Wochen

Wochen is the plural form of the German word Woche, which denotes a seven-day period used in calendars and time measurement. In everyday language, Wochen is used to express durations (for example, drei Wochen, zwei Wochen) and to refer to specific calendar periods (diese Woche, nächste Woche, in der kommenden Woche). The term also appears in compound forms such as Wochenplan or Wochenende.

In German-speaking countries, a calendar week is commonly understood as Monday to Sunday, and is often referred to as der Kalenderwoche (KW) when weeks are numbered for planning and scheduling. The ISO week date system designates Monday as the first day of the week, and weeks are assigned numbers throughout the year. The five-day workweek (Arbeitswoche) is a related concept used in business contexts, typically spanning Monday to Friday.

The concept of the seven-day week has ancient roots and spread through various cultures and religions in Europe and the Middle East. In German, the days of the week are Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag (or Sonnabend), and Sonntag, reflecting historical naming conventions linked to the observed celestial and social rhythms.

Related terms include Wochenend- or Wochenende, meaning the weekend, and Kalenderwoche, which emphasizes the week’s position within a year. The word Wochen thus functions as a versatile unit in German, shaping how people discuss time, scheduling, and routines.