LINGUISTIC CONUNDRUM

Germans Have A Word For Everything! Take A Look At These 10 Examples

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Languages are a curious thing: No matter how different they are, we humans always find a way to understand each other. Translation has come a long way in making sure of that. However, it hasn’t covered all its gaps; some words remain untranslatable. In the German language, words like sturmfrei and verschlimmbessern (yep, that’s a word!) have no direct translation, but that doesn’t mean they are not describable. So, we’ve put together a list of ten German words with their funny descriptions, do you feel like learning German? Read on then!

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Here’s a word you can learn, but sure don’t want your children or grandchildren to learn. Sturmfrei literally translates to "when your parents are away, and you have the whole house to yourself."

The word describes a feeling, and based on its literal translation, one can assume it is a feeling of happiness, excitement, and why not, freedom. Specifically, the kind of freedom a teenager gets when their parents leave the house to their regard.

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This is a rather long word, but that is not an uncommon thing in the German language. This is because multiple meanings can be attached to a base, forming more complex meanings. In this case, verschlimmbessern means "to make things worse by trying to improve them."

However, it’s not used in the most common scenario of facing a problem and trying to bring about a solution that backfires. It refers to the consequence of obsession with perfection, which can ultimately be counterproductive. Trying to improve things over and over only to make everything worse… Who hasn’t been there?

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The complexities of the modern world can easily bring us down and we need to work on our mental health to win the battle day after day. Now, in German, there is a word that describes the apathy caused by the comparison of the current state of the world with an ideal state: that word is weltschmerz.

It describes that melancholic feeling that comes from realizing how hard living in the modern world is. Moreover, it includes an idealist aspect, the kind that hopes to live in an ideal world. When confronted with the realization of the impossibility of achieving such a world, weltschmerz comes into play.

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Another long word, and who would think such a specific situation was worth putting so many letters together? If you’ve ever played in the snow, you can relate to that awful sensation that comes from picking up the snow with your bare hands.

Well, in German, when you’re not brave enough to do that, you’re handschuhschneeballwerfer. This term means you are too afraid to pick up the snow with bare hands and resort to a glove to do so. Now, its literal translation is "glove snowball thrower." Quite specific, don’t you think?

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Perfection and obsession with details don’t always end badly, like with the words we discussed before. You can just be an erbsenzähler and that’s it. This word, an adjective, describes someone who is obsessed with details and a bit of a control freak, according to its literal translation.

In this context, the person can’t stand even the smallest detail being out of their control. So, if you think you fall into this category, you might want to think again. "Erbsenzähler" is a compound word and, its literal translation includes the words "peas" and "count!"

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Speaking of German words, this term represents its essence perfectly. However cool it sounds, this word is part of this list because it has no direct equivalent in English. Here is what it means: Sprachgefühl refers to someone who loves learning a new language and is obsessed with fully grasping its grammatical nuances.

If you decide to study German after reading this article, then you could be described as a sprachgefühl: a unique word for a unique interest!

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If you thought the previous ones were weird, wait until you hear about this one! Dreikäsehoch when translated literally, means "three cheese high." And we’re sure you will never guess what it means, so here is the explanation.

The word simply describes an undersized child, that is, a child who is not tall enough for their age. It is an adjective used to describe that situation. Now, if cheese has nothing to do with it, how did it come to be part of the word? Think of it this way: The kid is not taller than three cheese rolls piled one on top of the other. Talk about untranslatable words!

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Have you ever been caught red-handed? You start sweating and your brain instantly tries to come up with answers for all those questions that are coming your way. Now, that is erklärungsnot. Having to explain yourself quickly.

Even if it lacks a one-on-one translation, this word is quite transparent. It is used to describe the immediacy of a situation in which you have to come up with answers to explain what you were caught doing.

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If we said that treppenwitz means, literally, "a staircase joke," would you understand its meaning? If not, let us enlighten you.

A treppenwitz refers, once again to a very specific scenario: Imagine someone makes a joke or a witty comment, and you are left speechless, unable to figure out what to say in response to sound just as smart or funny. Can you see where we are going? After the moment has passed, your brain comes up with the perfect response, but it is just too late to say it. That moment right there is treppenwitz. Frustrating, isn’t it?

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This word is indeed untranslatable, but we’re sure it’s not in your best interest for anyone to find a translation of it if they are talking about you.

Schadenfreude translates to "damage joy," and it describes the feeling of happiness that comes from seeing another person fail, or enjoying someone’s distress.

The German language knows that getting any joy out of another person’s misery is simply wicked. Good for them!

Sounds fake, but it’s real

Is that even real? 10 medical conditions with unbelievable names!

Image: Ani Kolleshi

Not all medical conditions sound as serious as they are, but others… Others have names that seem straight out of science fiction tales. However, rest assured, they are all very real. From conditions that turn you into Sleeping Beauty to disorders that leave you feeling like an alien in your own skin, we’ve gathered 10 medical conditions whose names will leave you scratching your head. Keep reading and find out about these illnesses with weird names!

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Who hasn’t wished they could sleep 20 hours a day? That’s simply a dream come true! But people with Klein-Levin syndrome don’t really think that. The condition is commonly known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome.

Those affected by this condition experience episodes where they sleep excessively for hours, and even days! When awake, they can be confused, disoriented, and exhibit unusual behaviors like binge eating.

