In 15 Seconds
- Refers to the act of cutting grass with a mower.
- Strictly forbidden on Sundays and public holidays in Germany.
- A standard household chore and common small talk topic.
Meaning
This phrase describes the classic weekend chore of cutting the grass in your garden or yard using a lawnmower.
Key Examples
3 of 6Explaining weekend plans
Am Samstag muss ich leider den Rasen mähen.
On Saturday, I unfortunately have to mow the lawn.
Asking a family member
Kannst du heute bitte den Rasen mähen?
Can you please mow the lawn today?
A professional facility instruction
Der Hausmeister soll jeden Freitag den Rasen mähen.
The caretaker should mow the lawn every Friday.
Cultural Background
The 'Sonntagsruhe' is a legal matter. Mowing your lawn on a Sunday can lead to a visit from the 'Ordnungsamt' or a very angry neighbor. Rules can be even stricter here, with some cantons having specific hours even on weekdays where mowing is discouraged. Similar to Germany, gardening is a point of pride, and a 'gepflegter Rasen' (well-kept lawn) is highly valued in rural communities. There is a growing trend of 'Mähroboter' (robotic mowers), which are quieter and often allowed during times when manual mowers are not.
Sunday Rules
Never mow on a Sunday in Germany unless you want to start a war with your neighbors.
Accusative Case
Always remember it's 'den Rasen' (accusative) because the lawn is being acted upon.
In 15 Seconds
- Refers to the act of cutting grass with a mower.
- Strictly forbidden on Sundays and public holidays in Germany.
- A standard household chore and common small talk topic.
What It Means
den Rasen mähen is a very straightforward phrase. It literally means to mow the lawn. In Germany, a well-kept garden is often a point of pride. You will hear this phrase every weekend during the spring and summer. It is a standard part of Gartenarbeit (gardening).
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like any other activity. It follows the standard German sentence structure. If you are doing it now, say Ich mähe den Rasen. If you have to do it, say Ich muss den Rasen mähen. The verb mähen is regular, so it is easy to conjugate. Just remember that Rasen is masculine, so it takes the accusative den when it is the object of your mowing.
When To Use It
Use this when discussing your weekend plans or chores. It is perfect for small talk with neighbors. You might say it when explaining why you can't go to the cinema. It is also common in professional contexts for facility managers. If you see a neighbor outside, asking Mähen Sie heute den Rasen? is a classic conversation starter. Just be prepared for a long talk about grass types!
When NOT To Use It
Do not use mähen for anything other than grass or grain. You cannot mähen your hair or a piece of paper. For those, use schneiden (to cut). Also, avoid saying this on a Sunday in Germany. It is culturally and often legally frowned upon. Using a loud mower on a day of rest is a big no-no. Your neighbors might give you the 'German stare' or even call the authorities.
Cultural Background
Germans have a special relationship with their lawns. There is even a concept called Rasenpflege (lawn care). Many people aim for a perfect 'English lawn' look. However, there are strict rules called Ruhezeiten (quiet times). Usually, you cannot mow between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM or after 8:00 PM. Sundays and public holidays are completely off-limits for noisy mowers. This is why Saturday mornings are often a symphony of lawnmower engines across the country.
Common Variations
You will often hear people talk about the Rasenmäher (lawnmower). If someone is very high-tech, they might have a Mähroboter (mowing robot). These little robots are becoming very popular in German suburbs. Some people also use the phrase den Rasen stutzen, which means to trim the lawn slightly. If the grass is very long, you might hear die Wiese mähen (to mow the meadow).
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and universally understood. The main 'gotcha' is the cultural timing—ensure you don't actually do the action during restricted hours!
Sunday Rules
Never mow on a Sunday in Germany unless you want to start a war with your neighbors.
Accusative Case
Always remember it's 'den Rasen' (accusative) because the lawn is being acted upon.
Small Talk
Complimenting a neighbor's lawn is a 100% safe and effective way to build rapport in Germany.
Wet Grass
Don't mow when it's raining ('bei Regen mäht man nicht')—it's bad for the mower and the grass.
Examples
6Am Samstag muss ich leider den Rasen mähen.
On Saturday, I unfortunately have to mow the lawn.
A common way to describe household duties.
Kannst du heute bitte den Rasen mähen?
Can you please mow the lawn today?
A polite request for a chore.
Der Hausmeister soll jeden Freitag den Rasen mähen.
The caretaker should mow the lawn every Friday.
Formal instruction in a work environment.
Bin im Garten, den Rasen mähen. Ruf später an!
In the garden, mowing the lawn. Call later!
Short, informal text message style.
Dein Garten ist ein Dschungel! Du solltest mal wieder den Rasen mähen.
Your garden is a jungle! You should mow the lawn again.
Teasing a friend about their overgrown grass.
Mein Nachbar will schon wieder am Sonntag den Rasen mähen!
My neighbor wants to mow the lawn on Sunday again!
Expressing frustration over a cultural faux pas.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the article and the verb.
Jeden Samstag ______ mein Vater ______ Rasen.
The subject 'mein Vater' is 3rd person singular (mäht), and 'Rasen' is the direct object in the accusative (den).
Which sentence is correct regarding German 'Ruhezeiten'?
Wann darf man in Deutschland normalerweise NICHT den Rasen mähen?
Sunday is a public rest day in Germany, and noisy activities like lawn mowing are generally prohibited.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum kommst du nicht zum Fußball? B: Ich ______ noch den ______ ______.
This is the most natural way to express a chore that prevents you from joining an activity.
Match the German phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the core vocabulary items related to the phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Rasen vs. Gras
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeden Samstag ______ mein Vater ______ Rasen.
The subject 'mein Vater' is 3rd person singular (mäht), and 'Rasen' is the direct object in the accusative (den).
Wann darf man in Deutschland normalerweise NICHT den Rasen mähen?
Sunday is a public rest day in Germany, and noisy activities like lawn mowing are generally prohibited.
A: Warum kommst du nicht zum Fußball? B: Ich ______ noch den ______ ______.
This is the most natural way to express a chore that prevents you from joining an activity.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the core vocabulary items related to the phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYou can, but it sounds less precise. 'Den Rasen mähen' is the standard term for garden maintenance.
Yes, it follows the standard pattern: mähte, gemäht.
It is called '{der|m} Rasenmäher'.
Because 'Rasen' is masculine and it is the direct object (accusative) of the verb 'mähen'.
Yes, usually Sundays, public holidays, and often between 1 PM and 3 PM.
It's a robotic lawnmower that cuts the grass automatically.
No, that would be very funny! Use 'schneiden' for hair.
Rasen is a manicured lawn; Gras is the general plant or wild grass.
Extremely. It is a core part of the suburban weekend routine.
You say 'Ich habe gemäht'.
Related Phrases
den Garten umgraben
similarto dig up the garden
Unkraut jäten
similarto weed
die Hecke schneiden
similarto trim the hedge
den Rasen sprengen
builds onto water the lawn
