Versuchskaninchen

September 13, 2023

Literally: “test rabbit” / meaning: “guinea pig” (for an experiment)

You were stupid enough to brag about your cooking skills on Tinder. Tomorrow your date is coming to visit. So you download the first recipe you find on the web.

Since you don’t want to make a complete fool of yourself, you need someone to try out the recipe on. Therefore, you invite a friend to be your test eater—or your Versuchskaninchen, for that matter. Just like its English counterpart, guinea pig, you will hear the word quite often in everyday situations that have nothing to do with actual experimentation labs. It has been around at least since the 1860s, but it’s safe to assume that rabbits have had to undergo dubious treatments even way before, I’m afraid.

In this regard, the English version beats the German expression in terms of accuracy. According to the US Department of Agriculture, there were 171,406 guinea pigs used in American laboratories vs. 133,634 rabbits in 2019. These figures are not something humanity should be proud of.

References:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/guinea_pig
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2011/09/27/457230/14732/en/Why-is-a-Guinea-Pig-Called-a-Guinea-Pig.html
https://speakingofresearch.com/facts/statistics/

Category: Nature & Wildlife

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

Zahnfleisch: The German word for gums literally translates to “tooth flesh“

Elfenbein: The German word for ivory literally translates to "pixie's leg"

Stinktier: The German word for skunk literally translates to "stinky animal"

Schlitzohr ("slit ear"): That's how Germans call a rascal or someone who is not trustworthy

Dachshund, Kindergarten, Sauerkraut, Wunderkind: There are more than 400 German loan words in English

Mutterkuchen: The German word for placenta literally traslates to “mother‘s cake”

Gänsefüßchen ("little goose feet"): I‘m pretty sure that‘s the most adorable word for “quotation marks” in any language

Wonneproppen (roughly: “bliss plug”): That‘s how Germans often refer to a littlechild who is chubbyin a cute way

Segelohren ("sail ears"): That‘s how Germans call it when someone has protruding auricles

Elefantenrennen: That's how Germans refer to a lengthy overtaking maneuver of two trucks on the Autobahn

Mitesser ("eating companion"): That‘s how Germans refer to a blackhead and I think it‘s...quite a disgusting idea actually

Schluckspecht: When you drink unreasonable amounts of alcohol, Germans will call you a “swallowing woodpecker”

Erdmöbel ("earth furniture"): A charmingly bureaucratic word for “casket” that originated in communist East Germany

Karteileiche ("file corpse"): A member who is registered but inactive

Nacktschnecke: A slug is simply called a “naked snail” in Germany

Hundewetter: When it's very unpleasant outside, Germans will say it's a "dog weather"

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

Saftladen ("juice shop"): That's how Germans call any kind of poorly run business

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

Hüftgold: That‘s how Germans call the excess fat around their waists and I think it‘s one of the coolest euphemisms ever

Kotflügel: The fender of a car is literally called a “poop wing” in German

Staubsauger: A vacuum cleaner is called a “dust sucker” in German and without any doubt that‘s an objectively better name

Filmriss: When you can’t remember what happened last night because you were too drunk, Germans will say you have a “film tear”

Arschkarte: When you are in the least fortunate position, Germans will say you have “pulled the ass card”.

Nullachtfünfzehn: When something is very average and not worth talking about, Germans say it's “zero eight fifteen”

Extrawurst: When someone receives special treatment, Germans will say they “get an extra sausage”

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

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

german.is.weird

Everyone knows the feeling of a „stone falling f

Everyone knows the feeling of a „stone falling from your heart“ when you think you lost your keys and then you find it in the furthest corner of your bag.
#mirfällteinsteinvomherzen
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Happy Totensonntag to all of you 🧟‍♂️🪦

Happy Totensonntag to all of you 🧟‍♂️🪦😁 
—
 For more language weirdness, check the “German is weird book.“ On 250 pages, it will tell you all about crazy German words and their origins - from ARSCHKARTE to ZIELWASSER. It’s completely bilingual, so it’s a great present for German natives and learners alike 🎅🎁 Find all about it in the link in the bio ☝️
#totensonntag #denlöffelabgeben #insgrasbeißen #germanlanguage
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#languagelover

Which movies or series gave you “pee in your eye

Which movies or series gave you “pee in your eyes“? 🥺
#pipiindenaugen
#germanlanguage
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Imagine being able to play Beethoven’s 9th Symph

Imagine being able to play Beethoven’s 9th Symphony flawlessly on the piano after hearing it only once, yet the concept of assembling an IKEA rack seems like rocket science to you. That's what Germans call an "island gift." And if you don't even have this: Don’t worry, there’s ChatGPT for you.
#inselbegabung
#germanlanguage
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#languagelover

