The funniest word in german

Words in German

You may find that some words which only exist in German perfectly describe situations or moods that cannot be expressed so well in your mother tongue… so why not introduce your non-German-speaking friends and family to these phrases?

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Do you know that feeling when you want to express yourself with a specific word but that word doesn’t exist in your language?

It can be quite disappointing.

Imagine how nice it would be if you could describe your feelings in one word, one single word.

That’s why language learners are in advantage. Perhaps that specific word doesn’t exist in your native language but it might exist in another language.

Despite popular opinion, German is very interesting and expressive. It has a lot of words that other languages don’t.

German is also a very clever language because it can fill many gaps and explain many feelings or things that English can’t. 

On top of that, there are a lot of funny German words that will be our topic today.

Today, we’ll share with you our favorite funny words in German.

Let’s dive in.

Funny German Words

This language is full of funny German phrases.

Since the words are quite long, take your time and read them slowly.

The most important thing, don’t forget to enjoy it!

1. Backpfeifengesicht

The ideal translation for this word is ‘slap face.’ 

The word describes that person who starts talking and you immediately want to slap them in the face.

It can be someone from your work who always steals your lunch, or perhaps that annoying friend who thinks it’s amusing to use some awful words or slang.

However, be careful when you say this word. Use it only with your close friends and with those who won’t be mad.

2. Erklärungsnot 

This word can be explained as a lame excuse for something that you’ve done or failed to do. The situation requires you to give a proper explanation but you only come up with some excuse that no one believes.

For example, when you are caught in the middle of eating the cake-cream, and you have less than a second to think of a good explanation.

Therefore, it can be translated as a ‘poverty of explanation.’

3. Feierabend

Translated as ‘the reason to celebrate,’ this word should exist in every language in the world.

Imagine the following situation: it is Friday afternoon, and you’ve done all your work. You came home, and you have all day and weekend just for yourself.

So you get cozy, grab a juice, cola or beer and put some music on. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it is ‘feierabend.’

4. Fernweh

This word is similar to nostalgia but has a wider meaning. It describes the feeling when you want to be somewhere else. It doesn’t mean that you are homesick, quite on the contrary. 

It can refer to some distant places or cities.

For example, you can use ‘fernweh’ when you’re not able to go on a vacation somewhere.

5. Fremdschämen

On one hand, this word is used to express empathy for someone. On the other hand, it can describe some situations that are awkward and humiliating.

For example, you went on a date. Your partner is so boring that you can’t wait for the night to be over. However, he’s having a great time especially because he is trying to talk about his experiences that are so awkward that you feel ashamed instead of him. That is why the ‘fremdschämen’ is an ideal explanation for this situation.

6. Frühjahrsmüdigkeit

Perhaps in English, the best explanation for this word is ‘spring fatigue.’ However, it is more than that.

This word describes a temporary mood, laziness, and physical condition that happens to people in March and April when the spring comes. At this time, people experience low energy and weariness, some even have headaches, aching joints, and a lack of motivation to do anything.

7. Geboregenheit

We should all use this word even if we don’t speak German. 

It’s used in situations when you have to be completely present in a moment to fully enjoy it.

In other words, it’s an experience of happiness or feeling of satisfaction with a certain situation. It’s a state of comfort and well-being.

8. Honigkuchenpferd

If you wanted to say this in English, you would have to use a whole sentence instead. 

However, In German, ‘honigkuchenpferd’ is enough. 

It’s a situation when you get embarrassed in front of someone very important, and your face shows all your emotions and expressions, including embarrassment.

9. Innerer Schweinehund

Picture this. It’s early in the morning. Your alarm goes off, but you simply don’t have the energy to get up and start preparing for work. 

Or perhaps another situation: you had enough time to do your homework, but you are postponing it until the last moment when you have to do it. You are too lazy to do it and chilling on the sofa seems like a much better solution. 

