German is a language rich with unique expressions and idioms that capture the essence of its culture and people. Understanding these phrases can provide valuable insights into German-speaking societies and help you navigate conversations with native speakers. Here are seven essential German expressions everyone should know as shared by leading German language learning app developer Hello-Hello in this blog.
- “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof” (Ish fer-shtay-uh noor Bahn-hohf)
- Literal Translation: “I only understand the train station.”
- Meaning: “I don’t understand anything.”
- Usage: This phrase is used when someone is completely lost or doesn’t understand what is being said. It’s similar to the English expression “It’s all Greek to me.” For example, if you’re in a technical meeting and the jargon is too complex, you might say, “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.”
- “Das ist mir Wurst” (Das ist meer Voorst)
- Literal Translation: “That is sausage to me.”
- Meaning: “I don’t care” or “It’s all the same to me.”
- Usage: Use this expression when something doesn’t matter to you. For instance, if someone asks whether you want pizza or pasta for dinner and you have no preference, you can say, “Das ist mir Wurst.”
- “Ich drücke dir die Daumen” (Ish droo-kuh deer dee Dou-men)
- Literal Translation: “I’m pressing my thumbs for you.”
- Meaning: “I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.”
- Usage: This is a way to wish someone good luck. Before a friend’s job interview, you might say, “Ich drücke dir die Daumen.”
- “Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei” (Ah-less haht ayn En-deh, noor dee Voorst haht tsvy)
- Literal Translation: “Everything has an end; only the sausage has two.”
- Meaning: “All good things must come to an end.”
- Usage: This expression is a humorous way to acknowledge that everything eventually comes to a conclusion. For example, as a holiday comes to an end, you might say, “Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei.”
- “Bist du sicher, dass du dir keinen Bären aufbinden lässt?” (Bist doo zi-cher, dass doo deer kynen Behr-en auf-binden lest)
- Literal Translation: “Are you sure you’re not being tied to a bear?”
- Meaning: “Are you sure you’re not being fooled?”
- Usage: This phrase is used to question the credibility of information. If someone tells you an unbelievable story, you might ask, “Bist du sicher, dass du dir keinen Bären aufbinden lässt?”
- “Fünf Minuten vor der Zeit ist des Deutschen Pünktlichkeit” (Fuenf mi-noo-ten fohr dehr Tsyt ist des Doy-tschen Puynkt-lich-kite)
- Literal Translation: “Five minutes before time is the German punctuality.”
- Meaning: “To be on time, you should arrive five minutes early.”
- Usage: This reflects the German cultural value of punctuality. If you want to emphasize the importance of being early to an appointment, you might use this phrase.
- “Übung macht den Meister” (Oo-boong mahkt den My-ster)
- Literal Translation: “Practice makes the master.”
- Meaning: “Practice makes perfect.”
- Usage: This is a motivational expression used to encourage someone to keep practicing. If a friend is struggling to learn a new skill, you might say, “Übung macht den Meister.”
These expressions are more than just words; they are windows into German culture and mindset. By learning and using these phrases, you can gain a deeper understanding of how Germans think and communicate. Whether you are travelling to Germany, learning the language, or simply looking to expand your linguistic horizons, these seven expressions are essential tools for your cultural toolkit.
Learn German (Hello-Hello)
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- Receive notifications with new words to build your vocabulary
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