...or you can simply buy it for you or for your lo

...or you can simply buy it for you or for your loved ones via the link in the bio ☝️🎁🎅🎄
Only comments that contain all 4 correct answers will be counted for the prize draw. I am giving out a total of 3 books
----
Giveaway ends 24 November at 8 am. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram in any way. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Winners will be randomly selected and contacted via DM. The decision is final.  #germanlanguage
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To be honest, I've received my fair share of "Kör

To be honest, I've received my fair share of "Körbe" in my life 😭😅
The expression dates back to the Middle Ages, when damsels would lower a basket from the tower window in order to secretly drag their beloved upstairs. However, if he was not welcome, the young lady would lower a basket whose bottom was broken or not there at all. This later developed into the custom of a young lady symbolically handing a small basket to a troublesome admirer to show him: "Not Interested" 🚫😉
#korben
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#korbkriegen
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The phrase goes back to the Greek poet Aristophane

The phrase goes back to the Greek poet Aristophanes, who described the fantasy city of Cloud Cuckoo Land (German: „Wolkenkuckucksheim“) which lies in the clouds. In his view, when you "fall out of all clouds," you return to reality.
#Aristophanes
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Do you know some more examples for Germans’ stra

Do you know some more examples for Germans’ strange stuff-obsession?
#germanlanguage
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The background to this saying is that Swedish stee

The background to this saying is that Swedish steel was considered to be of particularly high quality. This is why the bars in front of the prison windows were often made of this robust Scandinavian material. And so it happened that people started saying the prisoner was sitting behind "Swedish curtains" 🇸🇪
#schwedischegardinen
#knast
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According to a popular theory, the term goes back

According to a popular theory, the term goes back to the peculiar shimmering of silver at the end of the melting process. This is said to resemble being looked at by two slightly displaced pupils. 👀
#silberblick
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🌲🦷😉 #kiefer #germanlanguage #sprichwör

🌲🦷😉
#kiefer
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#unnützeswissen
#deutschesprache
#deutschespracheschweresprache
#germanisweird
#languagefacts
#languagelover

We’ve all been working in these kind of teams wh

We’ve all been working in these kind of teams where no one shares a common goal and everyone is just "cooking their own little soup…"🍲🙄
The 'German Is Weird' book is now available 🤓📖 Click the link in the bio to find out more ☝️
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
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#languagelover

For example, when companies look for experts who h

For example, when companies look for experts who have been working in the industry for at least 10 years, have experience abroad, leadership skills, negotiating expertise in 5 foreign languages, but are younger than 30, they try to find an "egg-laying woolen dairy pig." 🐓🐑🐄🐖
For more crazy German words, check the 'German Is Weird' book 🤓📖 Click the link in the bio to find out more ☝️
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
#deutschsprichwörter
#german
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#learngerman
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#germanisweird
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#alman
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#languagelover

A "Nummer" (number) can also be a colloquial word

A "Nummer" (number) can also be a colloquial word for the intercourse itself. E.g. a quicky is often called a "Schnelle Nummer" (fast number) 🍆
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
#deutschsprichwörter
#german
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#languagelover

(Fun fact: The picture shows the "Friedenskirche"

(Fun fact: The picture shows the "Friedenskirche" in my very neighborhood in Hanau-Kesselstadt) 🦢🫶
The expression dates back to the time when the Catholic Church held many processions, especially in village communities. However, some villages were simply too small for an opulent procession. So there were efforts to hold the processions outside the villages. This met with resistance, as many felt that "the church" - meaning the church life in this case, not the building - belonged inside the village and not outside. Even if this would necessarily lead to a smaller procession.
#diekircheimdorflassen
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A basic translation would be „It has become fres

A basic translation would be „It has become fresh.“ But what about the „aber“ which seems to have no distinct meaning in this sentence?
This is a real German specialty! Literally translating to „but,“ it works as a so-called modal particle - meaning it does not have a direct translation, but conveys a certain mood. Here, it emphasizes a feeling of unexpectedness. A translation that conveys this mood would be something like „it has become surprisingly fresh“ or „it has become fresher than expected.”
As often as you hear the phrase in this exact wording, it seems to surprise Germans year after year that it gets colder once summer is over. 🍁🌧️
#frischgeworden
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
#deutschsprichwörter
#german
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#alman
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#languagelover

Of course, there are also other crazy options like

Of course, there are also other crazy options like "Flotter Otto" ("Fast Otto"), "Dünnpfiff" ("Thin blast of a whistle") or "Sprühwurst" ("sprayed sausage") 💩💦 Are there any cool words for this in your language?
For more crazy German words, check the 'German Is Weird' book 🤓📖 Click the link in the bio to find out more ☝️
#flitzekacke
#dünnpfiff
#durchfall
#flotterotto
#schurz
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#languagelover

