German Phrase
Was für ein schöner Tag!
Meaning
Literally “What a beautiful day!” It’s an exclamation expressing delight or amazement at pleasant weather or a particularly nice day.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to comment enthusiastically on a sunny, warm, or otherwise pleasant day, especially in informal conversation or when sharing a photo on social media.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WasfüreinschönerTag!
Was für ein
A fixed phrase meaning “what a/what an”, used to express strong emotion or surprise about a noun.
Adjective ending –er
In the nominative masculine singular with a preceding indefinite article, the adjective takes the strong ending –er (schöner).
Nominative case
The whole expression is in the nominative because it describes the subject (Tag) as a whole.
🗨In Conversation
Was für ein schöner Tag!
What a beautiful day!
Ja, das Wetter ist perfekt für ein Picknick.
Yes, the weather is perfect for a picnic.
✕Common Mistakes
Was für ein schönes Tag!
With the indefinite article ‘ein’ in the masculine nominative, the adjective must end in –er, not –es.
Was für schöner Tag!
Do not drop the article; ‘Was für ein …’ is a fixed construction.
Was für ein schöner Tag?
The phrase is an exclamation, not a question; use an exclamation mark.
↔Alternatives
Was für ein herrlicher Tag!
What a glorious day!
Ein wunderschöner Tag!
A wonderful day!
Wie schön das Wetter ist!
How beautiful the weather is!
Cultural Tip
Germans love to talk about the weather, and exclamations like this are common in casual conversation, on social media, or when stepping outside. The phrase is informal; avoid it in formal writing unless you’re quoting someone’s spoken words.