Deutschland has given us many useful things — amazing beer, Bavarian pretzels, and even the refrigerator. Add a great deal of your daily vocabulary to that list. Even if you don't know how to say "hello" in German (Guten Tag), you're probably still using these German words.
Angst
Although this word is often used to describe moody teenagers or strumming guitarists, angst is the German word for fear. Thanks to Sigmund Freud, it became part of the English lexicon when his works on psychology were translated in the 1940s.
Delicatessen
The idea of a corner deli might feel exclusively big-city America, but this word is actually the plural form of the German word delikatesse, which means "delicious things to eat," or simply, "delicacy." Anyone who has indulged in a well-crafted, smoked meat sandwich is sure to agree.
Kindergarten
The first year of school in America is known as "kindergarten." This cheeky word literally translates to "children’s garden" and comes from a German educator who compared his young students to plants and preached that teachers were tasked with nurturing their growth.
Doppelgänger
The accent mark suggests the word doppelgänger is German. The word refers to someone who has an uncanny resemblance to someone else, despite not being biologically related. In German, it means "double-goer" or "double-walker."
Kitsch
Originating during the 1930s, this campy word describes things that are overly garish but still appreciated in a sentimental or ironic fashion. The German translation means "to coat or smear," which is what critics often do when reviewing kitschy artwork.
Uber
Although famously affiliated with a car service these days, uber is indeed a German word that translates to "over" or "above." The English variation often suggests a superlative. Anything "uber" is the very best — unless you're rating a one-star car ride.
Spritz
One telltale sign you’re dealing with a German word in English? The letter “z,” which tends to pop up more in Germanic languages. Think of "seltzer" or "blitz." "Spritz" comes from the German word spritzen, which means "to squirt."
Wanderlust
This dreamy word refers to a desire to see the world and travel. The translation is quite literal. Wander comes from wandern — meaning to wander, while “lust” is another word we’ve borrowed in English to describe desire. Germans today use the word fernweh to describe a sense of longing for a place you haven't been to yet.
Zeitgeist
The German suffix -geist is most directly linked to the English word "ghost" (hence, the word "poltergeist" — another German loan word). However, "ghost" and "spirit" are synonyms, and a different definition of the latter word has grown in popularity — as in, the spirit, vibe, or atmosphere of something. Enter "zeitgeist," which pairs zeit — meaning time — with spirit. The word means the spirit or mood of a historical period.
Cobalt
Whether you recognize this word as a color or a type of metal, it’s rooted in German. Miners in the Middle Ages had a hard time extracting silver from another particular metal in the same area. Because of this difficulty, they were inspired to name the ore cobalt, after a mythological mountain demon named Kobald. Both the fictional demon and the metal proved to be devilishly tricky to deal with.
Plunder
Although it's often associated with pirates, this German word has roots on land. It stems from the German word plündern, which means, quite literally, "to rob household goods."
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