Dictionary.com recently had a slideshow on its front page entitled Let's Get Specific: 6 German words you won't believe.
The slideshow comprises six German compound words that arose to describe "very specific ideas," which English subsequently borrowed.
Click on the slideshow above to see the meanings of Weltschmerz, Schadenfreude and more.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Einen Clown frühstücken?
Haben Sie heute einen Clown gefrühstückt?
Yes, the question above translates into English as "Did you have a clown today for breakfast?"
Of course, the phrase "einen Clown frühstücken" is an idiom and has a figurative meaning.
But the phrase can have several different meanings. It can refer to someone who isn't known to be funny but just made a joke. It can mean someone who is being inappropriately or unusually funny or silly.
More information can be found here:
Are you going to use this phrase today? Post your comments below!
Yes, the question above translates into English as "Did you have a clown today for breakfast?"
Of course, the phrase "einen Clown frühstücken" is an idiom and has a figurative meaning.
But the phrase can have several different meanings. It can refer to someone who isn't known to be funny but just made a joke. It can mean someone who is being inappropriately or unusually funny or silly.
More information can be found here:
- Linguee.de: einen clown zum frühstück haben
- MundMische.de: Clownflakes gefrühstückt
- MundMische.de: einen Clown frühstücken
- Redensarten-Index.de: einen Clown zum Frühstück gegessen / verspeist / gehabt haben
- Sprachnudel.de: einen clown frühstücken
- Wiktionary.org: einen Clown gefrühstückt haben
Are you going to use this phrase today? Post your comments below!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Check Your Library for Language-Learning Resources
If you are looking for language-learning software, check out your local library!
A lot of libraries offer access to digital databases and other online resources to their cardholders. Many of them also offer free access to language-learning software, like Mango Languages or Powerspeak Languages. Depending on the library, these resources can be accessed at the library, online through any computer, or both.
To see if your library offers free language-learning software, check its website, or call or visit the library directly and ask. Check out Libcat for help finding the website of your local library.
A lot of libraries offer access to digital databases and other online resources to their cardholders. Many of them also offer free access to language-learning software, like Mango Languages or Powerspeak Languages. Depending on the library, these resources can be accessed at the library, online through any computer, or both.
To see if your library offers free language-learning software, check its website, or call or visit the library directly and ask. Check out Libcat for help finding the website of your local library.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Some Quick Updates
Some updates:
Comments
If you tried to comment on this site before and your comments haven't shown up yet, please check again. Commenters who included a link back to their own site had their comments automatically flagged as spam, and I just went through and un-flagged those comments that weren't spam. I also responded to a few comments.
GLO Originals Page
I noticed that the "GLO Originals" page wasn't coming up for some reason, but that should be fixed now. I'll have to create some new original content to put there!
Layout
One commenter informed me that there was some compatibility issues when viewing this site in IE. It's coming up fine on my computer now, so if anyone else is having this problem let me know (and tell me what device you're using to view the blog).
Also, thank you for reading this blog! Danke!
Comments
If you tried to comment on this site before and your comments haven't shown up yet, please check again. Commenters who included a link back to their own site had their comments automatically flagged as spam, and I just went through and un-flagged those comments that weren't spam. I also responded to a few comments.
GLO Originals Page
I noticed that the "GLO Originals" page wasn't coming up for some reason, but that should be fixed now. I'll have to create some new original content to put there!
Layout
One commenter informed me that there was some compatibility issues when viewing this site in IE. It's coming up fine on my computer now, so if anyone else is having this problem let me know (and tell me what device you're using to view the blog).
Also, thank you for reading this blog! Danke!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Advent Season (2012)
The Advent Season
The Advent Season officially started this year on Sunday, December 2nd.
Christmas is a major holiday in Germany. Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can be as early as November 27th and as late as December 3rd (although Advent calendars usually start on December 1st - see more below). This year, the Advent season begun on Sunday, December 2nd.
While traditions can vary from area to area (and from town to town!), below are some general German Advent traditions.
