Words English Has Borrowed from German247

English has borrowed many words from German over the centuries, as the two languages have been in close contact since the Middle Ages. Some of these words are now so common in English that we don't even think of them as being German, such as "kindergarten" and "hamburger". Others, such as "zeitgeist" and "weltschmerz", are more specialized and retain a more German flavor.

Here is a list of some of the most common English words that have been borrowed from German, organized into categories:

Food and Drink* Apfelstrudel: a type of apple strudel
* Bratwurst: a type of German sausage
* Frankfurter: a type of hot dog
* Hamburger: a type of ground beef patty
* Kartoffel: a potato
* Knödel: a type of dumpling
* Kuchen: a type of cake
* Lebkuchen: a type of gingerbread
* Sauerbraten: a type of marinated beef roast
* Schnitzel: a type of breaded and fried meat
* Stollen: a type of Christmas bread
* Strudel: a type of pastry filled with fruit or cheese
* Wiener Schnitzel: a type of breaded and fried veal cutlet

Music and Art* Bauhaus: a style of architecture and design
* Dirndl: a type of traditional German dress
* Expressionism: a style of art
* Glockenspiel: a type of musical instrument
* Lieder: a type of German song
* Oktoberfest: a type of German festival
* Polka: a type of dance
* Pretzel: a type of baked good
* Romantic: a style of music
* Waltz: a type of dance

Science and Technology* Autobahn: a type of highway
* Bunsen burner: a type of laboratory equipment
* Diesel: a type of fuel
* Geiger counter: a type of radiation detector
* Laser: a type of light amplification device
* Röntgen: a type of X-ray
* Zeppelin: a type of airship

Other* Angst: a feeling of anxiety or dread
* Kindergarten: a type of preschool
* Leitmotif: a recurring theme or motif
* Wunderkind: a child prodigy
* Zeitgeist: the spirit of the times
* Weltschmerz: a feeling of sadness or melancholy about the world

2024-11-10

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