The German word "verbessern" means "to make better".

The word "verschlimmern" means "to worsen".

The word "verschlimmbessern" means "to make worse by trying to make better".

Anyone ever trying to fix something and fucking it up badly will feel this one.

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

@jensclasen Lived in Switzerland 5 years, learned German like a baby, constant repetition & using it for daily tasks. During Cold War use of German dissipated by the onslaught of English & a huge US Army presence, didn’t pursue formal learning of the language as didn’t expect to use it 🙁