German is a beautiful language that is precise and complex.
While learning the rules of grammar and pronunciation are important, if you want to become fluent, you need to go beyond the phrases that you will find in a textbook.
Much like other languages, German is rich in interesting expressions that German speakers understand instinctively but a new language learner might find a bit puzzling.
Not only are certain German phrases hard to translate, but they might also actually sound really funny. In this post, we’re going to share some funny German phrases.
14 funny German phrases about animals
These funny German slang phrases all talk about animals in some sense, though what they actually mean usually has nothing to do with the animal they talk about.
1. Kein Schewin war da
Translation: There weren’t any pigs there
Meaning: No one was there
This phrase is used to say that a place or an event lacked people. So, if you have a party with German speakers, you “want” there to be “pigs”. It sounds funny but it’s not really meant to be insulting.
2. Schwein haben
Translation: Have a pig
Meaning: Lucky
If you hear this from a German speaker, they are exclaiming over your good luck.
3. Da liegt der Hund begraben
Translation: That’s where the dog is buried
Meaning: That’s understood
When you hear this German phrase, a German speaker is saying that they understand the situation.
4. Du bist so ein Angsthase
Translation: You are such a fear-rabbit
Meaning: You are a coward
When someone says you are an “angsthase” they are calling you a “scaredy-cat”. So they are saying you are timid and easily scared.
5. Leben ist kein Ponyhof
Translation: Life is no pony farm
Meaning: Life is challenging
This German phrase is funny when translated, but actually very wise when you think about it.
6. Ein Katzensprung
Translation: A cat’s jump
Meaning: Near
This is a nice German phrase that is equivalent to what English speakers say is “a stone’s throw away.”
7.Wo sich Fuch und Hase gute Nacht sagen
Translation: Where fox and hare say goodnight to one another.
Meaning: Remote area
This is a long, rather poetic funny German idiom basically says that someplace is “in the middle of nowhere.”
8. Sie hat einen Vogel
Translation: She has a bird
Meaning: They are crazy
Though it is translated to “she has a bird” this isn’t necessarily a gendered expression. You can use it to say that someone, male or female, maybe a little insane.
9. Klappe zu, Affe tot
Translation: Close the lid, the monkey is dead
Meaning: The end
This is a funny German idiom that is used to say that something has come to an end.
10. Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
Translation: To sleep like a woodchuck
Meaning: Sleep deeply
This is likely a reference to the fact that woodchucks hibernate, or sleep long and deeply through the winter. So if you sleep like a woodchuck, you sleep well.
11. Ich glaub ich spinne
Translation: I think I spider
Meaning: I think I am going crazy
In German, “spinnen” can mean “spider” or it can also mean “spinning yarn.” This phrase, however, is meant to describe not an eight-legged arachnid, but rather your state of mind which is “a little crazy.”
12. Ich glaub’ mein Schwein pfeift!
Translation: I think my pig is whistling
Meaning: I can’t believe this
Pigs don’t really whistle, so if you hear this from a German speaker, they are describing an “impossible” situation. They are basically saying that they “don’t believe” something is happening.
13. Ich glaub’ mich tritt ein Pferd!
Translation: I think I’m being kicked by a horse
Meaning: I can’t believe this
This describes a more dire situation than hearing a pig whistling, but it isn’t as “bad” as it sounds. Basically, this is an exclamation of surprise and disbelief at a situation.
14. Ich glaub’ mich küsst ein Elch!
Translation: I think I’m being kissed by a moose
Meaning: I can’t believe this
Now, this is just a silly-sounding phrase that describes a silly situation. Again, it is basically an exclamation of surprise at a situation.
10 funny German phrases about food
Much like every other culture around the world, Germans and German speakers tend to love to eat. That’s probably why there are a lot of German expressions, slang phrases, and idioms that talk about food in some way.
1. Kummerspek
Translation: Grief bacon
Meaning: Gained weight due to overeating due to feeling emotion
This is a unique German phrase that is quite short but very descriptive. Basically, if you have been “stress” eating or “eating your feelings” and have gained weight because of it, you have “kummerspek”.
2. Jezt haben wir den Salat
Translation: Now we have the salad
Meaning: Everything has gone wrong
When you hear this, the speaker is not saying that they’ve prepared a nice leafy salad, rather they are saying that a situation is “messed up”.
3. Kabelsalat
Translation: Cable salad
Meaning: Things have gone wrong
For some reason, “salads” in German seem to be associated with the disorder. Maybe you should ask your German-speaking tutor about just why this is.
4. Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei
Translation: Everything has an end, only the sausage has two.
Meaning: All good things come to an end
This is one of those German phrases that sound funny when translated but are actually pretty wise.
5. Jetzt geht’s um die Wurst
Translation: Now it goes around the sausage
Meaning: All or nothing
If a German speaker says this, they are basically saying that they are “all in”. So they’ve entered a situation where they are ready to give their all.
6. Du gehst mir auf den Keks
Translation: You’re walking on my cake
Meaning: You are annoying
“Kek” can mean either cake or cookie, but this funny German phrase doesn’t really refer to a sweet treat. Rather, it’s meant to say you are feeling “sour” towards someone because their behavior is annoying you.
7. Ein Extrawurst haben wollen
Translation: Want an extra sausage
Meaning: Requesting for special treatment
If you hear a German speaker say this, it means that someone is asking for special treatment.
8. Das ist mir Wurst
Translation: That’s sausage to me
Meaning: I don’t care
This German phrase is a funny and succinct way to tell someone that you “don’t care” or that something doesn’t matter to you.
