The ear part of the word is obvious, but the linguists are still undecided whether “fig” stems from a swollen cheek (round like a fig) or from dutch “ veeg” for a punch or slap. But when a German offers you an “ear fig”, you should stay clear. Ohrfeigeĭo you like figs? They are sweet fruits and can be eaten fresh or dried. Drahteselĭid you go to work on a “ wire donkey” today? That’s an informal expression for a bicycle, officially known as “ Fahrrad“(Drive Wheel). A little snack or sweet you might indulge in before brushing your teeth and going to sleep. When you’re at home and not in a hotel, it means basically the same thing. It describes the little chocolate or other sweets better hotels might put on your pillow. Luckily, fleas are very rare in German beds nowadays, so the word got a new meaning. Originally Betthupferl meant a flea, something unexpected hopping around in your bed. But on the way you spot this cosy looking little bar! And you persuade your friends to have one last drink… This famous last drink is what Germans call an Absacker. You all had a good time, but now it’s time to go home or to your hotel and get some sleep. You’ve been out and about with your friends. So, basically a tiger small enough to keep it in your house.
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The official German word for cat is “ Katze.” But another way to describe these friendly felines in German is room tiger. Now, what kind of animal might a German mean when he talks about a “ shield toad?” It’s a turtle! I get the shield bit, but toad? Stubentiger But whoever came up with the idea to call a “ hippo” a nile horse, must have been short-sighted. And before you do them, you have to overcome your inner pig dog which wants you to stay on your couch and read funny blog posts instead. All these little tasks everyone has to do and no one really enjoys. Your “ inner pig dog” is the little monster inside you which stops you from hoovering, ironing your shirts or clearing out the garage.
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OK, this interesting creature isn’t even a real animal. Or it might refer to a woman whose rounder parts are seen as rather attractive and cuddly.įunny German Names for Animals Innerer Schweinehund Usually it’s either a small child which didn’t lose it’s baby fat yet. A “ Wonneproppen” (or pleasure plug) describes a chubby person. Ok, you might get the impression I’m obsessed with obesity, but this is another funny German word about body fat. Another funny thing about this expression is that you can hear it frequently, whereas the original two words are almost extinct. These two words were combined to describe someone stripped bare naked. And “ fibre naked” means not wearing any clothes, of course. “ Splinter naked” means naked like a piece of wood without it’s bark. “ Nackt” means naked, so what does “ splinter fibre naked” mean? It’s actually a combination of two older expressions with the same meaning, “ splitternackt” and “ fasernackt“. So the “misery bacon” describes the surplus weight gained by eating too much comfort food. Clever Germans! Many people tend to eat when they feel lonely or depressed. KummerspeckĪnother term for overweight, but this time with a justification included. Sometimes the word is also used to describe the food which might lead to these extra pounds, like chocolate or cake. Hip gold is a rather nice description for the excess fat you’re carrying around your waistline and your hips. Funny German Words about the Body Hüftgold Looking for more colorful descriptions of weird people in the German language? Take a look at our list of funny german insults. So let’s get started and take a closer look at our list of funny words in German! Table of Contents Any language contains words which are weird, cumbersome or are pronounced in a way that’s odd. Instead it’s about the German language and some of the funny words it has to offer. And sometimes, given enough alcohol, their lederhosen as well…īut no matter how you perceive the German people, this article isn’t really about their talent for comedy and laughter. And there’s many popular fairs like the Karneval in the Rhine area or the Octoberfest in Bavaria, where people really let their hair down. (In fact, in comedy the timing of jokes is crucial!) Germany has a big comedy scene and a long tradition of political cabaret. Some of these might be true, but being on time doesn’t mean you can’t have a laugh.