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GERMAN LANGUAGE

15 German words that come from other languages

The German language is riddled with so-called ‘loan words’ and has seen influence from several nations throughout history.

Published: 20 September 2023 14:42 CEST
Updated: 20 September 2023 22:23 CEST
Omar Fattouh teaches a German language class in Damascus on January 24th, 2023.
Photo: LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Beginning with Latin, the influence of other languages can be seen in early German, particularly in fields like law, religion and science. The French language then influenced the next wave of loan words throughout the 17th and 18th centuries due to the French aristocracy’s presence in German and Austrian courts. Most recently, the English language has sparked a new series of loan words concurrent with innovation, as shown through the likes of ‘der Computer’, ‘das Internet’ and ‘das Selfie’. 

Here are 10 German words that come from other languages, highlighting the scope of languages that have influenced the German of today:

aktuell

Not to be confused with the English ‘actual’ (a false friend), aktuell derives from the French term ‘actuel’, meaning really/present. You will usually hear aktuell used in the media, often referring to the latest information/developments. 

dito or detto

Dito originates from the latin verb ‘dicere’, literally to say/to mean. The term then gained its current meaning in the Italian form ‘detto’ and subsequently the French ‘ditto’. Dito was used with the double-T (à la française) until the early 20th century. Today, it is used just as it would be in English. While dito tends to be used in Germany, Austrian German will typically borrow the Italian detto. The meaning, however, remains the same.

eloquent 

Eloquent derives from the Latin ‘eloquentia’ and subsequently the identical Old French term ‘eloquent’. Old French was spoken primarily between the 8th and 14th century, dating eloquent back many hundred years. The adjective originated as a term for speaking in a moving and vivid way. 

die Empathie 

Empathie is a borrowed word from the English language, which then traces back to the Greek language with ‘empatheia’, literally meaning ‘violent passion’. Nowadays that meaning is less emotive and Empathie normally refers to a willingness to empathise with other people’s attitudes.

per se

This useful little phrase originates from Latin and has been replicated within the German language. In Latin, ‘per’ translates to by/through and ‘se’ itself/himself/herself. If somebody says ‘I don’t have a problem with them per se’, you can assume that what they are saying is true, but there are factors that could change this.

polarisieren 

This verb meaning to polarise originates from the Greek language, with ‘polus’ translating to ‘turning point’. It is helpful to note that German verbs with the suffix -isieren translate to the English suffix -ise (or in American English, -ize). Some other examples include: brutalisieren (to brutalise), fraternisieren (to fraternise) and modernisieren (to modernise). 

Demonstrators march with a banner reading ‘Control the borders – not your people’ during a rally held by Austria’s far-right Freedom Party. Political parties like Austria’s FPÖ and Germany’s AfD are frequently cited as polarising influences. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)

das Abonnement 

This word, meaning subscription, originated in the 18th century from the French ‘abonner’. ‘S’abonner á quelque chose’ literally translates to ‘order a recurring service’. You may see this word, or the shortened version ‘Abo’, used for a season ticket. It is used even more colloquially on online platforms like YouTube – YouTubers often say ‘bitte ein Abo da lassen’, which means please subscribe. 

der Chef (die Chefs) 

Chef is one of the most notorious false friends in the German language, meaning boss/leader. Its origin can be traced to the same term in French, where it carries a similar meaning. Both the German and French versions of ‘Chef’ have their roots in the Latin word ‘caput’, which translates to ‘head’.  

das Kuvert 

Ein Kuvert, an envelope, is a loan word from the French ‘couvert’. The noun stems from the verb ‘couvrir’, which literally translates to ‘to cover’. Originally in Latin the verb ‘cooperire’ meant to cover completely.

der Pokal 

Pokal derives from the Italian term ‘boccale’ meaning a trophy/cup. It was first used in the 16th century and dates back to the Greek term ‘baukalis’, a narrow-necked cooking vessel. Nowadays, you may see Pokal used in sport competitions with examples including the Konföderationen-Pokal (Confederations Cup)  and the UEFA-Pokal (UEFA Cup).

A statue replica of the FIFA World Cup outside Khalifa International Stadium. A high stakes championship like a World Cup might be called a ‘Pokal’ in German. November. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

der Rabatt 

Rabatt, discount/sale, originated from the Italian term rabatto, or the more commonly-used ribasso. In Italian, ‘abbatere’, is to deduct a sum. The term is thought to have entered German-speaking discourse in the 16th century. 

das Portfolio 

Whether referring to art pieces or somebody’s assets, you will definitely have heard this noun. Portfolio derives from the Latin terms portare (to carry) and folium (sheet/page), which then evolved into the Italian term ‘portafoglio’. 

postfaktisch 

Translating as post-factual or post-truth, the Oxford Dictionary declared this as the Word of the Year 2016. The word originates from the English language thanks to the contemporary theory that people will believe something based on personal feelings and emotions rather than facts. 

rudimentär 

Rudimentär (rudimentary) derives from the French ‘rudimentaire’, normally meaning inadequate/imperfect. It often implies a simplicity to someone/something; for instance, having a rudimentary knowledge of a subject indicates that you have a basic knowledge, but you haven’t delved further. 

der Status quo 

Der Status quo has stayed true to its original meaning from the Latin Status Quo, literally translating to ‘current state’, or more literally ‘the state in which’. If you hear somebody say ‘Ich befürworte den Status quo’ (I support the status quo), they usually support the current state of affairs, particularly political or social affairs.

