Zhi ZhuDec 17, 2022
Jens Clasen

The German word "schenken" means "to give a gift".

Sounds nice? Well, it has its pitfalls.

The sentence "Dieses Jahr schenken wir uns nichts" can mean
- "This year, we don't give each other gifts"

But it can also mean
- "This year, we won't have mercy on each other"

Also, "Das kann man sich schenken" means "It's not worth while - don't do it / go there / buy it."

So, all in all, "schenken" is basically Christmas in a nutshell. 🎄

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

Dec 17, 2022 at 12:34pmMastodon for Android
Show threadsagebiel markusDec 17, 2022
@jensclasen @charles_ex go goethe
Show threadDean StoneDec 17, 2022
@jensclasen I was once told by a German friend how he vehemently denied having gifts at US customs because gift=poison
Show threadManfred A. ReiterDec 17, 2022

@jensclasen und dann noch mit Vorsilben

beschenken
einschenken
ausschenken
verschenken

Freue mich auf die Verarbeitung ;-)

Show threadMarcelo MagallonDec 17, 2022

@jensclasen
"Das kann man sich schenken" heisst auf etwas verzichten können?!?

Oh...

Show thread@korneliap.Sued.deDec 17, 2022
@mem @jensclasen yep
Show threadDaryl SngDec 17, 2022
@jensclasen I wouldn’t want to get a Gift from a German anyway
Show thread@korneliap.Sued.deDec 17, 2022
@dsng @jensclasen oh 😳
Show threadThe Year of Horror MoviesDec 17, 2022
@jensclasen working my way through the German course on Duolingo, I’m thoroughly enjoying learning the language.
Show threadIngo LantschnerDec 17, 2022

Das, meine lieben mir Folgenden, ist meine heurige Grußbotschaft zu #Weihnachten an euch :-)

P.S. Danke @jensclasen - brilliant!

Show threadUstinoff auf EisDec 17, 2022
@jensclasen Geschenkt!
Show threadmswdresdenDec 17, 2022
@jensclasen an the word 'gift' means 'poison' in german.
Show threaddshlapakDec 17, 2022
#Browns When you get a chance to put a team away, you have to put them away. And if you don’t, at least try to tackle afterwards. Dear lord. #NFL
Show threadjeSuisatire …ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷDec 22, 2022

@jensclasen

and Gift in german isn't necessarily a gift ..

(you see @dyfustic da geht's schon wieder los mit den Quersprachwortspielereien ..)
:-O

Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 22, 2022
@jensclasen Yeah, #German has so many more words with multiple, very-contextualized meanings, making the few "false friends" in the english language easy to avoid in comparison...