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The word literally means “staircase joke,” as in you don’t think of the retort until you’re on the stairs, leaving the scene. ![]() You know those times when you get into an argument with someone and you want so badly to say a snappy comeback, but that snappy comeback doesn’t dawn on you until long after the altercation? TreppenwitzĮnglish-language comedians have built dozens upon dozens of sitcoms entirely upon the premise of Treppenwitz, like in the Seinfeld episode “ The Comeback.” Yet we still don’t have a good way to describe it. Ouch - that stinging feeling in your stomach? Total Fremdscham. One might feel this at a party when someone else insults the host’s cooking, only to have the host walk up right behind them. That’s Fremdscham, literally “stranger shame.” Instead of this though, you cringe and feel embarrassed for them, almost as if you made the mistake yourself. Some might feel Schadenfreude, a German word that is somewhat commonly used in English, which means taking joy in others’ pain. Or when you watch one of those clips from America’s Funniest Home Videos where someone gets hurt in a stupid way. This feeling may arise when you see a Facebook friend post a long-winded rant about something that turns out to be a gag article from The Onion. The next time your outlook is too dark and glum to bear seeing another photo exhibit on AIDS, just let your friends know you can’t. When you read the news, see all the horrible things happening and feel deep resignation about your own inability to do anything about any of it? Weltschmerz. You know those days where you watch some moving documentary on Netflix about starving children in some far-off place and suddenly you feel hopeless about the state of our plant? Literally translated to “world pain,” Weltschmerzdescribes the feeling of having the weight of the world on your shoulders. Here are a few more examples that the English language should consider adding. That’s why sometimes it’s just easier for us to stick to the original German words, like Zeitgeist(spirit of the time) or Doppelgänger(look-alike or double). Instead, we’re limited to giving the same long-winded explanations again and again. You know, when you want to describe a very specific scenario that everyone knows. Words like these would definitely come in handy in English. The videos are very easy to follow because they have both German and English subtitles, so it’s a great way to hear complex concepts explained by everyday Germans.ġ1 Oddly Specifc German Words That Make Other Languages Jealous Easy Languageson YouTube has a feature called “Learning German from the Streets” where they ask passersby to explain German words.Every video comes with interactive subtitles, flashcards and fun quizzes so you remember what you’ve learned. FluentUaims to get your brain in “German mode” so you understand how native speakers use the language in real life. Another word for things that shouldnt get into cuz its fun how to#Download this and learn how to pronounce some of those more tongue-tying words. ![]() Deutsche Welle has a regular feature called Word of the Week that features interesting German words and a brief explanation of how they’re used.Many websites and apps can help you learn uniquely German words that’ll help you more accurately sum up your web of emotions. (Download) Where to Learn New German Words Another word for things that shouldnt get into cuz its fun pdf#This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. On the flip-side, Germans are also good at something that involves a bit more brevity: summing up complex concepts and emotional states in just one word. Like Kraftfahrzeughaftpflichtversicherung (automobile liability insurance) and the previous titleholder for longest German word, Rindfleischetikettierungsueberwachungsaufgabenuebertragungsgesetz (law delegating beef label monitoring - thankfully the law it describes was repealed.) The German language is often parodied for its love of mushing together a bunch of words to create one super-long one. ![]() German’s got some unique benefits going for it. Home » German Vocab and Grammar » 11 Awesome German Words You Wish We Had in Englishīy emmaanderson 11 Awesome German Words You Wish We Had in English ![]()
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