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A Nifty German Idea: Drehkippfenster Posted by Sten on Jul 24, 2020
In Germany, it’s the hottest time of the year right now. With temperatures up to and sometimes even surpassing 30°C (86°F), there is a real need for frische Luft (fresh air)! A genius German invention that makes this quite easy is the Dreh-Kipp-Fenster (tilt-and-turn window). Americans rave about these Fenster and how amazing they are – so let’s find out…
The Curiosity of the Word “Homeoffice” Posted by Sten on Jul 23, 2020
It’s quarantine time, and so many people are working from home. So you set up your regular office at home – you built yourself a home office! In German, we normally call our office a Büro or Schreibtisch (literally “writing table”). But when working from home, it’s not a Heimbüro, but curiously, a “Homeoffice”. And even if you don’t have…
The Curiosity of the German Word “Shitstorm” Posted by Sten on Jun 25, 2020
Today we’re looking at a a really fun German word: Der Shitstorm. I already hear you say “but that’s not a German word!” And you’d be right, of course. But hear me out, it gets funkier! But let me first tell you about the curious German word Shitstorm. Merkel said this?! Angela Merkel, the German Bundeskanzlerin, known…
A Delicious German Tradition: Kaffee und Kuchen! Posted by Sten on Jun 12, 2020
It’s time for Kaffee und Kuchen! Every Sunday, usually, Germans come together for Kaffee (coffee) and Kuchen (cake). What does this tradition look like, how do you do it right? And where does it come from? Let’s have a entspannten (relaxing) look! Noch ein Stück? It’s Sonntag (Sunday), and you’re invited by your friend to come to their home for Kaffee und Kuchen in…
The German Record Economy Package Posted by Sten on Jun 9, 2020
Due to Coronavirus measures, the economy has taken a blow – also in Germany. With these historic problems, you also need historic solutions. And Germany did just that: It passed a massive Konjunkturpaket (economy package). Let’s take a look what it looks like! Rekordzahlen A Rekordzahl (record number) of people are in Kurzarbeit (“short-time work”, essentially people work…
THIS Spaghetti was Made in Germany! Posted by Sten on May 29, 2020
With the temperatures rising, everybody is craving Eis (ice cream)! You may like Vanille (vanilla), Schokolade (chocolate) or Erdbeere (strawberry). But what’s the fun in boring balls of ice cream, when you can play around a little? That’s what an Eismacher (ice cream maker) in Germany thought in the 1960s, with resounding success! Introducing… The Spaghettieis (spaghetti ice…
Time in Germany: How Did We Get Here? Posted by Sten on May 21, 2020
We’ve written many posts on how to tell time in German. However, we’ve never discussed how we got there! How is it that in the United States, you say 4 pm, and in Germany, you’d say sechzehn Uhr (sixteen hours)? Why is this referred to as military time in the US and just… time in German? It…