#FUNNY GERMAN WORDS IN ENGLISH FULL#

#FUNNY GERMAN WORDS IN ENGLISH FULL#

For non-German speakers, including myself, German vocabulary is full of quirky but logical expressions. What’s incredibly fascinating about the German language is that it’s abundant in funny words. On the contrary, their literal translations are funnier in English. The funniness of those words isn’t lost in translation.

However, there are German words that are funny at their core and retain their intrinsic humour even when translated into English. Some words lose their humour when translated into another language and don’t sound funny enough to evoke the kind of boisterous laughter one had intended for it. The idea behind this one is that you only think of a good comeback or joke when you’re in the staircase on the way out the building, and not in the moment it would have been best to say it.Funny German Translations of Weird German Words in English Meaning: A witty comment that only occurs to you once the moment has completely passed. It’s meant to be said in a more casual manner, a lot like the German phrase “that’s all, folks!” or “that’s the end of the story”. The origin of this one is not really known, but it sure is a fun one to say. Literal translation: Close the lid, the monkey is dead It’s an idea that’s just as impossible or unlikely to come true. Think of this phrase like the English phrase “a pipe dream”. Meaning: An idea that’s unlikely to come true One of the most popular is as a reference to the way clergymen lived in France during the Middle Ages. There are a few ideas about the origin of the phrase. Literal translation: Live like God in France This is a phrase that sums up just about everything you feel when you’re watching a cringeworthy YouTube video. This is the kind of shame you feel when somebody is doing something that would make you feel more than embarrassed yourself. Meaning: To be ashamed of and on behalf of others It’s basically a promise that couldn’t be kept. You’d use this when talking about something so exaggerated it’s clear it could never happen. Meaning: A promise that can’t be fulfilled Literal translation: The blue promise from the sky* The ol’ cable salad especially applies to computer-related issues, but I honestly can’t wait to sneak it in next time I’m describing what it’s like to be stuck in traffic on the 605. “Kabelsalat”Īnother classy way to say something’s a mess. Think of it as something your mom might have said when she saw your messy room. This is a phrase that’s usually uttered after something’s been seriously messed up, especially after a prior warning that the actions leading up to it might cause the exact problem. Literal translation: Now we have the salad And if you’re reaching for excessive amounts of junk food after say, a terrible break up, bacon does have a way of showing up in way too many of those meals. Meaning: Excess weight put on by emotional overeatingīacon is an international superstar, as far as junk food goes.

But then again, maybe that fact would prove your point. Doesn’t make much sense when you translate it literally. “Spinnen” can mean “spider” or “spinning yarn” so the idea is that you’re about to spin out of control. But one thing is clear, you’d be really annoyed if someone was walking on the delicious pastries you wanted to eat. Like many of these phrases, there is some speculation about where this phrase came from. Literal translation: You’re walking on my cake/cookie If there were more ponies in our lives, I imagine we’d all feel a little less stressed out about it and life really would be like a pony farm. Honestly, this sums up so much of what makes life a challenge: Not enough cute animals. Literal translation: Life is no pony farm

Here’s a quick look at 12 German phrases that are so wonderfully weird we should all be using them. As a non-native speaker learning the language, I’ve found there’s a perfect phrase in German for just about every scenario. In addition to a rich, fascinating history, it boasts a dictionary of perfectly descriptive words and phrases. It’s also a co-official language in some areas of Italy, Poland, and even Brazil. German is one of the 10 most widely-spoken languages in the world, and an official language in several countries in Western Europe, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.

Funny german words in english