The German word for summer is der Sommer.
It’s used just like in English—to talk about the warmest season of the year, summer holidays, fashion, weather, and more. But Sommer in German also pops up in names, idioms, and even nostalgic expressions.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (and you can download a free illustrated PDF to learn them all), making it a foundational vocabulary word.
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Sommer.
Want to get better at guessing gender? Our video lesson teaches patterns that actually help.
Pronunciation:
Sommer is pronounced [ZOH-mer]
“ZOH” rhymes with “dough” (but shorter and flatter)
“mer” like in “merit” without the “t”
Two syllables: ZOH-mer
Example sentences
Der Sommer in Deutschland kann heiß sein.
Summer in Germany can be hot.
Ich freue mich schon auf den Sommerurlaub.
I’m already looking forward to the summer holiday.
Im Sommer gehen wir oft schwimmen.
In summer, we often go swimming.
Nuance and usage tips
🌞 Sommer refers to the season and everything associated with it—weather, holidays, mood, clothing, and even romance. You’ll hear der Sommer, im Sommer, and letzten Sommer often.
🏖️ Schoolchildren call their long break Sommerferien (summer vacation), while families plan a Sommerurlaub (summer trip).
🎶 In songs and ads, Sommer is often used for its emotional pull—Sommergefühl, Sommerliebe, or Sommerabend evoke warmth, nostalgia, or freedom.
👕 It’s also used in compound words like Sommerkleidung (summer clothing), Sommerschlussverkauf (end-of-summer sale), and Sommersonne (summer sun).
How does this word come up in real conversations?
"Ich liebe den Sommer – so viel Licht!"
I love summer—so much light!
"Was machst du diesen Sommer?"
What are you doing this summer?
"Letzter Sommer war viel zu kurz."
Last summer was way too short.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Lukas: Hast du Pläne für den Sommer?
Mira: Ja, wir fahren ans Meer!
Lukas: Klingt super. Zelten oder Hotel?
Mira: Hotel – ich will Ferien, kein Abenteuer.
Translation:
Lukas: Do you have plans for the summer?
Mira: Yes, we’re going to the sea!
Lukas: Sounds great. Camping or hotel?
Mira: Hotel—I want vacation, not adventure.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:
Der Sommer ist meine Lieblingsjahreszeit.
Summer is my favorite season.
Accusative:
Ich erinnere mich an den Sommer letztes Jahr.
I remember the summer from last year.
Dative:
Im Sommer bleibe ich gern draußen.
In summer, I like staying outside.
Genitive:
Die Hitze des Sommers war kaum auszuhalten.
The heat of the summer was unbearable.
Other ways to say summer in German
While Sommer is the standard and universal word for summer in German, other expressions can specify time or tone. Hochsommer refers to the height of summer (July–August), while Frühsommer and Spätsommer refer to early and late summer. Saison can also be used in commercial contexts (e.g. Sommersaison). In poetic or romantic writing, you may hear phrases like ein endloser Sommer or der Sommer meines Lebens (the summer of my life).
Word variations and tidbits
Sommer forms a huge number of compounds: Sommerregen (summer rain), Sommerhitze (summer heat), Sommerreifen (summer tires), Sommerpause (summer break), and even Sommerschlaf (summer dormancy in animals). It also shows up in nostalgic expressions like ewiger Sommer (eternal summer) and cultural references like Sommermärchen (used for Germany’s 2006 World Cup—a “summer fairy tale”).
🧠 Fun fact: In Germany, people often associate Sommerzeit (daylight saving time) with lighter evenings and outdoor culture. The word Sommer can trigger all kinds of emotional associations—even though actual hot days can be rare!
📘 Duden entry for Sommer
🎥 Want to stay sharp year-round, not just in the Sommer? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns—clearly, visually, and with a printable PDF to help you review in any season.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Sprache means? It’s what summer love is written in.
And what about Spiel? Because no Sommer is complete without a few of those.