#thegermanword — Public Fediverse posts

Some funny German words everyone should know:

Purzelbaum (tumble tree) = somersault
Wasserhahn (water rooster) = water tap
Kummerspeck (grief bacon) = weight gained from grief
Zungenbrecher (tongue breaker) = tongue twister
Torschlusspanik (gate closing panic) = fear of being left on the shelf
Sitzfleisch (seat meat) = ability to sit still for long periods, stamina
Feierabend (celebration evening) = knocking-off time
Schnapsidee (booze idea) = a stupid idea

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

and today's German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Stoßlüften

via @zwangseinweisung https://mastodon.social/@zwangseinweisung/113169743735996537

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

and the German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Lüften

via @Kurorori
https://chaos.social/@Kurorori/113169642225596310

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

#TheGermanWord "Verfassung" means "constitution".
The German word "Schutz" means "protection".

Put together " Verfassungsschutz" means "protection of enemies of the constitution".

Have fun with our language!

#AFD #Grüne #ParteiTag #EndeGelände

Some German words look like English, but mean something totally different. Examples:

brav = "well-behaved" not "brave"
Sinn = "sense" not "sin"
fast = "almost" not "fast"
Rat = "advice"/"council" not "rat"
toll = "great" not "toll"
Mist = "crap" not "mist"
Lack = "varnish" not "lack"
ordinär = "vulgar" not "ordinary"
Pickel = "pimple" not "pickle"
prägnant = "concise" not "pregnant"
Labor = "laboratory" not "labor"
Präservativ = "condom" not "preservative"

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

@lostgen Another entry to the list of #TheGermanWord.

and today's German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Pausenbrot

via https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6Q812pshi-/

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

The German word "Kopf" means "head".

The word "Stein" means "stone".

The word "Pflaster" means "(medical) plaster" or "pavement".

The word "Kopfsteinpflaster" sounds like a bandage you use when your head was hit by a stone. 🤕

But it's just the German word for cobblestones.

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

In German, you may hear about strange animals - well, they're not animals:

- Drahtesel (wire donkey) = bicycle
- Wasserhahn (water rooster) = water tap
- Spaßvogel (fun bird) = joker
- Landratte (Land rat) = landlubber
- Tischbock (table goat) = trestle
- Pleitegeier (bankrupt vulture) = symbol for bankruptcy
- Fleischwolf (meat wolf) = mincer
- Leseratte (reading rat) = book lover
- Schweinehund (pig dog) = the inner force that keeps you from doing sports

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

@james

It is unbelievable for me that anybody wants to learn this language voluntarily.

R-E-S-P-E-K-T

Just talk about #TheGermanWord and everyone around will be entertained.

and the German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Heckscheibenwischerrecyclingpolyethylenschutzüberziehtüten

via @atarifrosch @chucker
https://mastodon.social/@chucker@norden.social/112124650290145373

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

and today's German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Grundstücksverkehrsgenehmigungszuständigkeitsverordnung

via https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3IfkbTMZ4g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

and the German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Glockenklöppel

via @waldo https://chaos.social/@waldo/111941080204623727

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

The German word "aufkleben" means "to stick on (something)".

The word "Aufkleber" can mean:
- a sticker
- a person sticking stuff somewhere

So, an "Aufkleberaufkleber" is someone putting stickers on.

And if this sticker sticking person has their own stickers with their face or name on it, that thing would be an "Aufkleberaufkleberaufkleber".

And if you put one of those stickers somewhere, you are an "Aufkleberaufkleberaufkleberaufkleber".

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

Germans have many ways to tell people not to annoy them:

- Geh mir nicht auf die Nerven! (Don't go on my nerves!)
- Geh mir nicht auf den Wecker! (Don't go on my alarm clock!)
- Geh mir nicht auf den Senkel! (Don't go on my shoelace!)
- Geh mir nicht auf den Keks! (Don't go on my cookie!)
- Geh mir nicht auf den Sack! (Don't go on my scrotum!)
- Geh mir nicht auf die Eier! (Don't go on my balls!)
- Geh mir nicht auf die Eierstöcke! (Don't go on my ovaries!)

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

@jensclasen

From what I understand, the Japanese have "nani", which can go from "what(?)" to "WTF(?)".

Funny how they sound close and intersect partly in meaning (and, most certainly, are totally unrelated).

#TheGermanWord

The German interjection "nanu" is a universal expression of surprise, a bit like "oops".

