After I first moved to Germany, my data of the German language didn’t go previous kindergarten and gesundheit. Whereas it has—fortunately!—dramatically improved, I nonetheless wrestle with studying the language.
One of the best half, although, is that I’m perpetually amazed on the new—and infrequently humorous—German phrases I study on daily basis. Whereas I received’t ever actually know all the German phrases, there’s a sure allure to discovering new phrases, idioms and phrases—particularly since a lot of them are surprisingly enjoyable, cute, or simply plain foolish.
Regardless of the feeling you’re making an attempt to specific or the factor you need to describe, most of the time, there’s a German phrase for it. And if not, you’ll be able to just about make one up. However earlier than you’re proficient sufficient to take action, listed here are a few of my favourite German phrases I’ve realized thus far.
15 Enjoyable German Phrases You Want To Know
To assist give you record of enjoyable and cute German phrases (some helpful, some less-than-useful), I’ve collaborated with Berlin-based illustrator Clairikine.
Schafskälte
Schafskälte is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs round June 11 (or a minimum of between June 4th and twentieth), however not essentially yearly. When it does, temperatures drop all of the sudden by 5 to 10 levels Celsius.
It impacts Central Europe however Germany is the nation the place it may be felt essentially the most—therefore the explanation why the German language has a reputation for it however English doesn’t. Talking of that phrase, “Schaf” means “sheep” whereas “kälte” refers to chilly temperatures.
And this phenomenon obtained its title from the truth that the Schafskälte would kick in after the sheep had been sheared, thus making them most susceptible to the chilly!
Fremdschämen
The verb fremdschämen might be the German cousin of face palm. It’s used to explain being vicariously embarrassed by the conduct of another person.
Frequent conditions the place you might need to fremdschämen embody our greatest pal being too drunk in public, seeing a stranger journey and fall on the road or listening to somebody proudly say one thing fully irrelevant throughout a gathering. #oops
Hüftgold
Hüft means hip whereas gold means, er, gold—see, German actually is pretty straightforward! Nevertheless, guessing the which means of this poetic phrase is likely to be a bit trickier. Any thought?
Hüftgold, it seems, describes one thing barely much less glamorous, particularly the additional fats folks placed on across the hips. However come on! It’s a lot sweeter to inform a pal they’ve placed on a little bit of hip gold than, you already know, fats.
On a aspect word. Hüftgold can be the title of a fairly cute café in Berlin! Test it out in case you are ever on the town.
Kummerspeck
Kummerspeck is used to explain the surplus fats gained by emotional consuming, particularly in instances of stress or disappointment. Kummer means grief and Speck means bacon, which does make Kummerspeck an fascinating phrase, don’t you suppose?
By the best way, Speck doesn’t discuss with precise bacon right here, it’s simply that Germans name any extra fats “Speck.” So when you handle to keep away from placing on Kummerspeck, watch out for Winterspeck, which is the load folks placed on in winter.
And consider me, winters in Germany are so lengthy that there’s greater than sufficient time to get a bit of bit chubbier!
Zweisamkeit
Let me have one other shot at displaying you that German is, certainly, an attractive and romantic language. Ever heard of Zweisamkeit? This phrase describes the self-imposed isolation of a pair in love.
Their togetherness creates a type of loneliness across the two of them. It derives from Einsamkeit, which means loneliness, however Zweisamkeit is clearly way more interesting…Two is best than one!
Geil
Geil is a humorous phrase that reveals German persons are maybe a tad dirtier than you’d suppose. This adjective is commonly used to explain one thing cool, superior or thrilling, however geil’s true which means is that’s describes being “sexy,” “salacious” or “randy.”
Due to this fact, keep away from saying “ich bin geil” considering it means “I’m superior” as whoever you’re speaking to may suppose you’re blatantly asking for intercourse. Or, use it. Your name.
Reizüberflutung
Überflutung means flooding, or overflow, and Reiz is the German phrase for stimulus. Due to this fact, Reizüberflutung is the considerably acquainted time period that was coined to explain what happens when somebody is being over-stimulated by their setting.
This occurs extra usually in our societies than it used to, particularly due to urbanization, mass media, promoting, expertise, Twitter, and so forth. It could cause irritability, over-excitement, pressure, and extra, so this evocative expression makes all of the sense on the planet.
Kopfkino
Most likely among the many cutest German phrases, Kopfkino consists of Kino, which implies cinema, and Kopf, which is German for head. Are you able to guess what Kopfkino means?
Let’s say you’re about to go to sleep and also you begin serious about that interplay you had together with your crush earlier. Your thoughts begins drifting when you think about how you possibly can’ve saved the dialog going a bit longer, possibly you possibly can’ve even requested them out?
Letting this situation unfold in your head is Kopfkino! Or that second the place your ideas are performing just like the director of your personal personal film.
Na?
Na is among the many most puzzling phrases for German learners, particularly when you’re residing in a German-speaking nation.
It’s not uncommon to be greeted with a loud Naaaa? by your flatmate upon coming house, and it seems the one appropriate reply to that perplexing, monosyllabic query is to ask it in return! Na? is, in a approach, the German equal to our beloved “What’s up?” Now you already know!
Picobello
No, Picobello isn’t an Italian phrase, though it does sound like one.
Seems it is likely to be derived from the previous German phrase piekfein, the place fein was in some way changed by Italian phrase bello. When one thing is picobello, it means it’s flawless, as in tremendous clear for instance, or that it’s wanting good.
Feierabendbier
Feierabend itself is a cool German phrase because it describes the few hours that come when you get off work. It doesn’t matter whether or not they really occur through the night (“Abend”) or not, and no matter whether or not a celebration (“Feier”) is so as.
Add beer to the combination and also you get certainly one of my favourite German establishments: the Feierabendbier, or the beer you have got upon ending work. Some Germans take it a bit too severely although, or a minimum of that’s what I can’t assist however suppose upon seeing building staff open a bottle of low cost Pils at 10 am on any given day!
Pipapo
Pipapo is a one other German phrase that doesn’t sound fairly German and has unclear origins. It’s normally preceded by mit allem (“with all of the”). The phrase Mit allem Pipapo means the identical because the English expression “bells and whistles,” however you’ll must admit that Pipapo simply sounds approach cuter!
Vokuhila
Vokuhila doesn’t sound very German both, does it? That’s as a result of it’s a made-up phrase created by taking the primary two letters of 4 phrases, particularly vorne kurz, hinten lang, which means “brief within the entrance, lengthy within the again” and, properly, I suppose you already know which horrendous haircut this refers to… Now that’s one development I want the German language hadn’t inspired!
Fruchtfleisch
Frucht interprets to fruit and Fleisch means meat. Mix these two phrases and also you get one other enjoyable German phrase: Fruchtfleisch, which is what you’d name pulp in English. Truly, this phrase all the time makes me smile as a result of I’ve realized that, in German, even vegans have a little bit of Fleisch of their lives.
Tatendrang
Tatendrang, or actually “motion urge” is, hmm, the alternative of the way you most likely really feel on Sundays or on Monday mornings. Tatendrang is used to explain a powerful urge to get issues finished, take up new initiatives and attain the whole lot in your to-do record.
Although I do really feel the Tatendrang typically, consider me after I say that, as a freelancer, I undoubtedly want this was my default mode!
In the event you’re inquisitive about studying German, learn extra about my favourite on-line language studying experiences.