For all those who want to learn German. Think twice, guys 😉

46 comments
  1. There is a slight error there: “Die nackte Sucht zu quĂ€len” would better be traduced with “The naked addiction to torture” or even “The naked addiction of torturing”. Since, “To torture the naked addiction” would be traduced with “Die nackte Sucht quĂ€len” – which is something completely different.

  2. I mean, you could easily translate that second one to:

    The imprisoned flea.
    The imprisoned flee.

  3. Most of those sentences are contrived and would never be needed in real life. But we have a lot of similar examples in English, but almost worse:

    * They are cooking apples. = Those people are cooking some apples.
    * They are cooking apples. = These apples are intended for use in cooking and baking.
    * Flying planes can be dangerous. = Piloting aircraft is sometimes a dangerous activity.
    * Flying planes can be dangerous. = Aircraft which are airborne can present a danger.
    * We saw her duck. = We watched as she ducked.
    * We saw her duck. = We were able to see the duck which belongs to her.
    * British left waffles on Falklands. = The British departed the Falkland Islands, but did not take their waffles with them.
    * British left waffles on Falklands. = Left-wing British politicians and commentators spend a lot of time talking about the Falkland Islands but without coming to any decision about what to do.

    (That last one was a genuine headline that appeared in the *Guardian*, and is still regarded as a classic.)

  4. Every language has this kind of tricks. German is no different. However the cases are difficult for me. K don’t know how to master them.

  5. It happened to me more than once, when I go to the bakery and order some normal brötchen and a couple of other things in my very limited Deutsch, the person behind the counter looks back to me completely offended and surprised.

    I just point to what I want saying “da”, and see the relief in the person’s face.

    I have no idea how my German sounds to them and they understand when I try to speak.

  6. Okay, we have the concept of upper and lower case. Because it makes sense…

    English leaves you totally alone with bringing sense into the sentences. Some examples from the web:

    1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
    2. The farm was used to produce produce.
    3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
    4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
    5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
    6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
    7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
    8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
    9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
    10. I did not object to the object.

    This isn’t easy too.

  7. “Ich will dich nicht umfahren” – 1. I don’t.want.to drive around you.
    2. I don’t want to hit you with my car

  8. Warm people in german refers to (male) homosexuals, but I haven’t heard anybody younger than 60 use the phrase. So it might not be generally known around here but when you know it the sentence makes a lot more sense.

  9. Last one’s not translated correctly, though.

    Die nackte Sucht zu quÀlen:
    **The sheer addiction to torture.**

    Which…. doesn’t really make thing better, does it? 😆

  10. Correct capitalization is the difference between helping your uncle jack off a horse and helping your uncle Jack off a horse. 👍

  11. “Warme” sind Homosexuelle und nicht “warme Menschen”.

    Und “sucht zu…” ist wohl mehr als unĂŒblich heutzutage.

  12. Also interesting: „Sie ist gut zu Vögeln (She treats birds well)“ vs „Sie ist gut zu vögeln (She is great to fuck with)“.

  13. Lasst uns die Sperrung umfahren. – Let’s avoid the closed road.
    LĂ€sst uns die Sperrung umfahren. – Let’s run the barricade over.

  14. English used to have the same capitalization rules as German. The US constitution, for example, is written with all nouns capitalized:

    > We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

    > All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

    > The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States

    > The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

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