Why do I need to know Sommerloch?
You’re most likely to come across Sommerloch in newspapers, political discussions or conversations about work during the summer months.
It describes the lull that tends to occur during the main holiday season, when fewer major events are happening and many people are away.
In Austria, that feeling is particularly familiar in July and August, when parliament is on its summer break, schools are closed and plenty of workplaces are running with reduced staff.
What does it mean?
Sommerloch literally means “summer hole”.
The word combines Sommer, meaning summer, with Loch, meaning hole. It, of course, doesn’t describe an actual hole but a gap or quiet period in the normal flow of activity.
It’s especially common in the media. When major political and economic stories are scarce during summer, journalists may talk about the Sommerloch. The term can also be used more broadly for a quiet spell at work or in public life.
You may also encounter the expression im Sommerloch stecken, meaning roughly to be stuck in the summer lull.
The word is used in both Austria and Germany, so it is not specifically Austrian German.
Use it like this:
Im August ist in der Politik oft Sommerloch.
August is often a quiet period in politics.
Während des Sommerlochs ist im Büro nicht viel los.
There isn’t much going on in the office during the summer lull.
Diese Geschichte ist typisch fürs Sommerloch.
This story is typical summer-lull material.
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