Member comments

  1. the statement “Not to be confused with the English ‘actual’ (a false friend), …” is wrong. Actually (pun intended) it means the oppsite of false, e.g. – a True Friend.

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For members

GERMAN LANGUAGE

‘Umpf’: Six noises to help you sound like a German

You may think fancy vocab is the only way to impress your friends in German, but these quirky noises could actually be the key to sounding like a local.

Published: 24 April 2024 17:23 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:39 CEST
'Umpf': Six noises to help you sound like a German

For most German-language learners, it’s a familiar scenario: you kick off your language journey with textbooks and courses and eventually start to get comfortable with the tricky grammar and vocabulary.

But as soon as you start talking to a native speaker, you’ll probably hear several words you’ve never heard before – and even a few confusing noises that are hard to decipher.

These funny sounds – which are usually described as discourse markers by linguists – can be used to express anything from exhaustion to surprise, or even to check whether the person you’re talking to is listening.

If you want to sound like a native, it’s worth getting familiar with these quirky noises and trying to incorporate them in your everyday speech.

The good news is that they’re a lot more fun to use than the tricky words you learn in language schools.

What’s more, they’re an easy way to add some natural flair and personality to your German.

READ ALSO: What are the different levels in German and how do I reach them?

Tja

Hearing this word can be confusing for foreigners, because it may sound an awful lot like “ja”, or yes.

But rather than being an affirmative response to a question, ‘tja’ is often used ahead of a contradiction or as an expression of scepticism, similar to the English word “well”.

You may also hear “tja”, or even “ja”, simply used as filler words for the speaker to buy time to think about what they’re saying. For example, if a stranger asks you if the next train to Dresden leaves from Platform 3, you may respond with “Ja… nein”, if you aren’t quite sure of the answer.

Another key meaning of ‘tja’ is best summed by a meme that defines it as a the typical German response to the apocalypse, nuclear war, alien attack or having no bread in the house.

When something catastrophic has happened – like the apolocalypse or an empty bread shelf – it can be taken to mean either “I told you so” or “sh*t happens”, casting an ironic light over the gloomy situation.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

Hä

This is a word you won’t read in the German textbooks, but “hä” is a sure-fire way to sound more German in your conversations.

Much like the English “huh?”, you can use “hä?” to express surprise or incomprehension. If a friend from your German course tells you they actually enjoy learning German grammar, then a disbelieving “hä?” is probably an apt response.

In a more banal context, if you haven’t quite understood what somebody’s said, a gentle “hä?” could stand in for the more polite and formal, “wie bitte?”.

A word of warning, though: “hä?” is viewed as very informal and can even be construed as rude in certain situations, so be sure to only use it among people you’re very friendly and familiar with.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Hä?

Ne

Whether you’re a fan of German podcasts or have a few German friends who enjoy to speak at length about the world, you’ve probably come across ‘ne’ at some point or other.

It’s generally used at the end of sentences to check that the other person is listening and has understood, similar to the English “right?” or “you know?”.

For that reason, it often has a high inflection, as if you’re asking a question – though you don’t necessarily expect a response.

So next time you embark on a long rant in German, try interjecting a “ne?” or two. This can add variety to your tone and at the very least ensure the other person hasn’t fallen asleep halfway through.

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

Auwa

When a German child trips and falls over at the Spielplatz, the first thing they may shout is, “Auwaaaaa!” before calling on their parents to come and comfort them.

But it’s not just the little ones who use this noise to express pain in Germany – adults will also emit an occasional “auwa!” if they accidentally stub their toe.

A sad teddy bear with broken arm

A sad teddy bear with a broken arm. “Auwa” is the most German way to respond to a painful accident. Photo: Photo by Trym Nilsen on Unsplash

An alternative to “auwa” is the more English-style “auch!”, which is pronounced the same as “ouch!” but spelled differently. This can also be used to respond to a comment that stings a little, as a good-natured way of letting someone know your feelings were hurt.

Here’s how “auwa” is pronounced.

Puh

Though hearing this word may bring some toilet humour to mind, “puh” has less to do with bodily functions than you might expect.

It’s actually more similar to the English word “phew”, which is used to express tiredness or relief.

One scenario you might use “puh” is after running to the bus stop to catch the last bus home. Once you sprint through the doors and sink into your seat, you may let out an exhausted “puh!” to show your relief at having made it.

Before you forget the more childish connotations entirely though, it’s worth knowing you can also use “puh” when encountering something disgusting.

If it’s your turn to take out the Biomüll and the rotten vegetables are starting to emit a foul odour, you might say, “Puh! Es stinkt!” (Ew! It stinks!”), before hurrying to the bins as fast as you can. 

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

READ ALSO: 12 colourful German expressions that’ll add swagger to your language skills 

Uff / Umpf

If you’ve ever eaten an entire bowl of Käsespätzle, you probably know the sensation of feeling so full you’re about to burst.

For precisely this situation, you’ll need to know “umpf” or “uff”. Both of these words neatly sum up that feeling of being stuffed to the brim with food – but not necessarily in a bad way.

A bit like “oof!” in English, “uff” and “umpf” are ways of showing that you’re both sated and a little bit sleepy after a big meal. With Germany’s very hearty cuisine, they’re both expressions that you’ll need in your life fairly often.

Here’s how “uff” is pronounced.

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