List of German words and phrases
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page lists English translations of German words and phrases used in English texts and presumed to be commonly understood by the English reader.
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[edit] A
- Achtung!
- Attention!
- Alles in Ordnung.
- Everything in its proper order/place. In German usage the meaning is more general: everything OK.
- Also sprach Zarathustra
- Thus Spoke Zarathustra – a book by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Also a symphonic poem by Richard Strauss, best known for its use in Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey and in the BBC's coverage of the Project Apollo Moon landings.
- Angst
- fear or anxiety. It is used in English to describe a more intense feeling of internal emotional strife.
- Anschluss
- connection; also refers to the inclusion of Austria in a "Greater Germany" in 1938
- Appell
- literally Appeal (from Latin appellare) but also roll call (mostly military use) - used as a call to roll call in German Prisoner of war camps.
- “Arbeit macht frei”
- “Work makes/brings freedom.” - notoriously inscribed over the gates of the Auschwitz concentration/death camp.
- "auf Wiedersehen"
- lit. "until seeing again," popularly used to express farewell
- Autobahn
- motorway. When originally constructed, autobahns had no speed limits imposed, but by the end of the 20th century mandatory limits had been imposed on busy lengths, usually in the vicinity of cities.
[edit] B
- Besserwisser
- A Besserwisser is somebody who knows better or best and who does not hesitate to inform the others about it.
- Bildungsroman
- a type of novel that shows the personal development of the character
- Bitte
- "Please", or interogatively "Pardon?" or "What?". Also equivalent of "You're welcome", as a response to "Thanks": "Danke (schön)." -> "Bitte (sehr)."
- Blitz
- literally "Lightning", but used in British English to refer to the German aerial bombing campaign against London during the Second World War. Also an incorrect contraction of "Blitzkrieg"
- Blitzkrieg
- literally "Lightning War" - used to describe the tactics of a well-coordinated fast attack used by the German army in the Second World War.
- Brot/Brötchen
- bread/bread roll(s). The “-chen” suffix creates a diminutive form, so Brötchen literally is “little bread(s)”. Brötchen is both singular and plural.
- Bürgermeister
- Burgomaster, mayor
[edit] C
- German does have the letter C, but very few indigenous German words begin with C or Ch. Many such current German words are from other languages, such as Latin or French.
- Cham
- city in Switzerland. Also a town in Bavaria.
- Chemnitz
- city in Saxony
- Cherusker
- Germanic tribe
- Chiemsee
- lake in Bavaria
[edit] D
- Dachshund
- literally "badger dog" - a particular type of hunting dog with a long body, short legs and a sleek coat, used for flushing hunted animals from tunnels/burrows. Usually called Dackel in German.
- Danke
- Thank you
- der/die/das
- the (der ~ male, die ~ female, das ~ neutral. According to the noun used with)
- Deutschland
- Germany
- Dirndl
- a style of woman's dress, most famously worn by Julie Andrews at the opening of the Sound of Music. Customary Austro-Bavarian dress, almost never found in other parts of Germany.
- Doktor
- Doctor, not necessarily of medicine.
- Doppelgänger
- a ghostly double of a living person
- Dummkopf
- idiot (literally dumb-head)
[edit] E
- Ersatz
- substitute, replacement, not the real thing
[edit] F
- Fahrvergnügen
- Literally "driving pleasure;" an advertisement used by Volkswagen
- Fest
- Celebration, party - sometimes used in English as a suffix (-fest).
- Festschrift
- A volume of learned articles or essays by colleagues and admirers, serving as a memorial to, or more commonly, a tribute to a scholar. Traditionally, the festschrift is presented sixty years after the first major work by the individual being thus honored.
- Flugelhorn
- a type of brass musical instrument. In German "Flügelhorn". "Flügel" means "wing".
- Föhn
- foehn, a warm wind which sometimes appears on the northern side of the alps in south Germany (and similar to the German word Fön for a hair dryer). When Föhn occurs, the distance view is very large and somewhat changed, mountains that are a hundred miles aways seems to be quite near.
