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„gar nix“ is German slang for „nothing“ / „absolutely nothing“.

jason-phillips 4y ago
As an Ami who grew up in West Germany, das ist die erste Sache dass ich habe auch gesehen/that's the first thing I saw too. Also, "gar nichts". But we would say gar nix for short.
- thrdbndndn 4y ago
  What does Ami mean in this context? (I know Amis people [1], but don't think it would be relevant here). [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amis_people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amis_people
  - slater 4y ago
    "Ami" is German short form for "American"
    - b-zee 4y ago
      According to the Wiktionary linked: > (informal, mildly derogatory) Yank, Yankee, American (native or inhabitant of the USA)
  - kiesewetter 4y ago
    German slang for "US citizens", shortend from "Amerikaner". https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ami https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ami
    - weinzierl 4y ago
      Be careful, it is derogatory.
      - slater 4y ago
        What? No it isn't.
        weinzierl 4y ago
        If you are not offended by it, good for you. If I was American I'd definitely be, and that is judged as a German who knows how that word is used here. "Ami – go home!" is a popular enough slogan that it has it's own Wikipedia entry[1], unsurprisingly only in German and French. [1] https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home! EDIT: For some reason the link doesn't work on HN. Either copy and paste "https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home!" or use https://bit.ly/3CZXNxh https://bit.ly/3CZXNxh
        School-Cotton 4y ago
        Some people seem to think all slang terms for cultural groups are automatically derogatory. A sizable proportion of people from the US get offended that people from Latin America call them “gringos” too (which is ridiculous IMO).
        weinzierl 4y ago
        "Ami" isn't just any slang term, it is a politically loaded word. Besides being used as a common derogatory expression it was often used by the RAF[1] and their followers, especially in the slogan "Ami – go home!". [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction
masklinn 4y ago
Interestingly, I assumed it was just a reference to author Garth Nix.
- jkarni 4y ago
  I hadn't heard of Garth Nix! It was in fact from the German. I like the suggestion that the CI should feel like "nothing at all" (rather than the painful slow trial-and-error process of setting up most CIs, which makes you very much aware of them). I also happen to live very near where Marlene Dietrich lived, who has a famous song in which "und sonst gar nichts/nix" is the refrain ("and nothing else") [0]. When garnix becomes a noun of its own, as here, it reads instead as "and otherwise, garnix", which I find mildly funny. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahyLLX0tmD8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahyLLX0tmD8

As an Ami who grew up in West Germany, das ist die erste Sache dass ich habe auch gesehen/that's the first thing I saw too. Also, "gar nichts". But we would say gar nix for short.

thrdbndndn 4y ago
What does Ami mean in this context? (I know Amis people [1], but don't think it would be relevant here). [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amis_people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amis_people
- slater 4y ago
  "Ami" is German short form for "American"
  - b-zee 4y ago
    According to the Wiktionary linked: > (informal, mildly derogatory) Yank, Yankee, American (native or inhabitant of the USA)
- kiesewetter 4y ago
  German slang for "US citizens", shortend from "Amerikaner". https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ami https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ami
  - weinzierl 4y ago
    Be careful, it is derogatory.
    - slater 4y ago
      What? No it isn't.
      - weinzierl 4y ago
        If you are not offended by it, good for you. If I was American I'd definitely be, and that is judged as a German who knows how that word is used here. "Ami – go home!" is a popular enough slogan that it has it's own Wikipedia entry[1], unsurprisingly only in German and French. [1] https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home! EDIT: For some reason the link doesn't work on HN. Either copy and paste "https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home!" or use https://bit.ly/3CZXNxh https://bit.ly/3CZXNxh
      - School-Cotton 4y ago
        Some people seem to think all slang terms for cultural groups are automatically derogatory. A sizable proportion of people from the US get offended that people from Latin America call them “gringos” too (which is ridiculous IMO).
        weinzierl 4y ago
        "Ami" isn't just any slang term, it is a politically loaded word. Besides being used as a common derogatory expression it was often used by the RAF[1] and their followers, especially in the slogan "Ami – go home!". [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction

masklinn 4y ago

Interestingly, I assumed it was just a reference to author Garth Nix.

jkarni 4y ago
I hadn't heard of Garth Nix! It was in fact from the German. I like the suggestion that the CI should feel like "nothing at all" (rather than the painful slow trial-and-error process of setting up most CIs, which makes you very much aware of them). I also happen to live very near where Marlene Dietrich lived, who has a famous song in which "und sonst gar nichts/nix" is the refrain ("and nothing else") [0]. When garnix becomes a noun of its own, as here, it reads instead as "and otherwise, garnix", which I find mildly funny. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahyLLX0tmD8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahyLLX0tmD8