When I moved to Germany two years ago, I jumped in at the deep end: no place to live, no job lined up, I didn’t even know German yet! Thankfully, learning a language is one of the best ways to understand another culture. And it’s impossible to learn German, or really any language, without picking up quirky local expressions too. Not only did the following nine German expressions help me understand the German mindset and point of view, they also debunked a myth about the language that I had been subconsciously holding against it: that it’s too harsh and direct, leaving no space for figures of speech or playful prose. But nothing could be further from the truth!
Follow me on a journey from noob to (almost) native with the German expressions that guided me along the way.
Illustrations by Chaim Garcia
9 Colorful German Expressions
“Aller Anfang ist schwer.” (Every beginning is hard.)
When I decided to quit my job in São Paulo and move to Berlin, I bought a plane ticket and booked a hostel for two weeks. That was literally all the planning I did. But if I had known this expression, I would have braced myself for a rude awakening. With the two weeks in the hostel about to end, I found out the hardest way that finding a place to live in Berlin can take up to several months. Getting a job wouldn’t be a picnic either. Yes, Berlin has plenty of jobs to offer, but finding one that fits your skills and expectations is another story. Now, two years later, I think I’ve earned the right to tell newcomers: Aller Anfang ist schwer. But don’t give up — you’ll find the right job and that dream flat in Kreuzkölln eventually.
“Kein Bier vor vier.” (No beer before four.)
When I was still new to the city, I used to go to German classes in the mornings and, having nothing to do with the rest of the day (besides, ahem, looking for a job), I’d wile away the afternoons enjoying a beer or two. I learned this expression when a classmate refused to have a beer at lunch with me. When I asked why, I got the curt, four-word answer, “Kein Bier vor vier.” That kernel of wisdom didn’t dissuade me (I had the beer with lunch anyway), but the expression has been one of my favorites ever since. Composed of only 4 words, this expression impresses me for its simplicity and for being an example that, at least sometimes, it’s possible to say a lot in only a few words of German.
“Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei.” (Everything has an end, only the sausage has two.)
Along with beer, most people associate Germany with sausages. And they’d be right to, because sausages are well-represented in German idioms. My favorite of the German sausage truisms explains that everything comes to an end, so don’t worry too much, alright? But don’t get too attached to anything either, after all…
Anyway, what really makes this expression special is that it sets you up to expect something very deep and philosophical: “Alles hat ein Ende, [insert a very profound ending here].” But luckily the second part completely breaks this expectation by stating something obvious (which also involves a sausage). Who said that Germans don’t have a sense of humor?
“Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her.” (The fish starts stinking from the head.)
Still in the food and drinks category, this one brings smell into the equation with a strong metaphor. By saying that the fish starts to stink from the head (which, by the way, is true), the Germans most likely meant that the people in charge should be the first to blame when something goes wrong. For me, this one can also be interpreted on a more personal level: problems begin, and in fact only exist, in your head.
“Nicht jede Kuh lässt sich melken.” (Not every cow lets you milk it.)
This one, the way I see it, is about resistance, resilience and establishing boundaries. Sometimes in life we have to do things we don’t like, and this might be especially painful when authority figures are involved. When someone thinks they can walk all over you, remember: Nicht jede Kuh lässt sich melken.
“Erst kommt das Fressen, dann die Moral.” (First comes the food, then the moral.)
This is not exactly a popular expression, but rather a line from The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper), a play by the German dramatist Bertolt Brecht. For me, it perfectly exemplifies how the most pressing afflictions of life sometimes keep us from wondering about more existential (and important) questions. It totally relates with the way my life evolved after arriving in Berlin: in the first year, having to look for a job and a place to live, I didn’t have time to think about the many mysteries of existence and the universe. Now that that initial phase is over, I finally have time to wonder: “Who am I?” “What am I doing on this planet?”
“Ein gutes Gewissen ist ein sanftes Ruhekissen.” (A clear conscience is a soft pillow.)
I like to think that my conscience has always been (more or less) clear, but I’ve still had trouble sleeping for as long as I can remember. So, although this expression sounds very nice with its rhyme and cool metaphor, I have to say I strongly disagree.
“Knapp daneben ist auch vorbei.” (Coming close is also missing it.)
This one might be a bit painful for those who gave their best and arrived second — after all, isn’t trying hard already good enough? Well, not according to this idiom. But let’s not take everything so seriously. This is a great thing to say to your German friends after beating them in any sports, competitions, card or video games (and the Germans do like games!).
“Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof.” (Life is not a pony farm.)
To close the list, here’s an expression that can be seen as a very hard take on life: Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof, so expect a lot of problems, things going wrong, and everything getting worse. But I prefer to interpret this a different way: a pony farm sounds extremely boring, so I’m glad that life has bit more excitement to offer!