- Fussball/ foosball
- Table football is also known in the US as foosball (from the German Fußball: literally "football" in the European sense, or "soccer" in American English).
- Fräulein
- an unmarried woman (mostly out of use today) and the formal title of address for such a woman.
- Führer
- leader, more often used as guide
[edit] G
- Gastarbeiter
- "guest worker" - immigrant worker.
- Gauleiter
- "regional head/leader" - A Gauleiter was a leader of a local branch of the NSDAP (more commonly known as the Nazi Party) or the head of a Reichsgau (an administrative division of the state until 1945). To accuse someone of being a gauleiter is a pejorative term in English.
- Geist
- "mind, spirit or ghost"
- Gemütlichkeit
- a warm, comfortable, convivial atmosphere, often associated with drinking.
- Gestalt
- literally, "shape" - In English gestalt refers to the concept where an entity's properties cannot be discovered from the total properties of its parts.
- Gesundheit!
- Literally, Health! It means Bless you! and is usually said after someone sneezes.
- Gewürztraminer
- a grape variety
- Götterdämmerung
- Twilight of the gods - the last of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner, which is based on an old German legend.
- Gott Mit Uns
- "God is With Us," motto of the Prussian Emperor and used by German Soldiers during World War II.
- Gott sei dank (es ist Freitag)!
- Thank God (it's Friday)
[edit] H
- Halt!
- Stop!
- Hände hoch!
- Hands up!
- Hanswurst
- (i. e. Jack Pudding), a pantomimic character in comic performances on the German stage; a great favourite at one time with the vulgar; distinguished for his awkwardness, his gluttonous appetite, and his rotundity.
- Hausfrau
- housewife
- Heil
- difficult to translate adequately. It does not mean "Hail!" but can be regarded as wishing good fortune on the person being addressed, or perhaps saying that they should "fare well". The phrase "Heil Hitler!" was the salutation used by military and civilians in Nazi Germany. That's why the term "Heil" is considered to be offensive today. ("heil" is adapted from the roman salute "ave")
- Ein Heldenleben
- A Hero's Life - a tone poem by Richard Strauss
- Heldentenor
- 'hero' tenor
- Herr
- sir or the title "Mr."
- Hinterland
- literally - "the land behind". Has probably now been absorbed into English as a loan-word from German.
- Hofbräu
- brand of beer from Munich associated with the Oktoberfest and the Hofbräuhaus.
[edit] J
- Ja
- Yes
- Jawohl
- an emphatic "yes". It does not mean "yes sir". You may instead hear "Jawohl, sir" in a military context.
[edit] K
- Kaiser
- Emperor; nickname of Franz Beckenbauer
- Kaffeeklatsch
- an informal meeting for coffee and conversation; Kaffee = coffee; Klatsch = gossip
- Kaufhaus
- department store
- „Kinder, Küche, Kirche“
- “Children, Kitchen, Church” - description of a conservative mainstay of life for women
- Kindergarten
- literally "garden for children" - an institution providing the first stage of education or solely day-care for children.
- Kindertotenlieder
- Songs on the Death of Children - a song cycle for voice and orchestra by Gustav Mahler.
- Kitsch
- overblown decoration; tacky stuff
- Knödel
- dumplings
- Kobold
- goblin
- Kriegsmarine
- literally "War Navy" - the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945, during the Nazi regime. The German Navy is now named the Deutsche Marine (literally "German Navy"). From 1956 to 1990 it was named the Bundesmarine (literally "Federal Navy"), to distinguish from its East German counterpart, the Volksmarine. The name was changed as a result of German reunification.
- Kristallnacht, Reichskristallnacht
- literally, "crystal night", November 8, 1938. Rendered in English as "the night of broken glass," it was a massive, state-organized and -executed night of terror against Jews in Germany and Austria. The term is regarded as euphemistic Nazi vocabulary. Instead, Reichspogromnacht is used
[edit] L
- Lager
- German meaning: a storehouse (from lagern - "to store"); other meanings are "camp" and (in machinery) "bearing".
