most beautiful word (German)

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 8:52 pm

Fahrvergnügen: Joy of driving

German for "you can't make an omlett without breaking eggs" is Wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne meaning "Where you use a plane, wood shavings will fall."

Kühl, eh?

sturob · Post by **sturob** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:33 pm

Did anybody mention Schadenfreude? I know the word is used in English with the same meaning: it's the shame you feel at the relief you feel when you realize something bad happened to someone else.

Like, if you see an ambulance racing down the street towards granny's house, and it stops next door. Phew, but, ew, someone else is in trouble.

I also like Africola's slogan: Kein Vergnügen ohne Gefahr, which is sort of like No pain, no gain, along the lines of No pleasure without danger.

I mean, it's a phrase with Fahrvergnügen in it, but not.

Stuart

sturob · Post by **sturob** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:35 pm

Oh, crap, yeah, someone else already mentioned Schadenfreude.

Ach, so geht's.

Stuart

ChristianRo · Post by **ChristianRo** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 1:53 am

Someone submitted the word "Mösenstövchen". Although this is a new invention by the submitter, it describes quite neatly the effect a heated car seat has on a woman's private parts...

Stövchen: teapot warmer
Möse: go figure...

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 5:56 am

Bloomfield wrote:Waldschrat=uncommon word for a scary monster living in the forest (Wald). Noone know what they look like, but they're ugly.

Bl**kflöte

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:34 pm

double posted

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:39 pm

Before I moved to Germany I was sent a Glossary of English/German Motoring phrases. Here are a few from the sheet:

Windscreen Wiper
Die Flippenflappen-Muckenshpredder

Indicators
Die Tickentocken-Blinkenleiten

Estate Car
Der Bagzeroomfurschagginauto

Seat Belt
Der Klunkenklicken Fräuleinstrapper

Cyclist
Der Peddallpushink Pilloken

Skid
Der Banannen Waltzen

Learner
Die Twatten mit Elplate

Power Brakes
Der Edbangeronwinschreen stoppenquick

Headlights
Das Dippendontdazzelubasted

Windscreen wiper system
Die Scheibenwischerwaschanlage

Speedometer
Der Geschwindigkeitsanzeiger

Actually the last two are correct German words. Sometimes the long words are not so easy to read as they seem to go on forever and forever.

What can be funny is all the "chen" added at the end of words to make it smaller (pronounced like shyen) i.e. Das Brötchen, the direct translation is little bread which are rolls or Das Bäumchen which is a little tree. A very colourful language.

Colin

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 7:54 pm

Interesting thing is, that since these are new developments long after the United States separated from Britain, the differences between U.S. English and U.K. are especially pronounced.

Goldie wrote:Windscreen Wiper
Die Flippenflappen-Muckenshpredder

US: Windshield Wiper

Goldie wrote:Indicators
Die Tickentocken-Blinkenleiten

US: Blinkers

Goldie wrote: Estate Car
Der Bagzeroomfurschagginauto

US: Station wagon

Goldie wrote: Windscreen wiper system
Die Scheibenwischerwaschanlage

US: Windshield Wiper System