Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

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Rudi
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Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by Rudi »

The word Stuart posted here had me scratching my head. :scratch:
I had to go looking it up to get its context and came across the below article that I'm sure some of you will enjoy and be able to contribute too...

Quoted from the article is this paragraph that amused me... (Typical German efficiency!)
The Germans have a language that seems a bit like Lego. You can stick lots of little bits together to make a new one that has never existed before. This way they can make all sorts of useful new words from ones they already have lying around.

Article: 4 German words we should all use
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StuartR
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by StuartR »

I can't imagine how I would communicate without the word Verschlimmbesserung Rudi. I use that word many times every week.
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HansV
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by HansV »

Another interesting German word is "Schadenfreude" (the feeling of satisfaction/joy caused by someone else's deserved misfortune).
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StuartR
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by StuartR »

HansV wrote:Another interesting German word is "Schadenfreude" (the feeling of satisfaction/joy caused by someone else's deserved misfortune).
That's another word that I use surprisingly often Hans
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

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"This page was written 3 years ago, and i forgot all about it, now 8th october 2016, theres LOADS of visitors, seemingly from google. Im being deluged. Could you please pop a note in the comments saying WHY you came here. What were your search terms? Or were you forwarded from somewhere else? I think it was google though.

MANY THANKS!"



So, who is game enough to go and USE one of these words ....
An expensive day out: Wallet and Grimace

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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by HansV »

I like to think of myself as a Fachidiot with Fingerspitzengefühl... :evilgrin:
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by ChrisGreaves »

HansV wrote:I like to think of myself as a Fachidiot with Fingerspitzengefühl... :evilgrin:
Good One!
(Now try using it here :evilgrin: )
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by BobH »

Been a long time since I studied German and its pronunciation(s), but I have to question those of you more familiar with the language if this pronunciation, FINger-spitsen-GERful, of the word Fingerspitzengefühl is correct.

It seems to me that a better representation of the pronunciation would be 'VINgehr-sptisen-GUHfyuhl' (the final U being pronounced much like the English 'you.' I just don't see the final 'R' sound as appropriate.

I also have to disagree with the author who said that there is no equivalent of Verschlimmbesserung in English. Here in Texas I frequently hear its equivalent: "Yippeeyippeeohs**t!" :fanfare: :fanfare: :flee:
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Rudi
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by Rudi »

Try this Bob... Fingerspitzengefuhl
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by HansV »

That's not correct - it ends in "gefühl", not in "gefuhl". The "ü" sound is difficult for speakers of English. this one gives a good idea.
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by Rudi »

Ah...TX. It helps if you put the accent on the word in that site I posted.
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by HansV »

The third one on that page is the most accurate to my ear.
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Re: Kopf kratzen (tx to Stuart)

Post by BobH »

I like it your way, Hans! I hear it without that final 'r' sound given in the link in the OP.
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