There are many beautiful words in the German language that simply don’t have an English equivalent. In this blog post, we will explore 20 of these words and their translations and meanings.
Each word has a special meaning that can be difficult to express in English. So if you’re interested in learning more about German culture, or if you’re just looking for some interesting new words to add to your vocabulary, read on!
Table of Contents
1. Treppenwitz
Literal Translation: “staircase joke”
Actual Meaning: In the past, this was commonly used as a phrase to refer to a moment when someone said something to you and you thought of a witty comeback after the moment had passed.
Example Sentence: “I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner, I was waiting for a good Treppenwitz.”
2. Schadenfreude
Literal Translation: “harm-joy”
Actual Meaning: The feeling of enjoyment derived from someone else’s misfortune.
Example Sentence: “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your party, I was busy feeling Schadenfreude.”
3. Wunderkind
Literal Translation: “wonder-child”
Actual Meaning: A child prodigy or someone who is exceptionally talented or skilled at a young age.
Example Sentence: “She’s only 12 years old but she’s already a Wunderkind in the violin world.”
4. Kitsch
Literal Translation: “cheap art”
Actual Meaning: Art or something that is considered to be of poor taste, though it may also have sentimental value.
Example Sentence: “There’s no accounting for taste, but I think his paintings are just kitsch.”
5. Sehnsucht
Literal Translation: “yearning”
Actual Meaning: A feeling of intense longing or nostalgia.
Example Sentence: “I haven’t seen him in years, but I still feel such a strong Sehnsucht for him.”
6. Mitleid
Literal Translation: “with-pain”
Actual Meaning: The feeling of compassion or sympathy that one has for someone else who is suffering.
Example Sentence: “She felt so much Mitleid for the poor animal that she decided to take it home.”
7. Weltschmerz
Literal Translation: “world-pain”
Actual Meaning: The feeling of sadness you get when thinking about the imperfections of life.
Example Sentence: “I’m so glad I don’t have Weltschmerz, because it sounds like a terrible way to live.”
Give more examples of untranslatable German words, their literal translations, meanings and example sentences.
8. Doppelgänger
Literal Translation: “double-goer”
Actual Meaning: A ghostly double of a living person.
Example Sentence: “I always get a weird feeling when I see that guy, it’s like he’s my Doppelgänger.”
9. Fingerspitzengefühl
Literal Translation: “finger-tip feeling”
Actual Meaning: The ability to sense and understand things that are not immediately obvious.
Example Sentence: “She’s great at her job because she has a lot of Fingerspitzengefühl for the industry.”
10. Heimweh
Literal Translation: “home-pain”
Actual Meaning: A homesickness or nostalgia for one’s home country.
Example Sentence: “I’ve been living in America for years, but I still get Heimweh every time I go back to Germany.”
11. Torschlusspanik
Literal Translation: “gate-closing panic”
Actual Meaning: The fear of missing out on opportunities or experiences before it’s too late.
Example Sentence: “I’ve been meaning to travel the world for years but I just keep putting it off, I think I have a bad case of Torschlusspanik.”
Give more examples of untranslatable German words, their literal translations, meanings and example sentences.
12. Fernweh
Literal Translation: “far-pain”
Actual Meaning: A desire to be far away from where you are at that moment. It is similar in meaning to wanderlust or having an intense feeling of restlessness and wanting to explore new places.
Example Sentence: “I can’t stand staying in one place too long, I’m always getting hit by waves of Fernweh.”
13. Verschwendung
Literal Translation: “squandering”
Actual Meaning: The act of wasting something, often resources or time.
Example Sentence: “It’s such a shame that he never uses his intelligence because it just goes to waste in school, he’s really talented but he’s addicted toVerschwendung.”
14. Zeitgeist
Literal Translation: “time-spirit”
Actual Meaning: The spirit of the times, or the prevailing attitudes and trends at a particular point in history. Example Sentence: “The Zeitgeist of the 1950s was all about conformity and traditional gender roles.”
15. Zugzwang
Literal Translation: “compulsion to move”
Actual Meaning: A situation in which you are forced to make a move, even though it may not be in your best interests.
Example Sentence: “I’m in such a terrible Zugzwang right now – I don’t know what to do!”
16. Weltanschauung
Literal Translation: “world-view”
Actual Meaning: A person’s fundamental beliefs about the world and their place in it.
Example Sentence: “His Weltanschauung is that there is no good or evil, only perspective.”
17. Einfühlungsvermögen
Literal Translation: “feeling-into ability”
Actual Meaning: The ability to understand and feel what others are feeling.
Example Sentence: “She’s such a great therapist because she has a lot of Einfühlungsvermögen.”
18. Kummerspeck
Literal Translation: “grief bacon”
Actual Meaning: Excess weight gained from emotional eating.
Example Sentence: “I’ve been so stressed out lately that I’ve put on a lot of Kummerspeck.”
19. Witzigkeit
Literal Translation: “joke-ness” Actual
Meaning: The quality of being funny or amusing.
Example Sentence: “He’s not the funniest guy in the world, but he has a lot of Witzigkeit.”
20. Kuddelmuddel
Literal Translation: “huddle muddle”
Actual Meaning: A confusing mess or jumble of things that are difficult to extract yourself from.
Example Sentence: “It was such a Kuddelmuddel!”
