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The 7 Best Communities to Meet Germans Posted by Sten on May 14, 2020
We’re in a time where perhaps more than ever you crave Sozialkontakt (social contact). And while online Communitys (communities) aren’t the same as actually meeting people in person, it can provide at least some relief this nagging feeling of loneliness. And while you’re at it, why not find Communitys that help you learn German? Here’s a few online Communitys that you can…
Berlin: One-Time Holiday for VE-Day Posted by Sten on May 8, 2020
Today is VE-Day, or Victory in Europe Day. May 8, 1945 marks the day that the Nazis capitulated. With the Nazi regime gone, it was Stunde Null (Zero Hour), as it was called, for Germany: The opportunity for a new Germany, starting over. In Berlin, its 75. Jahrestag (anniversary), the day is a einmaliger (one-time) Feiertag (holiday). What happens today? Kapitulation am 8…
Maypoles: A Summery German Tradition! Posted by Sten on Apr 30, 2020
Tomorrow is a big day in the German-speaking world. On May 1, it is time to put up a Maibaum (May tree, or maypoles). But what is a Maibaum, and why are they aufgestellt (put up)? And what will this tradition look like with the Coronavirus going around? What is a Maibaum? The Maibaum is a pole or a Baumstamm (tree trunk)…
Yiddish: Can You Understand It? Posted by Sten on Apr 23, 2020
Perhaps you have seen the Serie (show) Unorthodox on Netflix. When the first words were spoken, I heard a strange familiarity, yet only recognized certain words. Yiddish is a mix of different languages, with unmistakable German roots. What’s the story of this interesting language? And how is it expressed in Unorthodox? Let’s find out! What is…
Untranslatable Words: Die Hiobsbotschaft Posted by Sten on Apr 17, 2020
If you get very bad news, how would you say that in English? Germans have a word for it, and it has quite the interesting origin story. It is the Hiobsbotschaft. Let’s have a look! What does Hiobsbotschaft mean? A Hiobsbotschaft, sometimes Hiobsnachricht and historically Hiobspost, is a Botschaft (message) with very bad news for the Empfänger (recipient). In other words, an Unglücksnachricht (message of…
German Sayings + Expressions 28: Things with Water Posted by Sten on Apr 2, 2020
In times like these, with the Coronavirus (coronavirus), we know we have to stay zuhause (at home). With events being cancelled and regular life coming to a halt, there are of course also Sprichwörter (sayings) and Ausdrücke (expressions) related to this. Let’s have a look at these, shall we? Today, we start with the Ausdruck (expression). For older posts, please follow this link. Ins Wasser fallen…
Untranslatable Words: Die Konfirmandenblase Posted by Sten on Mar 12, 2020
Do you have to go to the bathroom a lot? Looks like you may have a Konfirmandenblase… A what? Let’s look at this untranslatable classic today! What does Konfirmandenblase mean? https://youtu.be/3ATLej-1WW0?t=1178 A Konfirmandenblase refers to a weak bladder, somebody that has to go to the toilet a lot. Other similar words referring to the same are “Sextanerblase” (“Sexta…