Another post just for the joy of it!
If you’ve ever tried learning German, you know that it’s a language full of surprises. The literal translations of some everyday German words are not only clever but also amusing. Today, we’re exploring some of these delightful words that will make you smile and might even make you look at things differently.
The Wristwatch Is an Arm Band Clock
Let’s start with the simple yet practical wristwatch. In German, it’s called “Armbanduhr,” which literally translates to arm band clock. It makes perfect sense when you think about it: it’s a clock on a band around your arm!
Hands Have Links Too!
Ever wondered what your wrist is called in German? It’s “Handgelenk,” or hand link. It’s the link that connects your hand to your arm—quite logical, right?
Stop for the Street Train Hold Place
When traveling in Germany, you’ll often hear the word “Straßenbahnhaltestelle.” This mouthful of a word means tram stop, but the literal translation is even better: street train hold place. It’s a perfectly descriptive way to say where the tram stops.
Keep Your Hands Warm with Shoes
Gloves? Not in Germany! There, they are called “Handschuhe,” which translates to hand shoes. After all, why should feet have all the fun?
Meet the Naked Snail
Ever seen a slug and thought it looked like a snail without a shell? Well, the Germans did! They call it “Nacktschnecke,” or naked snail. It’s as straightforward as it gets.
Light Up the Room with a Glow Pear
The humble light bulb is known as “Glühbirne” in German, which translates to glow pear. It’s not just a source of light; it’s a glowing pear-shaped wonder.
Hit the Road on Your Glow Wheels
Bicycles, or “Fahrräder,” are affectionately called glow wheels in this post because they often come with reflectors that light up at night, keeping you safe as you ride.
Keep It Cool in Your Cool Closet
What do you call a refrigerator in German? “Kühlschrank,” or cool closet. It’s the place where all the magic happens, keeping your food fresh and drinks cold.
Make Some Noise with Hit Things
And finally, we have drums, or “Schlagzeug,” which translates to hit things. It’s an apt description of what you do with them—hit things to make music!
Why We Love These Literal Translations
German is a language that often says exactly what it means, which can be both humorous and endearing. These words remind us that language learning can be fun, and that sometimes, the most straightforward translations are the best.
So, the next time you’re looking at your arm band clock or grabbing your hand shoes, remember the cleverness of the German language and smile!
Want to learn German? If you’ve got 25 minutes, here’s a primer.
Watch us tackle some tricky vocabulary here, and learn about the different terms for “Spengler”.
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