German is often an extremely expressively language. Many English speakers, for example, have either heard of or actually use schadenfreude, the pleasure one takes in the misfortune of others, popular because it’s a universal notion. German has lots of this kind of thing. I once worked with a woman whose surname was Dorflinger - little villager, a term very much not a compliment. This brings us to another German word, Backpfeifengesicht (“back fife EN ges ZEEKT”) and a former vice president of the United States.
© 2024 John Oliver
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