Random thoughts on the German language

Favourite word: generalstabsmäßig – General Staff-like, as in with military precision
Weirdest phrase: ein inner Reichsparteitag – an inner Nuremberg rally, as in a private celebration of the triumph of the will
Most useful word that doesn’t exist in English: Auseinandersetzung
Most evocative word: Mandel – see Paul Celan
Nicest-sounding word: Schmetterling – butterfly
Most annoying Fremdwort – foreign word: Handy – mobile
Philosophically weirdest word: aufheben – see Hegel
Existentially most interesting word: Freitod – suicide = free death
Most important word for understanding Germany: Geist – mind/spirit

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