With its ability to creatively combine words with a stoic wit, the German language is a goldmine for funny, quirky, or downright bizarre words that capture everyday life in a way other languages simply can’t. One of the best ways to maintain your motivation as you learn German is by engaging with the funnier aspects of the language to make the journey to conversational fluency more enjoyable. Explore these funny German words to learn that the German language is not only efficient—it’s also wildly entertaining!
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Why does German have so many funny words?
The German language has a unique ability to create so many funny words because of the flexibility the language has for describing life and its contents. Unlike in English, where we often require entire phrases or even multiple sentences to describe something, German simply smashes words together into a single, often absurd-looking, long German word. Thanks to this creative limberness, German can naturally produce seemingly endless terms that can sound ridiculous even when they’re entirely practical.
12 funny German words you’ll want to use
Get to know these hilariously funny German words to fully appreciate their humor and when to use them in your next German conversation. The humor behind these words or their literal translations definitely defy the German stereotype that they don’t have much of a sense of humor!
1. Dreikäsehoch (three cheeses high)
We all know someone who’s a little vertically challenged, and we love them all the more for it! In German, you can refer to the shorter friends in your life as dreikäsehoch, which literally means “three cheeses high.” This term is typically used to refer to a child that has gotten a little too big for their britches and is acting older than they really are. Considering that the average cheese wheel is around 8 inches tall, this term really drives the point home!
- Der Dreikäsehoch bestand darauf, dass er schon erwachsen sei. = The three-cheese high rascal insisted that he was already grown up.
2. Kummerspeck (grief bacon)
After a devastating breakup or loss of a dear loved one, many turn to comfort foods and overeating as a way of coping. This comfort food naturally leads to some weight gain. Ever the efficient language, German has condensed this concept into the term Kummerspeck (grief bacon) to refer to the extra weight gained in this way. While your comfort food of choice doesn’t necessarily have to be bacon to qualify, it’s as good an option as ice cream or cake when you’re feeling down!
- Nach der Trennung hat er sich ein paar Kilo Kummerspeck angefuttert. = After the breakup, he put on a few kilos of grief bacon.
3. Backpfeifengesicht (a punchable face)
Is there a person in your life who really gets under your skin—the one you’d really like to give a solid slap whenever they say something unbelievable? In German, you can describe that person as having a Backpfeifengesicht (a punchable face). Violence is rarely the answer, but being able to describe how you feel can be a healthy way to work through some of those feelings.
- Manche Leute sind nett, andere haben einfach ein Backpfeifengesicht. = Some people are nice, others just have a punchable face.
3. Treppenwitz (staircase joke)
If you’ve ever thought about an interaction from last week or even just moments ago and suddenly come up with the perfect joke or response far too late to effectively use it, you’ve just thought of a Treppenwitz (staircase joke)! It might be frustrating to have thought of it too late, but you can always write down your clever, late idea for next time.
- Mir fällt der perfekte Treppenwitz immer erst ein, wenn es zu spät ist. = I always think of the perfect staircase joke when it’s too late.
4. Ohrwurm (ear worm)
Have you had a song or a catchy tune stuck in your head all day and just couldn’t move on from it? Then you have had an Ohrwurm (ear worm) as far as the German language is concerned! Don’t go digging in your ear looking for an infestation though—it’s just an idiomatic phrase!
- Warum sind es immer die nervigsten Lieder, die einen Ohrwurm verursachen? = Why is it always the most annoying songs that cause an earworm?
5. Schadenfreude (malicious joy)
There are a few German words so poetic that English can’t help but adopt them. Schadenfreude (malicious joy) refers to the happiness we can selfishly feel when we see the suffering of others. This can range from throwing a party when your business’s competitor closes shop or having a laugh when someone has a comedic fall onto their bottoms.
- Er konnte seine Schadenfreude kaum verbergen, als sein Rivale scheiterte. = He could hardly hide his malicious joy when his rival failed.
6. Eierlegende-Wollmilchsau (egg-laying, wool-producing milk pig)
Like a swiss army knife for a farmer’s problems, an Eierlegende-Willmilchsau (egg-laying, wool-producing milk pig) is a mythical creature in German folklore. It refers to a creature that can produce anything an animal farmer could need, from eggs to wool, milk, and bacon! This term is used outside of farming to refer to any all-in-one solution like a comprehensive app or an employee with a wide range of skills. While this beast isn’t real of course, it would be an absolute treasure to a German dreaming of peak agricultural efficiency.
- Diese neue App ist eine echte Eierlegende-Wollmilchsau – sie kann einfach alles! = This new app is a real all-in-one solution – it can do everything!
7. Drachenfutter (dragon fodder)
If you’ve ever messed up so bad that your partner has steam coming out of their nose like a fire-breathing dragon, then it might be time to consider giving them Drachenfutter (dragon fodder). This is a humorous term that refers to a gift given to a loved one when they’re angry at you as an attempt to apologize and get back into their good graces.
- Schokolade ist das beste Drachenfutter, wenn man Mist gebaut hat. = Chocolate is the best dragon fodder when you’ve messed up.
