes or hours when you don’t have anything pressing to do. You might describe your lunch hour at work or the 30 minutes you spend admiring your garden as Freizeit.

• In meiner Freizeit lese ich gerne Bücher. = In my free time, I enjoy reading books.
• Er verbringt seine Freizeit oft mit Freunden. = He often spends free time with friends.

Feierabend

At the end of a long day of work or study, you’re free to relax for the evening and do what you wish or catch up on some chores. This evening time after the workday or school day is known as the Feierabend (end of workday). Weekends spent without working would not technically count as a Feierabend, since you need to have worked or gone to school that day to count.

• Nach einem langen Arbeitstag freue ich mich immer auf den Feierabend. = After a long workday, I always look forward to having the evening off.
• Es ist endlich Feierabend, ich kann mich entspannen. = It’s finally after work, I can relax now.

Heiliger Tag

If you have the day off in December to go down and visit the German Christmas Markets, you’re celebrating a heiliger Tag (holy day/holiday). In contrast to Urlaub, the word for “vacation” in the German language you don’t typically need to ask for time off work to have a heiliger Tag to yourself as long as it’s a recognized government holiday. In Germany, public holidays like Labor Day, New Year’s Day, and Christmas are recognized heilige Tage (holy days) and most Germans automatically get them off work.

• Der 25. Dezember ist in vielen Ländern ein heiliger Tag. = December 25th is a holy day in many countries.
• Ostern ist ein heiliger Tag für Christen. = Easter is a holy day for Christians.

Phrases to use while going on vacation in German

Heading out on your next vacation to Germany? Keep these phrases like “welcome” in German in mind next time you’re about to take a pause from your work life:

• Herzlich willkommen. = Warm welcome.
• Ich fahre nächste Woche in den Urlaub. = I’m going on vacation next week.
• Ich freue mich auf meinen Urlaub! = I’m looking forward to my vacation
• Ich bin im Urlaub und genieße die Zeit. = I’m on vacation and enjoying the time.

Feel confident during your German vacation with Rosetta Stone

Now that you have a clearer understanding of the different ways to use “vacation” in German, you can feel more confident talking to your German-speaking friends or colleagues about your next flight to the Alps. Getting comfortable with when to use terms like Urlaub (vacation), Reise (trip), and Ferien (a period of free time) will help clear up confusion with your boss and ensure that you sound more like a native speaker.

You can take your German skills even further with practical knowledge from Rosetta Stone’s live lessons. Find out how real Germans speak and interact with native Germans with real-world examples that feel natural to incorporate into your everyday life. Make your language-learning journey more rewarding as you embrace the culture of Germany with people who have lived it first-hand!

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