The German language has influenced the English language in several ways. There are many words that are used commonly today that have German roots, including sophisticated words and everyday words. There are also some phrases that have German origins, and some idioms have meanings different from those they have in English. There are even some concepts and ideas that originated in Germany and have been adopted by English speakers.

Although not as common as French, Spanish or even Latin, German has had a significant impact on the English language. Here are some of the ways in which the German language has influenced our own.

Words from the German Language

A number of words we use every day have German origins. These include kindergarten, pretzel, angst, schadenfreude, kindergarten, schnitzel, sauerkraut, and praline. Most of these words are used in everyday conversation and are familiar to native English speakers. However, not everyone is familiar with the German words from which they were derived.

Kindergarten was taken from Kindergarten, the German term for children’s garden, or school for young children. Pretzel is from the German word for a twisted bread. Angst is the German word for anxiety. Schadenfreude is a German word for the pleasure one gets from another’s misfortune. Schnitzel is the German term for a thin slice of meat, usually pork or veal. Sauerkraut is German for fermented cabbage. And praline is a word taken from the German word for hazelnuts.

Phrases with German Origins

There are also a number of phrases that are familiar to English speakers but have their origins in the German language. Here are some examples:

  • All that glitters is not gold - From the German phrase, Alles, was glänzt, ist nicht Gold, which means all that glitters is not gold.
  • An apple a day keeps the doctor away - From the German phrase, Ein Apfel täglich hält den Doktor fern, which means an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
  • All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy - From the German phrase, Arbeit und kein Spiel macht den Jacken dumm, which means all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
  • A miss is as good as a mile - From the German idiom a miss is as good as a mile, which means a near miss or almost correct is still wrong.

Concepts and Ideas from Germany

Not all the German influences on the English language are words or phrases. There are also a number of concepts and ideas that originated in Germany. Here are some examples:

  • Beer hall - The beer hall is a type of large hall where beer drinking is a social occasion. The beer hall was a common feature in German life.
  • Bauhaus - The Bauhaus school was a German art and design movement in the 20th century
  • Bilderberg - A clandestine meeting of the political and economic elite.
  • Blitzkrieg - A military strategy that involves swift and sudden attacks.
  • Dada - A German art movement that was intended to provoke shock and discord.
  • Gestalt - A German word that means the configuration or form of a thing.
  • Prussian - A strict, disciplined, and orderly way of behaving and thinking.

Conclusion

The German language has had a significant impact on the English language. There are many words that have German roots, including sophisticated words and everyday words. There are also some phrases that have German origins, and some concepts and ideas that originated in Germany have been adopted by English speakers. The German language will continue to play a role in the English language in the future.