8. Hamsterkauf (hamster buying)
When the news starts raising alarms about a huge snowstorm just days away, many people rush to the stores to Hamsterkauf (hamster buy) groceries and other necessities. The term comes from the German terms Hamster (hamster), which is a German cognate, and kaufen (to buy). In English, we refer to this practice as “panic buying” and do this when we’re worried about stocking up on groceries and therefore buy in excess. It means you’re rushing around like a panicked hamster trying to stock up your fridge!
- Ich wollte nur Mehl kaufen, aber wegen der Hamsterkäufe war alles weg. = I just wanted to buy flour, but because of panic buying, everything was gone.
9. Blaumachen (make blue)
Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy, desire, or will to go to work or school for the day. When you choose to simply skip these responsibilities for the day, you decide to Blaumachen (make blue) in German. The verb comes from the term blauer Montag (blue Monday), which was a traditional day of rest for those in the dyeing trade. Take the day off and enjoy the sunshine in a German beer garden instead!
- Er behauptete, er sei krank, aber wir wissen alle, dass er blaumacht. = He claimed he was sick, but we all know he’s skipping work.
10. Kuddelmuddel (a messy situation)
Repeating sounds within the German language often creates just as much of a humorous effect for foreign language learners as compound words do. Kuddelmuddel (a messy situation) is a perfect example of the joy you can find from these repeating syllables. Use this term when you want to refer to any disorganized situation such as your teenager’s filthy room. Try pronouncing it and you’ll see that, in the right context, this word so perfectly describes a mess by its sound alone. English speakers might even be able to understand what you mean when you say it.
- Das neue Gesetz ist ein riesiges Kuddelmuddel, keiner versteht es. = The new law is a huge mess, no one understands it.
11. Eselbrücke (donkey bridge)
You’ve probably built several Eselbrücken (donkey bridges) while learning how to speak German without even realizing it! This term refers to memory tricks used to remember things, like a mnemonic device. For example, if you remember how to spell the word “because” with the mnemonic device phrase “big elephants can always use scrambled eggs,” then you’ve developed your own Eselbrücke.
- Ohne Eselbrücken hätte ich die Vokabeln nie gelernt. = Without mnemonics, I would never have learned the vocabulary.
12. Zungenbrecher (tongue breaker)
While this term may sound like some form of gristly torture method, Zungenbrecher (tongue breaker) is a term which refers to phrases that are intentionally tricky to pronounce. In English, we refer to them as “tongue twisters” instead. A great example of a deutsche Zungenbrecher (German tongue twister) is Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische, frische Fische fischt Fischers Fritz meaning “Fisherman’s Fritz fishes for fresh fish, fresh fish is what the fisherman’s Fritz fishes.”
- Dieser Zungenbrecher bringt meine Zunge jedes Mal zum Stolpern. = This tongue twister trips up my tongue every time.
Tasty laughs: hilarious food-related German words
The first thing that comes with the spread of culture is often the local foods to eat. These are funny words in the German language inspired by the foods Germans love the most, from beer to pretzels and more.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Aufgebrezelt | pretzeled up | being dressed overly fancy |
| Bierernst | beer serious | to be very serious |
| Blümchenkaffee | flower coffee | very weak coffee |
| Extrawurst | extra sausage | when you get special treatment |
| Futterneid | food envy | jealousy over someone else’s meal |
| Glückspilz | lucky mushroom | a lucky person |
| Hüftgold | hip gold | loving way to refer to excess fat |
| Leckerschmecker | tasty taster | a delicious snack or treat |
| Schnappsidee | Schnapps idea | something you come up with while drinking |
Funny German words to describe certain people
Find the right word for that quirky character in your life with this list of funny words in German that capture personalities within a single term.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Fremdschämen | external shame | feeling embarrassed by someone else’s foolishness |
| Hanswurst | Hans sausage | a buffoon |
| Luftikus | airy guy | a carefree or unserious person |
| Morgenmuffel | morning grouch | a person who is unpleasant in the mornings |
| Nervensäge | nerve saw | an annoying person |
| Pantoffelheld | slipper hero | a man controlled by his wife |
| Schettenparker | shade parker | a timid or cowardly person |
| Schweigermonster | monster-in-law | an evil or overbearing mother-in-law |
| Spargeltarzan | asparagus Tarzan | a tall but skinny man |
| Weichei | soft egg | a coward |
Wildly funny German words inspired by animals
Whether examples of direct, literal German animal names or the qualities coming from these furry companions, these funny German words will tickle your need for wild humor.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Dackelblick | Dachshund look | puppy-dog eyes |
| Drahtesel | wire donkey | an old, rusty bike |
| Faultier | lazy animal | sloth |
| Fuchsteufelswild | fox devil wild | extremely mad |
| Nacktschnecke | naked snail | slug |
| Naschkatze | nibble cat | someone with a sweet tooth |
| Schildkröte | shield toad | turtle |
| Stechelschwein | spiky pig | porcupine |
| Stinktier | stink animal | skunk |
| Stubentiger | living room tiger | house cat |
| Wackeldackel | wobbling Dachshund | a bobblehead |