For example, it can mean:

- Oops, where is my key?
- Where has everybody gone?
- Why is it so dark in here?
- Where does all this stuff come from?
- Oh, what are you doing here?
- How come you are not at your house?
- What do you mean this IS your house?
- How is this shit even possible?
- Oh, did I take a wrong turn?

Or all at once.

You already knew that?
Nanu! 😮

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

@jensclasen

Bad Worsening ist doch aber sicher ein beliebter Kurort, an den man in der Hoffnung auf gute Besserung reist?

#TheGermanWord

The German word "gut" means "good".

The word "besser" means "better".

When someone is sick, and you hope they will get well soon, you wish them "Gute Besserung".

Yes: Good bettering.

I am not making this up, it's absolutely common. People don't even think about how funny this is.

And in case you're wondering: There is no "bad worsening" for people you don't like.

Enjoyjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

The German word "egal" means "irrelevant" - and it can replace full sentences.

Someone saying "Ach, egal" can mean:

- I don't care
- Forget what I just said
- Never mind
- Don't bother
- Whatever
- Oh, well then
- I don't want it anymore, just keep it
- Then not
- Suit yourself
- Your loss
- See if I care
- Fine, be that way!
- You do you
- Can we talk about something else?

You're confused now?
Ach, egal.

Just enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

The German word "aufgedreht" can mean:

- twisted open
- hyper, giddy

The German word "Flasche" can mean:

- bottle
- jerk, idiot

So, the sentence "Die Flasche ist ganz aufgedreht" can mean:

- "The bottle is completely open"

or

- "That jerk is totally psyched up!"

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

The German word "hin" means "towards".

Combined with other words, it gets confusing:

- hin und zurück: there and back, back and forth
- hin und her: to and fro
- hin oder her: aside, or not
- hin und wieder: now and then
- hin und weg: delighted
- hin (-über): broken, exhausted, dead
- hin ist hin: There's no use crying over spilled milk.
- mach hin: Hurry up!

Hinjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

and today's German word of the day for @Frogsicle is:

Untersetzer

via @ytvwld @threecoloured
https://mastodon.social/@threecoloured@skeptics.social/111739221489070464

#gwotd #germanwordoftheday #TheGermanWord

The German words

- Kanten
- Knust
- Kniezchen
- Knüstchen
- Knäuschen
- Krüstchen
- Knäusle
- Ränftchen
- Ränftl
- Knapp
- Knäppchen
- Knüppchen
- Küppchen
- Rindl
- Knorze
- Knörzchen
- Knetzle
- Köppla
- Scherzl
- Rauft
- Kneißje
- Riebele
- Riebl
- Knerzje
- Giggel
- Fietze
. Mürggel
- Rumpftl
- Rumptschn

(and some more...)

ALL mean the same thing: the end crust of bread.

So, the end of a bread is always the beginning of a debate what it is called.

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

The German abbreviation "CDU" does NOT stand for

- Climate Destruction Unit
- Can't Do Update
- Convinced Diesel Ultras
- Change Deters Us
- Cheesy & Dull Unlimited
- Computer? Don't Understand

Just in case you were wondering.

(Unbelievable - but it stands for "Christian Democratic Union".)

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

In German, New Year's Eve is called "Silvester".

And for ages, there have been people spelling it "Sylvester" - like in "Stallone".

But since Germany is one of the few big nations that allow private fireworks on a large scale (Germans spent 180.000.000 Euro on it in 2022 alone) naming this day after the Rambo guy isn't too far off, is it?

Enjoy your New Year's Evening - and our language!

#TheGermanWord

@AllEndlessKnot
Oh, i briefly confused this with a #TheGermanWord post.
the verb blitzen means »to lighten« (produce lightning in a thunderstorm) or to flash.
Also, to take a picture of somebody with an automatic speed control camera.

The German verb "zustellen" can mean:

- to deliver, e. g. a parcel
- to block, e. g. a street

Funny thing: Package delivery people ("Zusteller") often do both: deliver stuff and block lanes with their vehicles.

So for once, the double meaning is helpful.

But remember:

Wenn Zusteller die Straße zustellen, nicht dazustellen und meckern! (When delivery guys are blocking the street - don't stand there and complain.)
They are only trying to do their job!

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

The German word "langsam" means "slow".

But it is also used to express impatience.

So, the sentence "Ich hoffe, es wird langsam wärmer" can mean

- "I hope it gets warmer slowly"

or

- "I hope it gets warmer soon"

Enjoy our langsamuage!

#TheGermanWord