Lulatsch
A Lulatsch is a tall, often rather lanky person.
“Was bist du für ein langer Lulatsch geworden!” Tall teenagers hear this remark about how much they have grown surprisingly often at family gatherings.
A book by Wolf Marbach
Mach keine Fisimatenten!
Words from the past – and what they still tell us today
Fisimatenten. Kokolores. Mumpitz. Some words bring back a familiar voice. Others leave you wondering what on earth they mean. Which ones do you know?
Discover the words ↓The book is in German · External links to Amazon.de
“Nun mach keine Fisimatenten und zieh endlich die Schuhe an!”Someone making Fisimatenten creates unnecessary fuss, makes excuses or delays something that should be simple.
Little words, vivid stories
Do you remember what these mean?
A glimpse into the book’s world of words. The English text here helps you explore the German expressions; the book itself is in German.
Dreikäsehoch
A Dreikäsehoch is a small child who often thinks of themselves as quite grown-up already.
A five-year-old explains to his grandmother how the television works. She listens patiently. The awkward part: he is right.
Blümchenkaffee
Blümchenkaffee is exceptionally weak coffee.
The familiar idea behind it: the coffee is so weak that you can still see the flower pattern on the bottom of the cup.
Bandsalat
Bandsalat happened when the thin magnetic tape of a cassette got caught in the recorder and came out in long loops.
Then the rescue operation began: with a pencil, a delicate touch and hope.
Pinökel
“Gib mir mal den Pinökel da.” Which one? That one, there.
Pinökel, Pinnökel or Pinöckel is an all-purpose word, especially in the Rhineland, Westphalia and the Ruhr region, for a small part whose proper name you cannot recall.
The third book
A book full of “Remember when?”
“Mach keine Fisimatenten!” brings together words and expressions from everyday life, family, school, work and leisure. With stories, familiar situations and plenty of humour.
- Rediscover familiar German words
- Understand their meanings
- Start a conversation across generations
The book is in German · External links to Amazon.de
Language has a map
“We had a different word for that.”
Stulle, Knifte, Bemme, Schnitte, Butterbrot or Bütterken: Germany has a remarkable number of names for a slice of bread. An unusual word is not always a forgotten word. Sometimes it is simply regional.
In the north people schnacken; elsewhere they klönen, ratschen or schwätzen. These different words for chatting give people plenty to talk about.
StulleKnifteBemmeBütterken
Keep exploring in the book
Twelve themes. A whole lifetime.
From childhood and school to the family living room: these are the book’s twelve chapters. The original German titles are shown below.
Kokolores, Mumpitz und Fisimatenten
Nonsense, fuss and unnecessary complications
Lulatsche, Knilche und andere Gestalten
People, characters and colourful insults
Dreikäsehoch mit Tornister
Childhood and school
Jetzt gibt's was zu hören
Exclamations, scoldings and reprimands
Schwofen, poussieren und scharwenzeln
Dancing, flirting and relationships
Stulle, Muckefuck und Kaffeeklatsch
Food, drink and regional language
Plünnen und feiner Zwirn
Clothing and fashion
Malochen, schuften und Klinken putzen
Work and occupations
Groschen, Rabattmarken und auf Pump
Money and shopping
Gute Stube, Krimskrams und Flimmerkiste
Home, household and technology
Stromern, wetzen und zugange sein
Getting about and leisure
Zappenduster, ratzekahl und quietschfidel
Words that make situations vivid
Words connect generations
A word can be the beginning of a story.
For German-speaking parents, grandparents, learners and anyone who enjoys language. The next conversation might begin with a single word.
The book is in German · External links to Amazon.de