Rotwelsch is a sociolect that emerged in medieval

Rotwelsch is a sociolect that emerged in medieval Central Europe, especially within Germany. Rooted in the communications of nomadic groups and various marginalized communities, it developed primarily as a secret language to avoid detection or understanding by outsiders.
The lexicon of Rotwelsch draws from a melange of sources: Middle High German forms its base, but it also borrows from Yiddish, Romani, and later on, from other European languages. As such, it is a remarkable reflection of the history of migration, trade, and the mingling of cultures in Central Europe. It's particularly rich in terms related to travel, work, and the day-to-day life of those on society's fringes.
Over the centuries, Rotwelsch has left its mark on the German language, which I believe is a beautiful and very interesting phenomenon. Many terms have found their way into colloquial language, mostly used without the speakers having any clue of their Rotwelsch origins.
You want to know more about crazy German words and their backstories? Check the “German Is Weird“ book: More info and order details in the link in the bio ☝️🤓
#rotwelsch
#germanlanguage
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#languagelover

As for the German version: The phrase dates back t

As for the German version: The phrase dates back to the 16th century, when Emperor Charles V, who had been Spanish king since 1516, was crowned German emperor. The new emperor introduced a number of unusual customs at his court, including declaring Spanish the new lingua franca. This sudden introduction of new rules was unusual for the emperor's subjects and seemed "Spanish" to them. 🇪🇸🧐
#kommtmirspanischvor
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#germanisweird
#languagefacts
#languagelover

It is often used when someone has an idea which th

It is often used when someone has an idea which they know isn't really well thought out, but they want to throw in anyway.
For instance: "Nur mal so in die Tüte gesprochen: Warum erfinden wir nicht einfach einen Seitwärtsgang für Autos, dann wäre das Einparken viel leichter…" ("Just speaking into the bag: Why don't we just invent a sideways gear for cars, then parking would be much easier....") 💡🤯
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
#deutschsprichwörter
#german
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#germanisweird
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#alman
#almanmemes
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#languagelover

They say that God sees everything. But believe me,

They say that God sees everything. But believe me, German neighbors see even more. 🕵️‍♂️
The 'German Is Weird' book is now available 🤓📖 Click the link in the bio to find out more ☝️
#neugier
#germanlanguage
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#learngerman
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#alman
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#languagelover

As in: Germans tend to have Übergangsjacken in th

As in: Germans tend to have Übergangsjacken in their wardrobe “like sand at the sea.” 🏖️
The 'German Is Weird' book is now available 🤓📖 Order now on Amazon, at your local book store or find out all about it by clicking the link in the bio ☝️
#wiesandammeer
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#languagelover

With this out of the way: Happy "Tag der Deutschen

With this out of the way: Happy "Tag der Deutschen Einheit" to all my weirdos in the east, in the west, and all over the world 🫶🫶🫶
#tagderdeutscheneinheit
#viertelnachelf
#viertelzwölf
#germanlanguage
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#deutschsprichwörter
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#germanisweird
#languagefacts
#alman
#almanmemes
#almanstyle
#languagelover

Do you know any other false friends? Let me know i

Do you know any other false friends? Let me know in the comments 🤓🖊️
By the way: For more language weirdness, check the “German is Weird” book which is available now. More details and order information: Check the link in the bio ☝️😁
#falsefriends
#germanlanguage
#german
#funfacts
#trivia
#funnywords
#learngerman
#unnützeswissen
#deutschesprache
#deutschespracheschweresprache
#languagefacts
#languagelover

An Austrian tattoo artist named Pogo came up with

An Austrian tattoo artist named Pogo came up with the term as a German translation for a “tramp stamp” and brought 5000 "Arschgeweih" stickers to a tattoo convention in 2002. He was very successful in popularizing the term - right to the point that there is virtually no other German word to describe this kind of tattoo. Moreover, the term “ass antlers” even gained some popularity in the US 🍑🦌
The 'German Is Weird' book is now available 🤓📖 Click the link in the bio to find out more ☝️
#Arschgeweih
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
#deutschsprichwörter
#funfacts
#trivia
#funnywords
#learngerman
#unnützeswissen
#deutschesprache
#deutschespracheschweresprache
#germanisweird
#languagefacts
#languagelover

As in, "Das Dirndl fürs Oktoberfest steht Dir aus

As in, "Das Dirndl fürs Oktoberfest steht Dir ausgezeichnet!" - "Wow, Danke - das geht runter wie Öl!" ("The Dirndl for Oktoberfest looks fantastic on you!" - "Wow, thanks - this goes down like oil!").
The 'German Is Weird' book is now available 🤓📖 Click the link in the bio to find out more ☝️
#gehtrunterwieöl
#germanlanguage
#sprichwörter
#deutschsprichwörter
#funnywords
#learngerman
#unnützeswissen
#deutschesprache
#deutschespracheschweresprache
#germanisweird
#languagefacts
#almanmemes
#almanstyle
#languagelover

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