Advertisement

'Tollpatsch' crowned best loanword in German

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
'Tollpatsch' crowned best loanword in German
George Bush demonstrates the meaning of Tollpatsch Photo:DPA

The best German word with foreign roots has been chosen as Tollpatsch which can be translated as 'clumsy oaf' in English, but has its basis in Hungarian.

Advertisement

The Goethe Institute, protector and promoter of the German language, announced the most beautiful ‘words with migration background’ on Friday evening, and crowned Tollpatsch ahead of Currywurst and Engel.

The success of those words can be measured by their wide use and acceptance – and the fact that many German-speakers would not necessarily know that they had foreign roots.

But Currywurst is a mixture of German wurst and Tamil curry, while Engel, angel, comes from Greek. And Tollpatsch is Hungarian, stemming from a 17th century nickname for foot soldier.

Berlin resident Barbara Eulberg convinced the Goethe Institute jury, which included Institute president Jutta Limbach and deputy president of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Thierse, with her explanation of Tollpatsch.

Her reasoning read, “This word has travelled many kilometres and overcome borders… it walked its shoe-leather off on the long way from Hungary to Germany… we laugh over the newcomers, but integrate the migrants so fast and successfully, that we have completely forgotten its migration background. Talpas is what one called Hungarian foot soldiers in the 17th century. The nickname meant clumsily-footed or awkward as in Hungarian Talp means sole or foot.”

It was also pointed out that the similarity of Tollpatsch to toll meaning crazy and Tölpel meaning boob or clown, undoubtedly helped integrate the migrant word.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also