German can be funny too

It is always interesting to find out more about the language you are learning. So how about taking some time off the Grammar and the Vocabulary lessons, and focus more on the fun part of the German language!
For instance, did you know:
German and English might be sister languages; as you might have already bumped into a few German words that were similar to the English ones. However, that might be sometimes tricky, for example:

• In German, the word "Gift" actually means "poison"! So always take care from the type of "Gifts" you accept from your German buddies!
• Another one is the German word "Mist", which means "bird droppings" (in other words "bullsh").
For that reason alone, the Irish perfume brand "Irish Mist" was renamed to "Irisch Moos" (Irish Moss) when it was first introduced to the German market!
• Another weird coincidence is the German ward "Rat", which funnily enough means "advice"! So go ahead, accept "Rats" from your German friends (just stay out from the "Gifts).

The German language has 3 different genders for its noun: masculine (der), feminine (die), and neuter (das). These genders don't necessarily reflect the actual gender of the corresponding real-life object though. They are purely grammatical. For example:

• The German word for "girl" (das Mädchen) is oddly neuter, and so is "wife" (das Weib - a word commonly used for "female" or "woman" as well).
• Another funny example is the German words for "knife" (das Messer), "fork" (die Gabel), and "spoon" (der Löffel). For some reason the spoon became masculine, while the fork became feminine!

The German language is known for its exceptionally long words.
To quote Mark Twain: "Some German words are so long that they have a perspective!"
Here are a few examples:

• Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz
A 63-letter word meaning: Beef labeling regulation & delegation of supervision law (whatever that means!)
• Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften
A 39-letter word meaning: Legal protection insurance companies (I bet you already guessed that, didn't you?)

There are some extremely funny proverbs that exist in the German language, take a look:

• Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei! - Everything has an end, only sausage has two!
• Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof - I only understand trainstation (Similar to the English proverb, iIt is all Greek to me)
• Das ist nicht dein Bier! - That is not your beer! (in other words: none of your business!)

To top it off, did you actually know that the German language almost became the official language of the United States of America. The Continental Congress, convened in Philadelphia during the Revolution, at one time considered adopting a new language for the future of the United States, as a method of cutting off ties with England. Other suggested languages were Hebrew and French.
When it finally came to a vote, English narrowly won - by one vote!
This brings an end to this article.
Hope you've enjoyed it, keep an eye out for a follow-up soon enough!