{"id":10270,"date":"2018-10-31T14:56:24","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T14:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=10270"},"modified":"2018-10-31T14:56:24","modified_gmt":"2018-10-31T14:56:24","slug":"the-german-word-sitzfleisch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/the-german-word-sitzfleisch\/","title":{"rendered":"The German Word ‘Sitzfleisch’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guten Tag! Today I\u2019d like to talk about another \u2018untranslatable\u2019 German word, namely: Sitzfleisch.<\/strong> This is a word that has been adopted by the English language, too, and which some think explains the German people\u2019s efficient and productive nature. But before we get into that, let\u2019s look at the word in more detail.<\/p>\n

Das Sitzfleisch<\/h2>\n

Literally, the word Sitzfleisch means \u2018sit flesh\u2019<\/strong> or \u2018sit meat\u2019<\/strong>. It consists of the verb sitzen \u2013 to sit<\/em> (or the noun der Sitz \u2013 the seat<\/em>) and das Fleisch<\/em>, the German word for flesh<\/em> or meat.<\/em><\/p>\n

So what does it mean? Sitzfleisch has two meanings, one more literal and the other more figurative.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Image via Pixabay.<\/p><\/div>\n

Firstly, it refers to the actual flesh<\/strong> on your butt. As an example of the word in use in this way, you might say something like:<\/p>\n

Brauchst du ein Kissen?<\/strong>
\nNein, ich habe viel Sitzfleisch!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you need a cushion?<\/em>
\nNo, I\u2019ve got lots of Sitzfleisch!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Image via Pixabay.<\/p><\/div>\n

The other meaning of Sitzfleisch is endurance<\/b>\/patience.<\/b> In German, if you say someone \u2018has a lot of Sitzfleisch\u2019, it means they have the ability to endure lengthy or boring tasks until they\u2019re done. The great thing about this word is that it can refer to any number of situations, such as the ability to endure long, tedious meetings, or having patience while someone talks at you, even though you\u2019re not interested. Someone who can handle a long-haul flight may also be described as having lots of Sitzfleisch.<\/p>\n

These examples are very literal in that they talk about being able to physically sit down for a long time. But you can also say someone has Sitzfleisch if they are able to tolerate situations <\/i><\/strong>for a long time, too. In other words, it doesn\u2019t have to be about enduring things while physically seated, but about enduring things in general.<\/p>\n

Sie hatte einfach kein Sitzfleisch mehr,
\n<\/strong>She simply did not have any Sitzfleisch (patience\/endurance) left.<\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Image via Pixabay.<\/p><\/div>\n

The term Sitzfleisch is also often used in a more positive way, and that is in connection with work<\/strong>. Germans have long been stereotyped as being hard-working, productive and efficient in the workplace, despite often working fewer hours than their UK counterparts, for example. Could it be because the Germans have the word Sitzfleisch in their vocabulary that people think of them this way?<\/p>\n

This German word Sitzfleisch, with its dual meaning, doesn\u2019t have a straight-forward equivalent in other languages. It was even adopted by the English language, where it has the same meanings. It is often used in Schach<\/strong> (chess), a game which requires a lot of Sitzfleisch \u2013 both physical and figurative!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Guten Tag! Today I\u2019d like to talk about another \u2018untranslatable\u2019 German word, namely: Sitzfleisch. This is a word that has been adopted by the English language, too, and which some think explains the German people\u2019s efficient and productive nature. But before we get into that, let\u2019s look at the word in more detail. Das Sitzfleisch…<\/p>\n

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