German-way: Advent
Wikipedia: Advent
Wikipedia: Advent (German)
In Germany, the four Sundays in Advent - the Adventssonntage - are often counted using an Adventskranz. The Adventskranz is a wreath, ususally made from evergreen, with four candles The candles each represent one of the four Sundays in Advent. Often, the candle representing the fourth Sunday will be a different color.
Each Sunday in Advent, one of the candles is lit while the family (or church congregation) sings Christmas carols.
German.about.com: Advent Wreath
Youtube: How to Make a German Advent Calendar (by GermanEmbassyPress)
Wikipedia: Advent wreath
Wikipedia: Adventkranz (German)
The Advent calendar, or Adventskalendar, is a definite favorite among children. The calendar comes in many shapes and forms, but generally there are 24 compartments or pockets. Although the date of the start of Advent changes every year, most Advent calendars just begin on December 1st, 24 days before Christmas. Each day during Advent, one may be opened, revealing a message, chocolate or other small gifts.
Some people handmake their Advent calendars, but there are also many Advent calendars commercially available.
If you made an Advent calendar, take a picture of it and submit it for a chance to win an iPad or Kindle Paperwhite. Enter here before December 24th, 2012 (contest run by Goethe-Institut New York).
There are also many "virtual" Advent calendars that feature information about Christmas in Germany, recipes, prizes, and more:
Image Credits:
Advent Wreath: Andrea Schaufler, via Wikipedia
Hünfeld Advent Calendar: Wikipedia Contributor Hesse1309
House Advent Calendar: Harry London Chocolates, via Google Affliliate Ads
The Advent Season officially started this year on Sunday, December 2nd.
What is "Advent"?
Christmas is a major holiday in Germany. Advent is the season leading up to Christmas. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can be as early as November 27th and as late as December 3rd (although Advent calendars usually start on December 1st - see more below). This year, the Advent season begun on Sunday, December 2nd.
While traditions can vary from area to area (and from town to town!), below are some general German Advent traditions.
German-way: Advent
Wikipedia: Advent
Wikipedia: Advent (German)
Adventskranz
In Germany, the four Sundays in Advent - the Adventssonntage - are often counted using an Adventskranz. The Adventskranz is a wreath, ususally made from evergreen, with four candles The candles each represent one of the four Sundays in Advent. Often, the candle representing the fourth Sunday will be a different color.
Each Sunday in Advent, one of the candles is lit while the family (or church congregation) sings Christmas carols.
German.about.com: Advent Wreath
Youtube: How to Make a German Advent Calendar (by GermanEmbassyPress)
Wikipedia: Advent wreath
Wikipedia: Adventkranz (German)
Adventskalendar
The Advent calendar, or Adventskalendar, is a definite favorite among children. The calendar comes in many shapes and forms, but generally there are 24 compartments or pockets. Although the date of the start of Advent changes every year, most Advent calendars just begin on December 1st, 24 days before Christmas. Each day during Advent, one may be opened, revealing a message, chocolate or other small gifts.
 | |||
| The German city of Hünfeld made its town hall into a giant Advent calendar by using the windows. |
Some people handmake their Advent calendars, but there are also many Advent calendars commercially available.
If you made an Advent calendar, take a picture of it and submit it for a chance to win an iPad or Kindle Paperwhite. Enter here before December 24th, 2012 (contest run by Goethe-Institut New York).
There are also many "virtual" Advent calendars that feature information about Christmas in Germany, recipes, prizes, and more:
- Germany Embassy in the USA (Germany.info): Advent Calendar
- Aboutgerman.net: Adventskalendar
- Vacation in Bavaria: Advent Calendar Competition
- SantaGames.net: Online Advent Calendar: designed for kids
Image Credits:
Advent Wreath: Andrea Schaufler, via Wikipedia
Hünfeld Advent Calendar: Wikipedia Contributor Hesse1309
House Advent Calendar: Harry London Chocolates, via Google Affliliate Ads
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Update on the Telenovela - "Lena - Liebe meines Lebens"
Here's an update on the telenovela "Lena - Liebe meines Lebens," which was covered in an earlier blog post:
ZDF, a major German TV channel, launched the telenovela on September 20, 2010. It was adapted from an Argentinian telenovela. "Lena" ran for 180 episodes, and ended on June 21, 2011. Click here or here to get a list and description of each episode (in German).
