![]() I still “can’t believe it” when I hear stories of people clubbing for four days straight. ![]() at the latest was shocked to discover the complexity and breadth of Berlin nightlife. Why use it: This American girl from a city that closes at 1 a.m. You see some people decked out in their finest club wear, drinking beer and swinging from the poles on the S-bahn.Īre they getting ready to go clubbing now? It’s only 2 p.m.! Then you realize: They’ve been out since the night before. You’re out on the S-bahn in Berlin on a Saturday afternoon, doing some grocery shopping like a normal person does on a Saturday afternoon. Literal translation: Heiliger means “holy,” while Strohsack means “straw sack,” as in a straw bed that you would sleep on. Heiliger Strohsack is an exclamation of surprise-perhaps a bit corny, but still a worthwhile way to express your pleasant joy at not draining your bank account over four liters of Berliner Pilsener. ![]() Why use it: Well, it’s surprising to receive a cheap bill for food and drink in a European capital! Try buying that much food or drink in Paris or London. You brace yourself for your bill, but when the waiter brings it over, it’s much less than expected. You’re at a bar/cafe in Berlin, and you and each member of your party have ordered quite a few alcoholic beverages, as well as cakes, sandwiches and other snacks. Literal translation: Donnerwetter is an old-fashioned word for “thunderstorm,” but is now only used to indicate anger or surprise. Why use it: Donnerwetter can be used to mean “Gosh!” or “Golly!” but in this context, you can use it to mean “scolding.” Donnerwetter is often used by children to describe a parent’s potential or real anger, so in this context, Donnerwetter would be a sarcastic way to show that your enemy in the May 1 crowd is being condescending and unreasonable by treating you like a child. Before you know it, you’ve let out a loud “Donnerwetter!” (Doesn’t she understand anarchism? It’s not about keeping your feet safe, that’s for sure). She becomes angry and starts hurling German invectives at you. ![]() You’re crammed into the crowds at Oranienplatz (the former epicenter of Berlin anarchism) and you accidentally step on a middle aged woman’s foot. Imagine this: You’re in Berlin on May 1, the traditional anarchist/communist day celebrating workers. It’s the kind of real German that you can learn through hearing native speakers.Īnd now, let’s give a shout-out for… 10 German Exclamations for Startling Situations 1. Learning slang and expressions is an integral part of becoming a natural and fluid speaker.įinally, being able to communicate casually and spontaneously is an integral part of becoming a fluent German speaker. Therefore, if you do manage to whip out an exclamation, the person you’re talking to or the people around you will be incredibly impressed. Throwing back a German exclamation will impress whoever you’re talking to.Īs we’ve established, it’s hard to come up with exclamations in a foreign language on the fly. This may be understandable, since in momfents of shock we often revert to our native tongue, but still, don’t be like me! If you rehearse these exclamations, they’ll become natural to you, and you’ll be able to recall them instinctively at a moment’s notice. I’ve been in situations before where something annoying, surprising or interesting spontaneously occurs, and I’ve been rendered speechless-or, even worse, let loose with a string of English exclamations. (Download) Why It’s Important to Learn German Exclamations Before You Need Them If something surprising happens, you want to be able to respond right away. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. Do I wish I’d studied my German exclamations before all of these occurred? Absolutely. Note: Most of these situations are based on actual events experienced by yours truly. Study this list of German words and phrases, and you’ll be prepared to respond to whatever comes your way. ![]() No matter where you go in Germany, and how much you’ve prepared linguistically for your trip, you’re likely to encounter something unexpected-and you’ll need to know how to respond.Įnter this list of ten exclamations for ten different situations that you might encounter in Berlin. When you’re visiting Germany’s gritty capital, chances are you’ll witness something surprising.īerlin is a place where anything can happen, and anything probably will happen.īut let’s be honest: Visiting another culture and country is always a recipe for surprises and shocks. FebruHoly Smokes! 10 German Exclamations for Startling Situations ![]()
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