That voice in your head, telling you that it’s better to continue sleeping or relaxing, that is ‘innerer schweinerhund,’ literally translated as ‘inner pig dog.’

10. Jein

This word can be translated as ‘yes and no’ simultaneously.

That stereotype about strict Germans is not so true which is seen in this example.

Admit it! There are plenty of occasions when you just want to say ‘jein.’

11. Kuddelmuddel

If you thought that this meant to cuddle, you are very wrong. This word has nothing to do with cuddling. On the contrary, it describes a chaotic state or a mess.

For example, when you enter your kids’ room, it is so messy that the only thing you can say is ‘kuddelmuddel.’

The word consists of ‘kuddel,’ from ‘koddeln,’ which means ‘dirty linen,’ and the word ‘muddel’ that means ‘mud.’

12. Lebensmüde

There are situations when many of us are tired of everything gloomy around us. Even though ‘lebensmüde’ expresses this feeling perfectly, you have to be careful you use it because it can sometimes have suicidal meaning. So, before you use the word ‘lebensmüde,’ make sure that you are being understood correctly and clearly.

13. Schadenfreude

The pleasure gained from other people’s misfortune can be expressed in German as ‘schadenfreude.’

It can be a situation at work. A colleague of yours got a promotion instead of you, and they never miss the opportunity to emphasize that. You are happy for them, but you are actually a little bit jealous. And then something terrible happens to them. They are devastated. But you, you feel ‘schadenfreude.’ You are content that they are not entirely happy.

14. Schnapsidee

You’ve surely had situations when you’ve thought of some crazy idea, which later appeared to be a stupid one. Like you were drunk while that idea came to your mind. So, in a moment when an idea like this comes to your mind, this is a ‘schnappsidee,’ literally ‘crazy idea.’

15. Sitzfleisch 

The ‘seat meat’ in English probably sounds, well, quite strange. 

In German, however, it describes someone’s character trait. The person who is ‘sitzfleisch’ can go through anything boring, or very hard. 

It’s like that person can be productive for a long time or can do anything they are asked to do, even in difficult situations.

16. Sturmfrei

Adults remember that feeling (probably with nostalgia) when they couldn’t wait for their parents to go somewhere so that they can have the whole house for themselves. In German, it can be described with only one word, ‘sturmfrei.’

17. Torschlusspanik

The feeling of panic as time runs out can be explained with one German word: ‘torschlusspanik, ’ or in English, ‘closing door panic.’

You can use this word in situations when you, for example, start panicking because the time goes by quickly. 

It’s a feeling of missing out on a chance to do something greater, better. You’re afraid that the time will pass and that it will be late to do something you could do.

18. Tote Hose

If you want to translate the phrase ‘dead trousers’ from English to German, you get some completely ordinary one in German, ‘tote hose.’ However, this expression is anything but ordinary. It’s used in situations when you feel intense boredom, the moment when time stands still, when nothing happens, and when it seems like it will never end.

19. Verschlimmbesserung

Yes, this is a pretty long word. But compared to other German words, it’s average. The word ‘verschlimmbesserung’ is used in situations when something bad happens, or you’ve said something that appeared to be wrong and now you regret it. 

But instead of trying to ‘repair the damage,’ you are digging the hole deeper and deeper. In one word, it’s ‘verschlimmbesserung.’

This word can literally be translated as ‘fixing something to be worse than it is.’

20. Waldeinsamket

It’s literally ‘the feeling of being alone in the woods.’

This feeling is a synonym for enjoying alone time peacefully, ideally surrounded by nature. You achieve some level of meditation and feel fulfilled and happy.

Long German Words

We couldn’t miss out on the beauty of long German words, so we had to mention the longest one.

Here’s the winner.

Donau­dampfschiffahrts­elektrizitäten­hauptbetriebswerk­bauunterbeamten­gesellschaft

This word is a perfect practice for pronunciation, like a tongue-twister.