I haven't been able to find any of the episodes online, besides some short clips on YouTube. If you know where to view full episodes online, you can post the link in the comments below.
If you are looking for another German soap opera on ZDF, try one of these:
ZDF, a major German TV channel, launched the telenovela on September 20, 2010. It was adapted from an Argentinian telenovela. "Lena" ran for 180 episodes, and ended on June 21, 2011. Click here or here to get a list and description of each episode (in German).
I haven't been able to find any of the episodes online, besides some short clips on YouTube. If you know where to view full episodes online, you can post the link in the comments below.
If you are looking for another German soap opera on ZDF, try one of these:
- Herzflimmern - Liebe zum Leben, a soap opera taking place in a clinic in the fictitious lake-side town of Sonnenberg. This show stopped filming in February 2012, but the ZDF is still showing episodes of it online.
- Herzkino (Not really a soap opera, but this series shows a new made-for-TV romantic movie every Sunday).
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! German Birthdays
With GLO turning two, I thought I'd do a post on birthdays - I've created a list of sites so you can know what to say, learn German birthday customs, and even send free birthday e-cards in German!
Birthday Greetings / Vocabulary:
- Birthday Words in German (For Kids), LittleExplorers.com
- Congratulations in German, About.com
- Geburtstagssprüche, Geburtstagswünsche und Sprüche zum Geburtstag, Sprueche-zum-Geburtstag.de (In German)
- Happy Birthday in German, About.com
- How to Say "Happy Birthday" in German, Youtube.com
- How to Wish Happy Birthday in German, Suite101.com
Birthday Songs & Customs:
- Birthday Celebrations from Germany, BirthdayCelebrations.net
- Birthday Customs in Germany, About.com
- Happy Birthday (German Version), Youtube.com
- Happy Birthday Songs in German, About.com
- Childen's Birthday Parties in Germany, About.com
- German Birthdays, About.com
- Wie schön, dass du geboren bist, Youtube.com (Get the lyrics here.)
More:
- E-card: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!, About.com
- Alles zum Thema Geburtstag, Geburtstag-ABC.de (In German)
- Geburtstag: Gedichte, Texte, Spiele, Lieder, Spaß, Festpark.de (in German)
- Hallmark.de: Geburtstag ecards (Free e-cards, some in German)
- Kisseo.de: Grußkarten kostenlos verschicken Kisseo.de (Free e-cards, in German)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
GLO Turned Two!
The GLO . German Language Online blog has just turned two years old!
Thanks for following this blog! Danke!
New posts are coming soon.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Olympics Vocabulary
The London 2012 Summer Olympics will start on July 27, 2012.
