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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German word of the day: Geflasht

This colloquial German - or rather, Denglish - word is a great one to have up your sleeve whenever you're feeling impressed or a bit overwhelmed.

German word of the day
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know geflasht

Because it’s not only pretty fun to say, but is also a handy way to describe that specific type of feeling you get when something makes a big impression on you.

What’s more, it’s not a word that you’re likely to read in traditional German textbooks, so you’ll definitely impress your German friends if they hear you using this trendy colloquialism. 

READ ALSO: German word of the day: Digga

What does it mean?

Geflasht means to be bowled over, shocked, amazed or excited by something – whether that’s the taste of an incredible meal, the experience of watching an intensely violent film or a heavy techno beat in a Berlin club. 

Like much of Germany’s youth slang, it has its roots in an English word – the noun “flash” or the verb “to flash” – though the meaning has become a tiny bit garbled in translation.

That said, you can think of it a bit like a flash of lightning – a sudden emotion that flares up and overwhelms you with its intensity. Alternatively, you might think of the word “flashy”, which is used in English to describe things like expensive cars or clothes that are designed to make a big impression on people.

Anything else I need to know? 

As well as the adjective geflasht and the verb flashen, you can also use the noun Flash to describe that something that makes you feel surprised, overwhelmed or excited. Though there isn’t a super easy English equivalent, saying something is “ein Flash” is a bit like saying it’s a trip – or totally mindblowing.

If something’s particularly funny, you can also be struck by a “Lachflash” – which is the German equivalent of a laughing fit.

And don’t be surprised if you occasionally see an anglicised spelling of geflasht with “-ed” instead of “-t” at the end. Given that the slang has been borrowed from English, either spelling is considered acceptable.

Use it like this: 

Warst du schon mal beim Fusion Festival? Das Line-up dieses Jahr hat mich total geflasht.

Have you ever been to Fusion festival? I was totally blown away by the lineup this year. 

Der neue Christopher Nolan Film hat mich wirklich geflasht. Du musst es unbedingt sehen! 

The new Christopher Nolan film really impressed me. You absolutely have to see it!

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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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