Your Favourite German Compound Words.

[Warhavernet]

A niche one for Germanophiles, German Speakers, and , erm, of course Germans.

e.g. Krankenhaus [ hospital ] Kranken [ sick/ill ] + Haus [ house ]

I do like Nacktschnecke [ naked snail ] = Slug.

[Spare tyre]

Auspuff - exhaust pipe

Apologies if it’s not part of the rules

[droopsnoot]

I liked "Straßenbahnhaltestelle" for bus stop when I was learning German back in school. By the time you've asked the way to it, and understood the response, you've probably missed the bus.

More recently I like ZF, which is Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, or toothed wheel factory in Friedrichshafen.

[2172cc]

WW2 amphibious vehicle the schwimmwagen: swimming car

[phpe]

Geschwindigkeitsregelanlage - what could be more PH & German than a long compound word for "cruise control"

and of course...

Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz. - "law delegating beef label monitoring"

Let the German version of Alexander Armstrong explain...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNVct3BMcCM

Edited by phpe on Monday 3rd August 18:29

[redrabbit29]

Antibabypillen

Together it means birth control pills or contraceptive pills

[brownspeed]

from my level 1 "business German" course, many years ago, and also quite difficult to squeeze into most conversations in a business environment;- "schwarzwälderkirschtorte*"
However, this never stopped me trying! got a few laughs along the way

• Black forest gateau

[Trash_panda]

Handtankschuhe = gauntlet
Hand tank schuhe = hand tank shoes
English = gloves (in a petrol station)

Edited by Trash_panda on Monday 3rd August 20:13

[JoshSm]

I always laughed at Wasserkocher. Yes, a kettle is a water cooker.

Very very literal.

[williamp]

NeinDasisMeinAuto

Alfa Romeo GTV6

[CloudStuff]

Gürtelhandyträger a real favourite

(Search it up :-) )

[CloudStuff]

Also Sitzpinkler

[Panamax]

"Wo ist mein Handy?"

"Where is my mobile phone?" A rare example of the German being shorter than the English.

In reality, when you translate a document from English to French or Spanish it remains about the same number of pages. When you translate into German you need to allow about 30% more paper.

[lufbramatt]

Büstenhalter

Breast holder = bra

[Opapayer]

droopsnoot said:

I liked "Straßenbahnhaltestelle" for bus stop when I was learning German back in school. By the time you've asked the way to it, and understood the response, you've probably missed the bus.

More recently I like ZF, which is Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, or toothed wheel factory in Friedrichshafen.

Straßenbahn is tram, not bus

straße = street
bahn = train

Aka street train, so perfectly logical.

My all time favourite is the well known Schwarzwälderkirschtorte

Literally Black Forest Cherry Cake (gateau)

[swanseaboydan]

Assenworm - stool / turd

[driverrob]

swanseaboydan said:

Assenworm - stool / turd

[CloudStuff]

Panamax said:

"Wo ist mein Handy?"

"Where is my mobile phone?" A rare example of the German being shorter than the English.

In reality, when you translate a document from English to French or Spanish it remains about the same number of pages. When you translate into German you need to allow about 30% more paper.

Oh no, I left my Handy in my Smoking.

[Penny Whistle]

Donaudampfshiffcapitatskayuteturschlusselanhanger

Probably contrived ... Danube steam ship captain's cabin door key fob.

Edited by Penny Whistle on Monday 3rd August 23:38

[C69]

Panzerkampfwagen - armoured fighting vehicle (or simply 'tank' in English).