Do you like tongue-twisters? 

They are quite useful for mastering your pronunciation. Check out these
10 German tongue twisters to improve your accent. 

This word is not a mistake. And yes, it has 79 letters.

Here’s what it means.

‘Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services’

Conclusion

These words are just one part of the wonderful German language. 

We tried to explain them to you in English, but that’s the beauty of languages

They are all unique and there’s a lot of words that can’t be translated. That is why there are many
German words in English we use every day, such as hamburgers, fest, or wanderlust.

Have you started learning German yet? 

What’s the funniest German word in your opinion?

Let us know in the comments below!

Funny German words? Germans can actually be funny? Are you sure?

Germans are usually seen as very strict and sincere people. But that’s wrong! It probably is a misinterpretation of some other qualities attributed to Germans, such as discipline, punctuality and an obsession with details.

Some of these might be true, but being on time doesn’t mean you can’t have a laugh. (In fact, in comedy the timing of jokes is crucial!) Germany has a big comedy scene and a long tradition of political cabaret. And there’s many popular fairs like the Karneval in the Rhine area or the Octoberfest in Bavaria, where people really let their hair down.
(And sometimes, given enough alcohol, their lederhosen as well…)

But no matter how you perceive the German people, this article isn’t really about their talent for comedy and laughter. Instead it’s about the German language and some of the funniest German words we could think of. Any language contains words which are weird, cumbersome or are pronounced in a way that’s odd. So let’s get started and take a closer look at our list of funny words in German!

Table of Contents

• Silly German Names to call People
  • 1. Gurkentruppe
  • 2. Lulatsch
  • 3. Miesepeter
  • 4. Quatschkopf
  • 5. Rampensau
  • 6. Schnarchnase
  • 7. Trantüte
  • 8. Weichei
• Funny German Words about the Body
  • 1. Hüftgold
  • 2. Kummerspeck
  • 3. Sitzfleisch
  • 4. Splitterfasernackt
  • 5. Wonneproppen
• Funny German Names for Animals
  • 1. Innerer Schweinehund
  • 2. Nilpferd
  • 3. Schildkröte
  • 4. Stubentiger
• Weird German Words about Things
  • 1. Absacker
  • 2. Betthupferl
  • 3. Drahtesel
  • 4. Ohrfeige
  • 5. Ohrwurm
  • 6. Schirmherr
  • 7. Tohuwabohu
  • 8. Wackeldackel
  • 9. Zungenbrecher
• Funny German Words for doing Something
  • 1. Rumeiern
  • 2. Verklickern
  • 3. Verschlimmbessern
  • 4. Torschlusspanik haben

Silly German Names to call People

1. Gurkentruppe

Any idea what Germans mean when they talk about a “cucumber squad?” Cucumbers are the only vegetable that is eaten while still unripe. So a Gurkentruppe consists of members lacking any experience. Basically it’s a team of muppets or a bunch of losers, so it’s a term often used for sports teams who didn’t perform as expected.

2. Lulatsch

A Lulatsch means a very long and rather thin person, i.e. someone who’s described in English as a beanpole. Sometimes even exaggerated in the form of langer Lulatsch. (Lang meaning long, of course.)

3. Miesepeter

What exactly is a “wretched Peter“? You know this one colleague, who predicts a negative outcome for every idea or plan you come up with? Yes, that’s a Miesepeter! It’s a person who’s moody and likes to paint everything in black.

4. Quatschkopf

The balderdash head loves to talk nonsense. He’s full of weird ideas and – unfortunately – doesn’t hold back with telling you about them.

5. Rampensau

You may have a colleague who is a Rampensau. Many of us are quite the opposite. But what do Germans mean, when they call someone a “stage hog?”
They mean someone who thrives in the limelight. Someone who can get on stage and perform instantly. So most actors and singers fall into this category.

