Breakdown of Schönes Wochenende!
Schönes Wochenende
have a nice weekend
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Questions & Answers about Schönes Wochenende!
Where is the 'Have a' part of the sentence?
In German, you don't need a verb to wish someone a nice weekend. Just like in English you can say 'Good morning' instead of 'I wish you a good morning,' Germans simply say Schönes Wochenende!. The full phrase would be Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende!, but it is almost always shortened.
Why does Schönes have an -es at the end?
The ending -es tells us two things. First, Wochenende is a neuter noun (a 'das' word). Second, this phrase is technically the direct object of a hidden verb ('I wish you...'), putting it in the accusative case. For neuter nouns with no article in front of them, the describing word takes the -es ending.
How is the word Wochenende built?
It is a compound noun made of two words you might already know: die Woche (the week) and das Ende (the end). They are joined together by an -n- to make das Wochenende (the weekend).
When do Germans usually say this?
You will hear this phrase very often on Fridays as people leave work, school, or a shop. It is used as a goodbye to wish someone well for the upcoming weekend.