9. Seinen Senf dazugeben
Translation: Add their mustard
Meaning: Give your opinion
This phrase is equivalent to the English expression “give my two cents”. It means that you are giving your opinion or voicing your thoughts on a matter.
10. Sie spielt die beleidigte Leberwurst
Translation: She’s playing the insulted sausage
Meaning: Unreasonably upset
When a German-speaker say’s this, they are implying that a person is unreasonably upset about something. They may, in other words, be overreacting.
Funny German phrases to use to talk about your feelings (and life)
Here are 21 more German phrases that are both funny and wise that can be used to describe feelings and experiences and give your opinion about situations and life.
1. Holla die Waidfee
Translation: The wood fairy
Meaning: That’s a surprise
When a German speaker utters this funny phrase, they are basically saying that they were surprised. It’s the equivalent of an English speaker saying “that’s unexpected”.
2. Mir stehen die Haare zu Berge
Translation: My hair stands up to the mountain
Meaning: Goosebumps
This long and rather funny sounding German phrase is basically how a German speaker would say that something is giving them goosebumps.
3. Komm schon, spring über deinen Schatten Komm schon, spring über deinen Schatten
Translation: Come on, jump over your shadow
Meaning: Be daring
When a German speaker says this to you, they are encouraging you to get out of your comfort zone and try something new
4. Du gehst mir auf den Wecker Du gehst mir auf den Wecker
Translation: You are stepping on my alarm clock
Meaning: You are annoying
This is another funny German slang phrase that is used to express annoyance at someone’s behavior.
5. Du bist auf dem Holzweg
Translation: There you are on the Woodway
Meaning: You are wrong
The implication of this German phrase is that you are “lost” or wrong about your beliefs about something.
6. Ich falle aus allen Wolken
Translation: I fall from all clouds
Meaning: I was surprised
This German phrase is basically an exclamation of surprise. You are saying that you did not expect something to happen.
7. Am Arsch der Welt
Translation: At the ass of the world
Meaning: Remote area
This is a slightly less poetic way to say something is “in the middle of nowhere”. Be mindful of who you say this around.
8. Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr
Translation: What little Johnny can’t learn, old John will never learn
Meaning: Too old to change
This German phrase is equivalent to the English expression, “can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
9. Mit Pauken und Trompeten untergehen
Translation: Go down with drums and trumpets
Meaning: Fail
This funny German slang phrase means that you’ve failed at something spectacularly.
10. Das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen
Translation: The blue promise from the sky
Meaning: A promise that can’t be kept
This poetic sounding German phrase is actually a little melancholic. It has nothing to do with the sky or the weather, rather it refers to being unable to fulfill a promise.
11. Torschlusspanik haben
Translation: Closing gate panic
Meaning: Last-minute panic
If you’ve put something off till the last minute and now have to rush around getting it done, you have “torschlusspanik haben”.
12. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen
Translation: To leave the church in the village
Meaning: Don’t get carried away
This German phrase is a funny way of telling someone to “calm down” or not get to excited about something.
13. Nur die Harten kommen in den Garten
Translation: Only the tough ones get to go to the garden
Meaning: You need to persevere
This is a funny German phrase that you will hear if someone is trying to motivate you to persist despite hardship. It is the equivalent to the English expression “no pain, no gain.
14. Nul acht funfzehn
Translation: So-so
Meaning: Mediocre
This is what a German speaker will say if they want to imply they were not impressed or didn’t find something that good.
15. Das kannst du deiner Oma erzählen
Translation: You can tell that to your grandmother
Meaning: I don’t believe you
If a German speaker thinks you are lying or exaggerating, this is what they will say.
16. Fremdschämen
Translation: Exterior shame
Meaning: To feel ashamed about someone’s behavior
This is kind of like the concept of “second-hand embarrassment”. You feel “fremdschämen” when you see someone who is doing something that would make you feel ashamed. So, you are embarrassed for them.
17. Ins Gras beißen
Translation: To bite into the grass
Meaning: Died
This is the German equivalent to the English expression, “bites the dust.”
18. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
Translation: I only understand train station
Meaning: I don’t understand
This is a funny and unique German phrase that you can use to say that you don’t understand something.
19. Leben wie Gott in Frankreich
Translation: Live like God in France
Meaning: Live in luxury
This could be a reference to French history when the monarchs lived in unbelievable luxury.
20. Sie hat nicht alle Tanssen im Schrank
Translation: She doesn’t have all her cups in the cupboard
Meaning: They are a little stupid
This is another phrase that is “gendered” when translated but can be used for both males and females. It is used to denote a lack of intelligence on someone’s part.
Conclusion
When you need a short break from studying rules of grammar and pronunciation, learning the unique and sometimes funny expressions and slang terms is a great way to amuse yourself while still learning something new.
It’s important to ask your online native German-speaking tutor about common German phrases and expressions. Native German speakers will use phrases like the ones we’ve enumerated above in everyday conversation, so you need to learn what they mean and how to use them.
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What are the funniest German phrases?
Kein Schewin war da - There weren’t any pigs there. Schwein haben - Have a pig. Kummerspek - Grief bacon. Jezt haben wir den Salat - Now we have the salad.
What are some German sayings?
Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei - All good things come to an end. Nur die Harten kommen in den Garten - You need to persevere. Das kannst du deiner Oma erzählen - I don’t believe you.
What are some common German phrases?
Das ist nicht mein Bier. Jetzt mal Butter bei die Fische. Abwarten und Tee trinken. Achtung!