6. Schnarchnase

A “snoring nose” is anyone whose performance is far below average. As such he is closely related to the “Trantüte.” (see next entry)

7. Trantüte

The “bag of whale oil” is a dull-witted guy, who tends to think and move slowly and sluggish.

8. Weichei

The literal english translation is “soft egg” and it’s a term used to describe a wimp or sissy.

Looking for more colorful descriptions of weird people in the German language? Take a look at our list of funny german insults.

Funny German Words about the Body

1. Hüftgold

Hip gold is a rather nice description for the excess fat you’re carrying around your waistline and your hips. Sometimes the word is also used to describe the food which might lead to these extra pounds, like chocolate or cake.

2. Kummerspeck

Another term for overweight, but this time with a justification included. Clever Germans! Many people tend to eat when they feel lonely or depressed. The literal translation of “Kummerspeck” is “misery bacon” and and this German word describes the surplus weight gained by eating too much comfort food.

3. Sitzfleisch

Now, what on earth does a native speaker mean, when he’s speaking of “seat meat“? Now, when a Germans says, some has “seat meat” (or better “sitting meat“) he means, someone who is able to sit on his spot for a long time. That could mean guests you’d rather see leaving or in a business context, someone who doesn’t move from his position.

4. Splitterfasernackt

“Nackt” means naked, so what does “splinter fibre naked” mean? It’s actually a combination of two older expressions with the same meaning, “splitternackt” and “fasernackt“.
“Splinter naked” means naked like a piece of wood without it’s bark. And “fibre naked” means not wearing any clothes, of course. These two words were combined to describe someone stripped bare naked. Another funny thing about this expression is that you can hear it frequently, whereas the original two words are almost extinct.

5. Wonneproppen

Ok, you might get the impression I’m obsessed with obesity, but this is another funny German word about body fat. A “Wonneproppen” (or “pleasure plug“) describes a chubby person. Usually it’s either a small child which didn’t lose it’s baby fat yet. Or it might refer to a woman whose rounder parts are seen as rather attractive and cuddly.

Funny German Names for Animals

1. Innerer Schweinehund

OK, this interesting creature isn’t even a real animal. Your “inner pig dog” is the little monster inside you which stops you from hoovering, ironing your shirts or clearing out the garage. All these little tasks everyone has to do and no one really enjoys. And before you do them, you have to overcome your inner pig dog which wants you to stay on your couch and read funny blog posts instead.

2. Nilpferd

Ok, it does have four legs. And a head. And a bit of a tail. But whoever came up with the idea to call a “hippo” a nile horse, must have been short-sighted. Or a bit tipsy.

3. Schildkröte

Now, what kind of animal might a German mean when he talks about a “shield toad?” It’s a turtle! I get the shield bit, but toad?

4. Stubentiger

The official German word for cat is “Katze.” But another way to describe these friendly felines in German is “room tiger.” So, basically a tiger small enough to keep in your house.

Weird German Words about Things

1. Absacker

You’ve been out and about with your friends. You all had a good time, but now it’s time to go home or to your hotel and get some sleep. But on the way you spot this cosy looking little bar! And you persuade your friends to have one last drink…
This famous last drink is what Germans call an Absacker. In English, a “nightcap“.

2. Betthupferl

Originally Betthupferl meant a flea, something unexpected hopping around in your bed. Luckily, fleas are very rare in German beds nowadays, so the word got a new meaning. It describes the little chocolate or other sweets better hotels might put on your pillow. When you’re at home and not in a hotel, it means basically the same thing. A little snack or sweet you might indulge in before brushing your teeth and going to sleep.

3. Drahtesel

Did you go to work on a “wire donkey” today? That’s an informal expression for a bicycle, officially known as “Fahrrad“(Drive Wheel).

4. Ohrfeige

Do you like figs? They are sweet fruits and can be eaten fresh or dried.
But when a German offers you an “ear fig”, you should stay clear. The “Ohrfeige” is a slap in the face. The ear part of the word is obvious, but the linguists are still undecided whether “fig” stems from a swollen cheek (round like a fig) or from dutch “veeg” for a punch or slap.

