Across the Fence

Of course, with so many German immigrants in the U.S. population almost from the very beginning, quite a few cultural items have been adopted into American traditions that are undoubtedly German. Among them is the carol O Tannenbaum (pronounce: O ‘tunnen-bowm, meaning o fir tree). Next to Silent Night, it might be one of the […]

It’s that time of year when everything is about family traditions, and I bet that the love for specific German cookies simply made its way into the English language by way of flavor. How else would you explain that Kipferl (pronounce exactly like this) and Pfeffernuss (pronounce: ‘pfeffer-nooss) have been adopted so easily? They are […]

I had no idea that the German term Zeitnot (pronounce: ‘tsite-note, meaning time trouble) is one used in the English language when playing chess with a time control. Of course, if you have to create more and more complex moves in order to outwit your opponent, playing against a clock causes additional nervosity. And that, […]

What an interesting Germanism to find in the term of fife! I’m not talking about the city of Fife, WA, with its population of 11,000 people, by the way – and its name may or may not derive from the Scottish location. I’m talking the old musical instrument. “Fife” is an abomination of the German […]

I’m pretty sure that everyone of you has encountered a schnitzel (pronounce: shnitsle, meaning chop) in their lifetime, either as a Germanism in the English language or as a dish on their plate. Though, funny enough, a lot of people think that a schnitzel is so much more German than a boneless chop. And maybe […]

There are places on earth that are simply unique – and yet it happens that one doesn’t hear about them at all. It was by mere coincidence that I watched a TV series with my husband that I learned about a place in the middle of Los Angeles that is such a unique destination, and […]

“Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. May God help me. Amen.” This is the translation of one of the most famous announcements uttered by no other than German reformer Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1521. Did you know that his original quote (pronounce: here ‘stay-hah ih, ih cun nih-t unders) is […]

It never occurred to me that the German term Jugendstil (pronounce: ‘you-gant-shteel, i.e. youth style) might have made it into the English language. On the other hand, I knew that Art Deco was NOT the equivalent; neither was Nouveau Art. When I was a child and teenager, one of my favorite books was a history […]

Have you ever come across the Germanism Hausfrau (pronounce: ‘howse-frouw, literally house woman) in the English language? I have to admit I haven’t. I only learned the English terms housewife and the much prettier one, homemaker. Housewife and Hausfrau to me have a different vibe from homemaker. The first two seem to focus on a […]