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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German word of the day: Nebelkerze

Some things are important in a political debate - and some things are just distractions. Remember this German phrase and you'll be sorting the wheat from the chaff in no time.

German word of the day
Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Unsplash + Nicolas Raymond / flickr

Why do I need to know Nebelkerze

Because it’s a widely used phrase in political discussions, so you may hear it on your favourite current affairs programme or podcast.

Not only that, but it’s a useful way of holding your opponent to account in any debate. 

What does it mean? 

In a literal sense, eine Nebelkerze is a smoke grenade that artificially creates a cloud of smog, making it impossible for an opponent to see clearly or orientate themselves. 

This military term has since moved into the realm of political discourse to describe tactics used to confuse people or distract them from the real issues. 

In English, you might translate Nebelkerze as “smoke and mirrors”, a “smokescreen” or a “red herring” – depending on the context. 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was a master of the Nebelkerze: while the media was fired up over controversies like his use of the phrase “alternative facts”, major policy shifts like allowing the controversial keystone pipeline tended to slip under the radar.

Just like in the military, political Nebelkerzen are a way of disorienting people and blinding them to what is really going on. 

Use it like this:

“Die Diskussion über Migration ist eine große Nebelkerze.”

The discussion about migration is a big red herring. 

“Er versucht immer wieder, Nebelkerzen zu werfen.”

He keeps trying to put up smokescreens (literally: throw smoke grenades).

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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German word of the day: Dudelsack

This hilarious sounding German word describes something quintessentially Scottish.

German word of the day: Dudelsack

Why do I need to know Dudelsack?

In the run-up to the German v Scotland opening match of Euro 2024, there were a lot of these gracing the streets of Munich. More importantly, why wouldn’t you want to know a word like Dudelsack?

Just say the word aloud and it will brighten your day. 

What does it mean?

Dudelsack (pronounced like this) is one of those German words that’s both charmingly literal and somewhat onomatopoeic, describing a big bag or sack that makes a ‘doodling’ kind of noise: in other words, the bagpipes.

As well as sounding like the noise this traditional Scottish instrument makes, dudeln also translates as ‘to drone’, and anyone who’s heard the bagpipes will know that this is also a fairly accurate description of how they sound. 

READ ALSO: 10 German words with hilarious literal translations

As Scotland geared up to play Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024 in Munich, many sacks were doodled in the Bavarian capital. 

Seeing parades of kilts and hearing the distinctive wail of the Dudelsack against the backdrop of Munich’s gothic town hall isn’t something you experience every day, and we’re sure it’s an experience the people of Munich also won’t forget for a while. 

Use it like this: 

Hör mal auf, Dudelsack zu spielen! Es geht mir auf die Nerven.

Stop playing the bagpipes! It’s getting on my nerves.  

Weißt du, wie der Dudelsack klingt? Man hört ihn überall in Schottland.

Do you know what the bagpipes sound like? You can hear them everywhere in Scotland. 

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