5. Ohrwurm

Now, an “ear worm” sounds awful, don’t you think? Well, kind of…
You know that song you heard in the radio in the morning or the tune a colleague whistled in the office? And you can’t get that song out of your head, even if you find it really annoying? Now, that’s a piece of music Germans call an “ear worm”!

6. Schirmherr

The literal translation of “Schirmherr” is “Umbrella Gentleman.” But what does this gentleman do? Standing in front of a hotel, making sure guests stay dry when entering a taxi? Not quite. In the Medieval Period a Schirmherr meant a noble man shielding and protecting e.g. a monastery or other institution which was otherwise unarmed.
Nowadays Schirmherr means a patron, someone supporting a good cause, social institution or an event like an exhibition with his good name. Patrons are usually not paid for their involvement.

7. Tohuwabohu

You think I’m making these words up? Oh no, my dear! Just look it up in the Duden, the most popular German dictionary: Tohuwabohu.
Tohuwabohu means a mess or chaos. “Im Kinderzimmer herrscht ein einziges Tohuwabohu!” (There’s a total mess in the kid’s room!)
The word’s origin is in Biblical Hebrew (tohû wạ vohû), where it describes the desert and empty state of the world at the beginning of creation (Genesis).
But in German it usually doesn’t mean something being void, but too many objects in a small space instead. Much like my garden shed actually…

8. Wackeldackel

Wow, that’s hardcore German, so to speak. You probably know the nodding Elvis dolls or the Hawaiian dancing dolls some people like to put on the dashboard in their car? Well, the “Wackeldackel” is the German version. In the 1960s and 1970s, Dackel (dachshunds or sausage dogs) were extremely popular in Germany. And many proud dog owners (or wannabes) also bought a plastic dog with a nodding head and put it in their car.
So, a Wackeldackel is a “waggle teckel“.

9. Zungenbrecher

The “tongue breaker” is a tongue twister or crackjaw. Something like “Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid und Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut” or “Max macht Wachsmaskenwachs, Wachsmaskenwachs macht Max.”

Funny German Words for doing Something

1. Rumeiern

To “egg around” means you’re moving around without any clear sense of direction. This might be on a road or more figuratively speaking, like when holding a speech.

2. Verklickern

“Da hat es bei mir bei Klick gemacht.” That’s one of the expressions Germans use, when they suddenly understand something they couldn’t grasp before. Literally, it clicked for them.
So, one of the verbs meaning to explain something to someone else is “zu verklickern.”

3. Verschlimmbessern

The verb “verbessern” means to improve. Whereas “verschlimmern” is the opposite, to make things worse. But what do Germans mean, when they combine the two verbs in the word “verschlimmbessern?” It means you try to enhance a situation, but achieve quite the opposite. Think of trying to put out a fire by pouring a liquid over it. Only to realize you’ve been pouring petrol into the flames…

4. Torschlusspanik haben

What kind of disorder is “closing gate panic,” you might wonder? Well, that’s the unflattering term Germans use to describe women who, after a certain age, are afraid of ending up alone and childless. That’s why they then marry the next best man. At least according to this cliché.

Ok, this concludes our list of fun German words for today. Did we miss any of your favorite funny German words? Let us know and we’ll gladly add them to our collection!

One of the joys of learning another language is discovering all of its quirky, unusual, and sometimes unexpectedly logical words, idioms, and expressions. We’ll be bringing you some of our favorite words and expressions from the languages we teach every month. If you want more, be sure to check out our Instagram! And if you want even more, sign up here for a free language lesson with a private tutor!

Germans have always constructed words with implacable logic… although sometimes the combinations of words are more than questionable. Let’s review 15 of those most German words and expressions.

