Speaking German - 5 Fun Facts!

Just started your learning German journey and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Here are some fun facts about the language to lighten the mood when that grammar gets you down

1. Germany created its own letter! Introducing the “Sharp S”

You may have spotted it in my logo but the special letter is ß. You might be tempted to think it’s just a capital B but it’s definitely not. This letter is known as the scharfes “s” (sharp “s”). It’s actually a short-form for the consonant blend “sz” known in German as Eszett.

2. Pie, cake or cheese?

Personally, this one really makes me laugh. A pie chart in English has the word “pie” in it, as in apple pie, pork pie, beef & ale pie etc – all very English/American. In German the equivalent is “Tortendiagramm” – cream cake chart, because the Germans love their afternoon piece of cake with a cup of coffee, especially on a Sunday. It’s such an institution! And guess what the French call it? “graphique en camembert” – says it all, doesn’t it! So funny.

3. Is your German friend or colleague always early? Don’t be offended, Germans think of time differently than people in the UK. The half-hour mark in German refers to the next hour coming up, not the previous one as is the case in British English. Halb neun is 8.30pm not 9.30pm!

4. The longest word in the world German currently holds the Guiness World record for the longest word. At a whopping 80 characters long “Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft” means Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services and the company still uses the name today! Thankfully shortened to DDSG

5. The pain of the word “the”

To make things super easy, German has 6 different words for “the” der’, ‘die’, ‘das’, ‘den’, ‘dem’ and ‘des’. And it depends on various factors which one to use. Having a sense of humour definitely helps when tackling the articles! So enjoy! :-)