| Welpenschutz | puppy protection | leniency for beginners or newcomers |
Whimsical and nonsensical German words
Don’t take life too seriously with the whimsical words and German slang words in this list.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Flachwitz | flat joke | a bad or cheesy joke |
| Flaschengeist | bottle ghost | genie |
| Holterdiepolter | helter-skelter | involving disorderly confusion |
| Kuddelmuddel | muddled mess | a messy situation |
| Papperlapapp | nonsense | nonsensical talk |
| Pustekuchen | blow cake | No way! |
| Tohuwabohu | chaos | chaos, confusion |
| Unfug | mischief | playful misbehavior or troublemaking |
| Zappelphillip | fidgety Phillip | a restless person |
German words to help you laugh through life and struggles
Life can be both fun and difficult, but that doesn’t mean we have to dampen our spirits! Find a way to laugh through both the best and worst moments with some German words that are funny to foreign language learners while describing life’s trials.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Bauchpinseln | belly-brushing | flattering someone to gain their favor |
| Kopfkino | head cinema | playing out a scene entirely in your head |
| Lebensmüde | life tired | emotionally exhausted |
| Papierkreig | paper war | bureaucratic mess |
| Reizüberflutung | stimulus flood | being overstimulated by your environment |
| Sitzfleisch | sitting flesh | ability to sit through a long and boring event |
| Spendierhosen | spending pants | being in a generous mood |
| Sturmfrei | storm-free | having the house to yourself |
| Tatendrang | action urge | feeling the urge to get things done |
| Weltschmerz | world pain | deep sadness |
Everyday objects with hilarious names
The German language often has a direct approach to naming everyday items that can seem so blunt that they’re humorous to language learners. See a few great examples of literal German names for objects in the chart here:
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Fernseher | far-seer | television |
| Feuerzeug | fire thing | lighter |
| Flugzeug | fly thing | airplane |
| Glühbirne | glow pear | lightbulb |
| Handschuh | hand shoe | glove |
| Kabelsalat | cable salad | tangled wires |
| Staubsauger | dust sucker | vacuum cleaner |
| Zahnfleisch | tooth meat | gums |
Funny German puns and word mashups
Clever wordplay and devious mashups of terms are any polyglot’s or linguist’s guilty pleasure. Find your new favorite one-word pun with these terms.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Handschuhschneeballwerfer | gloved snowball thrower | a wimpy or timid person |
| Honigkuchenpferd | honey cake horse | someone with a big smile |
| Jein | yes and no | used when the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no |
| Kaffeeklatsch | coffee gossip | chatting over coffee |
| Kirschgrün | cherry green | a defense for running a red light |
| Kleinkariert | small checkered | a narrow-minded person |
| Luftschloss | air castle | an unrealistic dream |
| Purzelbaum | tumble tree | a somersault |
| Warteschlange | waiting snake | a queue line |
| Wildpinkler | wild tinkler | someone who goes to the bathroom outside |
| Zweisamkeit | two-ness | when a romantic couple isolated themselves from others |
Unusual funny German words
These German words that are funny exist on the fringes of German comedy, referring to strange events or are so outlandish in their spelling as to break records for number of vowels or consonants in a row. Good luck pronouncing four “o’s” in a row!
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Angstschweiß | fear sweat | a cold sweat |
| Feuchtfröhlich | wetly happy | the feeling of glee when you drink alcohol |
| Gurkentruppe | cucumber troop | a group of amateurs |
| Hexenschuss | witch shot | sudden lower back pain |
| Popelbremse | mucus break | mustache |
| Sauklau | Sow’s hoof | a person with terrible handwriting |
| Schafskälte | sheep’s cold | a cold snap in June |
| Spuckschluck | spit gulp | backwash |
| Zoooologe | a bird egg expert employed at the zoo | see literal |
| Zugzwang | tight spot | being forced to make a move when you don’t want to |
Funny words to yell out loud in German
Sometimes you just have to express yourself in the loudest way possible. Insults, frustrations, or exaggerations are all welcome here. Let your big feelings out with these funny German words to yell at the top of your lungs.
| German Word | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Blödmannsgehilfenanwärter | an idiot’s assistant that hasn’t completed their training | an insult from the Ruhr |
| Drecksau | dirt pig | a messy person |
| Dreckschleuder | dirt slinger | a messy person |
| Etepetete | fussy | being overly particular |
| Flunker | a tall tale | an exaggerated story that isn’t true |
| Huiuiui | whoa | said to show surprise |
| Kokolores | gibberish | said in response to nonsensical talk |
| Krimskrams | junk | useless items |
| Potzblitz | Well, I’ll be! | said in astonishment or disbelief of the current situation |
| Schuldrian | a sloppy person | someone who is messy and doesn’t clean up after themselves |
Despite its reputation for professionalism and harsh pronunciations, the German language is full of creative terms and amusing sounds that are worth a moment for giggles. Now you can bring your own personality to your German conversations with these funny German words! Learning German with Rosetta Stone’s app helps you move beyond rote memorization with practical, engaging vocabulary that lets you express yourself confidently.
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