The
German expression for being lucky is Schwein haben ( shvayn
hah-buhn ) which, literally translated, means "to have
pig." Don't be too quick to take offense at something that
sounds like an insult; it may be an idiomatic expression!
What are Idiomatic Expressions?
Idiomatic
expressions are speech forms or expressions that cannot be
understood by literal translation - they must be learned and
memorized along with their meanings.
Idiomatic Expressions in German
The
following table lists a few of the most commonly used German
idiomatic expressions (along with their corresponding English
meanings).
Idiom
|
Pronunciation
|
Meaning
|
Er tickt nicht richtig
|
eR tikt niHt RiH-tiH
|
He's not all there (Literally, he isn't ticking.)
|
Ich habe die Nase vol
|
iH hah-buh dee nah-zuh fol
|
I've had enough (Literally, my nose is full.)
|
Jetzt geht es um die Wurst
|
yetst geyt es oom dee vooRst
|
Now or never (Literally, now it gets about the
sausage.)
|
Nimm mich nicht auf den Arm
|
nim miH niHt ouf deyn ARm
|
Don't pull my leg (Literally, don't take me in
your arms.)
|
Sie hat nicht alle Tassen im Schrank
|
zee hAt niHt A-luh tA-suhn im shRank
|
She's missing a few marbles (Literally, all her
cups aren't in the cupboard.)
|
Ich bin verrückt nach Dir
|
iH bin fe-R ü kt nACH deeR
|
I'm crazy about you
|
Aus tiefstem Herzen
|
ous teef-stuhm heR-tsuhn
|
From the bottom of my heart (Literally, out of the
deepest heart.)
|
Ich drücke Dir die Daumen
|
iH dR ü-kuh deer dee dou-muhn
|
I cross my fingers for you (Literally, I press my
thumbs for you.)
|
Saying the Right Thing
You
know the saying, "the early bird gets the worm." Do you
know what it means? Neither do we. Still, sayings are everywhere in
language, embodying familiar truths and generally accepted beliefs in
colorful, expressive language. Here are a few German sayings and the
English counterparts.
German Saying
|
Pronunciation
|
English Equivalent
|
Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst
|
veyR tsew-eRst komt, mahlt tsew-eRst
|
The early bird gets the worm
|
Was ich nicht weis, macht mich nicht heiß
|
vas iH niHt ways, mAHt miH niHt hays
|
What I don't know can't hurt me
|
Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am Besten
|
veyR tsew-letst lAHt, lAHt Am bes-tuhn
|
He who laughs last, laughs best
|
Wer lügt, der stiehlt
|
veyR l ü hkt, deyR shteelt
|
He who lies, steals
|
Iß, was gar ist, trink, was klar ist, sprich was
wahr ist
|
is, vAs gahR ist, tRink, vAs klahR ist, shpriH
vAs vahR ist
|
Eat what is cooked, drink what is clear, speak
what is true
|
