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LEARNING GERMAN

German word of the day: Das Sitzfleisch

This curious word may describe just what you need to get through another day of sitting at your desk in the office.

Published: 24 October 2023 16:32 CEST
German word of the day: Das Sitzfleisch
Do you have the Sitzfleisch to make it through the working day? Photo: Depositphotos/AndreyPopov

What does it mean?

Sitzfleisch has two meanings. The first is that it is plainly another word for your buttocks, or Hinterteil.

The second meaning is difficult to translate into English: it’s about one’s ability to sit patiently for a long period of time, a sort of sitting-stamina or sitting patience, but only in the right context.

If someone were to say: “Ich habe kein Sitzfleisch”, they don’t mean that they don’t have buttocks, they mean they don’t have the ability to sit still for a long time. But should they say something along the lines of “Au! Mein Sitzfleisch!” (“Ow! My ass!”) it has a slightly different connotation.

This meaning is also the same as the second meaning of another similar German word, namely (das) Sitzleder (which translates literally to “fitting leather”).  

What are it’s origins?

The word Sitzfleisch consists of the words sitz (from the verb sitzen, meaning to sit) and Fleisch (meaning meat). So literally, your Sitzfleisch is your seat-meat, which already alludes to it’s primary meaning.  

Its second meaning as sitting-stamina comes from the notion during the 60s that your presence of your backside is synonymous with having the ability to sit for a long time, which led to the creation of the phrase “kein Sitzfleisch haben” (meaning to not be able to sit for long). This essentially birthed the word`s second meaning as one’s ability to sit for a long time.

How is it used?

Sitzfleisch is usually used when complaining about sitting all day at work, or reminiscing about a 14-hour-long flight. It is also, of course, used if for some reason anybody would want to flex their knowledge of alternative German words for their rear end in a social situation.

Examples of ways to use it:

Wenn Sie in einem Flug nach Laos fliegen möchten, brauchen sie Sitzfleisch.

If you want to fly to Laos in one flight, you need sitting-stamina.

Ich möchte lieber nicht in einem Büro arbeiten: ich habe gar kein Sitzfleisch

I would rather not work in an office: I have absolutely no sitting-stamina.

Du bist nach nur zehn minuten gegangen? Na, du hast ja gar kein Sitzfleisch.

You left after only 10 minutes? Well, you have you don’t any sitting-patience.

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AUSTRIAN HABITS

Do Austrians still use the formal ‘Sie’ in German?

In Austria, addressing people with "Sie" has been a tradition for quite some time. However, has this tradition become more relaxed in recent years? And if so, how?

Published: 27 May 2024 13:31 CEST
Do Austrians still use the formal 'Sie' in German?

In Austria, people have been using “Sie” as a formal way of addressing each other for decades, if not centuries.

Using “Sie” is deeply integrated with Austrian culture and has been passed down through generations as a sign of respect and politeness.

But even if “Sie” is still commonly used in Austria today, younger generations tend to use it less frequently than older ones, and the more informal “Du” is increasing in popularity, Vienna’s IKI language academy told The Local.

The ‘du’ form has gained popularity

In general, using “du” is accepted in less formal settings or when you know someone well.

Over time, the use of “Sie” has decreased in informal and semi-official contexts in Austria, according to the IKI language academy.

The informal “du” form has gained popularity, especially among younger people and in digital communication. In social media, informal meetings, and among friends, the “du” form is more commonly used.

Heike Ziehr, Head of the German Language Department at Sprachenzentrum in Vienna, also agreed that “du” is gaining popularity but added that he does not think it’s appropriate in certain situations.

“‘Du’ is spreading, in social media, leisure time, or at workshops. In the mountains, people always use “du” above 2,000 meters. Occasionally, students address me informally at the university, then I point out to them that it is not appropriate. Sometimes there is a high level of familiarity between teachers and students, and then “du” is often used. I do not recommend it in a professional context”, he said.

READ NEXT: How to explore the Austrian mountains in the summer like a local

Formal and official situations

How “Sie” is used among the different generations depends on the situation and who is involved in it.

“Sie” is mainly used in formal and official situations in Austria. You use “Sie” in conversations with strangers, in professional contexts, during official appointments, in stores, and generally in scenarios where respect and distance are expected to be maintained.

It is also common to address older people or those in higher positions with “Sie”, as a sign of respect and acknowledgement.

Some examples of situations where you are expected to use “Sie” include when you have a doctors appointment, in formal business settings such as meetings with customers, or in daily life situations where you engage with strangers, such as in restaurants or other service establishments, especially when speaking to staff members.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Austria wants to define its fundamental culture but what is it?

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