It’s the turning point between one day and the next — the classic hour of silence, celebration, or superstition. Learning how to say midnight in German helps you talk about time, plans, and even fairy tales.

The word is die Mitternacht. It’s feminine, and it has no plural in regular use. For a clear explanation of gender in German, check out my gender video lesson.

Mitternacht is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German — especially in storytelling, event planning, and nighttime routines.

Here’s how Mitternacht appears in all four grammatical cases:

Nominative:
Die Mitternacht war unheimlich still.
Midnight was eerily quiet.

Accusative:
Ich habe die Mitternacht verpasst.
I missed midnight.

Dative:
Um Mitternacht begann das Feuerwerk.
The fireworks started at midnight.

Genitive:
Die Ruhe der Mitternacht war beruhigend.
The stillness of midnight was calming.

Some everyday phrases and expressions:

• um Mitternacht – at midnight

• bis Mitternacht – until midnight

• nach Mitternacht – after midnight

• die Stunde vor Mitternacht – the hour before midnight

• Geisterstunde – literally "ghost hour", often said to begin at midnight

Verbs: schlafen (to sleep), feiern (to celebrate), beginnen (to begin), enden (to end), erscheinen (to appear — think ghosts or magic!)
Adjectives: still (silent), magisch (magical), spät (late), dunkel (dark), geheimnisvoll (mysterious)

Mitternacht often shows up in German folklore, movies, and New Year’s celebrations. It’s also the traditional moment when something changes — the carriage turns back into a pumpkin, or the spell is broken.

Beginner dialogue using Mitternacht:

A: Bleibst du heute bis Mitternacht wach?
B: Ja, ich will das neue Jahr begrüßen!
A: Are you staying up until midnight tonight?
B: Yes, I want to welcome the new year!

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it out loud using Mitternacht.

“Was hast du das letzte Mal um Mitternacht gemacht?”
What did you last do at midnight?

Speak your answer clearly. It doesn’t need to be long — just real.

Duden entry for “Mitternacht”

German Word of the Day
Now you’ve learned how to say midnight in German — and how die Mitternacht lets you talk about schedules, sleep, and magical turning points.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep expanding your vocabulary in meaningful ways.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Review Mund — and get familiar with speaking, smiling, and idioms.
Or explore Miete — and talk about housing, cost, and city life.