Two good ones along these lines: Warmduscher (warm shower taker; aka wuss); Schattenparker (shade-parker, ie one who goes out of their way to park in the shade; similar implications)
I also think German has a lot of words which makes learning science a lot easier. For example Zungenband (tongue-band), Braunkohle (brown coal-lignite) and Flaggenkunde (flag-study->vexillology) among other examples.
It seems that Chinese may have similar examples. However, due to the rise in English, many of the aforementioned scientific examples often have more complicated alternatives. I'm not sure if I like this or not (i.e. having multiple words for same concept). Do more words mean more freedom, or more confusion?
For when you’re being repetitively and aggressively accosted by panhandlers: “Ich habe mein Herz in meine anderen Hosen gelassen.” (I left my heart in my other pants)
“Du bist wohl vom wilden Affen gebissen” was a favorite my mom took from my dad. Literally “You’ve been bitten by wild monkeys” for an insane idea.
By my absolute favorite was one that was some might use in the right context, but in our family was always used in one specific context: “Ich muss eine Sitzung halten”. I must hold a meeting or literally a siting. But really, I have to go poop.
These are great suggestions. I do not speak German often enough, but I will try to include: Höflichkeitstrab, Phantomtritt und Wunschwälzer in my Wortschatz (word treasure). Which, come to think of it, is such a nicer word than vocabulary.
"8. The word or fact, learned yesterday, that now appears everywhere" already has a German-inspired name. It is known as the 'Baader-Meinhof phenomenon'. From the Wikipedia page:
The name "Baader–Meinhof phenomenon" was coined in 1994 by Terry Mullen in a letter to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The letter describes how, after mentioning the name of the German militant group Baader–Meinhof once, he kept noticing it.
My favourite word is "Der Treppenwitz", which Duden defines as "Vorfall, der wie ein schlechter Scherz wirkt", or "An incident that is so bad it seems like a bad joke". There was a notable history book "der Treppenwitz der Weltgeschichte", which I would translate as, "The History of the World: if it wasn't real you would think it was a bad joke"
What a super article!!!
Two good ones along these lines: Warmduscher (warm shower taker; aka wuss); Schattenparker (shade-parker, ie one who goes out of their way to park in the shade; similar implications)
I'd heard the former - the latter is wonderfully niche
A rough dough-faced ploughman called Houghton coughed and hiccoughed through Scarborough lough.
Brilliant! thanks for some much-needed new words.
Brilliant. I love your new words.
"Drachenfutter" is now in the lexicon of my marriage. Thank you.
Danke
As a German speaker, I'd recommend Zoooologe (Zoo oologist), Deutschschweiz (German Switzerland), Panzernashorn (armour-nose-horn->Indian Rhinoceros), Erdteil (earth-part continent), Weltmeer (world-sea ocean), musizieren (to musicate/play musically), Fledermaus (winged-mouse bat), Mausetot (mouse dead/stone dead).
I also think German has a lot of words which makes learning science a lot easier. For example Zungenband (tongue-band), Braunkohle (brown coal-lignite) and Flaggenkunde (flag-study->vexillology) among other examples.
It seems that Chinese may have similar examples. However, due to the rise in English, many of the aforementioned scientific examples often have more complicated alternatives. I'm not sure if I like this or not (i.e. having multiple words for same concept). Do more words mean more freedom, or more confusion?
Mausetot I like a lot
It could be "dead as a mouse", like "quiet as a (church) mouse"
For when you’re being repetitively and aggressively accosted by panhandlers: “Ich habe mein Herz in meine anderen Hosen gelassen.” (I left my heart in my other pants)
Ha
“Du bist wohl vom wilden Affen gebissen” was a favorite my mom took from my dad. Literally “You’ve been bitten by wild monkeys” for an insane idea.
By my absolute favorite was one that was some might use in the right context, but in our family was always used in one specific context: “Ich muss eine Sitzung halten”. I must hold a meeting or literally a siting. But really, I have to go poop.
Love it
These are great suggestions. I do not speak German often enough, but I will try to include: Höflichkeitstrab, Phantomtritt und Wunschwälzer in my Wortschatz (word treasure). Which, come to think of it, is such a nicer word than vocabulary.
Great article.
"8. The word or fact, learned yesterday, that now appears everywhere" already has a German-inspired name. It is known as the 'Baader-Meinhof phenomenon'. From the Wikipedia page:
The name "Baader–Meinhof phenomenon" was coined in 1994 by Terry Mullen in a letter to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The letter describes how, after mentioning the name of the German militant group Baader–Meinhof once, he kept noticing it.
My favourite word is "Der Treppenwitz", which Duden defines as "Vorfall, der wie ein schlechter Scherz wirkt", or "An incident that is so bad it seems like a bad joke". There was a notable history book "der Treppenwitz der Weltgeschichte", which I would translate as, "The History of the World: if it wasn't real you would think it was a bad joke"
Nice thanks
A very enjoyable read. My favourite German word is ‘bummerlei’ which translates loosely as ‘aimless noodling’