Woche

Woche is the seven-day period used to structure time in many cultures, including German-speaking countries. In everyday language, people speak of this week (diese Woche) and next week (nächste Woche). A typical Woche consists of seven days, named Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag or Sonnabend, and Sonntag. The concept underpins calendars, work schedules, and social life, providing a regular rhythm for planning and repetition.

Etymology and usage: The German word Woche is of Germanic origin and is cognate with the Dutch week and the English week. The seven-day cycle itself has ancient roots in Mesopotamian and Jewish traditions and was later adopted in Roman and Christian calendars. In German, the weekday names reflect a mix of celestial bodies, deities, and historical terms, with Montag (Moon), Dienstag and Donnerstag linked to deities or days, and Samstag/Sonntag tracing to Sabbath and the Sun.

History and standardization: The seven-day week emerged in antiquity and spread across Europe during the Middle Ages, becoming the habitual framework for timekeeping. In the modern era, international standards such as ISO 8601 designate Monday as the first day of the week, a convention adopted by most German-speaking countries for official calendars. Some religious and cultural contexts continue to view Sunday as the week's first day.

Modern usage: In German-speaking contexts, the term Woche is used to describe durations (eine Woche) or to refer to calendar weeks (Kalenderwoche, KW) for numbering. The typical workweek is five days, with Saturday and Sunday forming the weekend in many countries, though practices vary by industry and region. The Woche remains the principal unit for organizing time in everyday life.