10+ German Words that English Needs to Adopt

These words are classified as "untranslatable" words. They have a meaning but are not easily translated and would need a sentence or two in order to describe them. In English we have words such as "Bromance", "Facepalm" and Gobbledygook. There are many more examples but German has a bunch of these words for everyday situations.

1. Waldeinsamkeit

This would refer to the feeling of being along in the woods, solitude and connectedness to nature or being one with the Earth. It consists of two words "wald" meaning forest and "einsamkeit" meaning loneliness or solitude. 

2.  Drachenfutter

The literal translation is 'dragon fodder' or 'dragonfeed'. It refers to a gift which men give to their wives or girlfriends to say they're sorry. So, if you're in the doghouse (probably another word which is used in a manner not understood in other languages), you'll buy your wife a drachenfutter. 

3. Kummerspeck

The weight you put on through emotional over-eating. Its literal translation is "grief-bacon." So if you gain a few pounds after a break up, the weight you've gained is Kummerspeck. 

4. Weltschmerz

Probably how most people are feeling right now as it translates to "world pain". It is used for when the actual state of the world makes you depressed when compared with your ideals.

5. Fremdschamen

You've heard of living vicariously through someone else. This one describes the process of being vicariously embarassed by someone else. Basically watching someone else fail similar to how I felt for Michael Scott on most episodes of The Office.

6. Trappenwitz

The devastating feeling of having a great comeback to an argument that was over an hour ago.

7. Handschuhchneeballwerfer

If you try to pronounce this word I'll be fremdschamen. This one is simply a word for coward, similar to calling someone a "yellow belly" or "chicken" in the old west. If Marty McFly were German he'd say:

Nobody, I mean nobody, calls me Handschuhchneeballwerfer.


8. Backpfeifengesicht

By far my favorite one and probably how most people feel about Logan Paul as of writing this, sorry Logang. This term is used to describe a face that is in need of a good punch, or face that should be slapped.

9. Seitensprung

We have this word in English since it's just another word for an affair but it translates to 'side jump.' Probably equivalent to 'side chick.'


10. Verschlimbessern

When you make a situation worse by digging yourself into a deeper hole, it's called Verschlimbessern.

11. Faule Socke

Literal translation: Lazy Sock. A person who has no drive or ambition is referred to as a lazy sock. Could anything be more insulting?



12. Notgeil

This one can't be directly translated as it would be "Emergency horny." It refers to someone who is horny all the time, desperate for sex and won't stop until they find someone they can sleep with...so every guy on the face of the Earth.

13. Sesselpupser

Similar to faule socke in the it refers to a person who sits around all day doing nothing. It literally translates to armchair fart. 

14. Blaumachen

The feeling you get when you wake up in the morning and you wonder if your job is worth getting out of bed for. 

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