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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Well technically there is nothing wrong with schmetterling, but it isn't quite as sonorous as papillon, and the "schm-" sound can be rather comic. I do like fensterbank! One of my favorite German words is their word for porcupine, although I can't spell it correctly -- "schtockelschwein," or "prickly pig."
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
the "schm-" sound can be rather comic.
You're just ticked because you can't say, "Schmetterling, shmetterling!"
Besides, what's wrong with having comic connotations in the word for butterfly?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322 |
I always had a soft spot for the Dutch window-sill: fensterbank. A lot better than our version.
If we're looking at Dutch, my favourite has to be sinnasappelsap (probably misspelled here, and sounding the best when liltingly mispronounced). It's the word for orange juice, and compares nicely to German - Chinaapfelsaft (China-apple juice).
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
my favourite has to be sinnasappelsap (probably misspelled here, and sounding the best when liltingly mispronounced)"De sinnasappelsap is op de fensterbank" Hmmm!
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Hi, Alex. I don't speak German, but today I learned a phrase they have: "Error! - said the hedgehog, and dismounted from the cactus."
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