German words that contradict themselves
German words that contradict themselves
Put two words together that seem like oxymorons and the result is something that makes sense. These German terms are both entertaining and paradoxical.
Handschuh
In German, you can wear shoes on your hands - but only slip-ons and not boots or lace-ups. That's because the word for "glove" - "Handschuh" - literally means "hand shoe." The term might make you rethink your footwear - and be glad that gloves don't come with heels.
Frauenmannschaft
Regrettably, the word for "team" is German is rather sexist: "Mannschaft" contains the word for "man." So when the team is exclusively made up of women, or "Frauen," the term for it appears to be an oxymoron. Pictured is Germany's national soccer "Frauenmannschaft."
Holzeisenbahn
The official word for train in German - "Eisenbahn" - is made up of the words for "iron" and "track." But what if the train, like the toy pictured here, is made of wood? Well, then it's a "wood iron track" - even though there's not a trace of metal in the cars.
Trauerfeier
Mourning and celebration sound like opposites, but in German, they are juxtaposed in the word for funeral: "Trauerfeier." While the death of a loved one certainly isn't cause to party, this term reveals a more optimistic way of viewing a funeral service: as a celebration of the deceased's life.
Fleischkäse
"Meat cheese" sounds like a convenient way to make a sandwich, like those jars of swirled peanut butter and jam. But in reality, it contains no cheese. "Fleischkäse" is a slab of processed meat that's eaten in a white roll - and is particularly beloved in Bavaria.
Hassliebe
In English, we'd say they have a "love-hate" relationship, which is a paradox used to describe a touchy situation. In German, it's turned around and called "hate love." In the picture, German actor Klaus Kinski grabs filmmaker Werner Herzog by the throat on the set of "Cobra Verde" in 1987. In reality, the two were best buddies and made numerous films together.
Wahlpflichtfach
So is an "optional mandatory school subject" required or not? Before students start getting excited about skipping class - yes, it is required. But a "Wahlpflichtfach" is a course that students can select from a group of subjects on offer. At least there is some choice involved.
The German language is famous for its compound words. But sometimes terms are stacked end-to-end even though they don't seem to belong together - at least not at first glance.
A shoe for your hand? Or a mourning celebration? We promise that these self-contradicting German words actually make sense - when you do a double take.
For more language oddities, click through the gallery below for strange German words for body parts (but not while you're eating).
Strange German words for body parts
Germans have creative ways to talk about the body. Here are some of our favorite German words for body parts - but we wouldn't recommend using all of them at the doctor's.
Musikantenknochen
The unusual electric shock-like feeling that occurs when you hit your ulnar nerve, better known as the funny bone, has inspired Germans to call it the "Musikantenknochen" (musician's bone) or "Musikknochen." It might be related to the way the whole arm and fingers seem to vibrate when you hit that nerve near the elbow, or maybe because of the (melodious?) cries of pain it also usually provokes.
Mutterkuchen
It has become trendy to eat your placenta after giving birth. Those who don't want to eat it raw can find recipes for placenta smoothies, lasagna or chocolate truffles. Placentophagy advocates say it is really healthy for a new mother - yet many find it simply gross. In any case, way before US stars began doing it, Germans affectionately called placentas "Mutterkuchen," or mother's cake.
Birne
Germans use the pear, "Birne," in different slang expressions to describe the head. If you have something in the pear, you're smart, if you have something on it or it's soft, you're considered dumb. Even though his family name means cabbage, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (pictured) was also nicknamed "Birne" in satire, and cartoonists would draw his head that way.
Kartoffel
Like for the head, different vegetables can be used to designate a nose in German. Someone who has a "Kartoffel" (potato) usually has a big nose, perhaps because of rosacea that is not uncommon among older males. From the vegetable world, "Gurke" (cucumber) and "Knolle" (spud) can also be used.
Dicker Onkel
Fat uncle - "dicker Onkel" - is a nickname for the big toe in certain German dialects. Although the term definitely adds personality to the foot's main appendage, it actually comes from the French word for fingernail, "ongle."
Kauleiste
The "Kauleiste," which literally translates as the "chewing strip," is German slang for teeth - usually not the most beautiful ones. You likely wouldn't hear Kauleiste in reference to a movie star's smile.
Geheimratsecken
Germans try to cheer up people with a receding hairline by implying that it makes them look wise. "Geheimratsecken" directly translates as "privy counselor's corners" - the typical hairstyle of a monarch's closest adviser.
Kummerspeck
This slang word often lands on lists of terms considered difficult to translate in English. It literally translates as "sorrow bacon" and refers to the excess weight you could gain if eating is your response to negative emotions.
Waschbrettbauch
If you work out hard enough to get rid of your "sorrow bacon," you might be able to show off your "Waschbrettbauch" - literally, your washboard stomach. Germans also use the English "sixpack" to describe the toned abs we go to the gym for.
Pornobalken
Black censor bars are called "Pornobalken" in German. The term is also slang for a thin short mustache, also known as a pornstache in English. Perhaps in the hope of distracting the eye from a receding hairline (aka Geheimratsecken), the style was popular in the 1970s - and among some hipsters nowadays. Luckily, it's a "body part" you can easily get rid of.