Some funny German words that are kind of hard to translate that are also not from the lexicon of obscure sorrows:
- Eigenart, Die. (Noun) Lit: the own-kind, meaning: Quirk
Usage example: "Ach, das ist dem seine Eigenart." (Oh, that's his quirk)
- Verschlimmbessern. (Verb) Lit: Worse-improving, meaning: trying to make something better, but making it worse in the process
Usage example: "Verschlimmbessern kann der gut." (He's great at making things worse while trying to make them better.)
- Sturmfrei. (Adjective) Lit: Storm free, meaning: having the house to yourself because your parents are away
Usage example: "Ich hab das ganze Wochenende sturmfrei." (I have the house to myself the whole weekend)
- Ohrwurm, Der. (Noun) Lit: Ear Worm, meaning: a song you can't get out of your head
Usage example: "Das Lied ist seit drei Tagen mein Ohrwurm." (That song has been playing on repeat in my head for three days)
- Schnapsidee, Die. (Noun) Lit: alcohol idea, meaning: An idea so stupid it could only have come from someone drunk.
Usage example: "Du weiĂt schon, dass das 'ne Schnapsidee ist?" (You do know that this is a stupid idea?)
- Treppenwitz, Der. (Noun) Lit: Staircase joke, meaning: coming up with a perfect reply for a joke or argument too late for it to be any use
Usage example: "Ich hätte in der Prßfung viel besser sein kÜnnen, wenn mir die besten Ideen nicht erst als Treppenwitze gekommen wären." (I could have been much better in the exam if I hadn't thought of my best ideas afterwards while on the stairs.)