21 December 2025
How to talk about Vacations and Holidays in German
It’s the time you look forward to, plan carefully, and never want to end. In German, it’s der Urlaub. This is your German word of the day, and it’s essential for talking about time off - whether you’re relaxing at the beach or staying home with no meetings.
The noun Urlaub means vacation or holiday (in the sense of time off work), and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Germans take their vacation time seriously - and the word pops up everywhere from office calendars to train stations.
It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Urlaub (still figuring out gender? Our video lesson will help you crack it for good).
Pronunciation
Urlaub is pronounced [OOR-laup].
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Ur has a long German u; the following r is often vocalized,
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laub - the au sounds roughly like “ow” in “now”; final b is pronounced p,
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Stress is on the first syllable: UR-laub
It sounds light and freeing - just like it should.
Example sentences:
Ich habe im Juli drei Wochen Urlaub.I have three weeks of vacation in July.
Der Urlaub war total entspannend.The vacation was totally relaxing.
Nuance and usage tips
Urlaub is the standard word for vacation in the sense of time off from work or school. It’s not used for public holidays (that’s Feiertag).
You’ll commonly see:
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Urlaub nehmen - to take time off
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im Urlaub sein - to be on vacation
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Urlaubsantrag - vacation request (official form at work)
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Urlaubsplanung - vacation planning
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Urlaubsziel - vacation destination
Not to be confused with:
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Ferien - used more often for school holidays or longer breaks
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Feiertag - public holiday or legal day off
How does this word come up in real conversations?
All the time - especially in workplaces or when chatting about travel.
“Wann hast du wieder Urlaub?” - When are you off again?“Ich brauche dringend Urlaub.” - I really need a vacation.“Wir fahren im Urlaub nach Italien.” - We’re going to Italy on vacation.
And of course, in offices all over Germany:“Urlaub genehmigt.” - Vacation approved.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Mara: Und, wie war dein Urlaub?Ben: Super! Sonne, Strand und kein Wecker.Mara: Klingt perfekt. Wo warst du?Ben: In Portugal - eine Woche lang nur entspannen.
Mara: So, how was your vacation?Ben: Amazing! Sun, beach, and no alarm clock.Mara: Sounds perfect. Where were you?Ben: In Portugal - just relaxing for a whole week.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:Der Urlaub war viel zu kurz.The vacation was way too short.
Accusative:Ich plane meinen nächsten Urlaub.I’m planning my next vacation.
Dative:Im Urlaub lese ich immer viel.On vacation I always read a lot.
Genitive:Am Ende des Urlaubs war ich total erholt.By the end of the vacation, I was completely rested.
Masculine case pattern: der, den, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Helpful related terms:
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Urlaubsreise - vacation trip
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Urlaubsfoto - vacation photo
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Urlaubsvertretung - someone covering your work while you’re on vacation
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Urlaub machen - to go on vacation
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Urlaubsstimmung - vacation mood
Cultural note: In Germany, Urlaub is considered essential to well-being. Vacation entitlements depend on the employment agreement and workweek. The general statutory minimum corresponds to 20 working days for a five-day week. Urlaub originally meant permission to leave and is related to erlauben.
📘 Duden entry🎥 Want to master German vocabulary faster? Our free video course covers the 1000 most common nouns - with real-life examples, smart grammar tips, and visuals that make learning stick.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Ursache means? It’s what starts everything - even your headache.What about Vater? That one might be waiting at home with advice and a grill.
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