- english usage: bottom fermented beer stored in cool cellars to mature for several weeks or months - In German, lager beers are called Pilsener (or Pils for short), only imported lager beers are called lager
- Lebensraum
- "Room to live" - the title given to the policy justifying Germany's actions in expanding her borders to the detriment of neighbouring countries in the years prior to the Second World War. The term also has the neutral meaning of "habitat" in natural history discourse.
- Leberwurst
- liverwurst, or liver sausage.
- Lebkuchen
- A particular type of small cake, similar to gingerbread.
- Das Lied von der Erde
- The Song of the Earth - one of Gustav Mahler's symphonic works
- Lederhosen
- leather shorts. The wearing of these is associated with Bavarian culture.
- Leitmotiv
- an underlying theme that guides events, especially in music.
- Liebfraumilch (actually Liebfrauenmilch)
- literally "dear woman milk" (referring to Mother Mary) - the brand name of a German white wine that is very well known in Britain.
- Luftwaffe
- literally "air-weapon" - the German Air Force and the word for "air force" in general.
[edit] M
- Machtpolitik
- power politics
- Meerschaum
- literally "sea foam" - refers to a soft mineral that hardens on exposure to air, used extensively to manufacture the bowls of tobacco pipes.
- Meister
- master, someone at the height of their competence. Also used in sports for winner of a championship (Weltmeister = world champion). In some professions, a Meister possesses a sort of (non-academic) diploma, allowing to found an own business and to educate in that profession.
- Mittelschmerz
- ovulation pain.
[edit] N
- Nazi
- A follower or member of the German National Socialist party. Abbreviation of the word Nationalsozialist.
- Nein
- No
- Nix!
- Nothing! (second correct spelling of German word nichts, even if nichts is more common in written language)
- Nix da!
- No way!
[edit] O
- Oktoberfest
- the world's largest annual fair that takes place in Munich, Bavaria from late September to early October. It is best known internationally for the large quantities of beer drunk in the 14 main tents at the festival. The name has been adopted by many other festivals that take place at a similar time globally, which are usually beer and German culture themed.
[edit] P
- Panzer
- Means armor, but referred to as: tank (as in "armored military vehicle")
- Pfeffernüsse
- literally "pepper nuts" - small biscuits flavoured with ginger. Pepper was often used to describe all sorts of spices.
- Poltergeist
- literally "noisy ghost/spirit". This word is incorporated into English as a loan word from German.
- Prost! (or Prosit!)
- Cheers! (drinking salutation) (from Latin prosit - to (your) benefit)
- Pumpernickel
- a type of sourdough rye bread, strongly flavoured, dense, and dark in colour.
- Putsch
- overthrow of those in power by a small group, coup d'etat
[edit] R
- Rathaus
- town hall
- Realpolitik
- "politics of reality" - foreign politics based on practical concerns rather than theory or ethics.
- Reich
- realm, empire
- Riesling
- a white grape variety
- Rittmeister
- cavalry officer
- Rucksack
- backpack
- raus!
- get out!
[edit] S
- Sauerbraten
- roast marinated horse meat or beef
- Sauerkraut
- fermented finely sliced white cabbage
- Schadenfreude
- pleasure taken from the misfortune of others, glee/gloat
- Schande
- dishonor, shame
- Schmalz
- rendered animal fat, usually pig or goose, used in cooking.
- Schnaps
- distilled colourless spirit which can be produced from almost any sugar or starch bearing base such as apricots, cherries, potatoes or wheat.
- Scheisse! or Scheiße!
- literally "Shit," often used in a connotation of "goddamn it!" (vulgar exclamation)
- Schön!
- Good! Beautiful!
- Schwärmerei
- (German lit. going off in swarms, as bees under their queen), name given to an intense enthusiasm for other people or things with which people are affected.
