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I can get by with my German. I'm at the worst stage--where I know enough to know how much I don't know.
I remember my first days in Germany, shocked that the German I'd learned in Ohio was different from the German they spoke in Germany.
Although I will add it's true that I live in Saxony. I will just leave it at that.
O Muse, tell me of the clueless heroine who travelled far and wide after sacking a liberal arts degree who tried to save her own life by buying apples but do what she might she could not for she was tripped up by sheer folly of the cashier's words: "Ein Euro-zwantsch."
At some point, a well-meaning native will assure you that German native speakers sometimes have trouble with the language too. And then you give up. Because good God, what chance do you have.
I still have my favorite German words.
Sommersprossen--summer sprouts--freckles
Nacktschnecke--naked snail--slug
Stinktier--stink animal--skunk
Unterteller--under plate--saucer (I like this word only because it is logical. I do not know why we call them saucers and have a problem explaining this.)
Handschuhe--hand shoes--gloves
Babyspeck--baby bacon--baby fat
Fledermaus--flying mouse--bat
Annoying False Friends
Gift--poison. Wrong associations every time. "Tödliches Gift? Why would anyone do that? Ohh."
Aktion--sale
Ambulanz--outpatient wing
Chef--boss
Mist--crap, as in aw, crap.
Pseudo-anglicisms that confused me for a little bit, some more than others
Handy--cell phone (Here is an article perhaps explaining the etymology; seems legit. Don't pay attention to people arguing in the comments. This seems to happen in every toytown post ever ever ever.
Mobbing--bullying
Oldtimer--an old car.
Public viewing--when everyone gets together at a pub or restaurant to watch soccer. Is there a word for this? The first time I heard "public viewing" thought of a viewing at a funeral.
Happy end--happy ending (in a story, people). I hate that everytime I correct this, someone brings up a naughty massage parlor. So obviously, that phrase made it across the pond too.
Super useful:
doch--a one-worded monosyllabic contradiction.


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