*ahem*

[lirazel]

Dear German language,

I love you and the fact that you have a word for everything. I also love that when there's not a word for something, you make one up by smooshing already-existing words together. I hope we get tons more loan-words from you (schadenfreude is one of the most useful words in the world!), but I hope we steal this one from you next:

fremdschämen: cringing embarrassment for the actions of others

What English says with seven words, you say with one.

SO. USEFUL.

It describes why I can't watch The Office or America's Funniest Home Videos and why I can't be friends with that one--very nice girl--from high school who I have a lot of common interests with but who makes me wince whenever she's around.

Thank you!

Umarmungen und Küsse,

Lauren

P.S. You are also the most fun language in the world to sing in.

Comments

[ladysophiekitty.livejournal.com]

I don't speak German, so I'll offer some Guatemalan slang instead.

PUCHICA!

Also: fremdschämen: cringing embarrassment for the actions of others

explains why I can't watch Bones anymore and sometimes I have to skip eps of Monk.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Excellent! What's it mean?

I know! There are so many shows like that!

[ladysophiekitty.livejournal.com]

Well, apparently in El Salvador it's a "nicer version of puta, which means fuck"

but in Guatemala, it's like a "nice swearword" like damn, but it can also be used for a lot of things. Angrily, lovingly, etc. Whenever I'm upset I tend to either say hay caramba! (with the rolled r's over exaggerated) or Puchica.