- Schwarzbrot
- literally "black bread" - a type of rye-bread. (see also "Pumpernickel")
- Schwefel
- sulfur - also a common last name in Germany
- Schweinehund!
- literally "Pig-dog!" - a stereotypical term of abuse. Den inneren Schweinehund überwinden - to overcome one's own resistance/hesitation.
- Sieg Heil!
- „Sieg“ means victory, and there is the normal difficulty in translating „Heil“, which literally means welfare. The phrase is often translated as "Hail to Victory", which is not strictly correct, but conveys approximately the right impression. Prohibited in today's Germany.
- Spiel
- "game", in sports also "match" - voluble and extravagant talking, also used as a verb
- Sprechgesang
- "spoken song" - a technique of vocal production halfway between singing and speaking
- Sprachgefühl
- "a feeling for language" - an intuitive feeling or a sensitivity for what is correct, natural language
- Stein
- "stein" literally stone or rock, but this is not what is usually meant in English usage, which is usually beer-stein. In this context it is a beer tankard or mug, made of earthenware or glass. The word "Stein" is a truncated form of Steinzeugkrug, which is German for a stoneware jug or tankard.
- Stollen
- a traditional bread-like cake, usually eaten during the Christmas season
- Strafe
- punishment, -> verb "strafen" - to punish
- Strudel
- a heavy Austrian pastry
- Stube
- old fashioned expression for a "living room"
- Sturm und Drang
- a period in the German literature
[edit] T
- Tod und Verklärung
- Death and Transfiguration - a tone poem by Richard Strauss
- Trockenbeerenauslese
- wine produced from specially selected semi-dehydrated grapes afflicted with noble rot
[edit] U
- über
- over, about, superior
- Übermensch
- literally "Super-human". Like Superman, but not a super-hero, but Nietzsche's ideal man.
- und
- and
- unter
- under
- Untermensch
- literally "sub-human". A term the Nazis used to describe inferior races.
- Ur- (a German prefix)
- original or prototypical, e.g., Urgeschichte (prehistory), Urwald (primeval forest, jungle)
[edit] V
- Verboten (past participle of verbieten)
- forbidden
- „Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer!“
- One people, one empire, one leader! - Nazi political slogan to the Austrian people.
- Volkswagen
- German automobile producer, means "people's car". In Germany usually abbreviated (VW).
- „Vorsprung durch Technik“
- "Advantage through (by means of) technology." Audi car advertisement tagline.
[edit] W
- Walpurgisnacht
- the night of April 30 to May 1, the night when witches allegedly hold a large celebration on the Blocksberg mountain and await the arrival of Satan.
- Waltz
- a dance in 3/4 time, Walzer in German
- Wanderlust
- urge to travel, love of the "great outdoors"
- Wedel
- a whisk
- Wehrmacht
- literally "Defence force" - the name of the collective armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945, during the Nazi regime. The current name is the Bundeswehr ("Federal Defence").
- Weißbier
- literally "white beer" - wheat beer
- Weißwurst
- literally "white sausage" - a traditional Bavarian sausage made from veal and pork bacon.
- Weltanschauung
- literally "look onto the world" - world view, world outlook
- Weltschmerz
- world-pain or world-weariness
- Wunderkind
- child prodigy. This is another word that is borrowed in English.
- Wurst
- sausage
[edit] X
- Xanten
- German city at the Rhine
- Xaver
- German name of basque/spanish origin
[edit] Y
- yodel (actually Jodeln in German)
- a form of traditional singing (German: Jodeln) used only in the European Alps (mountains) of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, originally a form of long distance communication between mountain farmers in the Alps regions, based on special modulated yelling.
- Yggdrasil
- a tree in Norse mythology
[edit] Z
- Zeitgeist
- spirit of the times or age
- Zither
- a stringed musical instrument, mainly used in folk music. The famous "The Third Man"-Theme of Orson Welles same-named film is played on a Zither by Anton Karas.
