I've decided I think I need to learn German.
"Setzen Sie den Hund ins Bett."
That is "Put the dog to bed."
I think it sounds so much better in German.
At the very least I would like to learn a handful of phrases that we say often. Key phrases -- like those you want to say to your children in public without others knowing -- like, "If you don't knock it off I'm going to maim you." Unlike speaking Spanish, or even French, no one would know what I was saying. Except the Pope.
I would love to speak to the Pope in German.
Maybe in heaven.
.
Yes! Gut idea! I vant to do ze same ting. Only, in French. I'm more confident with that language (even though I took one year of it 21 years ago.)
ReplyDeleteI'll be honest, though. I usually say something in a British accent, like, "I'm going to fong you in the arse if you don't shut yer gob!" Usually everyone laughs - including me, but my kids know I'm serious.
ReplyDeleteIf you learn some please do share! I have a bible that is all in German.
ReplyDeleteIf you do speak to the Pope, you might need to learn a few different phrases than the ones you listed.....:)
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is a signal to spend more time in German Village? :) Cream puffs!
ReplyDeleteIch spreche ein kleine Deutsch! I learned it in high school and was surprised to find when I visited Germany in college that I actually retained some. I was looking for the kindly older German couple with a little dog who gave me a ride from the brewery to the train station by returning to the brewery the next day when suddenly I heard German coming out of my mouth, "Vo ist Heinz und Gabi mit ein kleine hund, Julchen?" (Where are Heinz and Gabi with the little dog, Julchen?)
ReplyDeleteNever found them. They were very sweet people!
Ah yes, Deutsch! I took 4 years of it in high school and promptly forgot 2.5 seconds after graduation.
ReplyDeleteUntil that is, I was in Paris, France. In France, I tried very hard to learn a few phrases to get be through Paris but my mind just could not wrap itself around French pronunciations. I found myself in shops trying to ask for something in French and German would come out! I finally started asking people if they spoke German if they didn't speak English! :)
Haha, Sarah. Only you!
ReplyDeleteChristine,
So far I've only learned words useful for yelling at the dog or the kids, but I'll let you know.
Jamie,
Most definitely. I would say to him, "Ich liebe Ihre roten Schuhe." Which means, "I love your red shoes."
Emily,
Only if forced to order one in German!
Charlotte,
Funny story -- and if you had found them you might not have been forced to ask. Love the names!
Beth,
I took many years of French, but I like the sound of German (more gruff) and there are so many words that are roots of English (or vice versa).
My mother used to yell at us with "Setzen Sie!" and for YEARS my siblings and I just knew it as "shut up and sit down". It wasn't until my father was stationed in Germany that I learned that it was "sit down." To a formal ear, it sounds like you're kindly asking a friend to sit down as if you're saying "Here, sit and let's chat." but coming from my mother to us kids, it was "sit down, shut your mouth or else!"
ReplyDeleteI know enough German that my kids know I've had enough when I mutter under my breath with some German.
Teresa, The dog responds very well also. The commands are very similar to English but sound so much better (to my ear) in German.
ReplyDelete