SHARE
COPY LINK

LEARNING GERMAN

This is the ‘German word of the year’ for 2019

The Society for the German Language has just announced their annual word of the year, which ties in with one of Germany's largest political debates.

This is the 'German word of the year' for 2019
A Scrabble set spells out "Wort des Jahres" (Word of the Year). Photo: DPA

The term “Respektrente” has been chosen as the German Word of the Year, the jury of the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (Society for the German Language, or GfdS) announced in Wiesbaden. 

The word – combining the terms Respekt and Rente (pension) – characterizes one of the largest social and political discussions of 2019, said the GfdS.

“Respektrente” came about amid the planned introduction of a basic pension for men and women who receive only a small pension despite many years of employment.

READ ALSO: Grundrente: Merkel's coalition reaches deal on Germany's pension reform

It refers to pensioners being able to enjoy their retirement with dignity after many years of hard work. 

In addition to representing an important topic, the term demonstrates the special ability of the German language to form almost unlimited new words by assembling existing words, said GfdS.

In particular, the term is associated with Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil of the Social Democrats (SPD). In the Grand Coalition’s debate about the planned basic pension, Heil has emphasized that “life's work deserves respect” since the beginning of the year. 

Heil has also said: “Call it a respect pension or a justice pension”.  

Second place in the annual competition goes to the word “Rollerchaos”. It refers to the numerous e-scooters found throughout Germany since June, when they’re usage officially came into law. 

READ ALSO: Revealed: What you think of the rise of electric scooters in Germany

The increasingly popular scooters become a problem in many German cities because they are often used aggressively and parked in places where they shouldn’t be, the GfdS said.

Third place went to the Anglicism “Fridays for Future”. More than any other expression of this era, it stands for a young generation ready to take to the streets in the fight to take action on the climate crisis, said GfdS,

A new word every year

The German 'word of the year', dating back to 2006. Graph prepared for The Local by Statista.

Every year a new word is declared as the German Word of the Year, with Heißzeit taking the top spot last year.

The word refers to both the unusually hot and dry summer that stretched on between April and October in Germany, but also climate change in general.

With the phonetic resemblance to ice age (Eiszeit), the expression takes on an epochal dimension beyond the mere meaning of “period in which it is hot”, and possibly refers to a changing climate period, according to the jury in its reasoning.

Since 1977, the GfdS has selected a word annually in order to describe terms that have determined political, economic and social life in a special way.

The chosen words have often been created in the year of their selection to represent this.

“Jamaika-Aus” in 2017, for example, stood for the difficulty that Germany had in forming a coalition government following federal elections.

But other words have been long-standing terms that came into popularity following an event. 

Flüchtlinge (refugee) was chosen in 2015 following the German government's acceptance of over a million asylum seekers into the country amid the war in Syria.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

EURO 2024

The German words and phrases you need for Euro 2024

With the Euros being hosted by Germany this summer, it's a great opportunity to broaden your German football vocabulary. Here are a collection of words and phrases to know to get into the games.

The German words and phrases you need for Euro 2024

Auf geht’s!

You’ll usually hear this as the match gets underway and it means: let’s go! Another common expression that means the same thing is Los geht’s! and Fans will often stick their team on the end – Auf geht’s Deutschland! or Los geht’s Dänemark!

You can also shout: Deutschland vor! (Go Germany!) and Weiter, weiter! (keep going) as the match goes on.  

If you’re not feeling so confident at screaming these phrases at a TV, a simple way of explaining which team you’re supporting in a conversation is by saying: Ich bin für Deutschland or Ich bin für Italien. 

Tor!

If you already speak some German, you might recognise this word, which means ‘”gate” or “door” (think Brandenburger Tor) However, in football terminology, it is probably the most joyous word you’ll hear at a match because it means goal. Shout it out when your team gets one in the back of the net!

Italy's defender #05 Riccardo Calafiori reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Spain and Italy at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 20, 2024.

Italy’s defender #05 Riccardo Calafiori reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Spain and Italy at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 20, 2024. Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

This is a chant involving Tor that you might hear at a match or screening: “Los geht’s Deutschland, schießt ein Tor” (Let’s go Germany, score a goal!).

Meanwhile, the goalkeeper is called der Torwart or der Tormann. Some fans will use the English – goalie. 

READ ALSO: Where are the fan zones for Euro 2024 in Germany?

Elfmeter

For England fans – this is an important one, as England has had some famous trip-ups at penalty shootouts during international tournaments over the years.

The word for penalty kick in German literally means “eleven meters” – the distance from the penalty spot to the goal.

You’ll sometimes hear German fans shouting Elfer! If they think a player has been wronged and deserves a penalty.

Gut gehalten!

This is an excellent Fußball phrase to use if your team’s goalkeeper has just saved an Elfmeter. Literally translating to “well held”, this phrase means “good save”.

Denmark supporters cheer in front of a group of England supporters in Frankfurt on June 20th.

Denmark supporters cheer in front of a group of England supporters in Frankfurt on June 20th. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Schiedsrichter

Der Schiedsrichter – or referee – is often the most unpopular person on the pitch. When watching a match with disgruntled German football fans, you might hear this word shortened to Schiri!, similar to how Ref! is used in English.

Schwalbe

The German word for the bird swallow – Die Schwalbe – is used as a rather poetic description for when a player takes a dive. In these situations, when a footballer dramatically falls to try to earn a free kick or a penalty, they often lie on the ground with their arms and legs spread out, resembling a swallow with its forked tail.

IN PICTURES: Football fans take over German cities for Euro 2024

A swallow in the night sky.

A swallow in the night sky. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Abseits

You’ll hear this term frequently, especially if your team plays an attacking game. It’s the German word for “offside,” and fans will call it out whenever the linesman’s flag goes up. 

Meanwhile, der Freistoß is free kick and der Anstoß is kick off. 

Raus!

You’ll hear this being shouted out when things get tense. Raus! which means ‘out!’ is signalling for the players to quickly get the ball away from the box near their goals to avoid danger. 

Arschkarte

Getting shown die Arschkarte (literally arse card) is another word for getting a red card or Rote Karte. 

It dates back to the 1970s and is connected to referees keeping the yellow card in their shirt pocket and the red card in their back pocket, next to their butt. So it is literally an Arschkarte. You’ll also hear fans shouting Gelb! (yellow) or Rot! (red) if they think someone deserves a booking. Or simply Foul! or Foulspiel! (Foul or foul play). 

By the way, there’s an idiom that is used off the pitch. Die Arschkarte ziehen – ‘pulling the arse card’ is the equivalent to the English ‘drawing the short straw’. So if someone says: ‘Du hast die Arschkarte gezogen’, they mean – ‘you’re out of luck’ or ‘you drew the short straw’.

READ ALSO: How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany 

Das war knapp! 

Das war Knapp means ‘That was close!’ or ‘that was a close call!’ The Euro 2024 tournament is already proving to be nailbiting so this little phrase is a perfect one to call out in a variety of circumstances such as when your team nearly lets in a goal or when the game finishes, but you just made it. If your team wins by a whisker, you can also use the phrase: Um ein Haar! which translates to ‘by a hair!’

For example – Die deutsche Mannschaft hat um ein Haar gewonnen! – ‘The German team won by a whisker!’

With reporting by Rachel Loxton and Sarah Magill 

SHOW COMMENTS