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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German word of the day: Bürgerlich

This sometimes controversial German word can be used positively or negatively, depending on your point of view.

German word of the day: Bürgerlich

What does bürgerlich mean?

The German word bürgerlich is an adjective that has different meanings depending on the context, but its primary meaning is “bourgeois” or “middle-class” when referring to social class or lifestyle. It can also be translated as “civil” or “civilian” when describing matters related to civil society or community engagement.

Where does it come from?

The word bürgerlich has its origins in the German noun Bürger, which means “citizen”.

Bürger is derived from the Middle High German term burc, meaning “fortified town” or “citadel.” Over time, the term Bürger evolved to refer to an inhabitant of a town or city, particularly someone with certain rights and privileges associated with citizenship.

The adjective bürgerlich emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Enlightenment and the rise of the bourgeoisie and it became associated with the middle class, which at the time was made up of merchants, professionals, and educated people who were not part of the aristocracy or the lower working classes.

The term bürgerlich had connotations of civility, respectability, and adherence to societal norms, values, and conventions.

Nowadays, bürgerlich can be used to describe a range of attributes associated with the middle class, including values such as stability, responsibility, and a focus on individual achievement. It can also connote a traditional or conservative lifestyle.

Some Germans proudly identify themselves as bürgerlich, while others view it as a derogatory term, perceiving being bürgerlich as being dull or arrogant. 

Bürgerliche Cuisine

The word bürgerlich often crops up in a culinary context, too. The gutbürgerliche Küche or bürgerliche Küche (“traditional” or “homestyle cuisine”) refers to a traditional cooking style and dishes that are commonly associated with the middle class and their culinary preferences.

Bürgerliche dishes are usually hearty and wholesome meals that are often prepared using locally available ingredients. Typical dishes found in the bürgerliche Küche include hearty soups like lentil soup or potato soup, meat-based dishes such as Sauerbraten (marinated pot roast), Schnitzel (breaded and fried meat cutlets), and Bratwurst (grilled or pan-fried sausages).

Use it like this

Ich glaube, das Theater ist bürgerlich.
 
I think that theatre is bourgeois.

Die Menues sind für eine gutbürgerliche Küche ausgelegt

The menus are designed for home-style cooking

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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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