A-Z - German is Weird

Zielwasser ("aiming water"): That’s how Germans refer to an alcoholic beverage that you drink with the intent to improve your aiming skills.

Zielwasser

The word describes a little schnaps that Germans drink whenever they need a good aim—like bowling, minigolf, or a shooting gallery at Oktoberfest.

Zoooologe: The only sensible German word with 4 equal letters in a row. It refers to a specialist for bird eggs (“Oologe”) employed at a zoo.

Zoooologe

I was not able to find any human being who states this monstrosity of a term as a job description on their LinkedIn page. However, zoo oologists are probably not just made up for some spelling fun.

German is weird: Fun Facts and Trivia about the German language

This blog is a love letter to the curiosities of the German language that give it its poetic and, at times, oddly humorous qualities.

The “German Is Weird” book is now available: order here!

Vorglühen: To have some drinks before a party with a few close friends

Backpfeifengesicht ("cheek whistle face"): Someone who makes you feel the desire to punch him in the face just by looking at him

Klugscheißer ("wise shitter"): That’s how Germans refer to a know-it-all. And believe me, you will find a good amount of them in Germany ;)

Konterbier ("counter beer”): A beer that Germans are having for breakfast after a party night with the intent to ease their hangover

Mahlzeit: To this day, there are people in Germany who greet around noon by shouting “meal” at each other

Eselsbrücke: When you are making up a little memory hook, Germans will say you are building a “donkey bridge”

Leichenschmaus: A funeral reception is called a “corpse feast” in German

Hexenschuss: The German word for a sudden lower back pain literally translates to “shot by a witch”

Versuchskaninchen: When you are used for an experiment, you are not a "guinea pig" in Germany, but a "test rabbit"

Arschgeweih: A lower back tattoo is literally called "ass antlers" in German

Flitzekacke: If it's too boring for you to say diarrhea in Germany, you can also say "speedy poop"

Antibabypille ("anti baby pill"): That’s the actual German word for the birth control pill

Extrawurst: When you receive special treatment or exclusive privileges, Germans will say you “get an extra sausage”

A fun fact in this context: The word “Kumpir”, whi

I often feel “pulled over the table” when my Strom

As in: “Sorry I made out with your crush” - ”Ach,

Sorry to my fellow Germans, but some things need t

„Warum rülpset und furzet ihr nicht? Hat es euch n

For instance, when your German boss tries to fire

Do you know any other examples? 🤓 #germanlanguage

One theory about the background that I came across

Not sure if everybody knows No. 3, but I heard it

The word has been around since the 16th century an

This phrase literally translates to “We've always

To be precise, booze is not the only thing you can

As in: "Du willst Sonntags Deinen Rasen mähen? Ich

Do you know any other examples of German words wit

„Lebst Du immer noch im Hotel Mama?“ - That’s what

It’s similar to saying “two peas in a pod” or “thi

What's the word you use in your region...? #germ

To my East German friends out there: Are there any

For instance, when you congratulate a woman on her

So you clearly haven’t been friendzoned when a wom

As in: "Jetzt aber mal Butter bei die Fische: Was

Great, now I will get six months of annoying onlin

You can roughly compare it to the English expressi

You can compare it to the phrase "So, what else is

It's almost exclusively used in negated form, "nic

Unless you are completely insane, you would probab

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