The condition can last for years, though episodes tend to become less frequent over time. It’s unclear what causes the syndrome, and there’s no specific treatment. The name sounds enchanting, but for those living with it, Sleeping Beauty Syndrome is more of a nightmare!

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This one sounds like something out of a sci-fi horror movie, but it’s a very real condition that affects the brain and spinal cord of cows. It is officially called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and the symptoms are aggression or erratic behavior in infected cattle. That is why it’s called "mad".

Now, this list is about human conditions. But here’s the trick: The disease can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated beef, causing a fatal brain disorder known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

While strict food safety regulations have significantly reduced the risk, the nickname "Mad Cow Disease" sticks because of the startling symptoms it causes. Don’t worry! Despite the scary name, it’s extremely rare to contract in humans today.

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Imagine your hand moves, but you didn’t send that signal to your brain. Imagine your hand doing things you never intended, creepy right? That’s what happens when you have alien hand syndrome.

People with this rare neurological disorder experience involuntary hand movements that seem purposeful, such as picking up objects or even trying to interfere with tasks the person is consciously performing. It’s called "alien" because the hand feels like it has a mind of its own, separate from the person’s control.

It is usually caused by brain injury or surgery, and it can be quite distressing and disorienting. As you can imagine, there’s no cure, but some types of therapy help reduce the movements.

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You’re walking on the street and you see someone. You think "I know them! I don’t know where from, but I know them!" Well, that’s not the case for everyone. Prosopagnosia, or more commonly known as facial blindness, is a condition that affects a person’s ability to recognize faces. No, not just random faces: It could be your best friend’s face, for example.

The name comes from the Greek words prósopo for "face" and agnōsia which means "ignorance."

While many of us might be forgetful with names, those with prosopagnosia may not even recognize familiar faces, including their own reflection! This condition can be present from birth or result from brain injury. Although there’s no cure, many people find ways to manage it, such as focusing on other details like voice or clothing. Weird how the brain works, huh!

Image: Alexandre Debiève

No, no human has ever turned into a real werewolf when the full moon comes. But this condition is called that due to some human’s resemblance to the fictional creature.

Hypertrichosis, better known as werewolf syndrome, causes excessive hair growth all over the body. The condition gets its mythical nickname because people with it can develop thick hair on their faces, resembling the werewolves of folklore.

It is an extremely rare condition, and it takes different forms. For some, this overgrowth only happens in small patches of skin whereas others’ conditions affect large areas. No cure has been found to this date, but it’s quite manageable and it’s not dangerous at all!

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Alice in Wonderland syndrome sounds whimsical, but it’s a condition that distorts how a person perceives their body or surroundings.

Naturally, it was named after Lewis Carroll’s famous character, and those with this syndrome may feel as if their body parts are much larger or smaller than they actually are, similar to how Alice’s size changes once she goes down the rabbit hole!

These perceptions can be disorienting, making the world seem like it’s out of proportion or shifting in strange ways. The condition is often associated with migraines or epilepsy. While it’s not dangerous, the sensations can be unsettling and, contrary to others that we’ve mentioned, not very easy to deal with every day.

Image: Ortopediatri Çocuk Ortopedi Akademisi

The official name for the stone man disease is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), which is a rare genetic condition where soft tissues like muscles and tendons gradually turn into bone. As the body forms more bone, it restricts movement, effectively "freezing" a person in place. Inconvenient, to say the least, don’t you think?

The condition progresses over time, and as more joints are affected, simple actions like eating or breathing can become difficult. There’s no cure for this disease, and any trauma to the body, like a fall or surgery, can worsen the condition.

As you can imagine, the name comes from the fact that those affected may eventually feel like their body has turned to stone. It’s a tough, life-altering condition, despite it sounds like a Spiderman’s enemy!

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We get it, some conditions are really serious. Now, who is in charge of naming them? This condition, officially known as Cotard’s Delusion, goes by the name walking corpse syndrome but it’s not because one exactly looks like a zombie.

The neuropsychological disorder makes people believe they are dead, missing organs, or don’t exist. It was first described in the 1880s, it causes those who have it to feel detached from reality, often convinced they have no functioning body parts or that they’re a "walking corpse."

It sounds terrifying, not only for the person experiencing it but for those around them.

What’s the origin? It is linked to severe depression or brain trauma. Though the name sounds straight out of a horror movie, Cotard’s Delusion is a serious and distressing mental health condition.

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This one also belongs to the field of mental health conditions and it is the most common for most young adults today. Ever feel like you’re not good enough, even when all the evidence says otherwise? That’s imposter syndrome, a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as frauds for no reason whatsoever!

Though it is not a formal medical diagnosis, the term was coined by psychologists in 1978 and has gained recognition for describing a feeling many high achievers experience. Despite outward success, those with imposter syndrome struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Can you relate to this one?

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To finish this article on a higher note, let’s talk about foreign accent syndrome. Can you imagine what is it? No, it’s not the ability to adapt to different accents.

Imagine going to bed and waking up with a completely different accent than the one you always had! That’s what the syndrome is.

It usually occurs after a stroke or brain injury and results in someone suddenly speaking with an accent they’ve never had before. While the person’s native language remains the same, their speech patterns may shift, making it sound as if they’re from a different area or a different country altogether.

No matter how much of a language lover you are, imagine the chaos of having to communicate in a new language out of the blue!