Category: Nature & Wildlife

Muskelkater

Muskelkater: When your body feels all stiff and sore after workout, Germans will say you have a ‘muscle tomcat’

Nearly 12 million Germans belong to a fitness club. Many of them demonstrate an iron German discipline, never leaving the gym until they have completed their third set of selfies.

Elefantenrennen

Elefantenrennen ("elephant race"): That’s how Germans refer to a lengthy overtaking maneuver of two or more trucks on the Autobahn

German LKW just don’t look as badass as American trucks. Plus, they tend to block the roads with lengthy and completely out-of-place overtaking maneuvers just when I want to get home quickly because I have Flitzkacke. 

Drehwurm

Drehwurm: When you feel dizzy after riding a carousel, Germans will say you have a ‘spin worm’

Drehwurm may sound like one of these jolly modern neologisms. But, in fact, the word has a serious and somewhat sinister background. There is actually a species that is popularly called Drehwurm – and it’s not a nice one…

Zoooologe

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.

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.

Hamsterkauf

Hamsterkauf ("panic buying")

The term goes back to the hamster’s ability to collect vast quantities of supplies in its cheek pouches. Just like the Germans’ ability to stash vast quantities of noodles and toilet paper in their cellars.

Welpenschutz

Welpenschutz (“puppy protection”): That’s what Germans call the special kind of leniency that newcomers are treated with.

It’s the grace period or the leniency shown to someone due to their inexperience, much like how you wouldn’t be mad at a puppy for chewing up your shoe.

Eierlegende Wollmilchsau

"Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" translates to "egg-laying wooly dairy pig". The term is used in German language to describe an all-in-one solution.

This beautiful German term that is used for persons, devices and anything else that is required (or advertised) to serve an unrealistic number of purposes in a perfect way.

Versuchskaninchen

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

This term is used quite loosely and frequently in German. For instance, if you try a new recipe on a friend – before you might embarrass yourself in front of your date – he is your Versuchskaninchen.

Meerbusen

Meerbusen: A gulf is literally called a "sea boob" in German.

Of, course, there is a good reason for this. The word Meerbusen is a loan translation of the Latin “sinus maritimus.” The word “sinus” can refer to both a bay and… well… a breast.

Eselsbrücke

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

It has probably nothing to do with donkeys being stupid, but rather a bit stubborn. They refuse to wade through water – so their owners have to build an improvised bridge to make them cross a creek.