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German may be the most widely spoken language in the European Union, but let's be honest - it's just downright funny sometimes. We roasted French, so now it's time for the German language to have its turn.

People around the world learning how to speak German have long struggled with German's fearsome grammar, in which multiple funny words are stuck together to make more descriptive terms. This leads to things like long, aggressive store names and job titles, as well as migraines for tourists and expats in Germany. The spelling of these long German words is an even more sensitive subject.

Since German is an ancestor to English, a lot of funny German words were passed down to us but changed in spelling over time. The original German forms of these words now have... Well, 'interesting' connotations. See for yourself below.

Oh, and just for the lols, here is the longest word in German - Donaudampfschifffahtselektrizitatenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengessellschaft. Standing proudly at 80 letters, this word translates to "Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services" and is an absolutely real concoction of letters. Try not to break your tongue with it!

#2

Nobody Expected That From You, German Language

Nobody Expected That From You, German Language

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However, according to Olly Richards, a polyglot and the founder of I Will Teach You A Language, German actually isn't too difficult to master.

"One of the main reasons German isn’t all that hard to learn is that German and English originate from the same language families and share more similarities than you probably realize," Richards wrote. "Both German and English are Indo-European languages that stem from the Germanic family of languages. About 40% of German vocabulary is similar to English vocabulary, which is good news for native English speakers!"

#3

Mastering A Second Language

 Mastering A Second Language

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Richards said that pronunciation is also more straightforward than you might think and grammar is relatively easy to pick up thanks to recognizable patterns. "If we examine the phrases 'what is that?' and 'was ist das?', the connections are obvious."

Also, the polyglot thinks that it's is much easier to pronounce words phonetically in German than in English. "In English, letters often change sounds without any logical explanation. This isn’t the case in German."

"Although some aspects of German may seem difficult, once you break the language down, it's not actually that hard."

#5

There's A Word For Everything In German Language

There's A Word For Everything In German Language

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#6

Germans vs. Foreigners

Germans vs. Foreigners

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Enea
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All Germans talk funny and are closely associated with Hitler... how genuine. And not racist at all. Just some good humoured fun. Like all Ugandans are totally Idi Amin. And all Italians secretly have a weak spot for Mussolini. Tell me again, where does hate speech start? Very offensive, that is.

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Pi...
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally with u on this one... we should really stop all jokes even on all kinds of stereotyping. Only then will the world improve.

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Me
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm german and I must admit that it sounds like this for me sometimes, too...

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was married to an Arabic speaking man and we both accused each other of yelling at our respective moms on the phone after perfectly polite conversations.

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Caroline Murphy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to think this until I started to like German bands and during interviews completely shocked with how soft spoken they were

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Cat Meow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a German, I agree. Not sure if it's the way Rs are pronounced or what, it does sound agressive

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Amanda Panda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It really does sound like such an aggressive language with lesser usage of vowels.

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Daria Z
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually like the sound of German, it's beautiful :)

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Charles Laster
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that because in German ou sorta toss your voice backwards into the throat..

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K Mac
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's exactly how I felt about German until I started taking courses at https://www.sprachenatelier-berlin.de/

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Julia NotMyLastname
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually a lot of people say things like this and it frustrates me so much because Germany has done so many good things but all people ever remember them for is Hitler.

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Hermann Boede Wantzelius
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

.... although the pronunciation in German usually is easier : as is written it is read, (for example HAUS in German is pronounced "Haus" and in English HOUSE is pronounced "Haus"); but as in general the world became accustomed to read and speak the English language, we do not even notice that anymore .... ;-) for a citizen from a Latin country who wants to start speaking English, his pronunciation - with all its multiple exceptions -, certainly can become an exasperating puzzle or a real headache ! .... :-)

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Lorraine R
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know, I'm so glad I grew up in an English-speaking country. It must be a nightmare to learn as an adult.

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Erik Louman
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least the Germans teach their warcrimes in history books so f**k you USA this is not funny anymore "US Has Killed More Than 20 Million People in 37 “Victim Nations” Since World War II"

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Aria Whitaker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how the comic literally says "Foreigners" and you automatically jump to "f**k you USA"...you DO realize there are 178 other countries on Earth, right? At least 100 of them have populations that speak English. This could have been written by an Englishman, Australian, Canadian, South African, etc. Weird that you jump to criticizing America....biased much?

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Poisabelha Abelha
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just like Portuguese from Portugal sounds to the Brazilians, ha, ha, ha.

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Lynne Minsky
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry Melanie Morrison Aites, I'll be laughing my head off for days lol!!!

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Kat Blak
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

honestly, yeah. It's the best language to speak if you're angry

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Ilse Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That Donaudampfschiffahrt bit is a totally made up word. No one would ever say or write that. Ilse

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SP
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Germans I've met speak pretty softly. I think it's a beautiful language.

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SP
Community Member
3 years ago

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Enea
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to be very offended by this. Then I caught myself using the word "drastischste" (=the most drastic) and kind of got what non-German speakers keep musing in about.

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tw _fan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please don't associate Adolf Hitler with Germany. Yes he was a politician in Germany but he's actually from Austria

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Slune
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the little Hitler, discreet on the RIGHT side of the drawing....

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Beli Keshini
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually this is quite rude... But I don't mind, I'm Austrian.

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Marco Conti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father had a lot of German friends growing up. He even retired in Austria. To me they always sounded like they were arguing about how to improve the design of the Leopard tank with a death ray or how to best fit people in cattle cars. At the time I spoke Italian and the German army occupation in WWII had left a few of us traumatized.

