I've a German friend and I want to send her a text message saying "Happy Labor Day". I know this sounds silly buy I just wanna do it. Can anybody translate "Happy Labor Day" into German please?
2006-10-02 21:47:17 · 6 answers · asked by universal 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Montanus is right, the correct translation would be "Froher Arbeitstag", but it would not really make sense, because YOUR LABOUR DAY refers to a one-time-per-year-holiday, while the german "Arbeitstag" is every day you are working ("workday").
We do have one holiday though, it is on the May Day (May 1rst) every year, it is a federal holiday (nobody goes to work, only the emergency services), and that is called "Tag der Arbeit". It has to do with Worker's rights, the unions are usualy organizing demonstrations, marchings and such. Traditionally it was to fight for better work conditions and higher payings, but nowadays that seems a bit awkward (since Germans are losing their jobs just because their salaries are too high).
So, to send a greeting to a German wishing her a nice "Arbeitstag" makes only sense when she actually has a job, and is working on that day she gets your greeting.
If you refer to YOUR AMERICAN Labour Day, that is completely useless, because we Germans don't have that, and definately not in September (isn't yours in September?)
The other correct form (a farewell greeting, like bye bye or see ya) is "Frohes Schaffen". That is very informal and originates from the southwest area of Germany, where people do NOT say "Arbeit" (a germanic word) but instead "Schaffe". The 'n' in the end was added to make it fit to german grammatics. This is ALWAYS used as a closing form in the end of a letter or talk, never as an opening greeting! You cannot start a card or letter with it, you can only close it with that greeting. It is very informal, you must not ever use that term to somebody of higher stand than yourself (that would be very unappropriate).
2006-10-03 04:53:03 · answer #1 · answered by albgardis T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Happy Labor Day = "Glueklicher Arbeits Tag"
Merry Christmas = "Froeliche Weihnachten"
Happy New Year = "Prosit Neujahr
Happy Birthday = "Herzlichen Geburtstag"
Happy Easter = "Frohe Ostern"
Hope that helps!
2006-10-02 21:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by backinbowl 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
it doesn't really translate well as there is no Labor Day in Germany but the closest I can come is "Herzlichen Glückwunch zum Tag der Arbeits"
2006-10-02 21:51:11 · answer #3 · answered by donkeyhodey2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Fröhlicher Arbeitstag", but this is very unusual, better sounds " frohes schaffen" (good working).
2006-10-02 22:08:34 · answer #4 · answered by montanus 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
go to babelfish.com it will translate and cut and paste to whatever you want to
2006-10-02 22:15:02 · answer #5 · answered by seth s 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
www.freetranslation.com
2006-10-02 21:50:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