I like using jokes in my lessons. This is one of them.
Some weird and wonderful German words: The German language consists of lots of compound nouns. Whereas in English the words stay as two (or more), in German they are joined together. For example a taxi driver in English is a Taxifahrer in German. So, what happenes if the first word ends in two consonants and the second word starts with the same consonant? Yes, you've guessed it: since the new spelling reform these words now have three consonants. Over the next few weeks I will show you some.
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Here is some more fun: Do you know some of these long German words?
A: der Abendmahlsgottesdiest - Communion service
B: das Breitbandkommunikationsnetz - broadband communications network
C: die Charaktereigenschaft - character trait
D: das Demonstrationsmaterial - teaching material
E: das Energieversorgungsunternehmen - energy supply
F: das Fehlerkorrekturprogramm - debugging program
G: die Gutenachtgeschichte - bedtime story
H: die Haifischflossensuppe - shark's-fin soup
I: die Identifikationsfigur - role model
J: der Johannisbeerstrauch - redcurrant bush
K: die Kommunikationsschwierigkeiten - communication difficulties
L: der Lohnsteuerjahresausgleich - annual adjustment of income tax
M: die Müllverbrennungsanlage - incineration plant
N: nigelnagelneu - brand spanking new
O: der Organspenderausweis - donor card
P: die Privatangelegenheit - private matter
Q: das Querfeldeinrennen - cross-country
R: die Rufnummernanzeige - caller ID display
S: die Spargelcremesuppe - cream of asparagus soup
T: der Tante-Emma-Laden - corner shop
U: die Überrumpelungstaktik - surprise tactics
V: das Verlängerungskabel - extension lead
W: die Wasserschildkröte - turtle
X: die X-Großzehe - bunion
Y: der Yapbrillenvogel - Yap white eye (for those who, like me, don't know, it's a bird ;-)
Z: das Zeugnisverweigerungsrecht - right of a witness to refuse to give evidence
One of my favourite Youtube videos on why learning a foreign language isn't a bad idea ;-)
"Learning German with a smile ..." |
