{"id":10003,"date":"2018-07-18T06:00:07","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T06:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=10003"},"modified":"2018-07-18T11:48:54","modified_gmt":"2018-07-18T11:48:54","slug":"german-words-you-definitely-dont-want-to-mix-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-words-you-definitely-dont-want-to-mix-up\/","title":{"rendered":"German Words You Definitely Don\u2019t Want To Mix Up!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guten Tag! Making mistakes is a big part of language learning, and often mistakes involve muddling words up \u2013 either because they sound similar, because they are <\/i>the same (but have different meanings), or because they are \u2018false friends\u2019 – words that seem like they should mean one thing, but they actually mean another. This can lead to some very funny sentences, which will definitely raise some eyebrows! In this fun post, I will take you through some German words you definitely<\/i> do not want to mix up! Be sure to check out part one<\/a>, too, to read some slightly less embarrassing, but still very funny, mix-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Scheide vs. scheiden<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Image via Pixabay<\/p><\/div>\n

The word die Scheide is the German word for vagina. The verb scheiden means to separate or divorce. If you want to say you\u2019re separating, though, as much as it might make sense to say \u2018Ich scheide\u2019, don\u2019t. In doing this you are saying \u2018I, vagina\u2019. Instead, say \u2018Wir lassen uns scheiden\u2019, which is the correct way to say \u2018We are getting a divorce\u2019. Try to think about using the word \u2018Wir\u2019 because it means ‘we’, and a divorce\/separation involves two<\/em> people… this will hopefully steer you away from saying \u2018I vagina\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

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geil vs. geil<\/span><\/h3>\n

While this is not so much a case of getting words mixed up, it\u2019s worth mentioning the tricky little word geil, because geil means horny or hot (sexually), and it also means cool. So how are you supposed to know if you\u2019re saying something is cool or something is hot\/horny?! Try to think of it like: If you say you<\/i> are geil, it means you\u2019re horny. If you say another person <\/i>is geil, it means you think they\u2019re sexy\/hot. If you say an object or a situation <\/i>is geil, it means you think it\u2019s cool. \u2018Das Auto ist geil\u2019 is a perfectly acceptable thing to say. People will also respond to things they like simply by saying \u2018geil\u2019. To be safe, though, unless you\u2019re 100% sure, it\u2019s best not to say this word around close relatives\/managers\/people you don\u2019t know very well! <\/span><\/p>\n

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Br\u00fcste vs. B\u00fcrste<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Image via Pixabay.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you need a hairbrush and ask your German friend if you can borrow her Br\u00fcste, she will give you either a confused look or walk very quickly away from you. That\u2019s because the word Br\u00fcste is the plural of die Brust \u2013 breast. The word die B\u00fcrste means hairbrush. Don\u2019t ask to borrow your friend\u2019s breasts. To avoid this mistake, practice your pronunciation, especially with Umlauts. If you\u2019d like a post with audio clips on how to pronounce words with Umlauts, let me know!<\/span><\/p>\n

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schie\u00dfen vs. schei\u00dfen<\/span><\/h3>\n

Can\u2019t see the difference between these two words? Look a little closer. Schie\u00dfen with ie means to shoot. Schei\u00dfen with ei means to shit. Be careful what you shout next time you\u2019re at a football match.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Huren vs. Uhren<\/span><\/h3>\n

These are words that sound more similar than they look. Make sure you pronounce the \u2018H\u2019 in Huren, and elongate the \u2018U\u2019 sound in Uhren a little. Why? Because the word die Uhren is the plural of die Uhr \u2013 watch. The word die Huren is the plural of die Hure \u2013 whore. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Vorspiel vs. Vorspeise<\/span><\/h3>\n

Das Vorspiel is the German word for foreplay, while die Vorspeise is a starter at a restaurant. Be careful what you order! To avoid this mistake, try to remember that the word \u2018Spiel\u2019 from Vorspiel (foreplay) means \u2018play\u2019 or \u2018game\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Fotze vs. Fotze<\/span><\/h3>\n

We conclude this post with a spectacular example of how important it is to know regional differences between German words. Having spent a huge part of my childhood in Lower Bavaria, I grew up hearing and using the word die Fotze all the time. Die Fotze was a slap in the face. I used to be \u2018threatened\u2019 with a Fotze when I was misbehaving, as were all the kids. Imagine my horror when I found out \u2013 far too recently, actually \u2013 that die Fotze is also a very offensive German swear word!! Yep, the exact same word <\/i>means \u2018pussy\u2019\u00a0 or ‘c*nt’ in most of Germany, BUT it is a harmless word for a slap in Bavaria and Austria. Now, I just hope I never said the word Fotze to someone from a different part of Germany…<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this post! Have you ever muddled up any German words? Please share in the comments – it happens to the best of us! Be sure to check out part 1<\/a> of this post, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bis bald<\/span><\/p>\n

Constanze<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Guten Tag! Making mistakes is a big part of language learning, and often mistakes involve muddling words up \u2013 either because they sound similar, because they are the same (but have different meanings), or because they are \u2018false friends\u2019 – words that seem like they should mean one thing, but they actually mean another. This…<\/p>\n

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