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Your examples are ridiculous though.. The meaning of "[G]esundheitszeugnis" can be derived if you understand the 2 words. Meanwhile, a Bahnhof would be a "Yard
by netsharc 8mo ago
Your examples are ridiculous though.. The meaning of "[G]esundheitszeugnis" can be derived if you understand the 2 words.
Meanwhile, a Bahnhof would be a "Yard/square of lanes" if one didn't get taught that it's "train station". Although I suppose anyone learning German will quickly learn that "Bahn" is something to do with trains. Unless it's Autobahn. Or Schwimmbahn.
- ben_w 8mo agoWhy are they ridiculous? Words that get used, get used, the etymology is a curiosity to most. In English, we use "computer" even though it used to be a job title. Native English speakers freely use "rucksack" even though it was stolen from German and even though "backpack" is also available, without the space, as a compound English word for a pack worn on the back. English/German has "briefcase"/"Briefkasten" to describe a box that letters go in, it's just that the former is for transporting letters and the latter is for receiving them.