Read on Twitter
I am under the impression that in Anglo-American cultural spaces German (language), Germans (people), and Germany (nation) seem to be reduced to two options:
We'll beat you in Scrabble with our way too long words
or
we're Nazis in some super hero movie.
Now, let's talk.
We'll beat you in Scrabble with our way too long words
or
we're Nazis in some super hero movie.
Now, let's talk.
First of all, let me make clear I am _one_ German. I do not speak for others and I certainly do not speak for other German-speaking countries (like Austria and Switzerland, for example.)
Regional dialects often have outstandingly weird and/or interesting words I dont't know of.
Regional dialects often have outstandingly weird and/or interesting words I dont't know of.
And second, I am quite used - as a German - to be misrepresented in films and series. I am stoopid, I cantz speak ze Englishz, and that usually helps a lot when you are in English-speaking countries.
When I am in trouble I easily switch to "Stupid German Mode." Me dumbz!!!
When I am in trouble I easily switch to "Stupid German Mode." Me dumbz!!!
Particularly in the US I need only say I am from Germany and I get "YOU LOVE THE HOFF, RIGHT?"
And I always answer: "Of course. 'Looking for Freedom' tore down that wall. All of our country is proud of him!"
But that's just an aside.
And I always answer: "Of course. 'Looking for Freedom' tore down that wall. All of our country is proud of him!"
But that's just an aside.
You can see from this survey that HANDSCHUHSCHNELLBALLWERFER is a word most Germans have never heard of or never used, even if they have heard of it.
Also, Germans cannot afford gloves.
Also, Germans cannot afford gloves.
Funnily enough though, @HaggardHawks has fallen prey (bird of prey pun! Star Trek 
pun! Ha! 
) to one of German's lovely abilities:
We are huge on compounds.
No p0wn intended.
You can put those words together in German.
But they suck.
pun! Ha! ) to one of German's lovely abilities: We are huge on compounds.
No p0wn intended.
You can put those words together in German.
But they suck.
Unless, of course, you love football.
Like, the REAL sport. Not that crappy "we need to wear protective gear while getting punched in the face because hurling is way too violent" football.
The thing with the
1998 we had the World Championship in France.
sucked.
Like, the REAL sport. Not that crappy "we need to wear protective gear while getting punched in the face because hurling is way too violent" football.
The thing with the
1998 we had the World Championship in France.
sucked.
Due to the team's performance a comedy show made fun of some of the player's leading to the "invention" of the term
WARMDUSCHER.
Literally someone "who showers with warm water only."
That's an insult coz real men only shower w/ ice cold water, kapish?
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warmduscher
WARMDUSCHER.
Literally someone "who showers with warm water only."
That's an insult coz real men only shower w/ ice cold water, kapish?
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warmduscher
Don't worry too much about the comedian or the sport.
What happened was that it became all the rage to invent absurd insults because WARMDUSCHER is an absurd insult. Fun, but nonsense.
Germans started inventing bs by the thousands in the early 2000s.
https://web.archive.org/web/20061205051545/http://www.warmduscher-abc.ch/
What happened was that it became all the rage to invent absurd insults because WARMDUSCHER is an absurd insult. Fun, but nonsense.
Germans started inventing bs by the thousands in the early 2000s.
https://web.archive.org/web/20061205051545/http://www.warmduscher-abc.ch/
APFEL-MIT-MESSER-UND-GABEL-ESSER
P.S. Did you notice - German almost always has to be spelt in all caps. Because you need to yell GERMAN because otherwise people over herez dont getz youz!
The word above?
APPLE-WITH-KNIFE-AND-FORK-EATER.
Wimps use cutlery, right?
P.S. Did you notice - German almost always has to be spelt in all caps. Because you need to yell GERMAN because otherwise people over herez dont getz youz!
The word above?
APPLE-WITH-KNIFE-AND-FORK-EATER.
Wimps use cutlery, right?
SUPPEN-KALT-PUSTER
"Soup-cold-blower."
'Coz you need to get burned real bad ladling your soup!
99% of these invented terms are bs but to a number of Germans they are funny and/or hilarious.
It led to books, articles, all sorts of stuff like the
PHRASEN-DRESCHMASCHINE.
"Soup-cold-blower."
'Coz you need to get burned real bad ladling your soup!
99% of these invented terms are bs but to a number of Germans they are funny and/or hilarious.
It led to books, articles, all sorts of stuff like the
PHRASEN-DRESCHMASCHINE.
It is the
"Buzzwords Threshing Machine."
There are three wheels on top, you can turn and you'll get conservative buzzwords. Or progressive ones. All bs and funnily enough in this case supported by the European Translators' Residence I have been to many times.
"Buzzwords Threshing Machine."
There are three wheels on top, you can turn and you'll get conservative buzzwords. Or progressive ones. All bs and funnily enough in this case supported by the European Translators' Residence I have been to many times.
The fact that German seemingly can put together all kinds of words to make up new ones has led to something like
HANDSCHUHSCHNEEBALLWERFER.
And yes, Deutschland/de went for this, too, a semi-official website (?) on all things German. https://www.deutschland.de/de/topic/kultur/kommunikation-medien/besondere-deutsche-woerter-zum-tag-der-muttersprache
HANDSCHUHSCHNEEBALLWERFER.
And yes, Deutschland/de went for this, too, a semi-official website (?) on all things German. https://www.deutschland.de/de/topic/kultur/kommunikation-medien/besondere-deutsche-woerter-zum-tag-der-muttersprache
Now, my understanding is that this term was either one of those insults invented in the run-up of 1998/2000 to the WARMDUSCHER phenomenon or a couple of years later, possibly around 2012 which would be a reprise of the 1998 World Championship storyline.
Do not use it.
Do not use it.
Germans will look at you like you are a crazed person.
Seriously.
Linguists will possibly be able to tell you more competently why it _does not work_. It's just plain old ... odd.
Meh.
Say what now?
Trust me. I'm an
IMMER-WAHRHEITS-SAGER.
Seriously.
Linguists will possibly be able to tell you more competently why it _does not work_. It's just plain old ... odd.
Meh.
Say what now?
Trust me. I'm an
IMMER-WAHRHEITS-SAGER.
And here is the reason for this lil' rant: https://twitter.com/The_Tolkienist/status/1349805252090998787
