It may sound like it's part of the plant kingdom, but, a Purzelbaum describes a somersault on the ground, often landing in the dirt and usually resulting in dirty knees. Purzelbaum (tumble tree)Įvery child in Germany knows all about this one. No sufficient explanation for not doing your homework or lying to your wife? That’s Erklärungsnot. Backpfeifengesicht (slap face)īackpfeifengesicht describes someone who you feel needs a slap in the face. You may want to be careful if and when you use this one: it's best used among good friends unless you’re wanting to cause tension! Erklärungsnot (explanation poverty)Įrklärungsnot describes the state you might find yourself in when no excuse will get you out of the trouble you're in. In German, a 'soft egg', means someone who is a coward or weak-minded – they’ll just go with the crowd or what is easy instead of standing up for what they think is right, but with the right person and intent, it can have a lighter, more humorous meaning. Anybody who has ever experienced this can attest to just how annoying the Ohrwurm can be. This German word refers to having the melody and/or lyrics of a song stuck in your head for an extended period. Here are ten weird German words and their meanings: Ohrwurm (ear worm) Like any language, German has its own strange and peculiar words and phrases.

Old german words in english