1 – Der Drahtesel

Knowing that “Draht” means wire and “Esel” means donkey doesn’t really help you understand what “der Drahtesel” is supposed to be. A wire-donkey? In German, you would actually use this word to talk about a bike. But mainly when speaking about an old, rusty bike. One of those that often looks like it’s going to fall apart completely.

2 – Der Wasserhahn

Here’s another one of these times when the German language proves it’s not always the most logical one. “Wasserhahn” means a tap or a faucet. But who knows why this word literally means a water rooster. So try to remember next time you turn on your tap in the kitchen, you may be toying with some kind of weird little rooster.

3 – Der Scheinwerfer

What do headlights do? Well, they throw shine of course! So if you hear Germans talking about “Scheinwerfer” (literally shine-thrower) they do not mean some kind of crazy person throwing lights around. This word actually means headlights.

4 – Die Speisekarte

This one’s pure German logic. “Speisekarte” literally means dish card and is a list of dishes served by the restaurant. It is what an English speaker would mean by the word menu. And watch out, a German “Menü” is something rather different. It represents a full meal of multiple courses.

5 – Die Schildkröte

Well of course a turtle and a toad look the same – said no one ever. Except Germans who call turtles shield-toads.

6 – Der Stubentiger

Your furry feline friend probably thinks she rules the house, so this German word is a very apt way of describing her. “Der Stubentiger,” or the room tiger, is a common way to talk about a cat in German – although the most common word is of course “die Katze”.

7 – Feuchtfröhlich

This one might come in handy for the weekend. “Feuchtfröhlich” (literally wet and happy) is an adjective for describing those situations where the alcohol is flowing – a boozy evening (“ein feuchtfröhlicher Abend”), for example.

8 – Innerer Schweinehund

You know that little voice in your head that’s always justifying that extra donut, one last beer, or just a few more minutes in bed? We certainly do. Yep – in German, that’s your “innerer Schweinehund” (literally inner pig-dog). The best English equivalent would be one’s “weaker self.”

9 – der Absacker

“Der Absacker” is the German word for nightcap – an alcoholic drink straight before bed. Although we reckon it’s used these days more so as a way to justify having that “one last drink.”

10 – der Spaßvogel

Despite the translation (this literally translates to fun bird), this has nothing to with birds. Spaßvogel refers to the friend that’s always entertaining, the one that’s a bit of a joker.

11 – die Sehenswürdigkeiten

As you might’ve guessed, this is the German word for attractions. Literally, things worthy of seeing. You go on holiday, you make sure you see some sehenswürdigkeiten. Some might say beautifully logical, some might say unnecessarily so. It’s your call.

12 – der Hexenschuss

As you get older, you might find yourself in need of this word more and more often. This word refers to lumbago. The pain might make you curse. Or feel like you’ve been cursed… or shot… by a witch. (Literal translation: witches shot)

13 – die Versuchskaninchen

Could you guess what this is? You got it, it’s a guinea pig – The literal translation here is ‘attempt rabbits’.

14 – der Zungenbrecher

If you’re learning German, I’m sure you’ll find this a useful term. Rather than ‘tongue twister’, this translates to tongue-breaker. Clearly Germans aren’t as optimistic about rising to the challenge of pronouncing hard words as English natives. Click [here if you want some German ‘tongue-breakers’ to challenge yourself!

15 – die Nacktschnecke

I bet you never thought of a slug as being naked until you learnt the German word for it. Unlike the modest shelled-covered snail, a slug gotta make do with its birthday suit. Poor naked slugs.

So while Germans might not have a reputation for being particularly funny, some words from their language might make you smile.

We hope you liked these. But there are more where they came from! If you want to upgrade from words to sentences, check out our list of funny idioms or if you like to hear how Germans insult each other in a very cute way, you can click here. If you want more out of German than a list of funny words, sign up to Chatterbug to have a conversation with a real person. You can also follow us on Instagram or stay tuned till our next selections by joining us on Twitter or Facebook.

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