My German is improving and I'm having to rely less often on my own patented brand of Dutchlish-- up until now if I didn't know a word I just used the first English or Dutch one that popped into my head and gave it a little bit of a German spin. You'd be surprised how often this works, but of course there are the inevitable moments that it backfires.
For some reason I keep forgetting the German word "bis". (which means until) It just does not stick, for some reason. I'll read it and remember it, and then at crucial moments I draw a blank. So more often than not in my haste I accidentally end up using the Dutch word "tot". Which unfortunately sounds a lot like the German word "Tod", or death.
That's made for some memorable conversations lately.
At least I crack myself up...
9 comments:
Ha! I got your post title right away.
"tot" in German = dead
"Tod" = death
so yeah, I can see you getting some pretty funny looks slipping either of those in there. :-)
At least I'm doing it around Halloween! I mean, it would be REALLY out of place and bizarre if I were saying these things at Valentines Day! ;-)
Hi Betsy,
I hope you don't mind that I, as a complete stranger to you, keep on reading your blog. But I find your adventures and struggles as an expat in Germany inspiring to read and I like your sense of humor.
I know you sometimes have a heard time over there, but keep hanging in there and it'll get better, I am sure.
I sure can relate to language mistakes myself and they can be sooo hilarious! I have German relatives myself and since they never learned Dutch and I never properly learned German , we developed some own family language which hangs somewhere in between both languages.
What do you think of translating
"enjoy your meal" "smakelijk" to "smäklich" in German???
Or calling a "treurwilg" a "Treuerkätze" (its flowers are catkins huh).
I also find the word "fahren" very confusing as I always picture boats in my mind!
I lived in Canada for a year and often confused the words "ironing" and "vacuuming". The people sure make a funny face when you tell them that you just ironed all the carpets :p
Hi Ellen! You're right, there is definitely a fun side to learning a language. Sometimes it's a drag not to be able to express myself, but some of the mixups are hilarious!
One I keep making is using the Dutch word "bellen" when I want to talk about calling someone on the phone. But "bellen" in German is barking, like what a dog does! "Bark at me later, OK?!" :-D
I liked your ironing / vacuuming mixup! Sounds like something I would do!
I remember when I first met M he would get the English words "teeth" and "toes" mixed up sometimes. Cracked me up!!!
I'm glad you're visiting my blog! I enjoy your comments and am flattered that you like my writing!
:-)
Uh oh. I was just reading your comment again. What is "smäklich" in German? I'm sure I've said that one and now that I'm looking it's not in my dictionary!
I can only imagine....
Ah... gotta love languages! I am absolutely Anerican, but there are some words I know only in German (like "Untersetze," which means trivet) because my parents only used the German word!
Carol
smäklich does not exist, Betsy!
It is our family word to say to each other "enjoy your meal". In Dutch it is "smakelijk" and we just made it sound German. My relatives understand it and picked it up! So I am so used to saying it that I have to keep reminding myself that it is not an actual word and that I should not say it to other German speakers.
WHEW! You had me imagining all kinds of lewd expressions. I'm sure I've used it before, and knowing me it was at the kindergarten, or something. Am glad to hear it's just nonsense and not something pornographic! :-)
well I think it does not exist...I am definately not the german vocabulary expert you know :p. but if it's not in your dictionary, we are safe I would say. And my relatives never chuckle when saying it.
Post a Comment