Friday, March 9, 2012

Funny Things Germans Sometimes Say

Once I was at my in laws and I told them I was drunk instead of saying I'd had enough to eat.  To make that scenario even funnier, I was four months pregnant at the time.

That's what happens when you have a lazy husband who doesn't correct your German.  My guess is, I'd been walking around telling various people, "Oh no, no more food!  I'm totally drunk!" for at least three years before anyone corrected me.  Oh well.

So for the record, "Ich bin voll." translates to "I'm totally wasted"  or "I'm three sheets to the wind." or "I am very intoxicated."  Take your pick.

Below I have listed various funny things Germans have said in English.  I'll let you guess as to what they were actually talking about. 

Tom and Jerry always blow each other.
I slept with the family.
Will we meet us tomorrow?
When do you become your baby?
Watch out for porks on the road.
I need swimming pants.
Do we have any cough juice?
I became a cup of coffee.
We were in the near of the train station
That is wonder full.
Do you want to go on a non sex date with me?
I do not like black music.
He has his own mind.
There are many colored people there.
Our train begins tomorrow.
Oh look, it isn't alive anymore.
We're going to make a party.
I'm going to eat one of my sheeps this weekend.

I can't think of anymore funny translations, feel free to add your own in the comments!

7 comments:

  1. Oh, Germans. I've been working in all of my classes to get them to stop saying/writing in emails "we will see us..." And the 'make a party' thing is another one of my favorites. But I was actually talking to my German friend today and this came up. She said that "ich bin voll" can be "I'm full" OR "I'm drunk," it just depends on context. Then she rattled off about 5 other things you can say to mean you're drunk... so at least we have some options!

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  2. Germans like to get their drink on :) My husband told me that where he's from everyone says "Ich bin satt." I totally thought I could say, "I'm full." but maybe it's different depending on the region. They also always say "in former times" which I think it pretty funny.

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    1. Yep, "ich bin satt" was another one she mentioned. There was one more that she was trying to describe with atomic particles running around, which I *think* would translate to 'I am charged.' But it's been awhile since I was in physics so I really have no idea. And I want to get a horn to start honking every time they say "in former times." I've corrected that one at least a million times now. But the positive thing is that you can apply these when you're speaking German, just re-translate and ta-da, perfekt Deutsch.

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  3. hahaha.....very funny post! love it! :)

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  4. oh the memories..."make a party" and "we will meet us" were very common when i lived in germany for a year. my german boyfriend says "in the near_____" so much and i HATE correcting it because i feel bitchy.

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  5. Like Heather said, it comes in handy when you are reverse translating things from English to German. I usually only correct my students because it's my job and sometimes my husband since he uses English for work. However, I wish more Germans would correct my errors! :)

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