Are German nipples the worst?

[Crackerofdoom]

I just learned the word for nipples in German is Brustwarzen

The literal translation is "breast warts"

Is this the worst direct translation or are there more out there?

I didn't know it was spelt Klo - I have only ever heard it talked about.

Latinates might recall "cloaca" - meaning sewer (no "K" in latin)

And C with the k sound is rare in German since the spelling reform - it's all Kamera, Klaun, Klara etc. C is generally an S sound when at the beginning of words although many English words starting with C (s sound) are Z in German - Zirkel, Zirkus, etc.

Latinates might recall "cloaca" - meaning sewer (no "K" in latin)

We also have kló and it's short for klósett, i.e. closet. Like water closet. I'd wager it's the same for German.

And C with the k sound is rare in German since the spelling reform

Out of interest, when did this happen? I have two friends from Germany and both their names begin with c. Or has it not affected personal names?

I think the K vs C in names is a bit of a north/south divide in germany.
north tend to have K - lukas, kristan, karoline
and south a C

Ah interesting. They are both from the south!

FInnish sounds fun - but probably hard to learn...

It will be - it doesn't have roots or commonalities with any other language except Hungarian. They are a little language branch all on their own (Finno-Ugrian) and are a bugger (in a nice, unique way).

I tried Hungarian for about 6 months - gave up. There was just nothing I could "hang" anything on to - and I have to admit, I'm not the sharpest knife in the box.

And C with the k sound is rare in German since the spelling reform

It's when you read lines like that, you realise how unique (or should that be uniquely spoiled) Britons are, to have no official language, and thus no official language diktats ...

Quite a lot of "I Claudius" seemed to be taken up with the eponymous characters desire to improve written latin, and change the alphabet - which I guess is one reason to aspire to be Emperor.

Does L'Académie française still issue largely ignored pronouncements on what is and is not "allowed" in French ?

I sometimes wonder if my DM chose my real first name just to annoy my Dads side of the family. Although rather unsportingly, even if there is no "J" in Italian, they have the name for it ("i-lunha" or "long-i"). They also have "kappa" for "k" when spelling foreign words ...

DH and I were musing this morning as to whether the J sound can be replicated in Welsh. Or even CH as in "child".
I couldn't think of a way to do it - generally I've seen Js turned to Is as in Jesus becoming Iesu, pronounced "Yussy".

I remember one of our neighbours used to use "Iesu Mawr!" (lit: Big Jesus) in the way someone would use "Jesus Christ!" as an expletive in English.

Another viz take on literality ...

As a teenager ding a summer job in Germany, the lovely mother of the family I stayed with enquired what types of meat we most like to eat in the UK. I was attempting to say Hühnchen (chicken) but a slight mispronunciation meant that I replied Hündchen (a small dog, or pooch). I still remember the look of horror on her face. Thirty five years later our families are still good friends and we still chuckle about it!

I always loved the bathroom break
"Pinkelpause" I was taught at school but have never heard it IRL

Pinkelpause is usually used for road trips, so for example when you stop at a service station.
As a child I often went on day coach tips with my grandparents, organised by our church's men's club. Pinkelpause tended to be a bit longer as all the ladies had to be presentable again before the coach could continue. They also were quite frequent. And the bus would always smell of "Kölnisch Wasser".

When we were out as a family we usually needed a Pinkelpause almost as soon as we left the house. My sister is now getting her comeupance as her daughter is the very same

@SisterFarAway

Thank you so much for giving me legitimacy to use it

I’m sure it’s already somewhere in the thread but my favourite German word is kummerspeck - literally grief bacon: the weight you put on when eating your feelings

@JumpingFrogs that made me do a belly lol

Second the idea of listening to radio

does anyone on here remember Feinkost Zipp on SWR3?

So sad that SWR3 is no more.

SWF3, even.

Of course I do 4711 "Frau Werwolf sagt des g'hört so"

As an aside a lot of German children grow up almost bilingual, speaking local dialect at home and "proper" German in school, although I did have a colleague who just couldn't for the life of him speak "Hochdeutsch".
It's not coincidence that my home state of Baden-Württemberg has the slogan of "Wir können alles außer Hochdeutsch". "We can do everything except speaking high German".

Our favourite was “Anke’s Tanke” on FFH... you kinda had to be there. Just reminded us of home.

God this thread is awesome!

God this thread is awesome!

I know! It’s an unalloyed pleasure. None of us speak German, but I’m thinking of proposing that ‘pinkelpause’ is adopted as part of our family lexicon just because it’s such an amusing word and neat usage. I also love the concept of ‘window weather.’ There are things on this thread that will stick.

Catching up.

ésprit de l'éscalier is Treppenwitz in German, stair wit.

You do talk about Besorgungen to mean errands, which links to the business thing, and etwas besorgen is to get/provide something.
Relatedly, to look after (e.g. children, pets) is sich kümmern um, literally to worry/fret about.

Our household does know some German, but pinkelpause is good - much better than a pee stop.

I tried yesterday's Scwanzverlaengerung out on DH. He could work out the literal meaning, but not the subtext of the flash car.

Lovin some of these. I work at a very specialised job in German so know some really weird and wonderful vocal, but v little slang, so some of the more earthy ones will come in handy !!

Then of course there's having a tomcat (Kater) = hangover.