Dienstag

Dienstag is the German name for Tuesday, the second day of the week in most German-speaking countries. In Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, the week commonly begins on Monday, making Tuesday the second weekday in ordinary usage. The ISO 8601 standard also designates Monday as the first day, which aligns with the common practice in German-language contexts.

Origin: The name Dienstag comes from Old High German diestatag; the precise etymology is a matter of scholarly debate. It belongs to a Germanic tradition of weekday names, and today it is the conventional label for the day.

Usage: In everyday speech, Tuesday is treated as a normal workday for work, school, and appointments. The phrase am Dienstag means “on Tuesday.” In Swiss and Austrian usage, the name remains Dienstag, with regional pronunciation differences.

Cultural notes: In many German-speaking regions, the pre-Lenten carnival season features a Tuesday known as Faschingsdienstag or Karnevalsdienstag (often equated with Mardi Gras in English). Some towns also have historical market days on fixed weekdays, including Tuesday.