To celebrate the Olympics and learn a little German, see my Olympic-themed German vocabulary list:
Click here to download the list as a Google document: Document: Vocabulary - Olympics
To celebrate the Olympics and learn a little German, see my Olympic-themed German vocabulary list:
Click here to download the list as a Google document: Document: Vocabulary - Olympics
| 2012 Summer Olympics | Olympische Sommerspiele 2012 |
|---|---|
| Closing ceremony | die Abschlusszeremonie |
| Mascot | das Maskottchen |
| Medal | die Medaille |
| Olympic Park | der Olympiapark |
| Opening ceremony | die Eröffnungszeremonie |
| Stadium | das Stadion |
| Summer Paralympics | die Paralympischen Sommerspiele |
| Torch | die Fackel |
| Torch relay | der Fackellauf |
| Types of Sports | Sportarten |
| Aquatics | Wassersport |
| Diving | Wasserspringen |
| Swimming | Schwimmen |
| Synchronized swimming | Synchronschwimmen |
| Water polo | Wasserball |
| Archery | Bogenschießen |
| Athletics | Leichtathletik |
| Decathlon | Zehnkampf |
| Discus throw | Diskuswurf |
| Hammer throw | Hammerwurf |
| Heptathlon | Siebenkampf |
| High jump | Hochsprung |
| Hurdles | Hürden |
| Javelin throw | Speerwurf |
| Long jump | Weitsprung |
| Marathon | Marathonlauf |
| Pole vault | Stabhochsprung |
| Race Walk | Gehen |
| Relay | Staffel |
| Shot put | Kugelstoßen |
| Sprint | Lauf |
| Steeplechase | Hindernis |
| Triple jump | Dreisprung |
| Badminton | Badminton |
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Boxing | Boxen |
| Canoeing | Kanu |
| Sprint | Kanurennsport |
| Slalom | Kanuslalom |
| Cycling | Radsport |
| BMX | BMX |
| Mountain biking | Mountainbike |
| Road | Straßenrennen |
| Track | Bahnradsport |
| Equestrian | Reiten |
| Dressage | Dressurreiten |
| Eventing | Vielseitigkeitsreiten |
| Jumping | Springreiten |
| Fencing | Fechten |
| Field hockey | Feldhockey |
| Football (Soccer) | Fußball |
| Gymnastics | Turnen |
| Artistic Gymnastics | Gerätturnen (or Kunstturnen) |
| Rhythmic Gymnastics | Rhythmischen Sportgymnastik |
| Trampoline Gymnastics | Trampolinturnen |
| Handball | Handball |
| Judo | Judo |
| Modern pentathlon | Moderner Fünfkampf |
| Rowing | Rudern |
| Sailing | Segeln |
| Shooting | Schießen |
| Table tennis | Tischtennis |
| Taekwondo | Taekwondo |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Triathlon | Triathlon |
| Volleyball | Volleyball |
| Volleyball | Hallen-Volleyball |
| Beach volleyball | Beachvolleyball |
| Weightlifting | Gewichtheben |
| Wrestling | Ringen |
| Freestyle | Freistilringen |
| Greco-Roman | griechisch-römischen Stil |
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Website: German Language Articles on Wikihow.com
The site wikiHow.com has several articles on learning the German language. WikiHow is a site composed of "how-to" articles. The site works much like Wikipedia: anyone can add and edit pages on the site. In addition, the site is freely sharable for any non-commercial purpose.
The site's German page currently list 16 articles, as well as 5 articles that require further editing. The current articles cover basic German phrases and vocabulary, such as How to Talk About Yourself in German and How to Count to 10 in German. The articles usually describe how to pronounce the terms and gives learning tips.
The World Languages and Multiple Language Guides pages have articles for language learning in general. The site also has a Travel to Germany page.
The number of German language articles is currently pretty sparse and just covers basic vocabulary, but there is potential for users of the site to add more German language articles. (Writing a new article could be a great way to practice your German!) The standard setting is to have ads in the middle of the text of the article, but you can hide the ads by clicking on "Hide all ads" in the right column.
If you want practice reading German - or, for advanced learners of German, writing in German - check out the German version of wikiHow.com here.
Post your own review of the site below!
The site's German page currently list 16 articles, as well as 5 articles that require further editing. The current articles cover basic German phrases and vocabulary, such as How to Talk About Yourself in German and How to Count to 10 in German. The articles usually describe how to pronounce the terms and gives learning tips.
The World Languages and Multiple Language Guides pages have articles for language learning in general. The site also has a Travel to Germany page.
The number of German language articles is currently pretty sparse and just covers basic vocabulary, but there is potential for users of the site to add more German language articles. (Writing a new article could be a great way to practice your German!) The standard setting is to have ads in the middle of the text of the article, but you can hide the ads by clicking on "Hide all ads" in the right column.
If you want practice reading German - or, for advanced learners of German, writing in German - check out the German version of wikiHow.com here.
Post your own review of the site below!
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