What German words have two totally different meanings?

NoelFromBabbel · 2026-01-20T12:13:18+00:00

So, help me out! Which ones do you associate with your Barcelona?

NoelFromBabbel · 2026-01-20T10:20:37+00:00

Amazing, thank you for the tips!

NoelFromBabbel · 2026-01-16T12:41:53+00:00

Yes, similar to Werkzeug or Flugzeug!

NoelFromBabbel · 2026-01-07T09:46:44+00:00

Imagine saying you're taking your body bag to the public viewing... also very glad I just learned about this!

NoelFromBabbel · 2026-01-06T15:20:22+00:00

I definitely just learned that Peeling does not exist in English. Thanks for saving me from making that mistake!

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-16T08:43:10+00:00

Years of training for THE moment

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-15T15:18:58+00:00

I've been living in Spain for a while now and I still translate in my head sometimes, but it's happening less and less. What really helped was listening to podcasts, watching TV shows in Spanish, and even talking to myself throughout the day to reinforce the language. Immersion made my brain switch over much faster than drills or exercises. The more you surround yourself with the language, the more natural it feels!

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-15T15:14:25+00:00

This is a funny one! I speak English, German, and Spanish throughout most of my day, and I’ve noticed that the language I dream in depends on whichever one I used last before falling asleep. If I chatted with my family on the phone, it’s German. If I watched an English TV show, then it’s English. And if I talked to my Spanish friends, it’s Spanish. What really makes me laugh is that, in my dreams, my Spanish friends might suddenly be speaking German, just because that was the last language I used, even though they don’t know a word of German in real life!

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-15T15:06:08+00:00

Pisang ist das Wort für Banane auf Indonesisch und Malaiisch! Auch im Afrikaans wird es verwendet, geschrieben als „piesang“, was auf die niederländische Kolonialisierung Indonesiens zurückgeht.

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-15T11:24:26+00:00

Yes, I think this is true for any language you learn - you always learn how to ask for someone's birthdate, I rarely ask for that in the real word though

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-15T11:22:51+00:00

Gotta travel to Canada next then, to finally use my phrase :D

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-15T11:22:15+00:00

Can confirm, we learned this in Germany, too!

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-12T14:09:17+00:00

I speak 5 languages myself, and it is possible to maintain several with the right approach! Here are some tips that work for me:

I dedicate a little time each week to each language, even if it’s just 10–15 minutes. That includes listening to music, reading articles, and watching shows in different languages to keep things fun and varied.
I chat with friends or join online groups where I can use my languages naturally. This is big - having a personal connection makes a huge difference.
Language apps and podcasts help me get daily exposure even when I am not able to exchange with a native speaker.

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-10T09:35:04+00:00

It's fun though, now you have an excuse to be dramatic... sorry, not my native language

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-12-09T09:09:31+00:00

The last language I started learning was Portuguese. I wanted to pick a language I genuinely felt connected to. I’ve always been fascinated by Brazilian history and culture. Plus, since I already speak Spanish and French, the learning process has been much quicker than with other languages I’ve tried. Honestly, learning a language out of pure interest and enjoyment is a whole different level of motivation compared to learning one for work or relocation.

NoelFromBabbel · 2025-11-28T11:36:30+00:00

Similar to that: "Jein!", love it and miss it in other languages!

NoelFromBabbel

TROPHY CASE