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Freya the Wanderer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do people almost always think of Nazi scum when they think of Germans? What about Goethe, Beethoven, etc.?

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Candace Fitzpatrick
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favourite German words is süß, and I love how it sounds and looks in writing! Sweet!

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Inga Viviane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cause americans think, all germans always shout and pronounce everything like hitler. Honestly, its not funny, its dumb and insulting. Im totally here for discussing hitlers crimes and why germans in ww1and ww2 sucked, but this dumb joke is insulting and racist.

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#8

The Language Of Poets

The Language Of Poets

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Troux
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These all have direct English equivalents: "I got tossed in the back of a car" "We came together after the movie" "I gave my bird what she needed last night"

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#10

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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Juana
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do the write the names of the languages and then throw in Mexico? For continuity they should have written Spanish. And a flag of Spain.

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#11

Hand Shoes Make Perfect Sense

Hand Shoes Make Perfect Sense

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Roman Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here Germany makes much more sense. Why make up a new word when you can repurpose old ones? Gloves really are “hand shoes.”

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#14

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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Volker Burmester
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sechs is german for six and sound almost like sex. Vier means four in german and sounds like fear. And fünf is german for five.

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#15

When German Language Wasn't Scary But Cute

When German Language Wasn't Scary But Cute

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Mary Peace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The French say "How are you called?" when they want to know your name. I suppose it's like asking "How do I get your attention?" really.

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#16

Naming Animals In German

Naming Animals In German

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#17

Best Photo From Trip To Berlin

Best Photo From Trip To Berlin

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#18

When German Language Had Like A Gazillion Ways To Say "Why".

When German Language Had Like A Gazillion Ways To Say "Why".

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All of these have a different connotation and add to the richness of communication. You would also rather say "for which purpose do you use a rifle" than "why", if you seek to explore the intention.

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#19

When A Single Letter Made A Huge Difference

When A Single Letter Made A Huge Difference

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#20

When German Language Wasn't As Cold And Ugly As They Always Say … But Beautiful And Emotional

When German Language Wasn't As Cold And Ugly As They Always Say … But Beautiful And Emotional

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#21

Makes Sense

Makes Sense

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#22

This Is Why I Love The German Language

This Is Why I Love The German Language

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Tomek Sztuk
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brilliant, although it's a purposefully complicated joke name :D Fahrradständer is a real German name for a bicycle stand, above says something in line of "climate protection enforcing device securing place" ;)

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#23

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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Lilya
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Person: That's amazing! Me: That's sausage to me. Person: No, the post I was talking about. Me: SAUSAGE

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#24

Have Some Class

Have Some Class

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JuJu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. We use both. Usually depending on the vowel or Umlaut before the ss/ß.

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#25

When Even The Simpsons Had To Show The World How The German Language Is Trolling Everyone

When Even The Simpsons Had To Show The World How The German Language Is Trolling Everyone

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Kateryna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Die" is "the" relating to the feminine gender... so it sounds like they are indicating Bart is female

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#26

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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#27

When Germany Showed The World What "Wordception" Means.

When Germany Showed The World What "Wordception" Means.

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You may need context. Essen is a town in the Ruhr area. Essen means food. essen means to eat. "Wollen wir heute in Essen ein wenig Essen essen?" thus makes sense.

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#29

German Is A Beautiful Language.

German Is A Beautiful Language.

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd go with "Klugscheißer" (clever-pooper), don't know what that word above is supposed to mean.

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#30

When German Language Was Only For The Brave.

When German Language Was Only For The Brave.

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#34

When German Language Was So Logical That It Confused You.

When German Language Was So Logical That It Confused You.

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#35

Dear People Learning German...

Dear People Learning German...

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#36

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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Cat Meow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone count the points please. I'm curious. (I really don't play Scrabble... XD)

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#37

German Language Jokes

German Language Jokes

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#38

German Grammar Struggle

German Grammar Struggle

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Dee Hunter
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you REALLY want to confuse them: Use Russian. They have two more cases.

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#39

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For your information, German isn't shouted aggressively by Germans at all. We imply that from the second world war because of how the Gestapo were. If you say the above German word normally, it sounds quite nice.

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#40

1. When German Language Nailed It.

1. When German Language Nailed It.

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#41

When Animals Sounded Way Cuter In German. Like Raccoon.

When Animals Sounded Way Cuter In German. Like Raccoon.

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Femme Finn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoa! Same in Finnish, pesukarhu. I guess it comes directly from German.

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#43

When German Language Showed That Germans Have A Strange Relationship To Their Tools. Or Their Mothers

When German Language Showed That Germans Have A Strange Relationship To Their Tools. Or Their Mothers

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#44

German Language

German Language

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Emphasis on the first syllable- possible grave bodily harm court case coming your way, emphasize the last part and you're good.

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#47

Funny German Language

Funny German Language

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#48

When German Language Surprised You By Somehow Not Being Accurate Anymore

When German Language Surprised You By Somehow Not Being Accurate Anymore

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JuJu
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But there is only one that can suck and blow! The famous Heinzelmann.

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#49

When German Words Looked Like They Have To Be Kidding You

When German Words Looked Like They Have To Be Kidding You

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#50

Learn German If You Der

Learn German If You Der

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Femme Finn
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well when you really think about the word "butterfly", is it a sexy word? Butter. Fly.

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