Untranslatable German Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joy at the suffering of others

The compound word Schadenfreude is built from the German words Schaden (damage or harm) and Freude (joy) and expresses the malicious feeling of happiness when someone or something one doesn't like, suffers a failure or defeat. An example would be the joy one feels when a rival team loses a sporting contest.

The term Gluckschmerz, from the German words for fortune and pain, has been invented to express the feeling of pain when a rival does well, although it apparently was not a true German word or a very recent one.

Fremdschämen is feeling for the embarrassment of others, such as the feeling one has when a friend tells a joke that falls flat.

Answer: Improvements to something that make it worse

The German verb verschlimmbessern is derived from the words for bad/worse and better. Verschlimmbesserung, the corresponding noun, is an attempt to fix or improve something that leads to other more serious problems. It's a great word that expresses simply a fairly common occurrence in life that doesn't have an English equivalent.

Verschlimmbesserung describes many of my DIY projects.

Answer: An idea that looks terrible upon further review

Die Schnapsidee is derived from the German words for gin/spirits (Schnaps) and idea (Idee). It's come to mean an idea that's so terrible upon later examination that it seems the originator was not sober when he derived it.

Answer: Thinking of a brilliant response after the opportunity has passed

The German word Treppenwitz and the similar French phrase L'esprit de l'escalier both mean a staircase joke, which meant thinking up a brilliant riposte on the stairway - presumably after leaving a meeting.

Have you ever ended a conversation and suddenly think of a hilarious response, a brilliant argument, or a comment to put a puffed-up braggadocio in his place after the fact and your brilliance is forever lost. Perhaps you've even submitted a quiz and suddenly remembered a correct answer. Welcome to the wonderful world of Treppenwitz.

In a similar vein there must be a word to describe the phenomenon when someone breaks into laughter at an inappropriate time after he finally gets the point of a joke several minutes later. (Signed the proud parent of one).

Answer: Gift to placate or apologize, especially a spouse or partner

Drachenfutter or dragon's food has come to mean offering a gift to someone in a way of apology or reconciliation. The fearful creature is angry and needs food or a gift to placate it.

Of course, the wise man does not refer to it as Drachenfutter unless he is comfortable with another, more expensive Drachenfutter.

Answer: Instinctive ability to navigate situations expertly

Fingerspitzengefühl literally means fingertip feeling, an immediate and instinctive reaction to situations that is uncanny. It is often used for successful military, diplomatic, or athletic figures who are able to react to difficult situations with an instinctive, delicate touch.

Answer: Realization that time is slipping away to do things

Torschlusspanik is the feeling that opportunities are slipping away and time is running out to do things. In this way it's similar to a midlife crisis or a biological clock ticking to use English phrases for similar conditions.

Answer: Natural affinity for languages

Sprachgefühl is derived from the German words for speech and feeling. It conveys the sense that the speaker has a natural affinity for the language, especially understanding what is grammatically and idiomatically acceptable. It is used either for one's native tongue or an acquired language.

Answer: Excessive weight gain when under stress

Kummerspeck is excessive eating or weight gain during stressful times and the feeling of regret for it. It's equivalent for the Freshman Fifteen for new college students or the COVID Ten during forced inactivity in virus lockdowns.

Answer: Incompetence due to being flustered or nagged at

Fisselig means flustered to the point of incompetence. It usually occurs under stressful conditions when the person is being watched or nagged