Today's words · 💐 Graduation
Congratulations! 10 German words for graduation day
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Your German friend just graduated. Ready to say more than “well done”?
A German friend finally finished her master's thesis and invited you to a party. You arrive with flowers, and everyone is chatting about Abschluss, Zeugnis and Absolventen while you just nod along.
Today's ten words are all about graduating. With them you can congratulate someone, talk about degrees and certificates, and tell people how proud you are. 💐
📋 The ten words at a glance
- der Abschluss — degree, qualification; conclusion
- feierlich — solemn, ceremonial
- das Abitur — Abitur (school-leaving exam, university entrance qualification)
- das Zeugnis — report (card); certificate, reference
- das Diplom — diploma, degree
- der Absolvent — graduate
- die Zeremonie — ceremony
- die Feier — celebration, party
- stolz — proud (of) (auf + acc.)
- die Gratulation — congratulations
🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks
der Abschluss
[AP-shloos]degree, qualification; conclusion(Pl. die Abschlüsse)
📌 Nach dem Abschluss suche ich eine Stelle.
→ After graduating I'll look for a job.
💡 ab + schließen (close) = closing the door on your studies 🎓
Bonus einen Abschluss machen = to get a degree · plural die Abschlüsse
feierlich
[FY-er-likh]solemn, ceremonial📌 Der neue Bürgermeister wurde feierlich begrüßt.
→ The new mayor was ceremonially welcomed.
💡 Feier (celebration) + -lich = festive, solemn 🎻
Bonus Das ist nicht mehr feierlich! = This is getting ridiculous! (joking)
das Abitur
[ah-bee-TOOR]Abitur (school-leaving exam, university entrance qualification)(sg.)
📌 Mein Sohn macht nächstes Jahr Abitur.
→ My son is taking his Abitur next year.
💡 Latin abire (to go away) = the exam for leaving school 🏫 Short form: Abi!
Bonus Abi machen = to take your Abitur
das Zeugnis
[TSOYK-nis]report (card); certificate, reference(Pl. die Zeugnisse)
📌 Für die Bewerbung brauche ich eine Kopie meines Zeugnisses.
→ For the application I need a copy of my certificate.
💡 Like a Zeuge (witness), it testifies to what you can do 📜
Bonus A reference from an employer is das Arbeitszeugnis.
das Diplom
[dee-PLOHM]diploma, degree(Pl. die Diplome)
📌 Nach fünf Jahren Studium hat sie endlich ihr Diplom.
→ After five years of study she finally has her degree.
💡 Greek for a ‘folded document’ 📄 Diplomas used to be handed over folded.
Bonus The same word as English diploma.
der Absolvent
[ap-zol-VENT]graduate(Pl. die Absolventen (f: die Absolventin))
📌 Viele Absolventen finden schnell eine Stelle in der IT-Branche.
→ Many graduates quickly find a job in the IT sector.
💡 Someone who has absolviert (completed) their studies = a graduate 👩🎓
⚠ A weak noun: den/dem/des Absolventen all take -en.
die Zeremonie
[tseh-reh-moh-NEE]ceremony(Pl. die Zeremonien)
📌 Die Zeremonie fand in der alten Kirche statt.
→ The ceremony took place in the old church.
💡 Just like English ceremony 🎊 The -ie at the end is a long ‘ee’.
Bonus Plural: die Zeremonien (tseh-reh-moh-NEE-en)
die Feier
[FY-er]celebration, party(Pl. die Feiern)
📌 Die Feier war wunderschön.
→ The celebration was wonderful.
💡 The noun from feiern (to celebrate) 🥂 A Feier means a party!
Bonus A graduation party = die Abschlussfeier
stolz
[SHTOLTS]proud (of) (auf + acc.)(stolz – stolzer – am stolzesten)
📌 Ich bin stolz auf dich!
→ I'm proud of you!
💡 Puff out your chest and say ‘SHTOLTS!’ 😤 That's the feeling.
⚠ Proud of = stolz auf + accusative: Ich bin stolz auf dich! (not von)
die Gratulation
[gra-too-la-TSYOHN]congratulations(Pl. die Gratulationen)
📌 Vielen Dank für die Gratulation zu meinem Geburtstag!
→ Thank you so much for the birthday wishes!
💡 English congratulation without the con- 🎉
Bonus The verb takes the dative: Ich gratuliere dir zum Abschluss!
🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture
German universities traditionally didn't hold one big graduation ceremony for everyone. More departments run small events now, but it's still common to receive your Zeugnis as a document and celebrate with friends instead.
The really big celebration is often for the Abitur, the school-leaving exam. Afterwards there's an Abiball: everyone dresses up in suits and gowns and dances late into the night with their families.
The safest thing to say is Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Abschluss! One line in a card says it all. 🎓
✅ Quick quiz
Q. Your friend has graduated. How do you say ‘I'm so proud of you!’?
- ① Ich bin stolz von dir!
- ② Ich bin stolz auf dich!
- ③ Ich bin stolz mit dir!
Show the answer
② Ich bin stolz auf dich!
stolz goes with auf plus the accusative.
If someone you know has just graduated, send them Ich gratuliere dir! And tell yourself Ich bin stolz auf mich! for learning today's words. 🌷
🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 🕯️ Funerals & condolences