This meaning likely comes from hamsters’ tendency to store food in their cheeks. Today, the verb hamstern in German can refer to storing large quantities. You can read more about the linguistic origins of this fascinating term here. This word descends from Middle High German, which in turn borrowed it from Old Church Slavonic’s chomestoru.

Yes, hamster is also originally a German word, borrowed around the 1600s from der Hamster. Gesundheit, the German word for “health,” is also used in the German-speaking world for “bless you.” In English, however, particularly in North America, there are also people who use Gesundheit after someone sneezes. One of my favorite German loanwords, “kitsch” is the perfect way to describe something just the right mix of tacky and outdated.

Kinder, the plural of Kind “child,” is an irregular plural – one of the German language’s funny quirks. What if we called a Kindergarten a “childrens’ garden”? That’s what this German loanword literally means, being made up of Kinder and Garten. Yes, you read that right – the English word “iceberg” comes from the German word Eisberg, or “ice mountain.” 2.

And the Best Is… We Use Even More Words of German Origin!Įveryday English Words That Come from German Words 1.

German Words, Literary Terms and Abstract Concepts.

Everyday English Words That Come from German Words.

Common gr german words in english