Arschgeweih

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

Translation: “ass antlers” / meaning: lower back tattoo 

Unlike with most other colloquial words, the backstory of the term Arschgeweih is pretty well documented. An Austrian tattoo artist named Pogo created the term as a German translation for a “tramp stamp.”

He liked the analogy with antlers so much that he had 5.000 Arschgeweih stickers printed to be distributed at a Tattoo convention in 2002. Pogo was successful to the point that there is virtually no other word in the German language to describe this kind of lower back tattoo. The term quickly became part of popular culture. There was even an election for “Miss Arschgeweih” conducted by Germany’s highest circulated daily newspaper “Bild.” Moreover, the term “ass antlers” also gained some popularity in the US.

Eventually, the lower back tattoo fell out of fashion in Germany as quickly as it did in other countries. Hence, millions of women in their late 30s will now describe their decision to have an Arschgeweih as being “for the ass.”

References
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arschgeweih

German Is Weird: Crazy Words von Arschkarte bis Zielwasser - from "ass card" to "aiming water"

For more language weirdness, check the brand new “German is weird” book. 

Related Weirdness

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.

German Is Weird: Crazy Words von Arschkarte bis Zielwasser - from "ass card" to "aiming water"

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

Weirdest Articles
Instagram Feed
Categories