Feuerzeug

Feuerzeug: A cigarette lighter is simply called a "fire thing" in German

Literally: “fire thing” / meaning: cigarette lighter

The German language seems to have an obscure obsession with “things”. Or put another way, you can describe virtually any type of device by combine the word Zeug (“thing”, “stuff”) with the actual purpose of the object – for instance, making fire like a Feuerzeug. 

Toys are referred to as Spielzeuge (“play things”), tools are Werkzeuge (“work things”), sweets are Naschzeug (“snack things”), vegetables can be referred to as Grünzeug (“green things”). 

However, by far my favorite examples of the bunch are vehicles and airplanes which—you might have guessed it—are called Fahrzeuge (“drive things”) and Flugzeuge (“fly things”).

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

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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"

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