Jahres

Jahres is the genitive singular form of the German noun Jahr, meaning year. In everyday language it appears mainly in fixed expressions and as a stem in compound words that refer to the year as a whole or to annual phenomena.

In modern German, Jahres- acts as a productive linking form for compound nouns. It conveys the sense of “annual” or “relating to a year.” Examples include Jahresbericht (annual report), Jahresabschluss (year-end closing), Jahreswechsel (turn of the year), Jahresumsatz (annual turnover), and Jahreszeit (season of the year). The latter shows how Jahres can be part of a compound meaningfully associated with the year, while Jahreszeit denotes the four seasons within a year.

The use of Jahres is primarily grammatical and lexical rather than a standalone concept. Phrases such as am Ende des Jahres (at the end of the year) illustrate its role in indicating temporal scope. It is important not to confuse Jahres with the plural Jahre, which simply means “years,” whereas Jahres marks the possessive or descriptive function in compounds and genitive phrases.

As a surname, Jahres exists at the intersection of language and onomastics but is comparatively uncommon. When encountered, it likely derives from the same historical roots tied to Jahr, though its use as a family name is rare and varies by region. In general, Jahres is most relevant in linguistic and calendrical contexts as the genitive form of Jahr and as a component of annual-related compounds.