Some German words sound/look like English words but mean something totally different, e. g.
womit = "with what" not "vomit"
Rock = "skirt" not "rock"
groß = "big" not "gross"
Brief = "letter" not "brief"
Puff = "brothel" not "puff"
Boot = "boat" not "boot"
hell = "bright" not "hell"
Bad = "bath(room)" not "bad"
gut = "good" not "gut"
Fahrt = "trip" not "fart"
dick = "big" not "dick"
Gift = "poison" not "gift"
Got it? Bis bald! (bald = "soon" not "bald")
Enjoy our language!
@jensclasen
Wow!
Now trying to commit these to memory.
I'm interested in 'brief' meaning letter.
There is perhaps some connection to the other meaning of 'brief' in English:
to brief someone is to tell them the essentials of a situation.
But also English barristers are given a brief by solicitors, ie chosen to act on behalf of clients. Definitely in writing!
@greeneralia @jensclasen
Hi Laura, Yes, there seems to be a connection. The german brief comes from the late latin word breve = "short writing" (which comes from the latin brevis =„kurz“).
For me it looks like the english form "brief" retained the original latin meaning short from "short writing" , while the german form adapted the other part "writing".
(just my interpretation, no official source 😉)
Jens Clasen
Laura Sykes #Greeneralia
Tommi